Listen back to features and interviews from 95bFM's daily news and current affairs show. Jessica Hopkins, Castor Chacko, Nicholas Lindstrom, and Caeden Tipler focus on the issues of Tāmaki Makaurau and elsewhere in independent-thinking bFM style. Monday-Thursday 12-1pm on 95bFM.
On Wednesday the 21st of February New Zealand was shocked to learn of the sudden passing of Greens MP Fa'anānā Efeso Collins.
Efeso began his career as a youth worker before joining the Auckland Council as a councillor for the Manukau ward.
He later ran for Mayor with the endorsement of both Labour and the Greens, before campaigning for the Green party in last year's election.
In his maiden speech Collins highlighted his wish to be a champion for underserved and underprivileged members of our society;
"The government cannot be a bystander to people suffering confusion and disenfranchisement. New Zealand must close the divide between those who have and those who have not, because the reality for my community is that those who have more money often wield more power, more health, more housing, more justice, more access, more canopy cover, more lobbyists with swipe cards, and more time,"
Nicholas spoke to Green Party co-leader James Shaw about the passing of his friend and colleague Fa'anānā Efeso Collins.
As a new batch of freshers begin university, we return to the basic fundamentals of protests.
Sofia spoke to veteran activist and Head Chair of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa John Minto about the hows, whys, and whens of protesting, narrowing in on the current Palestine protests occuring across the country.
They discuss historic legislation born out of protesting and how to get involved in protests if you haven't before!
Head to the PSNA website for resources in solidarity with Palestine.
Nicholas speaks up with the Green Party's Dr Shane Reti about the passing of Greens MP Fa'anānā Efeso Collins.
Nicholas also spoke to Associate Professor at the University of Auckland Amy Chan on new research into vaccine hesitancy.
Sofia spoke to veteran activist and Head Chair of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa John Minto about the hows, whys, and whens of protesting, narrowing in on the current Palestine protests occuring across the country.
Oto spoke to John Crocker from Unite Union, a union that advocates for migrant workers amongst a number of groups, who said that there was more to the scheme than what was found in the review.
Nicholasalso speaks to AUSA president Alan Shaker about devolpements in the association.
Last week, a public servant at the Ministry of Health who leaked an official document was dismissed. The leaked document showed the Associate Minister of Health, Casey Costello, requesting advice on freezing the annual increase in tobacco excise tax.
Health Coalition Aotearoa has released a consultation document advocating options to address and improve transparency in public policy-making and the regulation of lobbying in New Zealand.
Producer Sofia spoke to co-chair of Health Coalition Aotearoa and Professor of Māori Health and Nutrition at Massey University, Lisa Te Morenga, about the coalition government’s plans to repeal the Smoke Free legislation and the current legal requirements for public policy-making transparency in Aotearoa.
For Dear Science this week, Dr Cushla McGoverin chatted with news and editorial director Jessica Hopkins about Northern Patagonian rock art, an inchworm-inspired robot with enhanced transport capabilities, and the FDA approving the first medication to treat severe frostbite.
Producer Castor spoke to National’s James Meager about gang patch legislation and the clean car discount repeal.
And producer Sofia spoke to co-chair of Health Coalition Aotearoa, Lisa Te Morenga, about the repeal of the Smoke-Free legislation and current legal requirements for public policy-making transparency in New Zealand.
Last week, the Auckland War Memorial Museum announced it would be moving from what it calls a "colonial museum" to a Te Tiriti-centric approach.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Valerie Morse from Peace Action Wellington about their response to this move and why it is necessary.
In our weekly interview with National’s James Meager, producer Castor began with National’s promised ban on wearing gang patches in public. The ban is due to come later this year as part of a bundle of legislation aimed at reducing gang presence in communities.
A similar law was passed by the Whanganui District Council in 2009, which was later reviewed by the High Court and found to be unlawful and in violation of the Bill of Rights.
Castor then briefly discussed Labour’s clean car discount, which was repealed by the National government on the 31st of December last year. Ministry of Transport data shows that registrations of new electric vehicles have decreased from 1 in 4 in 2023 to 1 in 26 in January this year.
Concerns have been raised about the spread of fake news and propaganda and to justify anti-Palestinian actions.
