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.
Yesterday the Western line was closed for some stops including between New Market and Britomart, while two Britomart stations remained closed due to KiwiRail maintenance issues. This won’t surprise commuters in Tāmaki Makaurau who are far too used to trains not running or turning up.
Caeden spoke to West Auckland based counsellor Shane Henderson about our public transport woes and the success of the cost-cutting budget. Here is that interview.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party Caeden chats with Labour spokesperson for Education and Women Jan Tinetti about Winston Peters recent comments on co-governance, the students at Freyberg High School, and Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech.
They also also chat with Auckland Councillor Shane Henderson about public transport in Tāmaki Makaurau and Auckland’s last cost cutting budget for City Counselling.
Jasmine speaks to Professor Margaret Mutu about the path to a constitution of indigenous rights for Māori in Aotearoa.
She also speaks to Dr Pippa McKelvie-Sebileau about the emergence of more international research in support of free school lunches, and what this means for government research and action ahead of the proposed funding axe.
Producer Jasmine Gray speaks with Professor of Māori Studies Margaret Mutu of Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa, and Ngāti Whātua. As chairperson of Matike Mai Aotearoa and of Te Rūnanga-a-Iwi o Ngāti Kahu, Margaret shares with us the path to securing indigenous rights in Aotearoa in light of the upcoming hui on this kaupapa hosted at Waipapa Taumata Rau in April.
More international research has emerged evidencing the connection between hunger and school achievement both internationally and in Aotearoa, ahead of the proposed funding cuts for free school lunch programme, Ka Ora, Ka Ako.
Producer Jasmine Gray speaks with public health researcher, Dr. Pippa McKelvie-Sebileau, about the lacking evaluation processes of Aotearoa’s government bodies ahead of cuts, and the positive impact of our free school lunch programmes that has been evidenced through community research.
Bird feeding. It's one of life's simple pleasures that leads to rats, botuilism, and skewed biodiversity.
Though basic knowledge of bird feeding guidelines is present in Aotearoa, it is more often than not ignored, as demonstrated by the loaves of white bread that lay scattered in Auckland's Western Springs park.
Auckland regional representative for Birds NZ, Ian Mclean shares, his expert knowledge on what really happens when we feed birds.
Nicholas spoke to Associate Professor Mike Rehm about the reintroduction of interest deductibility and the implications for renters.
He also spoke to Professor Nicolas Lewis about the Government’s proposed bill to change regulations around the fast-tracking of consents for development.
Sofia spoke to Senior Research Fellow at the University of London, Dr Ladam Hashemi tells us about her research project at the University of Auckland that found higher vaccination rates for new migrants.
Oto spoke to Hiraia Haami-Wells, a student at the University of Auckland, to talk about a project she founded called “Kurutao”, aiming to bring more Tauira Māori into the world of entrepreneurship.
To end the show, Sofia spoke to Bird Connoisseur and Auckland regional representative for Birds New Zealand Ian Mclean about what really happens when we feed the birds at western springs
The coalition Government has proposed a bill that would change the current process around the fast tracking of consents for developmental projects.
The legislation would enable the Ministers of transport, Infrastructure and Regional Development to approve consents for projects without going through the current considerations around communities and local and regional government, existing legislation regarding Te Tiriti and community participation.
The bill would mean that Minister’s could decide on projects, that would then be sent to an expert panel that will review their choices and apply any conditions before sending it back to Ministers for final approval.
The legislation would allow Ministers to veto any restrictions the expert panel places on projects.
Environmental activists have criticised the legislation as a potential avenue to undermine environmental considerations.
Nicholas spoke to Professor Nicolas Lewis about the proposed changes.
The coalition Government has announced that they will reintroduce interest deductibility for property owners with a mortgage.
This would mean that property owners with a mortgage would be able to deduct the interest they pay on their mortgage, from their total income when calculating how much tax they pay.
The coalition government has claimed that this move will help both landlords and renters with David Seymour that landlords not being able to deduct interest from income is a cost that is inevitably passed on to tenants, contributing to New Zealand having all time high rental costs.
This claim has been disputed with economists saying that the reintroduction of interest deductibility will have little to no effect on the prices landlords choose for their rentals.
Nicholas spoke to Associate Professor Michael Rehm about the changes.
Earlier this month, the women’s Super Rugby Aupiki team Hurricanes Poua kicked off their season with a new haka calling out the coalition government, raising concerns about its policies on te reo Māori, and acknowledging He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Additionally, last week a school in Palmerston North, Freyberg High School, performed a protest haka to visiting ACT Leader David Seymour over his parties’ policies on Te Tiriti, education, and workforce issues.
Producer Sofia Roger Williams spoke to haka expert and University of Auckland Professional Teaching Fellow of Māori Studies in contemporary and traditional Māori performing arts and language, Paora Sharples, about the use of haka as political expression, how it’s been received, and movements led by rangatahi.
Disability communities have been rallying against a surprise change in purchasing rules in the Ministry of Disabled People Whaikaha. Communities have said the changes will have massive impact, despite no consultation on these changes or a formal announcement.
The Department of Conversation also recently proposed staffing cuts to meet funding demands. DoC controls a third of Aotearoa’s landmass which is all conservation land. It remains uncertain how job losses in the Ministry could impact conservation land management.
For weekly catch-up with the Labour party Wire Host Caeden spoke to Labour spokesperson for Disability Issues and Conservation Priyanca Rahdakrishnan about both of these issues.
For our weekly interview with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to MP Simon Court about the government’s proposal to increase student attendance rates and his post on X last week, in which he stated he stands with Israel.
The Ministry of Social Development is not immune to job cuts seen in other public service departments, with MSD calling for voluntary redundancies after cost-saving efforts failed to meet Government targets. For our weekly catch-up with Labour’s Carmel Sepuloni Wire Host Caeden asks her about the impact of cuts at MSD, especially amongst other Government policies disadvantaging beneficiaries.
They also ask about the Samoan Citizenship Bill led by Teanau Tuiono, and the impact of losing independent media giants such as Newshub for democracy.
A proposal to merge the Ōtara-Papatoetoe and Māngere-Ōtāhuhu local boards has been met with criticism, with consultation opening at the end of next month.
A new report has also been released on the quality of living in Tāmaki Makaurau with our city receiving mixed results by scoring high on some areas (the environment), and lower on others (education).
Wire Host Caeden speaks to Counsellor Lotu Fuli about both these topics for City Counselling.
For this week's Get Action! Sofia spoke to petitioner Abdul Safi and his campaign to place sanctions on Israel amidst genocidal acts that are widely considered war crimes.
If you want to sign this petition, you can find it here:
For City Counselling this week, Wire host Caeden spoke with Counsellor Lotu Fuli about the early morning vandalisation of the Rainbow Crossing on Karangahape Road.
They also ask about the end of half-price fares for under 25s, and the relationship Wayne Brown, as well as Auckland Council more generally, has with Auckland Transport.
It is estimated that 50 million people worldwide are currently involved in some form of slavery. Many of those who have been enslaved for their labour, and work as child labourers, produce goods that we import and consume on a regular basis here in Aotearoa.
Currently, there is no existing legislation in Aotearoa that requires companies to disclose the source of their goods, or to ensure that their products are being ethically produced; giving them free rein to indulge in modern slavery in order to cut their production costs.
Producer Oto spoke to Dr Susan Maiava, Co-Founder of the ethical directory Fair & Good who have created a petition and open letter urging the government to introduce modern slavery legislation.
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