Listen back to features and interviews from 95bFM's daily news and current affairs show. Castor Chacko, Alex Fox, 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.
The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference, commonly known as COP29, concluded in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku last week.
This year’s climate change conference was particularly controversial, with the host - Azerbaijan, being a major oil producer, with almost 2,000 lobbyists from the oil and gas industry attending and with many small island nation states in attendance objecting to the conference’s $300 billion financial agreement to help them address the impacts of extreme weather events.
Wednesday Wire Host, Oto, spoke to Bronwyn Hayward a Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Canterbury, to discuss the outcomes of the COP29 conference and the New Quantified Goal in Climate Finance that came from it.
Last week, Judges at the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister - Benjamin Netanyahu, former defence minister - Yoav Gallant and the military commander of Hamas - Mohammad Deif.
As a result of the warrants, any countries that are signatories to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court would be required to arrest those charged and hand them over to the court in the Hague.
The move is considered to be particularly significant, as it’s the first incident in which the leaders of a western-allied country are receiving warrants from the court.
Wednesday Wire Host, Oto, spoke to Treasa Dunworth - An Associate Professor in the Faculty of :aw at the University of Auckland, to discuss the warrants, their significance and efficacy.
A team of scientists at the University of Auckland have recently received a $1 million grant to investigate the link between babies having low weight at birth, and developing heart problems later in life. The team will be using virtual models of the heart and placenta.
Producer Athena spoke to Associate Professor from the Auckland Bioengineering Institute, at the University of Auckland, Alys Clark, who will co-lead the study alongside fellow academic, Jo James, about how the study will be conducted, and what the team hopes to achieve with its findings.
A recent report by Age Concern has revealed 59% of people aged 65 or older experience feelings of loneliness and social isolation, of which 30% experienced those feelings often or always. These results indicate what is being called a “loneliness epidemic”.
Producer Athena spoke to Joyce Cook Chair in Aging Well, and Professor at the University of Auckland, Ngaire Kerse, about how the loneliness epidemic among older people arose, the effects of loneliness and isolation, and potential ways to address the issue.
For Dear Science, our expert Doctor Cushla McGoverin chatted with us about amphibian fossils in Wyoming and squirting cucumbers.
In our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire host Castor spoke to MP Tom Rutherford about last week’s gang patch ban and Aotearoa’s emissions targets in light of COP29.
They also spoke to Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Information and Technology in Monash University in Melbourne, Jathan Sadowski about Artificial Intelligence and work.
Producer Athena spoke to Associate Professor at the University of Auckland’s Bioengineering Institute, Alys Clark, about research into the link between the placenta and the heart using virtual models.
They also spoke to Joyce Cook Chair in Aging Well and Professor at the University of Auckland, Ngaire Kerse, about the loneliness epidemic among older people.
New technologies have always been announced and marketed as ways to advance society and push humanity forward. This past couple of years the hot new technology seems to be generative AI, which from its inception now sees use across almost every sector. From digital marketing to google to facebook, no part of the internet seems exempt from artificial intelligence.
The mass use of artificial intelligence has, however, raised alarm bells for some, who say its use and spread may disproportionately affect some groups of people. Wire host Castor spoke to Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Information and Technology in Monash University in Melbourne, Jathan Sadowski, about how new technology, particularly AI, seems to always benefit those on top.
After a new report from the science media centre mentions that after reviewing the evidence around puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria, the Ministry of Health is taking a more precautionary approach.
Producer Yesenia spoke to paediatric endocrinologist and Professor at the University of Auckland Paul Hofman about the multidisciplinary approach the ministry of health is wanting to approach with Puberty Blockers and the changes coming for those seeking gender affirming care.
A report from the annual New Zealand health survey data for 2023-2024 showed that the proportion of children from homes where food ran out sometimes or often has increased by nearly six percentage points in one year. That’s 21.3 percent to 27 percent.
However, the food insecurity dives into areas of wellbeing like growth, wellbeing and immunity should these childrens not get all the nutrients they need in their meals.
Producer Yesenia spoke to Māori health researcher and spokesperson for the Health Coalition Aotearoa Doctor Christina McKerchar, about the harms that Maori and pasifika children have due to food insecurity, where linking information can be found for school performance and what communities can do to diminish food insecurity in Aotearoa.
Global Innovator, Matt Hart, joins us in the studio to discuss setting boundaries and how to navigate this.
For our weekly catch up with Te Pāti Māori, News and Editorial Director, and Monday Wire Host, Joel, speaks to Mariameno Kapa-Kingi about hīkoi mō te tiriti reaching Parliament, the Treaty Principles Bill passing it’s first reading, and the haka in the house in protest of this.
For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party's Simon Court, Joel also speaks to Simon about the hīkoi mō te tiriti at Parliament.
Producer Yesenia speaks to Māori health researcher and spokesperson for Health Coalition Aoteaora, Christina Mckerchar, on the harms of food insecurity on Māori and Pasifika children and what those harms will impact them.
Yesenia also speaks to Paediatric Endocrinologist and Professor at the University of Auckland, Paul Hofman, on the Ministry of Health's precautions regarding puberty blockers, and what the multidisciplinary approach would provide.
