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.
A measles case has been confirmed in Aotearoa for the first time since 2019.
This comes as childhood immunisation rates are at some of the lowest levels in modern times.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Vaccinologist at the University of Auckland Helen Petousois-Harris, who says it would take a “miracle” for Aotearoa to avoid a measles outbreak.
She started off the interview by asking Petousis-Harris why we should be concerned about measles.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to the ACT Party’s Karen Chhour about ongoing issues with KiwiRail track infrastructure, the government's recent decision to increase the Ute Tax, and ACT’s stance on calls for Aotearoa to remove the British Monarchy as our head of state.
For their weekly catch up, Hanna spoke to Te Pāti Māori's Takutai Kemp about MP Meka Whaitiri quitting the Labour Party to join Te Pāti Māori. Whaitiri's statements indicate the jump was prompted by Labour dropping co-governance in its Three Waters reforms, disregarding obligations under Te Tiriti guaranteeing Māori authority over natural resources. They discussed what differentiates Te Pāti Māori from Labour, and why Whaitiri aligns herself more with the former than the latter.
Te Pāti Māori have also signed a letter with other inigenous peoples in the Commonwealth calling for the King to apologise for the harms of colonisation, and have a petition underway seeking to remove the British royal family as Aotearoa's head of state. Hanna and Takutai Kemp discussed these in light of the coronation of King Charles, and foundations for a Tiriti-centric Aotearoa.
Hanna Thompson spoke to Te Pati Māori's Takutai Kemp about their petition to remove the British Monarchy as our head of state, and former Labour MP Meka Whaitiri joining Te Pati Māori.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to ACT’s Karen Chhour about Kiwirail track infrastructure problems, the Ute Tax, and ACT’s stance on calls for Aotearoa to become a republic.
And Vaccinologist at the University of Auckland Helen Petousois-Harris about her concerns Aotearoa could have a measles outbreak.
Caeden Tipler spoke to InsideOut’s Awhi Marshall and Waipapa Taumata Rau’s John Fenaughty on The Disinformation Project’s latest report on Transphobia in Aotearoa.
Nicholas, Lindstrom spoke to Lewis Holden from the New Zealand Republic campaign about why they believe Aotearoa should become a republic, and Graeme Edgeler, an expert in constitutional law, about the legal implications and processes of becoming a republic
The Disinformation Project released a report last week which confirmed that since Posie Parker's arrival in Aotearoa in late March, there has been an increase in anti-trans hate in far right circles.
Caeden spoke to Awhi Marshall (Te Arawa, Tainui) who is a student and InsideOut Kōaro board member on her perspective on the report as a trans and takatāpui person with experience in this space. Awhi uses she/they pronouns.
Caeden also spoke John Fenaughty, a cis (he/him) Senior Lecturer in Counselling, Human Services and Social Work at Waipapa Taumata Rau the University of Auckland. John spoke on anti-trans discrimination and the role of academics in gathering this data. Here are these interviews.
On the Rāpare Wire this week, Spike speaks to:
- Labour MP Andrew Little on his trip to Gallipoli for ANZAC Day and more NZDF support for Ukraine
- Dr. George Laking on Australia's move to prescription-only vape products
- and Alec Toleafoa on the history of the Dawn Raids and Pasifika migrant labour
and Simon speaks to:
- Shane Henderson on Council budget submissions and the integrated transport plan for City Counselling
- Dr. Kris Roy on building back better after Cyclone Gabrielle and reducing waste in the construction industry
- and Marnie Prickett, 95bFM's Water Reporter, on regional freshwater policy
In the wake of cyclone gabrielle, the way that we build back from the widespread damage caused is a topic of debate. Safety needs to be ensured, and environmental considerations are also important. But how do we merge these two issues? With around 50% of all waste in the country coming from the building and demolition industries, more needs to be done to reuse materials. Dr. Kris Roy is a senior lecturer in Civil Engineering at the University of Waikato and is an expert on the circular economy and has spoken about 'building back better'. Simon began by asking Dr. Roy what it means to build back better.
Marnie Prickett is an expert on fresh water and is BFM's water reporter. For this month's chat Marnie goes in depth on the regional plans for the new fresh water policy that council's are discussing around the country at the moment. Marnie highlights why this policy is important and why everyone should submit their opinions to local councils. She also discusses the health of lakes in Taranaki. Marnie began by discussing regional freshwater policy and the impact it will have on our waterways.
Emilia chats to Green Party Co-Leader James Shaw about the Emissions Trading Scheme following advice from the Climate Change Commission.
Andre talks to Anti-AUKUS Coalition member, John Richards, and Dr Arama Rata about the anti-AUKUS protest outside of Parliament last week and Nanaia Mahuta’s comments on Newshub Nation about AUKUS.
On The Green Desk, Jack Marshall interviews Julie Dillip from the University of Victoria about the state of Aotearoa’s wetlands.
