Listen back to features and interviews from 95bFM's daily news and current affairs show. Joel Armstrong, Castor Chacko, Oto Sequeira, and Caeden Tipler focus on the issues of Tāmaki Makaurau and elsewhere in independent-thinking bFM style. Monday-Thursday 12-1pm on 95bFM.
New research out of the University of Otago has created a groundbreaking new technique that allows for the extraction of DNA from ancient fossils and artifacts without damage.
After lots of trial and error, Otago Master of Science student Lachie Scarsbrook and his supervisor Dr. Nic Rawlence from the Otago Paleogenetics lab were able to find a technique that extracts data in a completely non-destructive way.
To discuss what this discovery means for tracing New Zealand’s ecological history, Emilia Sullivan spoke to Dr. Nic Rawlence.
After weeks of advocacy from Green MPs, Immigration New Zealand has assured that West Papuan students whose scholarships were suddenly cancelled by the Indonesian Government will not be deported to West Papua.
Joe spoke to Teanau Tuiono, Green Party spokesperson for Pacific Peoples, on the matter. He began by giving some detail on the situation with West Papuan students studying in New Zealand at the moment.
Dr. Alys Longley has been working with a group of Chilean artists across the pandemic on a collaborative art project that combines thinking across the southern axis to illustrate how we think about art as an essential service in times of crisis and political repression.
Producer Alex spoke to Dr. Alys Longley from the University of Auckland about this project.
We start off with a conversation with ACT’s Brooke van Velden about a Ministry of Health memo released yesterday that advised for the end of MIQ way back in November 2021, and Auckland Council’s implementation of residential density legislation.
Stella then speaks with James Oleson, Associate Professor of Criminology at the University of Auckland about the crime in the CBD.
Frances then speaks with Cameron Mulgan on Eurovision, giving a general update on the situation in Ukraine, Finland and Sweden swinging towards joining NATO, the UK's refugee response (sending asylum seekers to Rwanda), French election polls (and some scandals) and the Venice Bienalle opening this weekend
Isla and Stella then host an episode of Tomorrow’s World, investigating viral dogs that have been trained to press buttons that speak human words with PhD candidate Dana Keating from the University of Auckland.
I then speak with Flinders University’s Janet Klein on her research into microplastics in South Australian waters.
Finally, I discuss her new, collaborative artpiece with the University of Auckland’s Alys Longley which was created across media during COVID
In light of crime increases in Auckland’s CBD, Stella talks to James Oleson, Associate Professor of Criminology at the University of Auckland about the ways we measure, perceive and respond to crime, and what the literature says about police presence as a deterrent for criminal behaviour. They also respond to calls from mayoral candidates to re-establish a police office in downtown Auckland.
Micro plastics are an issue of growing concern, having been found in environments around the world while the impact on animal and human health has only just started to be quantified.
A team at Flinders University recently completed a study which found concerning levels of microplastic pollution in mussels in South Australia. Alex spoke with the leader of the research Janet Klein earlier today.
Frances speaks with Cameron Mulgan on Eurovision, giving a general update on the situation in Ukraine, Finland and Sweden swinging towards joining NATO, the UK's refugee response (sending asylum seekers to Rwanda), French election polls (and some scandals) and the Venice Bienalle opening this weekend .
The triennial report on the state of the environment in Aotearoa has changed the framework for how it reports its findings. It looks more at mātauranga Māori and exploring the connection between the environment and people. Joe spoke to Professor Amanda Black, Director at Bioprotection Aotearoa and Rutherford Discovery Fellow, as well as Dr. Dan Hikuroa, Senior Lecturer, Te Wānanga o Waipapa, Waipapa Taumata Rau (School of Māori Studies and Pacific Studies, at the University of Auckland on the matter.
This week on our regular catch up with Dr Shane Reti from the National Party, News and editorial director Aneeka speaks to him about Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern heading off to Asia and the country’s recent move down to the orange traffic light setting.
The government of the Pacific island nation Tuvalu has recently reversed its decision to sponsor a deep sea mining company. This decision has been met with support from environmental activists. On the Tuesday Wire, Christina spoke to James Hita, a Greenpeace seabed mining campaigner, about the impacts of deep sea mining.
Last week Pharmac workers announced their first-ever strike over cuts to annual pay increases and deteriorating work conditions. Also last week, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation announced plans to strike on July 30th. The nurses' strike follows concerns around understaffing and overcrowding, with many staff members facing burnout.
These two issues have been attributed to similar causes - not enough funding in the health sector, which is forcing redundancies, increased hours, and understaffing. While the government has committed extra funding to the health sector in the last two budgets, critics say the funding is inadequate and barely catching up to existing deficits.
In our weekly catch-up with the National party, Wire host Castor asked Tom Rutherford about health funding and the government’s plans moving forward in light of the two recently announced health workers' strikes.
Yesterday, the ACT Party held their annual rally, being called the “Free and Equal Rally”.
Notably, US author, James Lindsay, was a keynote speaker at the event.
Lindsay is the author of ‘Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything About Race, Gender, and Identity—and Why This Harms Everybody’ - among other titles, such as ‘Race Marxism: The Truth About Critical Race Theory and Praxis’ and ‘The Queering of the American Child: How a New School Religious Cult Poisons the Minds and Bodies of Normal Kids’.
