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.
Meningococcal is a potentially fatal but preventable contagious disease caused by meningococcal bacteria.
According to some infectious disease experts, eliminating the deadly disease is potentially an achievable goal for Aotearoa.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Otago Dr Amanda Cals-vig about how New Zealand could become permanently free of this disease.
Parliament has backed legislation that will create a new independent entity to strengthen and protect the integrity of sports and recreation in Aotearoa.
The Integrity Sport and Recreation Commission will begin on 1 July next year and focus particularly on the well-being of participants.
First, News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Barrister and Board Chair responsible for establishing the Commission, Don Mackinnon, about its purpose.
MPs also voted on an amendment that ensures representation from the rainbow community, which will be included in the legislation.
She also spoke to InsideOUT Kōaro Managing Director Tabby Besley about rainbow representation on the Commission.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins reports on the new Integrity Sport and Recreation Commission that MPs voted to establish, speaking to Establishing Board Chair Don Mackinnon and InsideOUT Kōaro Managing Director Tabby Besley.
She also spoke to Dr Amanda Kvalsvig from the Department of Public Health at the University of Otago about how New Zealand could be permanently free of meningococcal disease.
Beth spoke with Co-Director of the Public Health Communication Centre Aotearoa Professor Nick Wilson from the University of Otago about the lasting impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle six months on.
Olivia spoke to Senior Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Auckland Pharmacy School Dr Amy Chan about how climate change could be contributing to an increased risk of asthma attacks.
She also spoke to Senior Law Lecturer at the University of Auckland Dylan Asafo about how ACT’s pledge to abolish cultural reports could negatively impact our criminal justice system.
The ACT party has recently pledged to abolish cultural reports if they are elected. Cultural reports contain background detail about the offender, which Judges refer to when determining the length and type of sentence.
Olivia spoke with Senior Law Lecturer at the University of Auckland, Dylan Asafo, about the potential harmful consequences of abolishing these reports.
Researchers have shown that climate change and global warming could be contributing to an increased number of asthma attacks, due to increased pollen in the air.
Olivia spoke with Senior Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Auckland Pharmacy School, Dr Amy Chan, about this issue and the need for a pollen monitoring system.
BNZ’s latest research into New Zealand’s scam savviness has shown that Nine out of Ten Kiwi’s have been targeted by scams.
This number is up 13% on last year, but fortunately the research also found that only one out of ten Kiwi’s have actually fallen victim to a scam.
BNZ’s research coincides with the beginning of their Scam Savvy Week, in which the bank raises awareness around scams as well educating the public on tips and tricks to avoid being duped.
Nicholas spoke to Ashley Kai Fong, the head of BNZ’s Financial Crime unit, about tell-tale signs of common scams as well as the upcoming resources provided during Scam Savvy Week.
At the post-Cabinet press conference held yesterday afternoon, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Health Minister Ayesha Verrall announced that the last masking mandate and isolation requirements would be lifted starting overnight.
Lou spoke to Professor Siouxsie Wiles, microbiologist and associate professor from the University of Auckland, in regards to the Government’s announcement to drop the mask mandates and isolation requirements.
For our weekly catch up with the ACT party Rawan spoke with Simon Court about ACT’s recent pledge to make changes to judge sentencing policies, and where they stand on National's phone ban proposal.
Host Caeden spoke to Glen Barclay, Chair of Tax Justice Aotearoa, as well as Economist and Child Poverty Action Group spokesperson Susan St John about Labour's tax policy announcement.
Ash spoke to Able CEO Dan Buckingham about the launch of their new app Earcatch.
And for Tomorrow's World Leilani and Rawan spoke to Girl's on Ice Director Lauren Vargo about their upcoming expedition for 15 to 16-year-old girls.
Last week, the commmerce COmmission Komihana Tauhokohoko released it's Preliminary Issues Paper, and found that Aotearoa's banking sector has persistently high profitability compared to banks overseas.
Wire producer Rosetta spoke to Kassie Hartendorp, Director of ActionStation, about what she believes the Government should be doing to combat the cost of living crisis through taxing cooperations and banks.
Last week, the NZSIS released it's New Zealand Security Threat Environment report for 2023, outlining what the government sees as the biggest threats to Aotearoa's domestic security. The largest threats were outlined as violent extremism, foreign interference, and espionage.
Wire producer Rosetta spoke to Dr William Hoverd, associate professor at Massey University, about the NZSIS report, and what he believes are the risks involved with publishing potential security threats to the public.
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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