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.
In 2022, the Rainbow Charitable Trust’s funding initiatives raised $60,000 to go towards 13 Rainbow organisations.
This year, the Rainbow Charitable Trust will be hosting Give Out Day, four days of national fundraising that will go towards ‘LGBTQ+ community groups, non-profit organisations, events and profits’. For the Wire today, Beth spoke with Rainbow Charitable Trust Board Member Steven Oates about Give Out Day, which is set to launch on Friday the 8th of September at 7pm and will be livestreamed across the nation.
Research has shown there has been a large decline in children reading for enjoyment. Many say the impacts of this are great, as reading for pleasure increases children’s empathy, and introduces them to ideas and experiences that are different from their own.
Olivia spoke to the Chair of the Storylines Children’s Literature Trust, Christine Young, about the importance of this issue, and what Storylines does to encourage children to read more for enjoyment.
A year ago the Consent Law Reform campaign, led by founder Layba Zubair, handed over a petition to parliament calling for a change in our consent law under the Crimes Act.
Caeden spoke to Layba about what the campaign has achieved in the past year, especially in the context of the election and the impact this law change could have for survivors.
Content warning for discussions of sexual violence during this story.
For City Counselling this week, Beth Torrance-Hetherington spoke to Counsellor for Waitakere Shane Henderson about Auckland Council's new Flood Viewer, which allows people in Tāmaki Makaurau to view the most flood-affected areas in the region.
Emilia spoke to the Green Party’s Chlöe Swarbrick about student issues and how the Greens intend to help students.
Nicholas spoke to Stephen Judd from FACT Aotearoa and Nicole Skews-Poole from The Disinformation Project about misinformation and disinformation leading up to the general election.
Arno interviewed two union representatives, Sarah Thompson and Nicholas Mayne of E tū and FIRST Union, respectively, about fair pay agreements amid workers striking across several industries.
Arno also spoke to Funeral Directors Association New Zealand Chief Executive Gillian Boyes about calls to increase Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) funeral grant payments and those eligible for it.
Cleaners at Auckland Airport are going on strike to protest a pay increase of zero this year.
They are also campaigning for a Fair Pay Agreement, a process where unions work with companies to ensure fair pay for union members.
E tū union is the biggest private sector union in New Zealand, representing workers from dozens of industries.
Arno spoke with director Sarah Thompson to find out more about Fair Pay Agreements and how they function.
Next, Arno spoke with FIRST Union organiser Nicholas Mayne. Last week on Friday workers at the Warehouse took strike action, protesting a low wage and dangerously low staffing levels in stores. Arno set out to find out more about the strike and what can be done going forward to improve conditions for low-paid workers.
The Labour party has announced a new free dental plan for those under thirty 95should they be re-elected. Josh spoke to Tim Tenbensel from the University of Auckland to get his thoughts on this proposal.
The Labour party has announced a new free dental plan for those under thirty, should they be re-elected. Josh spoke to Tim Tenbensel from the University of Auckland to get his thoughts on this proposal.
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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