Party Leader, David Seymour, says Lindsay is a “prominent advocate for free speech”. Prior to the event, a spokesperson for the party said Lindsay would discuss “reclaiming liberalism in an age of extremes”.
For our weekly catch up, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the ACT Party’s Simon Court about the rally, why the party chose Lindsay as a keynote speaker, and we address some of the concerns with Lindsay’s previous comments.
They also discussed the first public hearings into the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the former government’s Covid-19 response, and what to expect heading into the next hearings in Wellington next month.
But first, they discussed ACT’s 2025 “Free and Equal” Rally.
This month, a number of council body reforms have come into effect in the Auckland Council, fulfilling Mayor Wayne Brown’s promise to address issues and implement community feedback into the council’s format.
The three new divisions in the Auckland Council to improve organisation include the Auckland Urban Development Office, the Property Department, and an Economic Development Office, each of which are intended to make decision making more effective and accessible to the public.
As well, with the persisting cold temperatures and rainy weather hitting Auckland this Winter, I wanted to discuss the topic of homelessness in Auckland’s city centre, and to what extent the council is working to support those rough sleeping in the CBD
Public hearings as part of phase two of the Royal Commission into COVID-19 took place in Auckland this week.
The second phase of the inquiry has a stronger focus on lockdowns, vaccine mandates, and the impact of the Covid-19 response on business and the economy.
And yesterday, an independent reference group set up by the Ministry of Environment shared their recommendations for climate adaptation legislation.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Arena Williams about both of these topics.
Recently, a study was conducted by researchers at the University of Southampton which uncovered a shift in the circulation of the Southern Ocean.
The study showed that the shift would draw up more salt water from the deep ocean, subsequently accelerating the loss of ice in the Antarctic and leading to an increase of sea levels and global heating.
The week before, the government allowed the terrorist designation given to the far-right ‘Proud Boys’ group to expire, effectively decriminalising the act of funding or openly supporting the group here in Aotearoa.
And, just yesterday Finance Minister Nicola Willis confirmed a number of changes to Family Boost which she said would help families with the cost of living.
For our weekly catchup with the Green Party, News and Editorial Director Joel spoke with MP Ricardo Menendez March to get the party’s take on all of these issues.
The Southerner was a passenger express train in the South Island running between Christchurch and Invercargill from 1970 to 2002.
The train was eventually closed due a decline in passenger numbers and subsidies, although it was briefly revived in May this year for four days as part of a tourist experience.
Recently, a group of campaigners from Save our Trains launched a petition calling on the government to restore the Southerner train route as a more accessible form of travel for South Islanders.
Wednesday Wire Host Oto spoke with Dave Macpherson from Save Our Train - Southern, to discuss his petition and why the Southerner should be restored.
Hearings on the regulatory standards bill are currently underway, with around 23,000 total submissions both written and oral. Early analysis of the submissions estimated 88% percent are in opposition, while only 0.3% are in support.
The bill has been pushed by Minister for Regulation and ACT Party leader David Seymour, who says it should support the government to reduce regulation and ensure the protection of individual rights and private property. The bill has been criticised for not including clauses around Te Tiriti o Waitangi or environmental protections. It has also been criticised for potentially undemocratic elements, placing large amounts of control in the hands of the unelected Ministry for Regulation.
In our weekly catch-up with the National party, Wire host Castor asked Tom Rutherford about the regulatory standards bill in light of the select committee hearings and new criticisms.
Recently, the government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Mayors of Auckland, Otago, and Western Bay of Plenty Councils over the government’s expectations of City and Regional Deals. These deals aim to tighten the partnership between central and local governments.
For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, speaks to MP Cameron Luxton about what to expect heading forward regarding the relationship between local, regional, and central government.
They also discussed last week's Youth Parliament.
Youth Parliament provides the opportunity for 143 rangatahi aged 16-to-24 as Youth MPs, representing MPs across the political spectrum, and Youth Press Gallery members, to understand the country’s political processes, understand how government works, and replicate the Parliamentary process.
Youth MPs had previously accused event organisers of ‘censoring’ their speeches. This follows the MPs being asked to remove elements of their speeches that were critical of government policies, such as the Treaty Principles Bill and pay equity.
However, The Ministry of Youth Development has come out saying the way they communicated their wishes with Youth MPs could have been clearer and more concise. The general manager of the Ministry, John Robertson, says reviewing speeches and suggesting changes was a part of the process, but these recommendations are not enforced.
They also spoke to Luxton about these accusations, and whether they are tantamount to censorship.
Finally, they discussed calls by over half of the Youth MPs represented in this year's Youth Parliament, from across the political spectrum, renewing calls for the voting age to be lowered, to allow 16-to-17-year-olds the right to vote.
5 ACT Youth MPs, including the Youth MP representing Cameron Luxton, Fletcher Brown, had signed a letter calling for the voting age to be reduced.
This follows the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling that found the current voting age is unjustified age discrimination and goes against the Human Rights Act 1993.
They also discussed these renewed calls to lower the voting age.
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