Canterbury Mornings

Talk back caller Chelsea called in about the Christchurch School asking it's kids to dress up like refugees in ragged clothing show the students what it's like to be poor.She told Chris Lynch about her experience visiting a refugee camp with World Vision. 

The Race Relations Commissioner says education is needed around refugees' real circumstances.There's been criticism that Middleton Grange School's mufti-day World Vision refugee fundraiser was in bad taste - with students coming to school in old, ragged clothing.Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy told Chris Lynch the school was well intentioned, but a lot of refugees are professionals and the whole story needs to be told."It's continuing that stigmatisation that refugees are poor people or who come from impoverished backgrounds. We need to change that."Middleton Grange School says the student-led initiative was to help students think about what being a refugee child in war-torn Syria could be like. "We are asking children to dress as refugees in old ragged clothes if possible," the school reportedly told parents.Experiencing being poor was a good was to develop understanding and compassion, it said.LISTEN TO SUSAN DEVOY TALK WITH CHRIS LYNCH ABOVE 

Chris Lynch had Greens Party MP's Julie-Anne Genter and Marama Davidson in studio to discuss why they think they would be well suited to the job Green Party co-leader.

Logan, a Bouncer at an inner city Christchurch bar, called the show and told Chris Lynch that on an average Saturday night they are turning away up to 150 people from the bar he works at because they have pre-loaded at home and are too drunk to get in. 

Supermarkets are being accused of being the country's biggest drug dealer.It comes after a Christchurch local snapped a photo of wine sold at Pak'n'Save for just under $4.National Addiction Centre director Doug Sellman told Newstalk ZB it should be classed as a public health issue."The best way to improve people's health is to reduce the amount people are drinking in New Zealand and this $3.99 is going completely against it."Doug Sellman says the Government should step in to regulate alcohol in supermarkets.The wine is available is Hardy's Moscato, with an alcohol percentage of 6%.  Foodstuffs has been approached for comment.LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS LYNCH ABOVE

Supermarkets are being accused of being the country's biggest drug dealer.It comes after a Christchurch local snapped a photo of wine sold at Pak'n'Save for just under $4.The wine available is Hardy's Moscato, with an alcohol percentage of 6%.National Addiction Centre director Doug Sellman told Newstalk ZB it should be classed as a public health issue."The best way to improve people's health is to reduce the amount people are drinking in New Zealand and this $3.99 is going completely against it."Spellman believes that "supermarkets are the biggest drug dealers in New Zealand"."Most of the alcohol in New Zealand is sold through supermarkets, alcohol is our no.1 recreational drug, so this is not extravagant language."He says the Government should step in to regulate alcohol in supermarkets.Foodstuffs has been approached for comment.LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS LYNCH ABOVE

Olympian Dame Valerie Adams is at a complete loss to understand Tonga's decision to ban school girls from playing rugby and boxing.The Tongan community in New Zealand's outraged at the announcement which saw the Government direct the island nation's schools to stop letting girls play those sports.Dame Valerie, who's mother is from Tonga, told Chris Lynch it's super sexist.She doesn't buy into the excuse that it's a cultural issue, given there's already a women's Rugby Sevens team in Tonga."I just don't know all of a sudden this has come out that these girls, these women aren't even allowed to play rugby or do boxing, and I just think it's wrong on every level. Why would you want to kill someone's dreams of doing something good for their country?"LISTEN TO DAME VALERIE ADAMS TALK WITH CHRIS LYNCH ABOVE 

A nurse has broken down while talking about the stress of working in the health sector.It comes as around 27,000 nurses vote on whether or not to accept a substantial new pay deal or go on strike.A nurse - who didn't want to use her real name out of fear of losing her job - spoke to Newstalk ZB host Chris Lynch.She says the long hours and meager pay are pushing staff to breaking point."The stuff that I've seen and have had to deal with, honestly I just can't believe it. I can't believe what all these nurses have had to go through."DHBs had originally offered a two per cent wage increase, backdated to November, followed by another two per cent hike in August. They were also offered a one-off lump sum of $150 and a pay equity settlement taking effect from July next year.New Zealand Nurses Organisation industrial services manager, Cee Payne, says DHBs have since amended the deal, but she can't yet reveal the details."It was an improved offer, whether the offer goes far enough for our members, that is a decision

