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.
Emilia Sullivan chats to James Shaw in our weekly chat with the Green Party co-leader, this week they chat about the fire at Loafers Hostel, as well as a chat about the budget ahead of its release tomorrow.
On The Green Desk, Jack Marshall speaks to Michael Bunts from the Department of Conservation about the role that new and developing technologies have in solving Aotearoa’s biodiversity threats.
Host Andre Fa'aoso speaks to James Mitchell, manager for Consumer Price Delivery at Stats NZ about their recent report highlighting the largest annual increase in food costs since 1987.
Andre also speaks to Doctor Jessica Stubbing, research fellow at The Centre for Informed Futures about a report highlighting key things that are affecting youth mental health, and about a youth oriented approach to mental health reform.
Arno speaks with Dr George Laking, cancer researcher, about the effects of vaping and relative harms in Aotearoa, and Bridget Abernathy about ways to save power this winter.
Alex speaks to Morgan Bailey from Rocket Lab on the recent 'Rocket Like a Hurricane' launch and the development of the Neutron.
Our chat with James Shaw is back again on The Wire for Wednesday.
Emilia Sullivan chats to the Green Party co-leader about yesterday’s hostel fire in Wellington, the inquiry into forestry slash on the East Coast, and the Budget ahead of its release tomorrow.
Climate change, racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism and lack of accessible support are some of the key concerns and issues highlighted in a youth wellbeing report. Ka Whakahuatau te Rangatahi mõ te Toiora or the Youth Wellbeing insights report has highlighted key issues affecting the mental health of young people throughout Aotearoa.
The report also outlines the disproportionate mental health struggles of minority communities including Māori, Pasifika and rainbow youth. The report emphasises that policymakers need to acknowledge the experiences of rangatahi within future mental health system reform and investment.
To speak more about the report, its findings and the reactions to it, Andre Fa'aoso spoke to Doctor Jessica Stubbing, research fellow in Koi Tū, The Centre for Informed Futures.
The most recent food price report from Stats NZ hints at tough future for Kiwi’s wallets. The report says that annual food prices have increased by twelve point five percent, the largest increase in food prices since September 1987, which shortly followed the introduction of GST in 1986.
Some of the key numbers from the report show that over the recent period:
grocery food prices increased by 14.0 percent
fruit and vegetables prices increased by 22.5 percent
restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food prices increased by 9.0 percent
meat, poultry, and fish prices increased by 9.5 percent
non-alcoholic beverage prices increased by 8.0 percent.
To learn more about what food items substantially increased in price, Andre Fa'aoso spoke to James Mitchell, manager for Consumer Price Delivery at Stats NZ.
Last Monday Rocket Lab launched the first two of four satellites under the banner "Rocket Like a Hurricane" to improve the monitoring of tropical storms. Alex Bonham spoke to Morgan Bailey of Rocket Lab to find out how these satellites will make an impact, and to discover the reasons why they are putting so much money into developing the medium size reusable Neutron Rocket.
Bridget Abernathy is the CEO of the Energy Retailers Association. They have recently launched a campaign called Energymate that shows Kiwis how they can reduce power usage during the energy-intensive winter months.
Arno had a brief chat with her about some common energy-saving tips. Arno started the interview by asking what Kiwis could do to reduce their power consumption.
Check out energymate.nz for more tips and tricks on saving power this winter.
Dr George Laking is a cancer specialist and director for the Centre for Cancer Research at the University of Auckland. He believes Australia’s prescription-only model for vaping is overkill and will be ineffective at reducing harms in New Zealand.
Arno started the interview by asking if he was glad that the legislation had not passed in parliament this term to restrict vaping further.
Thursday this week the budget will be announced, with many pre-budget announcements already made, Milly from the Tuesday Wire speaks to Dr Shane Reti for their weekly catch up on what this all means.
Welcome to the Tuesday Wire! This week on the show:
The comedy special of Dear Science with Joel Rindelaub
Beth Speaks to Kimberly O'Sullivan on the Consumer Care Guidelines
Milly has her weekly catch up with Dr Shane Reti where they talk about the upcoming budget announcement
Tyler Baikie and Corey Fuimaono from bFM Drive spoke with Mark Adams, Senior Vice President of VICE Media, on where the innovation in technology and marketing is going where young people ought to be cautious and keep a level head.
Consumer Care Guidelines aim to protect vulnerable and medically dependent customers’ access to electricity. The Electricity Authority recently released their report ascertaining company compliance with Consumer Care Guidelines. This week on the Tuesday Wire, Beth speaks to Kimberly O'Sullivan Senior Researcher at the University of Otago Wellington all about this.
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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