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.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins discussed the minimum wage and benefits increase and an alternative Waitematā Harbour crossing with ACT’s Karen Chhour.
Jessica Hopkins talked to Public Transport Users Association spokesperson John Reeves about mass bus cancellations in Tāmakai Makaurau.
Hanna Thompson spoke to Te Pāti Māori’s Takutai Kemp about addressing child poverty in Aotearoa, reforming our welfare system, and indigenous foreign policy.
Nicholas Lindstrom interviewed associate professor Paula Morris about the state of New Zealand literature, the Auckland City Council budget, funding for the arts and the Aotearoa book review, and a new literature review website.
And Caeden Tipler spoke to several experts on our melting glaciers and what that means for climate change.
For their weekly catch-up, News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to ACT’s Karen Chhour about the minimum wage and benefits increase and an alternative Waitematā Harbour crossing.
She started off the interview by asking Chhour why ACT opposes these measures to help low income earners with the rising cost of living.
Last month, Auckland Transport was criticised for encouraging people to travel at off-peak times during what they called “March madness”. Since then, we have also seen mass delays and cancellations across Tāmaki Makaurau.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Public Transport Users Association spokesperson John Reeves about this issue.
She started off the interview asking Reeves if he believes we are in a public transport crisis.
Parents in Tallahassee, Florida were outraged when their children were shown Michelangelo’s statue of David in a class about the Renaissance, calling it pornographic. Beth spoke to Professor Susanna Trnka about the uproar and what this means culturally.
The National Party announced a new policy this week, showing a commitment to renewable energy, Electrify New Zealand. This week on the Tuesday Wire for Milly's weekly catchup with Dr Shane Reti, Milly questions him on what this policy will entail as well as delving in to the criticism.
This week on the Tuesday Wire Milly Speaks to professor Steve Matthewman from the University of Auckland regarding community empowerment in the wake of natural disaster. They discuss the altruistic nature of humans and how to build a strong community.
Concerns regarding New Zealands Military involvement with NATO and AUKUS have recently been raised. This week on the Tuesday Wire Milly spoke to Valerie Morse from Auckland Peace Action regarding New Zealand's involvement both these groups, investigating the consequences if New Zealand gets involved and our Nuclear Free Status.
Aotearoa’s relentless summer has caused an unprecedented decline of our glaciers, some of which have now mostly vanished. The La Niña weather pattern meant record high sea temperatures on the West Coast. This caused the air to warm as far as the alpine glaciers. Scientists have famously called melting glaciers “global warming’s coalmine canaries” because of their link to temperature and precipitation. Caeden Tipler spoke to Drew Lorrey, Climate and Environment Applications Principal Scientist at NIWA, about the link between glaciers and climate change, as well as the importance of us paying attention to them.
This week there has been a lot of conversation around Marama Davidson's comments about white cis men and the violence perpetrated by them. Eileen Joy is a social worker and researcher who is researching child protection and domestic violence in Aotearoa. Her work and research has given her first hand experience about the problems of violence in Aotearoa New Zealand, and she has supported Davidson's comments. Simon spoke with Eileen about these issues. She began by discussing her views on Davidson's comments, as well as the prevalence of white male violence in Aotearoa. Just a warning, this segment contains discussions about domestic violence.
This morning a cyclist was critically injured after being struck by a car in South Auckland. The debate around cycle lanes and cyclist safety is an ongoing discussion here in Auckland. Simon spoke with Patrick Morgan from the Cycling Action Network about cyclist safety, bike lanes and about rebates for e-bikes and began by asking Patrick what can be done to improve safety for cyclists on our roads.
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 