An environmental group wants Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage to step in to protect ecological values of Crown-owned land in the Mackenzie Basin, which will be destroyed by a planned dairy conversion.Chris Lynch spoke to Gary Taylor, the Executive Director of the Environmental Defence Society.The conversion involves an irrigation pipeline being built in the Mackenzie Basin which may affect conservation values on public land.The below-ground pipeline is being buried in trenches running eight kilometres, from a Tekapo hydroelectricity canal to Simons Pass Station. Water from the pipeline will supply a planned intensive dairy farm operation which could run as many as 15,000 cows.

Chris Lynch caught up with Minister Responsible for Greater Christchurch Regeneration Megan Woods and National MP Responsible for Greater Christchurch Regeneration Nicky Wagner who go head to head on the important issues of the day.

Senior Herald Reporter Anna Leask gave Chris Lynch an update on the 4-month-old baby girl who suffered "significant" and multiple fractures to her tiny body at the hands of another person.Family members have closed ranks. Police are appealing for anyone with information to speak up after the baby suffered 16 fractures to her skull, ribs, arms and legs.And they have revealed that the child was injured over a period of time, not the result of one incident.READ MORE: Four-month-old in hospital with 16 fracturesLISTEN TO ANNA LEASK TALK WITH CHRIS LYNCH ABOVE

Anonymous Nurse representing Facebook group Nurse Florence called the show and spoke to Chris Lynch about nurses working conditions.

Chris Lynch was joined by Community Dental Service's Clinical Director, Dr Martin Lee for this weeks health segment.

School based sexuality education programmes are struggling to engage with young people on sexuality and relationship issues.As a result young people are suffering from panic and anxiety around these subjects. Chris Lynch spoke to the University of Canterbury's Associate Professor of Education, Kathleen Quinlivan.

Teenagers using smart phones to take and search for pornographic photos and videos is becoming a huge problem in New Zealand. Two Christchurch Boys' High School pupils are suspended after taking a photo up a female teacher's skirt and sharing it with mates.Forensic analyst Mike Chappell says he took on around 20 cases last year alone from schools whose students were misbehaving on cell phones.He told Chris Lynch if a 13-year-old takes a naked selfie and sends it to a friend, it's classed as a criminal offence."And then some of these kids then forward it on to other kids and they are committing criminal offences as well but nothing ever happens."  LISTEN TO MIKE CHAPPELL TALK WITH CHRIS LYNCH ABOVE

Due to the record breaking highs we've had this summer the snow blanketing the peaks of the Southern Alps is thinner and dirtier than usual.Chris Lynch spoke to NIWA Principal Scientist Dr Andrew Lorrey to discuss what this movement in the snow line means. 

An app allowing people with restricted mobility to more easily find disabled car parks and dob in those using them illegally launched in Christchurch in October. The App is called Access Aware and was created by CCS Disability Action.Chris Lynch spoke to Raewyn Hailes the Moving Around Communities Coordinator for CCS Disability Action, who says Christchurch needs a lot more mobility car park spaces particularly as our population ages. 

Chris Lynch spoke to Spokes Canterbury Cyclists Association Chairman Don Babe following calls for the blanket law for cyclists to wear helmets to be reviewed. 

Chris Lynch spoke to newly established Youth Hub Trust Chair Dr Sue Bagshaw about the Youth Hub planned for Christchurch which will bring together mental health, medical, social and housing support for Canterbury’s youth.

Chris Lynch spoke to Environment Canterbury Chair, Steve Lowndes, about the 2018 - 28 Long Term Plan for Environment Canterbury and held a question and answer session for listeners with concerns.