News and Editorial Director Jesica Hopkins spoke to National Chair Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa John Minto about why unfounded claims are being repeated in the media and by politicians, here in Aotearoa and globally?
High vaccination rates from 1969 onwards have prevented measles outbreaks during recent years, but a dropoff in vaccinations has increased risks.
While previously the 95% vaccination rate necessary to prevent outbreak was achieved from around 2014 to 2017, currently vaccination rates sit at around 83%.
Producer Castor spoke to The University of Otago’s Professor Michael Baker about increased measles risk in Aotearoa and possible countermeasures.
Labour Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni has come out against Louise Upston’s comments on welfare, calling her out for leaving out context or blatantly lying about facts.
Some of Minister Upston’s comments include conflating those who are on Job Seeker who are “work ready” and those who are on it for health conditions, as well as stating that young people who go on the benefit could stay on it for 24 years without mentioning this only applies to 0.5% of people.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party Wire Host Caeden asks about National’s comments on welfare, as well as the civil unrest we are currently seeing in New Caledonia.
They started by asking about her comparison between what National is doing to benefits today to what Ruth Richardson did 30 years ago.
Last week Auckland Council passed their hotly contested long-term plan, after huge debate and community engagement.
Councillor Lotu Fuli attempted to amend the plan to not include the sale of Council’s airport shares but was defeated. She also reached headlines for excluding the independent Māori voices on Council from voting on this amendment.
Wire Host Caeden asked Councillor Fuli about the long term plan, and the controversy surrounding her amendment for City Counselling. Here is that interview.
This week on Dear Science, our expert Dr Cushla McGoverin spoke to us about synthetic fungus-based leather, origami-like structures using DNA, and the colouring on rodents' teeth.
Last week ACT Party Leader, David Seymour, announced 153 million dollars in funding for the establishment of 50 charter schools. This covers 15 brand new schools and the conversion of 35 state schools.
Between 2011 and 2017 less than 20 charter schools were open in Aotearoa, before they were disestablished by the Labour government in 2018. Seymour himself has said that previously the schools were both difficult to establish and run.
For our weekly interview with the ACT Party, Producer Evie spoke to MP Simon Court about what will be different this time, and why the party thinks these schools are the best option.
They also talked about some recent conflicts of interests that have arisen surrounding the already contested Fast Track approvals bill.
On Wednesday Labour’s Carmel Sepuloni dominated political headlines with news that she is believed to be a contestant on this year's season of Celebrity Treasure Island.
The last MP to compete on a reality TV show was David Seymour, who competed on Dancing with the Stars in 2018. This appearance resulted in a now infamous video of Seymour twerking in 80s getup.
Last years Celebrity Treasure Island also drew headlines for including famous political figures, notably Tame Iti.
Political news this week has also included an announcement from Paul Goldsmith that the Government is looking at stopping election day voter enrolment due to the administrative burden.
Caeden asked about both these topics for our weekly catch-up with Carmel Sepuloni. They started by asking if she would appear in Celebrity Treasure Island.
On the 19th of December 2022, Farzana Yaqubi, a 21 year old law student at AUT, was murdered by a man who had been repeatedly stalking her and sending her threatening messages on social media. In the months leading up to her murder, Farzana made multiple police reports with evidence of her experienced stalking, urging law enforcement to intervene. However, her reports were effectively disregarded and treated as low priority, as there are no official laws in Aotearoa that criminalise stalking.
Farzana’s murder triggered a call to the government from numerous women’s rights advocates across the motu to come up with more effective legislation to criminalise stalking and establish more effective preventative measures in law enforcement.
For this week’s Get Action! Oto spoke to Leonie Morris from the Auckland Women’s Centre, to discuss a petition calling for the official criminalisation of stalking.
If you're interested, you can sign the petition here:
For Dear Science this week Doctor Cushla McGoverin chatted to us about an orangutan treating its own injury, beluga whales changing the shape of their foreheads, and the development of skin burn healing bandages from plant based materials.
Weekly Palestine protests have taken place in Britomart since last October, and an action in support of Palestine with several hundred students took place at the University of Auckland last night.
For City Counselling this week, Wire Host Caeden asked Councillor Shane Henderson for his stance on the Palestine protests, as well as Council’s view more generally.
They also ask about the community impacts of half priced public transport for under 25s, which ended on May 1st.