Listen back to features and interviews from 95bFM's daily news and current affairs show. Castor Chacko, Sara Mckoy, Emmanuel Orange, and Caeden Tipler focus on the issues of Tāmaki Makaurau and elsewhere in independent-thinking bFM style. Monday-Thursday 12-1pm on 95bFM.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to MP Shanan Halbert about the Employment Relations Amendment Bill, the National Infrastructure Plan, and the Salvation Army’s Station of the Nation Report.
They also spoke to E Tū National Secretary Rachel Mackintosh and University of Auckland Teaching Fellow Simon Schofield on the impact of the Government’s Employment Relations Amendment Bill.
For City Counselling this week, Producer Jasmine spoke to Councillor Fairey about the presence of politicians at Big Gay Out, tolling a new harbour crossing, local government’s Value for Money committee and council’s use of AI
And she spoke to Zero Waste Aotearoa’s Sue Coutts about mining e-waste for minerals instead of fast-tracking new mining shafts.
A fast-track consent is currently being sought for a major gold mine in Cromwell, Central Otago.
This follows the approval of a controversial $8 billion dollar mine that received fast-track approval for the Coromandel in December.
Local response has largely presented environmental concerns, and raise questions of alternative initiatives for mineral mining in Aotearoa.
Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Sue Coutts, Director of External Affairs at Zero Waste Aotearoa, about the potential of e-waste and a circular economy for mining gold and other materials.
Big Gay Out was held by the Burnett Foundation on Sunday, and appearances from some politicians were met with controversy, ending with a protestor’s removal from the main stage.
There have been discussions of a $9 toll to finance a new harbour crossing this week, while Auckland council’s Value For Money committee has also commenced for 2026.
Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about these topics, alongside new council initiatives that utilise AI.
Last week, the government officially announced plans to build a liquified natural gas (or, LNG) terminal in Taranaki, with the goal of finishing construction by next year or early 2028.
The terminal is intended to provide a stopgap for New Zealand’s energy network during dry years, where hydro sources may not generate sufficient energy to support the network.
Coming at a cost of over a billion dollars, a new levy on electricity users of two to four dollars per megawatt hour, will be introduced to help fund the terminal.
However, the project has already faced criticism from groups such as Greenpeace, who pointed to the poor economic viability of the terminal and its further investment in fossil fuels during the climate crisis.
To understand more, producer Theo spoke to Greenpeace’s Chief Executive Russel Norman on the ramifications of this plan, and possible alternatives for mitigating dry year risk.
To little fanfair the government announced a huge overhaul of key ministries, merging the Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the local government functions of the Department of Internal Affairs into a new agency.
Coming on the back of the yet more fast-track approvals reforms, which have cut out community voices like Forest and Bird, and led to criticisms of environmental destruction, the move is a huge overhaul in governance, leaving many critics alarmed that this is yet another move pulling the country away from climate mitigation and adaptation.
To understand why the government's plans to merge these key ministries is alarming them, I spoke to Ora Taiao Co-ordinator Marnie Pricket.
For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party, host Manny spoke with MP Ricardo Menéndez March about the National Infrastructure Plan and the Employment Relations Amendment Bill.
Producer Theo then spoke to Greenpeace’s Executive Director, Russel Norman, on the government’s decision to pursue the construction of a liquified natural gas terminal in Taranaki.
And after that, Host Manny spoke to Ora Taiao Co-ordinator Marnie Prickett, about the government's plans to merge several key ministries, in a move that has raised their alarm.
Artificial Intelligence has become a part of our lives today and can do everything that humans once relied on their education and expertise for. However, in her latest article for Newsroom, the University of Auckland's Senior Lecturer of Marketing, Professor Shahper Richter, says humans get to decide AI's future.
She says the values programmed into AI softwares don't necessarily fit the culture in Aotearoa, and that humans can still take their autonomy back from AI.
For Dear Science this week, our expert, Professor Allan Blackman chats with us about a new solar solution, the periodic table anniversary, and the latest research on human senses
For our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire Host Sara spoke to National MP Ryan Hamlilton about Wellington’s wastewater treatment plant failure, the State of the Nation, and NZ First’s call for a Māori seats referendum
For Green World, news-teamer Alex spoke to Nikolai Siimes, a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Auckland, about Biodynamic Alternatives to Fungicides
Producer Vihan spoke to the University of Auckland’s Shahper Richter on balancing AI and human values.
