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.
For Dear Science this week, our expert Professor Allan Blackman chatted with us about the Nobel prize winners.
In our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire host Castor spoke to MP Katie Nimon about overhauling the emergency management system and the government’s climate targets.
They also spoke to Associate Professor at the University of Auckland, George Laking, one of the authors of Te Meu o Te Wai, a report looking into the outcomes of Cyclone Gabrielle and making recommendations to the government.
And they spoke to Dorothy Wilson from the Stickered Area Residents Group about how people on the ground are still responding to cyclone damage.
On the Green Desk this week we heard the second half of our reporter Jack Marshall’s chat with Spinoff Wellington editor Joel McManus about how things are going in the Big Apple of Aotearoa.
Among the various inquiries into the government’s response to last year's Auckland Anniversary and Cyclone Gabrielle flooding was Te Weu me Te Wai, a report assessing the floods' impact on marginalised communities and identifying potential changes the government could make.
Wire host Castor spoke to Associate Professor George Laking, one of the report’s authors, about the issues with the current system and the report’s recommendations.
New Zealand is currently facing its highest numbers of whooping cough cases since early 2019, with 187 cases being reported in September, more than double the cases that were reported in August.
The spike has resulted in Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora to say that Aotearoa is “on the cusp” of a national outbreak.
Asthma and Respiratory Foundation New Zealand has since called for urgent action regarding the concerning rise in the infection.
Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the Chief Executive of the foundation, Letitia Harding, about the rise in cases, and how we can tackle the rising cases.
For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party's Simon Court, Producer Evie, spoke to Simon about the HMNZS Manawanui, Cutting Te Ahu o Te Reo Māori programme, and ACT Party leader, David Seymour, doing treaty principles debate.
For our weekly catchup with Te Pāti Māori's Takutai Kemp, News and Editorial Director, and Wire Host, Joel, spoke to Takutai about the HMNZS Manawanui and the 149 projects selected to be fast tracked as a part of the Fast Track Approvals Bill.
Evie spoke to Associate Professor at the University of Auckland, George Laking, about the importance of considering mental health in wake of Otago floods.
and Joel spoke to the Chief Executive of the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation New Zealand, Letitia Harding, about the significant rise of Whooping cough cases.
A year and a half ago Cyclone Gabrielle made landfall, thrashing the North Island with widespread damage.
The disaster left many without a home, and over a year on houses are still red stickered, people are left waiting for insurance assessments, and climate change is still causing extreme climate events.
Earlier this month the Otago region was affected by major flooding, damaging homes and other community centres.
Associate Professor at the University of Auckland, George Laking says that extreme weather events like these impact people’s homes, whānau and livelihoods, and in the wake of them it’s paramount to consider people’s mental health.
Following Cyclone Gabrielle, Laking identified five key health priorities that should be prioritised in natural disaster responses.
Producer Evie spoke to Laking about these responses, how they related to Cyclone Gabrielle, and how they could be better applied in the wake of the Otago floods.
For State of the States, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Andre Fa’aoso from the Yale Daily News about recent events on the Yale campus and the political implications of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Sofia also spoke to honorary academic at the University of Auckland Faculty of Science and climate scientist Dr Kevin Trenberth about the science behind these hurricanes.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party Wire Host Caeden spoke to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni on the environmental impact of the sunken naval ship, Manawanui, and the projects chosen for the fast track legislation.
Wire Host Caeden spoke to Tess Ingram, a UNICEF Global Spokesperson, about UNICEF’s work to deliver aid in Lebanon amongst bombings. Ingram has spent recent months in Gaza, and is now on the ground in Beirut.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party Wire Host Caeden speaks to Carmel Sepuloni about the sunken naval ship Manawanui and the projects chosen to be fast tracked.
For States of the States this week they speak to Andre Fa’aoso from the Yale Daily News about recent political events at Yale and the political response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
They speak to Student Justice for Palestine organisers and protest attendees about yesterday’s Auckland universities rally for Palestine.
And they speak to Tessa Ingram, Global UNICEF spokesperson, about their efforts to supply aid in Lebanon.
For City Counselling this week, Sofia speaks to Councillor Julie Fairey about Auckland Council’s stance on Israel’s war on Gaza, in light of a year since October 7th.
For States of the States, she also speaks to honorary academic at the University of Auckland Faculty of Science and climate scientist Dr Kevin Trenberth about recent and current hurricanes in Florida.
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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