And finally, Joel speaks to the Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships at MOTAT, Katie Bundle, about MOTAT’s adopt a tram initiative.
For our weekly chat with Global Innovator, Matt Hart, Producer Yesenia speaks to Matt about effectively putting up boundaries and how to navigate this.
Since its inception in 2008, the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (or ETS) has been, according to the government, its primary tool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle the climate crisis. As part of the scheme, the government sets a price for carbon units, which companies must pay to offset their emissions. The Climate Change Commission has recently highlighted that the scheme was not stable and susceptible to changes in the market, and did not have sufficient carbon units to last until 2030, requiring urgent reform.
For Green World, Wire producer Liam spoke with Scott Burnett, the Regional Conservation Manager for the top of the South Island and Forest and Bird’s climate spokesperson about why Forest and Bird has called the system broken, what impact this has on Aotearoa and what reforms should be implemented.
Last week, NZ First MP and Government Minister Shane Jones was criticised over using derogatory language towards Indian Immigrants. These comments were condemned by the National Party and Christopher Luxon, who labelled NZ First’s belief system as ‘anti-immigrant’, and saidd Jones was ‘scaremongering’.
That was not the extent of criticism between NZ First and National, however, with tensions between the two sparking after NZ First Leader Winston Peters calling out Luxon for not giving coalition partners prior notice of his confidence vote during a national party caucus meeting last week. In turn, these comments have been dismissed, and Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Luxon accused NZ First and Peters of putting Labour Governments, like Arderns, into power. Despite all of this, however, Peters has insisted the coalition is as stable as a ‘three-legged stool’.
Last week also saw the Treasury announce that they would revisit their forecasts for the economy ahead of the impending government budget. The Government also announced some changes to the way Infrastructure is run by the government, giving more power to the Independent Infrastructure Commission, increasing their oversight and changing the way that Ministers receive advice and information.
This week, Host Alex spoke with National MP Ryan Hamilton about these developments, beginning with Shane Jones’ comments.
Last week, the Green Party leaders, Marama Davidson and Chloe Swarbrick, hosted their state of the planet address, where they launched their call to electrify the nation.
On top of that, events this week have led the party to criticise the government. The first critique, instigated by the floods that swept the nation, hitting the Coromandel and causing a state of emergency in the Wellington Region, led the Greens to question the government's decreased funding of flood responses as harsh weather increases.
The second critique came with a cabinet paper this week that shows the government is planning on moving ahead with reforms to legislation that will see references to the Treaty of Waitangi and Te Tiriti o Waitangi redefined, in what the government sez is about ‘standardisation’ but what the Green Party sees as dishonouring Te Tiriti.
So for our weekly catch-up with the Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez March, we discuss their criticisms of the government but start with a discussion of their electrification policy.
Despite a tenuous ceasefire, the fuel crisis - resulting from the US and Israel bombing of Iran, and subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz - drags on. Prices have remained high, hitting low-income households hard, and while fuel stocks in or on-the-way to the country sit comfortably above a month’s cover, approaches to conserving fuel remain front-of-mind for many.
One strategy that New Zealanders have been urged to adopt is switching to public transport, which would put fewer cars on the road. However, access is often dependent on location and affordability.
Over the past few years, the Ministry of Education has reviewed numerous rural school bus routes, cancelling some, cutting off students from ready access to their education.
For this week’s Get Action, producer Theo spoke to Alicia Hall from Parents for Climate Aotearoa, on their petition to restore rural school bus routes and make public transport free for children, and students under 25.
If you'd like to sign this petition, you can find it here.
Last week, fuel stocks in the country went down by three or four days across each fuel type. The government recognised this as not enough to change to phase two in the national fuel plan, drawing some concerned comments from the political opposition around the state of our stocks, and when the government plans to actually move up phases.
Following a week that saw both Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon comment on the state of the Strait of Hormuz, and the way the United States has handled the ongoing conflict, Willis also travelled to the US to meet with White House advisors.
This week, Host Alex spoke with National MP Ryan Hamilton about these fuel crisis developments, and what the government’s approach going forward may look like.
To start our discussion, however, we spoke briefly about the confidence in Christopher Luxon’s Leadership.
Earlier this week, Councillor Julie Fairey moved a resolution to investigate Auckland Council’s involvement with companies that are complicit in Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory.
And this week, Auckland Council launched an AI virtual assistant to report issues such as graffiti, roaming dogs, and noise complaints.
For City Counselling, Wire Host Caeden spoke with Councillor Julie Fairey about both of these topics.
Last Friday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown announced the signing of a new ‘City Deal’.
The deal will see closer partnership between the central government and Auckland Council, coordinating planning in areas such as infrastructure and transportation.
The deal will see a long-term partnership between the government and council, with regular meetings and cooperation on strategies for innovation and transportation, with reviews of sporting venues such as Eden Park and the Auckland Tennis Centre.
However, the deal has been critiqued by some as being a collection of promises without any new funding.
So for our weekly catch-up with the Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez March, he and producer Theo discussed the signing of the Auckland City Deal, and how the Green Party would work with Auckland Council on issues such as transportation and infrastructure.
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