Nicholas spoke to Professor Craig Elliffe about the IRD wealth tax reports and its implications on our tax system.
Arno speaks to Kelly Burrowes, from the Auckland Bioengineering Institute, about prescription-model vaping
Arno also speaks to Richard Easther, astrophysicist at the University of Auckland, about the Euclid space mission
Numerous political figures including Ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour have spoken out in the media this week with allegations that Auckland Council is trying to usher in ‘co-governance’ on a local level, with their proposal on the management of the Waitākere Ranges.
CEO of Te Kawerau ā Maki Edward Ashby called out the political lashback as “fear-mongering” and ‘misinformation’, affirming that the proposal is not actually a co-governance structure.
The proposal is for a decision-making committee of 50% representation from the Crown and tangata whenua to manage the land under a deed of acknowledgement.
The council says the deed of acknowledgement is in line with the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Act 2008, and follows on from the existing management structures in place.
Producer Sara spoke with Councillor Shane Henderson during his bus commute about this topic and the political commentary that’s been witnessed this week. Here is that interview
The Canadian election has been won by Mark Carney’s Liberal Party.
Despite losing the election, the Conservatives made significant gains in their levels of support, particularly with young people.
United States President Donald Trump also loomed large in the election, following his comments earlier this year that he would make Canada the “51st state” and the trade war he has started with Canada.
For International Desk, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Aleksi Toiviainen, co-organiser for Vote16 Canada and democracy advocate, about the results of the election.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has announced a total ban on prisoners voting will be reinstated.
The move has been criticised by the opposition parties, as well as those working in criminal justice.
Today is May Day, also known as International Workers Day and unions across Aotearoa are taking action against what they say is an “anti-worker agenda” from this government.
Workers across a wide range of industries are stopping work and taking strike action.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about all of these issues.
Last week Transport minister Chris Bishop announced steps towards improvements to public transport from the Northwest of Auckland. The plan involves three stages, each promoting faster and more consistent public transport from the region. While early stages are planned for the next few years, later stages will be coming over the next ten or more years.
The government has also announced $53 million towards subsidising teachers registration fees. This announcement follows extensive campaigning from teachers on this issue, eliminating a barrier for new and long-time teachers in Aotearoa.
In our weekly catchup with National’s Tom Rutherford, Wire host Castor asked about each of these issues, starting with the transport upgrades in Northwest Auckland.
In March this year, the government made the decision to reduce the benefit for hospital patients who remain hospitalised after 13 weeks.
After 13 weeks, those experiencing long-term hospitalisation would see their benefit reduced to their "hospital rate" which was $55.35 a week (after tax), unless the person has a partner and a child or is a veteran.
For this week’s Get Action! I spoke to Fiona Charlton, volunteer president of New Zealand ME Society, who’s started a petition calling on the government to roll back benefit cuts to people experiencing long-term hospitalisation.
If you’d like to sign this petition, you can find it here:
Just yesterday, Finance Minister Nicola Willis made her Pre-Budget speech, in the leadup to Budget 2025 which will be delivered next month.
During her speech, Willis said that the government would be halving the operating allowance from $2.4 Billion to $1.3 Billion, going to a select number of government departments that Willis has described as “the most important priorities.”
The week before, it came to light that Climate Minister Simon Watts had rejected advice to review the carbon subsidies given to polluting companies like NZ steel and Methanex.
And the Greens recently made a call to the government to ban the use of engineered stone products.
For our weekly catchup with the Green Party, Wednesday Wire host Oto spoke to MP Ricardo Menendez-March about all of these issues.
In his role as regulation Minister, David Seymour is moving to simplify regulations for Early Childhood Education Centres by the end of this year.
This involves a review containing 15 recommendations, which cabinet has accepted. These recommendations concern a vast number of things, from simplifying licensing criteria for pre-schools to lowering qualification requirements for early childhood educators.
Both of these areas have sparked concern within the sector, with some educators concerned the review is simply a cost cutting exercise that will result in tamariki being put at risk.
For our weekly catch up Producer Evie spoke to ACT’s Simon Court about the review.
They also spoke about New Zealand First’s Members Bill aiming to have the biological definition of a woman and man defined in law.
And finally they discussed a clash between the party and National’s Scott Simpson over an ACC plan to reduce injury for Māori and Pasifika workers.
A cross-party delegation of MPs recently visited Tonga, Hawai’i and Vanuatu as part of a Pacific trip organised by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters.
Earlier this week, New Zealand First proposed new legislation that would exclude trans communities from the definition of “woman” and “man” in law.
Winston Peters defended the bill on RNZ’s Morning Report, where he called interviewer Corin Dann a “disgrace” for raising the criticism against the bill that was brought forward by opposition parties.
During this interview, Peters threatened to cut RNZ’s government funding.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about all of these topics.
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