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.
- Spike speaks to ACT MP Simon Court about ACT's youth justice policy announcements, and water researcher Marnie Prickett about Auckland Council's flood mitigation plan, along with new nitrate readings from South Auckland.
- Rawan speaks to Ben Schmidt from the Tertiary Education Union about voluntary redundancies at Massey University, and Auckland University Professor of Physics Richard Easther about the recent discovery of gravitational waves for Tomorrow's World.
- and Nicholas speaks to the newly appointed Grocery Commissioner Pierre Van Heerden about the role, and his focuses going in.
The Grocery sector has been in the spotlight since it was reported that food prices increased 12.5 percent from last year.
This increase in food prices matched with a cost of living crisis has left many New Zealanders choosing between which of their basic needs is most important.
However, the cause of the cost of living crisis has had little effect on supermarket profits, with the two biggest supermarket retailers in New Zealand recording a combined profit of 430 million dollars last year.
In an unprecedented move, the Labour government has chosen to create a new commission to look at measures needed to regulate the supermarket industry in order to get fairer prices for ordinary Kiwis
Nicholas spoke to newly appointed grocery commissioner Pierre Van Heerden about his experience and his ideas on what needs to change in the grocery sector.
This week on the Thursday Wire, Milly spoke to Dan Hikuroa from the University of Auckland about the very exciting first Matariki public holiday that will take place on the 14th July 2023.
This week is Te Taetae ni Kiribati Te Taetae ni Kiribati — Kiribati language week.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to undergraduate student at the University of Auckland Vaitoa Mallon about connecting with his Kiribati heritage growing up in Aotearoa.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has ruled out introducing a wealth or capital gains tax if Labour is re-elected this year.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Action Station Director Kassie Hartendorp, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Pareraukawa, about why they believe a wealth tax and capital is needed in Aotearoa.
She started off their interview asking about their reaction to the Prime Minister's decision.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins speaks to Labour's Andrew Little about the government's response to recent dawn raids and their announcement that they would not introduce a wealth tax after the election.
She also speaks to Action Station Director Kassie Hartendorp (Ngāti Rau-kawa and Ngāti Pare-rau-kawa) about the government ruling out taxing the super-rich.
And she chats to undergraduate student at the University of Auckland Vaitoa Mallon about Kiribati language week.
Host Milly Smyth speaks with Daniel Hikuroa from the University of Auckland about Matariki.
Producer Rawan Saadi speaks with University of Auckland Doctoral candidate Ashlea Gibbons about the 250,000 dollar grant she has received to continue her research on the impact of fat bias on Maori in healthcare.
She also speaks to Australian-Jewish author and independent journalist Antony Lowenstein about his new book "The Palestinian Laboratory" which exposes and discusses how the Israeli occupation has been testing technology and military equipment on Palestinians.
This week, humanitarian agencies in New Zealand released an open letter to the government calling for legislation on ending modern-day slavery. World Vision and Tearfund are calling for the government to roll out legislation that requires businesses to assess where modern-day slavery may be used in their supply chains domestically and globally.
It is estimated by World Vision that around fifty million people are in modern-day slavery with around 27 million experiencing forced labour, with a large number in the Asia-Pacific. Consumer goods imported into New Zealand are often direct products of modern-day slavery.
To talk more about the policy recommendations that World Vision is pushing for, and the broader issue of modern-day slavery in New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific, host Andre Fa'aoso spoke to Morgan Theakston, Advocacy, Campaigns and Communications Manager at World Vision.
Host Andre Fa’aoso speaks to Morgan Theakston, a spokesperson from World Vision about their campaign and petition calling for the government to implement policies that can put an end to modern-day slavery.
Emilia speaks to Green Party co-leader James Shaw about the party’s annual general meeting that they held over the weekend.
Arno speaks to FIRST Union organiser Justin Wallace about their negotiations for better pay for Frame & Truss workers.
Arno also speaks to MBA student and business owner Joel Stirling about his experience as an MBA and meeting Richard Branson.
Plus some tunes and a fun little technical blooper.
National and Act have recently released new 'tough on crime' policies, including proposals for bootcamps and 'tougher' consequences for gang members.
Today on the Wire, Beth spoke with Dr Ian Hyslop, a Senior Lecturer at the School of Counselling and Social Work at the University of Auckland, about conventional youth justice facilities, whether they are ethical and effective means of addressing crime, and alternative ways to approaching the issue.
The Nga Hau Birthing Centre in Māngere has closed a huge health gap for local communities, but the centre is facing closure this year after funding cuts.
Caeden spoke to new mum and Action Station petitioner Rebecca Kingi about why the centre is so important for the community, and why government funding to save it is crucial.
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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