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.
Bike Auckland has recently introduced Liberate the Lane, a call to introduce a cycling and walking lane to the Harbour Bridge. Today on the Wire, Beth spoke with Chair of Bike Auckland Karen Hormann about Liberate the Lane and why it’s so important.
For this week’s City Counselling, Beth spoke to Counsellor for Manukau Lotu Fuli about Auckland Council’s consultation around Māori seats and the upcoming Midtown Street Party.
Multiple political parties have announced their own “free dental” policy for this election. The Greens announced their free dental policy in August, with Labour following with their own announcement for free dental for under 30s earlier this month.
Caeden spoke to the hon Dr Ayesha Verrall, Minister for Health, about Labour’s free dental policy and why they have chosen to restrict their policy to under 30s.
They then spoke to Greens MP and Health Spokesperson Ricardo Menéndez March about the Green’s own free dental policy, how it’s different from Labour’s, and how they hope to implement it.
Caeden speaks to Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall and Greens MP Ricardo Menéndez March about both the Labour and Greens free dental policies, and how they compare to each other.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins talks to Senior Lecturer in Māori education at the University of Waikato, Jennifer Smith (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi), about their kaupapa to make mātauranga Māori accessible to tamariki in Tuahiwi.
Beth speaks to City Counsellor for Manukau Lotu Fuli for City Counselling about Auckland Council’s consultation around Māori seats and the upcoming Midtown Street Party.
She also speaks to Chair of Bike Auckland Karen Hormann about their call to allocate a cycleway to the Harbour Bridge, referred to as Liberate the Lane.
Olivia speaks to Chief Executive of WWF New Zealand, Doctor Kayla Kingdon-Bebb, about the impact of climate change on our wildlife, and possible climate solutions.
Climate change continues to be hugely impactful, with experts saying many of Aotearoa New Zealand’s wildlife species remain at risk of harm and extinction. WWF New Zealand has emphasised the importance of nature in mitigating the effects of climate change on our wildlife.
Olivia spoke to Chief Executive of WWF New Zealand, Dr Kayla Kingdon-Bebb, about the need for the Government to do more to mitigate climate change, and potential climate solutions.
Beth recently spoke with Organiser and Spokesperson for Choose Clean Water, Marnie Prickett, about the Public Health Communication Centre’s survey about political parties’ plans to protect Aotearoa’s drinking water sources.
The survey showed that Greens, Te Pati Māori and Labour had the best policies for this, while National and Act had little to no plans to protect Aotearoa’s drinking water.
Since then, National and ACT have spoken about their intentions surrounding protecting the health of Aotearoa’s water. Beth caught up with Marnie Prickett again to talk about this.
A newly released documentary 'River of Freedom' is being shown in several cinemas across the country.
The documentary focuses on the perspectives of the convoy who occupied parliament grounds in 2022, who in the film's own words, were “fed up with Covid-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates.”
The film has been promoted on platforms like The Platform, Counterspin, and Reality Check Radio, and has been accused of promoting disinformation.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to activist, researcher, and author of 'Fear: New Zealand's Hostile Underworld of Extremists’, Byron C Clark, about his impression of the documentary, and looking out for misinformation and disinformation in the lead up to the election.
Nicholas caught up with The Opportunities Party’s Epsom Candidate Dr Nina Su for our bi-weekly conversation in the lead up to this year's election.
The Opportunities Party has released three major environmental priorities; electrifying our public transport by 2030, empowering farmers to foster bio-diversity, and rejuvenating the Emissions Trading Scheme.
During our conversation we spoke about The Opportunities Party’s environmental policies. But first, Nicholas began by covering last week’s policy focus on The Wire, human issues.
Nicholas began by asking Dr Su about The Opportunities Party’s commitment to Te Tiriti O Waitangi and funding for the arts.
I spoke to The Opportunities Party’s Epsom Candidate Dr Nina Su, about their commitment to honouring Te Tiriti, funding for the arts, and their environmental policy.
Arno interviewed Save Animals From Exploitation (SAFE) CEO Debra Ashton about live animal exports.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to activist, researcher, and author of 'Fear: New Zealand's Hostile Underworld of Extremists’, Byron C Clark, about a newly released documentary. 'River of Freedom', which accused of promoting disinformation.
And Ash-Rose spoke to Youthline Clinical Services Manager, Joanna Madsen, about the government's plan to send co-response teams to those who call emergency services in mental distress.
The Healthcare exec Brian Thompson was shot dead by a masked assailant last week.
The crime has gained significant controversy and attention online, with many using it to restart the debate on the inequities of the United States healthcare system.
And this week Yale University was the latest college to commit to divesting from weapons manufacturing after a student vote.
For State of the States this week Wire Host Caeden speak to Andre Fa’aoso from the Yale Daily News about both of these topics.
The government as announced their plan for the Cook Strait ferry a year after they scrapped Labour’s plan, including cancelling the ferries the Labour government had ordered.
And a new report from the Ministry of Social Development has revealed nearly a quarter of beneficiaries are not receiving their correct entitlements.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden speaks to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about both of these topics.
For City Counselling this week, producer Sofia caught up with Councillor Shane Henderson about proposed time-of-use charging to solve congestion problems in Tāmaki and Council selling their remaining Auckland Airport shares last week.
The Green party recently released He Ara Anamata - the Green party’s emissions reduction plan.
The document covers more than 10 areas of the economy and energy Sector that a Greens-led government would be looking to adapt to minimise carbon emissions and protect the natural landscapes of Aotearoa.
It also comes 5 months after the government released their own draft emissions plan. Numerous experts pointed out that the government is behind on their own plan’s targets to meet the crucial emissions budget for 2031-2035.
For their weekly catchup, Oto spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez-March to discuss the party’s new emissions reduction plan and how they would address climate and the economy in a greens-led government.
Last election, one of the National Party’s main campaign promises was to be ‘tough on crime’, promising to increase police coverage and penalties for crimes. A target was set to increase the number of police officers by 500 by November 2025, however some police leaders today say this goal is unrealistic.
The government also announced this week some shakeups to insulation standards, which they say should make houses more affordable.
In our weekly catchup with the National Party’s Tom Rutherford, Wire host Castor spoke to him about police staffing targets and new insulation standards.
This week on Dear Science, our expert Doctor Cushla McGoverin chatted with us about what latrines teach us about people, climate variation affecting Chinese dynasties, and invasive species becoming threatened.
Thanks to MOTAT, the museum inspiring the innovators of tomorrow!
Last week it was revealed that two of the ten participants in the government's pilot bootcamp programme were on the run.
The youth were two months into the community rehabilitation phase of the programme, following the three month youth justice residence phase. Both teens were found in the weekend, but had allegedly reoffended, and are now set to come before the court.
For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, who have been heavily advocating for this programme, Producer Evie spoke to Simon Court about this incident.
She also talks to him about proposed changes to employment law which would give employers the power to dismiss workers earning over $180,000 without the employee refuting the decision.
And finally, she talks to him about David Seymour’s incumbent run as Deputy Prime Minister, which is set to begin in May of next year.
For City Counselling this week, Producer Sofia spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about changes to Auckland Transport’s responsibilities, nationwide bus and train fare hikes, and concerns over the opening of the City Rail Link.
For State of the States this week, Wire Host Caeden speaks to Andre Fa'aoso from the Yale Daily News about President Biden's decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden, who was due to be sentenced next week for three felony charges.
They also discuss Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for FBI director, who is the latest in a long list of unorthodox picks for government positions from Trump
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