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.
Last week during student-led pro-Palestine protests a student at Otago University was arrested.
Footage later posted by Student Justice for Palestine Otago showed property damage occurred when excessive force was used by campus security, not pro-Palestine students.
The group says campus security ignored student safety in an attempt to block protestors from staging a peaceful sit-in at the University clocktower.
Wire Host Caeden spoke to Student Justice for Palestine Otago spokesperson Liz about the footage of campus security using force against students, as well as why they were protesting in the first place.
Conservation Minister Tama Potaka has made a last-minute amendment to the Tīkapa Moana Protection Bill that would create new “high protection” areas in the Hauraki Gulf.
The amendment would allow commercial fishing in these newly created protected areas.
Wire Host Caeden spoke to Dr Simon Thrush, Professor of Marine Science at the University of Auckland, about what he thought of the latest amendment.
And they spoke to Forest and Bird Advocate Bianca Ranson about their opposition to the bill amendment.
Yesterday, the Family Proceedings (Dissolution of Marriage or Civil Union for Family Violence) Amendment Bill, colloquially known as Ashley’s law, passed its third reading.
The Bill would allow family violence survivors with a protection order to dissolve their marriages immediately without going through a court process, reforming the Family Proceedings Act which has been in place since 1981.
Sofia spoke to Professor of Law at the University of Auckland, Mark Henaghan, about the Bill and what changes it would bring.
She started the interview asking him what the current law is for divorce.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden speaks to Carmel Sepuloni about the recent 1-News-Verian poll, the Western Samoan Citizenship Bill gaining unanimous support at select committee, and the divorce law change known as ‘Ashley’s law’ that was passed through Parliament yesterday.
For States of the States this week they speak to Andre Fa’aoso from the Yale Daily News about presidential candidate Donald Trump’s mental fitness after a recent rally, celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day, and a recent letter sent by the Biden administration threatening to withhold arms from Israel.
They speak to Liz from Student Justice for Palestine Otago about a video showing pro-Palestine students in a hostile stand-off with campus security.
And they speak about changes to the Tīkapa Moana Protection Bill with the University of Auckland’s Dr Simon Thrush and Forest and Bird’s Bianca Ranson.
For City Counselling this week, Sofia speak to Councillor Shane Henderson about the Ports of Auckland using the Fast-track Bill to convert the Captain Cook and Marsden wharves into a waterfront attraction and Council’s new roaming dog squad.
She also speaks to University of Auckland Law Professor, Mark Henaghan, about the Family Proceedings Amendment Bill passing its third reading yesterday.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party Wire Host Caeden speaks to Labour Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about the recent 1-News-Verian poll, the Western Samoan Citizenship Bill gaining unanimous support at select committee, and the divorce law change known as ‘Ashley’s law’ that was passed through Parliament yesterday.
For States of the States, 95bFM's US election coverage, Wire Host Caeden speaks to Andre Fa’aoso from the Yale Daily News about presidential candidate Donald Trump’s mental fitness after a recent rally, celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day, and a recent letter sent by the Biden administration threatening to withhold arms from Israel.
Apathy, distress and hopelessness are common things to joke about among young people. Doomscrolling and bedrotting are among some of the terms used to describe general apathy and lack of motivation towards our current world.
New Zealand has one of the highest reported news avoidance rates in the world at sixty-percent choosing to not seek out news. New Zealanders are frustrated with the quality of news reporting and negative news stories, fuelling a worsening mental state. Social Media also has a part to play in how people receive news, now mainly focused on pop-culture icons rather than real journalism.
Sasha spoke to Doctor Alex Beattie, a lecturer in Media and Communication about why New Zealanders actively choose to ignore the news and apathy within the youngest generations. We also spoke about a new era of escapism versus a culture of overproduction in our society.
For their regular catch-up, Wire Host Oto spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez March about the recent amendments to the Hauraki Gulf protection bill and the impacts of commercial fishing, the recent 1news Verian poll showing that 40% of New Zealanders think Aotearoa is in a worse state today than it was last year, and the Samoan Citizenship Bill drafted by fellow Greens MP Teanau Tuiono getting getting passed in the select committee and moving on to it’s second reading.
He also spoke to Dr Joel Rindelaub, a senior lecturer in Chemical sciences at the University of Auckland, to discuss the recent report by the Ministry of Environment and Stats NZ analysing air pollution in Aotearoa and its Impacts.
Producer Sasha spoke to Doctor Alex Beattie, Lecturer in Media and Communication at the University of Victoria who is a lead author on a research discussing why New Zealanders avoid the news.
News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to Professor in the Faculty of Law at the Auckland University of Technology, Paul Myburgh, and Lecturer in the Department of Marine Science at the University of Otago, Dr Bridie Allan, about an Court of Inquiry being called for the sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui in Samoa, and the subsequent oil spillage that has occurred due to the incident.
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 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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