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 Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ just released Our Air 2024, a three yearly report featuring data on air pollution levels and its impacts.
The report found that, while concentrations of various particulates had reduced, and overall air quality in Aotearoa had improved, air pollution had a much greater contribution to diseases and birth defects across the country than previously expected.
Oto spoke to Dr Joel Rindelaub, a senior lecturer in Chemical sciences at the University of Auckland, to discuss the report and the impacts of air pollution on the human body.
Recently, the HMNZS Manawanui sank off the coast of Samoa, after hitting a reef and catching fire.
Following the sinking, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) announced a Court of Inquiry, after being called on by a Samoan International Relations expert based in New Zealand.
Usually, similar incidents regarding major maritime vessels would be investigated by Maritime New Zealand, and may also be referred to the Transport Accident Investigation Commission. However, as the Manawanui was a naval vessel engaged in governmental activity, the NZDF is holding the inquiry.
News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to a Professor in the Faculty of Law at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT), Paul Myburgh, about what this inquiry could mean.
As well as this, an estimate of up to 200,000 litres of diesel has leaked into the ocean from the wreckage.
New Zealand's Deputy Chief of Navy, Commodore Andrew Brown, says that there is currently no evidence that the spillage has come from the main fuel tanks onboard, which appear to be intact.
This comes as the Chief of the Navy, Rear Admiral Garin Golding, told RNZ’s Morning Report that roughly 950 tonnes of diesel fuel was onboard when the HMNZS Manawanui sank.
They also spoke to a Lecturer in the Department of Marine Science at the University of Otago, Dr Bridie Allan, about how much of a concern the spillage is so far, and what the environmental implications of the spillage could look like.
The STAR community group covers an area in West Auckland mostly along the coastline, set up to respond to the large storm events at the start of last year for residents to support one another.
Wire host Castor spoke to Dorothy Wilson from the group about the impact on the ground, and what people want to see from the government in a new emergency management system.
They began by asking about the immediate fallout of the weather events last year.
For Dear Science this week, our expert Professor Allan Blackman chatted with us about the Nobel prize winners.
In our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire host Castor spoke to MP Katie Nimon about overhauling the emergency management system and the government’s climate targets.
They also spoke to Associate Professor at the University of Auckland, George Laking, one of the authors of Te Meu o Te Wai, a report looking into the outcomes of Cyclone Gabrielle and making recommendations to the government.
And they spoke to Dorothy Wilson from the Stickered Area Residents Group about how people on the ground are still responding to cyclone damage.
On the Green Desk this week we heard the second half of our reporter Jack Marshall’s chat with Spinoff Wellington editor Joel McManus about how things are going in the Big Apple of Aotearoa.
Among the various inquiries into the government’s response to last year's Auckland Anniversary and Cyclone Gabrielle flooding was Te Weu me Te Wai, a report assessing the floods' impact on marginalised communities and identifying potential changes the government could make.
Wire host Castor spoke to Associate Professor George Laking, one of the report’s authors, about the issues with the current system and the report’s recommendations.
A year and a half ago Cyclone Gabrielle made landfall, thrashing the North Island with widespread damage.
The disaster left many without a home, and over a year on houses are still red stickered, people are left waiting for insurance assessments, and climate change is still causing extreme climate events.
Earlier this month the Otago region was affected by major flooding, damaging homes and other community centres.
Associate Professor at the University of Auckland, George Laking says that extreme weather events like these impact people’s homes, whānau and livelihoods, and in the wake of them it’s paramount to consider people’s mental health.
Following Cyclone Gabrielle, Laking identified five key health priorities that should be prioritised in natural disaster responses.
Producer Evie spoke to Laking about these responses, how they related to Cyclone Gabrielle, and how they could be better applied in the wake of the Otago floods.
For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party's Simon Court, Producer Evie, spoke to Simon about the HMNZS Manawanui, Cutting Te Ahu o Te Reo Māori programme, and ACT Party leader, David Seymour, doing treaty principles debate.
For our weekly catchup with Te Pāti Māori's Takutai Kemp, News and Editorial Director, and Wire Host, Joel, spoke to Takutai about the HMNZS Manawanui and the 149 projects selected to be fast tracked as a part of the Fast Track Approvals Bill.
Evie spoke to Associate Professor at the University of Auckland, George Laking, about the importance of considering mental health in wake of Otago floods.
and Joel spoke to the Chief Executive of the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation New Zealand, Letitia Harding, about the significant rise of Whooping cough cases.
New Zealand is currently facing its highest numbers of whooping cough cases since early 2019, with 187 cases being reported in September, more than double the cases that were reported in August.
The spike has resulted in Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora to say that Aotearoa is “on the cusp” of a national outbreak.
Asthma and Respiratory Foundation New Zealand has since called for urgent action regarding the concerning rise in the infection.
Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the Chief Executive of the foundation, Letitia Harding, about the rise in cases, and how we can tackle the rising cases.
Wire Host Caeden spoke to Tess Ingram, a UNICEF Global Spokesperson, about UNICEF’s work to deliver aid in Lebanon amongst bombings. Ingram has spent recent months in Gaza, and is now on the ground in Beirut.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party Wire Host Caeden speaks to Carmel Sepuloni about the sunken naval ship Manawanui and the projects chosen to be fast tracked.
For States of the States this week they speak to Andre Fa’aoso from the Yale Daily News about recent political events at Yale and the political response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
They speak to Student Justice for Palestine organisers and protest attendees about yesterday’s Auckland universities rally for Palestine.
And they speak to Tessa Ingram, Global UNICEF spokesperson, about their efforts to supply aid in Lebanon.
For City Counselling this week, Sofia speaks to Councillor Julie Fairey about Auckland Council’s stance on Israel’s war on Gaza, in light of a year since October 7th.
For States of the States, she also speaks to honorary academic at the University of Auckland Faculty of Science and climate scientist Dr Kevin Trenberth about recent and current hurricanes in Florida.
Last week, the Green Party released a statement highlighting the recently released Dental For All report, which they say confirms that New Zealand can afford a free, universal public dental service.
And the recently signed Free Trade Agreement between India and New Zealand is being touted as a pivotal moment, garnering support from both Labour and National parties, however, NZFirst MP and coalition minister for Oceans and Fisheries, Shane Jones, expressed his opposition to the agreement with derogatory comments against potential indian immigrants that have drawn the ire of other parliamentary parties.
So for our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party, I spoke with MP Ricardo Menéndez March about the Green Party’s Dental policy and their stance on the Free trade agreement with India.
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.
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, 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.
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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