Over the course of the latest Trump Administration, numerous international organisations have found themselves in the President's crosshairs. The latest is the World Trade Organisation, with the US proposing a set of reforms that would consolidate their influence over the organisation, and reduce the limitations placed upon them.
Monday Wire Producer Alex spoke with Professor Emeritus in Law at the University of Auckland, Jane Kelsey, about these reforms, particularly in regards to how New Zealand is positioning ourselves in these changes, and what they’ll mean for us.
Big Gay Out was held by the Burnett Foundation on Sunday, and appearances from some politicians were met with controversy, ending with a protestor’s removal from the main stage.
There have been discussions of a $9 toll to finance a new harbour crossing this week, while Auckland council’s Value For Money committee has also commenced for 2026.
Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about these topics, alongside new council initiatives that utilise AI.
With the long-delayed opening of the city rail link due to later this year, and the government re-launching their roads of national significance, eyes have turned to a perennial problem. Why do we spend more on building than any other OECD nation yet receive far less bang for buck?
To solve these problems, the government asked the Infrastructure Commission to write a plan that could be the basis for a bipartisan infrastructure pipeline, the National Infrastructure Plan, to give us steady development and perspective on our infrastructure needs and issues.
And this week, the Employment Relations Amendment bill under ACT MP Brooke Van Veldon has reached its final reading before being put into law. It is set to overhaul our employment system, supporters say it will make it easier for contractors to get the arrangements that they want and increase work, critics say it will push workers into more precarious positions with less protections from exploitation.
For this weeks catch up with the Green Party I spoke to MP Ricardo Menéndez March about the National Infrastructure Plan and Employment Relations Amendment Bill.
In Wellington, failure at the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant has led to millions of liters of wastewater being sent into the Cook Strait.
The incident has shed light on what scientific experts have been saying for years — that water infrastructure in New Zealand is out of date and incapable of handling the growing effect of climate challenges without deeper investment.
The Salvation Army released their State of the Nation report which has found an increase in issues across the justice system, child welfare, and poverty contributing to declining social equality in Aotearoa.
As well, NZ First leader Winston Peters is campaigning on a referendum on Māori seats in New Zealand.
Wire Host Sara spoke to National MP Ryan Hamilton about all of these topics, starting with Moa Point.
Despite their strong reputation for sustainability, New Zealand’s vineyards and orchards still use large amounts of fungicide to fight plant diseases. These chemicals carry environmental risks, including the greenhouse gases emitted through their manufacture and transportation, and the toxic run-off which they can cause when applied.
Newsteamer Alex spoke with Nikolai Siimes, a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Auckland who says we should be looking at alternatives — not just developing better pesticides, but rethinking our fruit farming practices from the ground up.
This past week has seen the government announcing plans to construct a facility for the storage of liquid natural gas. The plans have been criticised by activists, academics, and opposition members, who say it compromises our government’s commitment to reducing emissions.
Yesterday also saw ACT Party Leader David Seymour deliver his State of the Nation speech, noting different parts of society and the economy his party takes issue with. He particularly raised "five warning lights", of issues that the country must "overcome".
For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party, News Director Castor spoke to Simon Court about each of these issues, starting with liquid natural gas.
Auckland Museum is in a precarious situation around funding, requiring significant support to manage the asbestos concerns of last year and other maintenance issues. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says the government should pay for some of the repairs, especially as they provide financial support for Te Papa in Wellington.
Also this past week has seen proposals for a merger between the Kaipara and Rodney district councils. This would split Rodney away from the rest of Auckland, a move with various pros and cons for the region.
Finally, yesterday saw the Auckland International Events Centre opening after thirteen years of construction. For City Counselling this week, News Director Castor spoke to Auckland Councillor Shane Henderson about each of these issues, starting with Auckland Museum.
Thousands of locals have protested the Winter Olympics in Milan, citing issues like cost of living and the environmental impact of the games, as well as the presence of law enforcement officers from the United States.
For International Desk, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Dr Keith Rathbone, Senior Lecturer in Modern European History and Sports History at Macquarie University, about these protests in Milan, and their broader context within Olympic history.
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