Listen back to features and interviews from 95bFM's daily news and current affairs show. Joel Armstrong, Sara Mckoy, Max Micheel, and Caeden Tipler focus on the issues of Tāmaki Makaurau and elsewhere in independent-thinking bFM style. Monday-Thursday 12-1pm on 95bFM.
This week, Ximena & Adam hear about some exciting new developments being forged by groups in New Zealand: Generation Zero's new Zero Carbon Act, Greater Auckland's Congestion Free Network 2 proposal & new research coming out of the University of Otago that looks at growing human teeth. Allan Blackman pops in for a morbid episode Dear Science, where he fleshes out the nutritional benefits of cannibalism (or more correctly, the lack of them), as well as discussing the history and uses of chemical weapons. We also hear from the curator of an upcoming series of talks at AUT called Critical Conversations, which examine the different ways algorithms and code shape our everyday lives.
Auckland's transport woes are notorious, from blocked motorways, to never-on-time public transport. But with the release of an updated transit plan, these frustrations may have an end in sight. Proposed by Greater Auckland (formally Transport Blog), the Congestion Free Network 2 aims to reshape the entirety of Aucklands public transport network into a functional, cohesive unit. Adam Jacobson speaks with Greater Auckland Editor, Matt Lowrie, to find out how exactly the CFN 2 plans to implement this.
As climate change is becoming ever more of a concern around the planet, advocacy groups are getting into action. Here in New Zealand, a proposal has been released which aims to see New Zealand carbon free by 2050. Generation Zero has unveiled their Zero Carbon Act, which outlines certain milestones and pathways, which the government should undertake to achieve this target. Adam Jacobson speaks to Generation Zero spokesperson Lisa Mclaren about what the Zero Carbon Act entails and the specific actions proposed.
Researchers from the University of Otago are well on their way to developing new biomaterials that will help grow new teeth. The research offers huge potential for people with dental health problems, and has just received an explorer grant from the Health Research Council. Ximena caught up with researchers Azam Ali and Karl Lyons to talk about the biomaterials, how they work & why this research is so significant.
Our lives are increasingly mediated by digital technologies and online structures. This in turn dictates the information we might be exposed to, the relationships we might have, and other ways in which we live. A new series of talks at AUT intends to look at the way in which algorithms & data interact with and shape our everyday lives. The series, called Critical Conversations, is split into three talks - space, origins & intimacy - and each involve a different theorist/ academic paired with an artist/ technologist. Ximena caught up with the curator of the event, Luke Munn, to learn more about the theme of the series and to chat about what to expect to come out of each conversation.
Last week Recorded Music New Zealand released their latest market report which revealed a second consecutive year of growth in New Zealand's music industry after more than a decade of decline. Reporter Sam Smith reports on the situation and speaks to industry insiders as to what it all means.
The war in Syria is in its 6th year, and as a war, it has been plagued by the spread of propaganda, misinformation and competing narratives, as the parties involved attempt to control the information war taking place alongside the conflict on the ground. However, how exactly does the media cover conflict? What barriers do they face? And who should we believe when there are so many different versions of events? Reporter Sam Smith speaks to University of Auckland political studies lecturer Maria Armoudian about the role of the media during war and conflict.
Check out the full podcast for this week's Tuesday show, where we speak to Māori Party co-leader Marama Fox about the latest in Māori issues, Sam has a report on the recent boom in New Zealand music revenue, we look at the reemergence of an elusive New Guinea dog, and more.
An open letter claiming free speech is under threat in New Zealand attracted the signatures of 27 prominent New Zealanders earlier this year. This followed calls for a review of hate speech legislation and the voluntary de-registration of the short-lived Auckland University European Students Association. To get both sides of the story, bfm producer Ben spoke with the man behind the open letter, Dr Paul Moon, and the National President of the New Zealand Union of Students Associations.
With the rise of fast fashion outlets like Shein and Temu alongside the wider mainstream options available that contribute substantial amounts of clothing waste to landfill, experts are calling for an urgent response on a governance, business, and individual level.
Wire Host Sara spoke to Mindful Fashion Chief Executive Jacinta Fitzgerald about the problem, and the industry response to sustainability, as well as University of Auckland Marketing Professor Mike Lee about the importance of ethical consumption.for individuals.
First, is the interview with Fitzgerald, where she begins by talking about the organisation Mindful Fashion.
Following this, Sara spoke to Marketing Professor Mike Lee about the research he has undertaken around consumerism.
The biannual Scrutiny Week took place in Parliament last week, with meetings across select committees and government departments focussed on scrutinising the outcomes of government work.
These include hearings on ministries like Health, Housing, Environment and Justice.
Wire Host Sara spoke to National MP Carl Bates about Scrutiny Week, firstly by asking him to talk about the meetings he was involved in
The government has recently rejected all of the Climate Change Commission’s recommendations regarding strengthening the country’s methane targets recommendations.
The commission’s recommendations include strengthening the county’s 2050 methane emission targets, continuing lowering emissions after 2050, and that international shipping and aviation, which represents 9% of the county’s total emissions, should be included within targets.
Despite the commission saying that there would be upfront costs, many of the changes would result in cost savings over time, however, the government rejected this claim.
For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to MP Simon Court about the government rejecting these recommendations.
The Trump administration has caused issues of significant food waste due to a range of its policies, including immigration raids, tariffs, cuts to food assistance programmes, and the destruction of food for programmes like USAID.
This has had huge consequences, including environmental impacts, as well as impacts on the estimated more than 47 million people in the US who don’t have enough food to eat, and those who have relied on US foreign aid that has been cut.
For International Desk, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Garrett Graddy-Lovelace, Provost Associate Professor in Environment, Development & Health at American University, about these issues.
Tāmaki Makaurau’s council budget is among those impacted by the proposal of a rates cap, considering Tāmaki’s average 5.8% annual rates increase across the 25/26 financial year.
Youth homelessness is a growing concern as discussions continue around “move on” orders for those without housing in Auckland’s CBD.
And the Skycity Convention Centre is set to open in 2026, with high hopes for what it may bring for Tāmaki Makaurau after its prolonged development.
Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Counsellor Fairey about these topics.
On Monday, the government announced that they’d be introducing a rates rises cap, which is expected to be legislated by the end of 2026. The cap would be a minimum of 2% and a maximum of 4% nationwide.
When talking about the reasoning for the introduction of a rates cap, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said that ratepayers in New Zealand were “fed up”.
Along with this, The Labour Party announced that if they were to be elected in next year’s election, they would offer doctors and nurse-practitioners low-interest loans to set up new practices or buy into existing ones. In their policy, Chris Hipkins stated they would hand out up to 50 loans per year, which would be up to 90% of the cost of buying into a practice, capped at $500,000 dollars. They also specified they’d be prioritising areas that had no general practitioners or practices with closed or partially closed books.
And last week, the Government announced a proposed major shake-up of local council. Where Mayors of cities and district councils would take over the duties of regional councils.
For our Weekly Catchup with The Green Party, Wednesday Wire Host Max spoke to MP Ricardo Menendez March about the Government’s regional council’s announcement and Labour’s low-interest loans for family GP practices.
But first, they discussed The National Party’s rates rises cap.
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From today until the 4th of December, a conference will be held in Queenstown that will look into pest management and how best to protect native species.
The event not only brings experts in the sector from Aotearoa, but will also involve Australian experts as well.
Tuesday Wire Host Sara spoke to Dr Sze-Wing Yiu, a Wildlife Ecologist at the Bioeconomy Science Institute, about this week’s conference, and what to expect.
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