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.
AUKUS has continued to be a contentious topic within Aotearoa’s political discourse. Last week, Nanaia Mahuta said on Newshub Nation that there isn’t enough visibility on the pillars of AUKUS to comprehend what impacts it would have for Aotearoa. Last Friday there was an anti-AUKUS demonstration outside parliament. Led by the anti-AUKUS coalition, the ‘don’t be a dAUKUS’ protest urged Chris Hipkins to declare that Aotearoa won’t join the agreement.
To learn more about the anti-AUKUS coalition and the meaning behind the protest, Andre spoke to John Richards, spokesperson and member of the anti-AUKUS coalition.
To receive comments and analysis firstly on John Richards’s comments about AUKUS, and about Nanaia Mahuta’s denial of Aoteroa joining AUKUS, Andre then spoke to Doctor Arama Rata from Te Kuaka, a group that advocates for progressive foreign policy.
As New Zealand faces a fourth wave of COVID infections, Public health must be prioritised once again. Nick joins the Tuesday Wire with this interview and spoke to Professor Michael Baker, Epidemiologist, to explore what this means and what the public can do to stay safe.
Welcome to the Tuesday Wire! This week on the show:
A purrfect Dear Science coming up very shortly with Joel Rindelaub and the Tuesday Wire team!
Beth Speaks to Lokesh Padhye from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Auckland University about the Three Waters Overhaul.
Milly has her weekly catchup with Dr Shane Reti from the National Party regarding Chris Hipkin’s newly announced budget as well as National’s plans with the agriculture industry
Milly speaks to Angela Meyer from the Gender Project on the largest study into Single Parents in Aotearoa that was released this morning
Friend of the Tuesday Wire Jack Cormack-Neto speaks to Epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker about the fourth wave of COVID that New Zealand is experiencing right now.
Hanna Thompson spoke to Te Pati Māori's Takutai Kemp about the Inland Revenue Department's High-Wealth Individuals Research Report, the underfunding of Kura.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins chatted with ACT’s Karen Chhour about the IRD Report and a possible congestion charging scheme.
And Community Pharmacy owner in Te Awamutu, and member of the Prescription Access Initiative, Gina Perry, about their calls to remove prescription fees.
Caeden Tipler spoke to Renters United National Organiser Eimhin O’Shea and Gina Dao-McLay from the Green Party about the National Party’s new renting policy.
And Alex Bonham talked to Associate Professor Linda Tyler from the University of Auckland about the evolving role of libraries.
The National Party have announced a new renting policy, claiming if elected they'll bring back no-cause rental terminations and tax breaks for landlords. National's housing spokesperson Chris Bishop claims this move is "pro-tenant" but there have been many vocal opponents over the past few days.
Caeden spoke with two people who have criticised the announcement, Eimhin O'Shea from Renters United and Gina Dao-McLay, Green Party candidate for Mana.
Firstly Caeden spoke to Eimhin, then spoke to Gina on their perspective.
For their weekly catch-up, News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to ACT’s Karen Chhour about the Inland Revenue Department's High-Wealth Individuals Research Report, Chris Hipkins' announcement that the government will not implement any capital gains tax, wealth tax, or cyclone tax in this year's budget, and the government's call for cross-party support on a possible congestion charging scheme.
A new survey of 150 community pharmacists in Aotearoa has found that government prescription fees contribute to serious health issues and cause significant community distress.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Gemma Perry, a Community Pharmacy owner in Te Awamutu.
Perry is a member of the Prescription Access Initiative, a group working to enact change around copayments about this.
She started by asking Perry why removing prescription fees for medication is necessary.
Aotearoa is experiencing a fourth wave of Covid-19 cases.
Jack Cormack-Neto spoke to Epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker, who explained why can't be complacent and that Aotearoa needs to prioritise public health.
Spike speaks to Max Boraman, Professor of Politics at Massey University, about his recent piece on the Aotearoa union movement of the late 60s to 80s, and how they were able to combat a previous cost of living crisis.
It has been 10 years since the Rana Plaza building collapse in Bangladesh that killed over a thousand garment workers. It was seen as a flashpoint in the fast fashion industry and led to some change. But fast fashion is still popular and workers and the environment are still exploited by the industry. Mike Lee is an associate professor in marketing at Auckland university, and he discussed the Rana Plaza collapse as well as why fast fashion is still popular even though more is now known about the conditions many workers face. Mike began by discussing what happened in Bangladesh in 2013.
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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