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.
For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to ACT MP Karen Chhour about their new contractor policy, serious allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards children in Oranga Tamariki care, and ACT's opposition to ethnicity being one of the factors to consider for surgical waitlist prioritisation.
She also spoke to E tū Union Spokesperson Annie Newman about ACT’s proposal to ban contractors from challenging their employment status.
Producer Caeden spoke to Ellie Hooper from Greenpeace about the UN Oceans Treaty.
And Lecturer in Theatre Dr James Wenley and Senior Lecturer of Education Dr Margaret Gleeson discussed cuts to programmes and staff at Victoria University.
Victoria University of Wellington has proposed significant cuts to staff and several courses including secondary education and theatre.
The University is blaming the underfunding of the tertiary sector and a drop in international and domestic student enrolments.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins first spoke to Senior Lecturer of Education at Victoria University Dr Margaret Gleeson about the secondary education programme, which is set to be cut completely.
She also spoke to Lecturer in Theatre Dr James Wenley at Victoria University. They started by discussing how the theatre programme, in particular, will be affected.
For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to ACT MP Karen Chhour about their proposal to ban contractors from challenging their employment status, serious allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards children in Oranga Tamariki care, and ACT's opposition to ethnicity being a factor for non-urgent surgical waitlists.
This week on Tuesday 20th June, Aotearoa celebrated World Refugee Day, a world wide commemoration of the forced immigrant journey.
On the same day the government anounced that for the fist time Aotearoa has met its refugee quota of 1500 people that was originally set in 2020 but was not reached due to covid.
This also comes at a time when NGOs and volunteers have raised concerns about the efficiency and resourcing of the ressetlement process.
Rawan Spoke with Sharon Ward, the CEO of Refugees as Survivors about both the celeberation and the recent issues in the sector.
Spike speaks to Labour MP Andrew Little about his new position as Minister for Immigration, Taylor MacGregor from Save Our Venues about making sure venues survive the shift to higher density living in our urban centres, and Dr. Sapna Samant from the Aotearoa Alliance of Progressive Indians about the growth of and dangers posed by Hindutva ideology in India and abroad.
Rawan speaks to Refugees as Survivors CEO Sharon Ward about World Refugee Day, Aotearoa meeting its quota of refugees for the first time, and the issues still present within the resettlement process.
Spike speaks to Aotearoa Alliance of Progressive Indians and Greens candidate Dr. Sapna Samant about the recent growth of Hindutva inside India and abroad, what the ideology pushes for, and the risks that could come from its growth.
Live music venues in Aotearoa have increasingly come under threat from growing densification in urban centres, with many now contesting noise complaints from new residential neighbors. Spike speaks to Taylor MacGregor, a representative from Save Our Venues, about how to make sure venues can survive this shift, along with how councils and the government can plan for and support a thriving music scene.
Emilia has our weekly catch-up with Green Party co-leader James Shaw, this week they’re chatting about the proposed reforms to the emissions trading scheme.
On the Green Desk, Jack Marshall talks to Paul Naske, CEO of Rua Bioscience about their medical marijuana farming operations on the East Coast and how it is bringing jobs to the local economy in the aftermath of the cyclone.
Andre Fa’aoso speaks to Scott Optican, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland about Donald Trump’s federal and state legal woes in the lead-up to the 2024 Presidential election.
Andre also spoke to Karen Orsborn, Chief Executive of Te Hiringa Mahara, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission about a report released earlier this month detailing Pacific well-being in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Hannah speaks to Te Pati Māori’s Takutai Kemp about bilingual road signs and the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle land categorisation in Hawke's Bay on Petane Marae whanau.
Arno speaks with dietitian and University of Auckland professor Andrea Braakhuis about Jenny Craig shutting down and the wider implications for dieting and healthy eating overall.
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
95bFM 
