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.
We Back our Kaiako is a new student-led group which has formed to support the teacher strikes. They’re based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara and will be protesting outside Parliament on Wednesday to show their support of the Post Primary Teachers Association.
Caeden had a kōrero with their spokesperson Kay about why they’ve organised this protest and what their demands are. More info can be found on their instagram @backourkaiako
Last week Simon spoke with Professor John Townend on the science of the Alpine Fault, and the probability of a large earthquake in the next 50 years. The AF8 roadshow is touring around the South Island to help communities prepare for a large earthquake. Alice Lake-Hammond is the programme manager of the roadshow. Simon began by asking Alice what the purpose of the AF8 roadshow is.
- Andrew Little about the new defence deal with Fiji
- Lisa Woods from Amnesty NZ about a new report into Corrections' use of prisoner separation and solitary confinement
- and a report on City Impact's "Christian Summit" event held this week, serving as a meeting point for far-right and evangelical groups going into October's election, featuring activists Byron C Clark and Hannah Blake
Simon speaks to:
- Councillor Shane Henderson for City Counselling about the budget agreement reached last week, and the sale of airport shares and rates rises
- Alice Lake-Hammond about the AF8 roadshow in the South Island raising awareness about a potential Alpine Fault earthquake
- and Senior Lecturer Bill McKay about the ongoing revitalisation of Queen St
Anyone who has visited Queen street lately will have noticed the sea of roadworks as Auckland Transport seeks to transform the street to being more pedestrian and cycle friendly. Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in architecture and planning at Auckland University. Simon spoke to him about how Queen Street can become a vibrant and user friendly space. Simon began by asking Bill whether the recent changes have worked.
Spike speaks to Lisa Woods, Campaigns Director at Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand, about the new Inspectorate report into Corrections' use of prisoner separation and solitary confinement, along with its impacts and repercussions.
This Tuesday, City Impact Church held what they dubbed a "Christian summit" on the "state of the nation", where multiple far-right groups and figures met to give speeches and push for a coordinated electoral campaign ahead of October's election. 95bFM obtained a recording of the event, and along with outlining what was discussed, Spike speaks to activists Byron C Clark and Hannah Blake about the state of the conservative/Christian extremist movements in Aotearoa, and what the meeting means for the far-right moving forward.
Simon has our weekly catch-up with Green Party co-leader James Shaw. He speaks with him about the Green’s tax-reform announcements and about Labour granting consent for an Australian mining billionaire to prospect on conserved land.
Andre Fa’aoso speaks to Professor Janet Hoek of the University of Otago, Wellington about New Zealand's vaping restrictions and what more needs to be done to combat youth vaping.
On the Green Desk, Jack Marshall speaks to Remy Lesseur from AgResearch about VR technology that is helping farmers determine where and what trees they should plant as a part of the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Alex speaks with Jenny Salesa about regulation of boarding houses, and councillor Angela Dalton about the Auckland Council’s Future Development Strategy consultation.
Arno speaks to Adele Gautier from New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation about treatments for advanced breast cancer.
The Loafer's Lodge fire has demanded better scrutiny around the management of New Zealand's boarding houses but problems have been going on for years and with weak regulation it is very difficult for councils to push for better standards. MP Jenny Salesa has a private member's bill in the biscuit tin that proposes a register be set up at the industry's cost that will provide better oversight of the sector. Alex Bonham talked to her about how this would work and how it would improve protections for vulnerable people and expose bad landlords.
To try minimise levels of youth vaping, the government has announced new regulations last week. These restrictions include regulating vape flavour descriptions, areas where vape stores can be constructed, and also regulating disposable vapes.
To learn more about what these policy changes might do to help curb youth vaping, and uncover what more needs to be done, Andre Fa’aoso spoke to Janet Hoek, Senior Professor at the University of Otago, Wellington and co-director of ASPIRE25.
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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