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 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.
For their regular catch-up, Oto spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez March about the government’s recently announced fast-track project list, as well as a leaked report of cuts to public health services and The Finance and Expenditure Committee’s inquiry into climate adaptation.
He spoke to Emmy Rakete from the University of Auckland and People Against Prisons Aotearoa to talk about the inclusion of capacity upgrades at Auckland Prison to the fast track project list.
He spoke to Antje Fiedler from the University of Auckland and the small enterprise association of Australia and New Zealand to talk about how small businesses are struggling under current economic conditions.
And, for this week’s Get Action! He spoke to Keremia Tairua who’s started a petition to increase funding and awareness for Functional Neuroogical Disorder Awareness.
Sasha spoke to Aaron Hendry from the Kickback Charity about changes to emergency housing and their campaign to end homelessness.
And he spoke to Professor Karen Waldie of the School of Psychology about a recent study which links the development period of pregnancy to postliminary adolescent mental illness.
One of the projects included in the government's recently announced fast track list is a construction project that would increase the capacity of Paremoremo, Auckland Prison.
The project would add a series of new rooms, floors and beds to the prison, which would double the prison’s inmate capacity from 600 to 1200.
The announcement has been criticised and denounced by prison reform activists in Aotearoa, with one of their concerns being that, without adequate staffing to accommodate an increase in prisoners, the upgrades would lead to chaos and more antisocial behaviour in the prison.
Oto spoke to Emmy Rākete, a Lecturer in Social Sciences at the University of Auckland and founder of People against prisons Aotearoa, to discuss the announcement of fast tracked upgrades to Auckland prison.
Amidst a cost of living crisis and subsequent drops in consumer spending, it’s no surprise that small businesses in Aotearoa are going through tough times.
Data from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has shown that company liquidations were up by 40% in the first eight months of 2024 compared to figures from last year, and the economic climate in Aotearoa has been compared, by many experts, to the 2008 financial crisis.
Oto spoke to Antje Fiedler, a Senior lecturer at the University of Auckland and director of the small enterprise association of Australia and New Zealand, to discuss the impacts small businesses have been experiencing amidst the cost of living crisis and current economic climate.
There is no doubt that adolescent depression psychological issues have been on the rise for the last couple years. Researchers have investigated many factors for this, such as Covid-19, or in the case of the GUiNZ study, factors present in pregnancy.
GUiNZ, or Growing Up in New Zealand is a long-term study of child development. This study has located a multitude of factors that may develop adolescent depression. This research could help guide mental health interventions within children and adolescents.
Sasha spoke to a Professor from the School of Psychology, and co-author of the research paper, Karen Waldie, about the new study which links perinatal risk scores with adolescent development of depression and other mental illnesses.
Homelessness is not a new issue, but rather a persistent one, and will never go away unless our society confronts it directly. This is an issue which affects all of us, as no one is guaranteed housing or basic needs.
Work and Income have declared changes to their emergency housing as of August. These changes make it harder for those experiencing homelessness to receive the help they need, as they now need to fill a criteria to receive this help.
The Kickback Organisation, a charitable trust focused on delivering support for those experiencing homelessness, are advocating for parliament to pass legislation to support those at risk of homelessness. Similar legislation has been successful in Wales.
Sasha spoke to Aaron Hendry from Kickback about their campaign efforts, and their event at their charity on Karangahape road.
For Dear Science this week, our expert Doctor Cushla McGoverin chatted with us about pterosaur evolution, 2 billion-year-old rocks with living microbes, and an mRNA vaccine for Clostridioides difficile.
In our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire host Castor spoke to MP Katie Nimon about cuts to Te Ahu o te Reo Māori and the list of 149 projects set for consideration under the Fast-Track Approvals Bill.
On the Green Desk this week our reporter Jack Marshall heads to Wellington to check out how things are going in the Big Apple of Aotearoa. This time, he chatted with Spinoff Wellington editor Joel MacManus about infrastructure, cycleways, and tunnels.
And producer Josef spoke to associate professor of evidence and criminal procedure at the University of Auckland, Scott Optican, about the government opening consultation about changing the way that we do jury trials.
On Thursday the 19th September, the Ministry of Justice opened consultation on changing jury trials to improve flexibility and increase thresholds for when individuals can opt to use a jury trial.
The proposed changes would allow individuals to opt for jury trials up to and until their case review hearing, and increase the required seriousness for offences before a jury trial can be used.
Producer Josef spoke to Associate Professor of Evidence and Criminal Procedure at the University of Auckland, Scott Optican, about jury trials, and the balancing of interests that comes with setting jury trial procedures.
The data of New Zealand's rainbow community has, for the first time, been incorporated as a part of the country’s 2023 Census.
This is a huge win for the country’s LGBTQIA+ community, as queer people have been advocating for decades for their inclusion in Census data, which would in turn help aid in better resourcing for the country's rainbow community.
News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the Workplace Services Development Lead at InsideOUT Kōaro, a queer national charity group, Rosie Leadbitter, about the data, and what this means for New Zealand’s queer population moving forward.
A total of 149 projects have been selected for fast tracking through the government's new Fast-track Approvals Bill.
There’s a variety of projects on the list, in sectors including farming, infrastructure, energy, and mining.
The fast track approvals bill went through public consultation without a public release of the list of projects.
This meant the public didn’t have specific details when submitting on the bill.
Now the 149 projects on the list have been revealed, a number of environmental concerns have arisen over projects that were successfully opposed in the past.
Forest and Birds Richard Capie calls this an assault on Aotearoa’s democracy.
Producer Evie spoke to Capie about the list of projects and Forest and Birds concerns around them.
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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