Listen back to features and interviews from 95bFM's daily news and current affairs show. Joel Armstrong, Sara Mckoy, Max Micheel, and Caeden Tipler focus on the issues of Tāmaki Makaurau and elsewhere in independent-thinking bFM style. Monday-Thursday 12-1pm on 95bFM.
Over the last few months, concerns have been raised over the hosting of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States. Particularly, concerns over human rights in the country, VISA worries, and accusations of sportswashing have been increasingly levied towards the country.
The relative lack of coverage of these concerns, comparatively to concerns over the previous tournament in Qatar, or those in the future in countries like Saudi Arabia, complicate the history that Football and FIFA have with questionable regimes and funding. Despite Trump Administration policies that seem to threaten the tournament, there continues to be a lack of noise around whether or not the three host countries should be reduced to two, removing the US.
Monday Wire Producer Alex spoke to a Doctoral Candidate in the Faculty of Arts and Education at the University of Auckland, Luke Bird, about this Sportwashing, its background, and why the US and countries like Qatar are treated differently.
The Israeli military has intercepted the Freedom Flotilla, which is trying to break Israel’s aid blockade by delivering food and medicine to Gaza.
Wire Host Caeden spoke to Acacia O’Connor, actor and on-the-ground spokesperson for the Global Movement to Gaza, about Israel's interception of the flotilla, and what we know about the whereabouts of the New Zealanders on board.
Update: All three New Zealanders who are part of the Freedom Flotilla are confirmed to be taken by the Israeli Military. There will be a snap action taking place in Te Komititanga from 3pm today to protest what has happened.
While speaking at the Eightieth session of the United Nations General Assembly over the weekend, Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced that New Zealand would not be recognising a Palestinian state at this point in time.
Peters’ rationale was that Hamas’s leadership in Gaza would make recognising Palestine an unwise move for New Zealand to make at this point, additionally stating that it could trigger a reaction from Israel that would lead to more aggressive policies in both Gaza and the West Bank, subsequently threatening the two state solution.
Aotearoa for Palestine, the organisers behind the march for humanity, have condemned Winston Peters’ announcement, saying it was indicative of the government’s complicity in Israel’s genocide in Gaza and that the upcoming march across the Auckland harbour bridge will be held in opposition to the announcement, as well as to call for sanctions on Israel.
Oto spoke with Heba Mortaja from Aotearoa for Palestine to discuss Winston Peters' UN Address and his refusal to recognise Palestinian statehood.
For Oto's final wire 😢 he spoke with Green Party MP Ricardo Menendez-March for our weekly catchup with the Green Party. They discussed: Winston Peters' refusal to recognise Palestine at the UN General Assembly and The government’s decision to reopen applications for oil and gas exploration across New Zealand.
And he spoke with Heba Mortaja from Aotearoa for Palestine for a follow up conversation about Winston Peters’ decision not to recognise Palestine, and the upcoming march for humanity on the Auckland harbour bridge they’ve announced in response.
Max spoke with co-chair of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa John Minto, to discuss the Gaza peace proposal suggested by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu yesterday at the White House and he spoke to retired professor in international relations Stephen Hoadley on this topic as well.
And Manny spoke to Associate Professor George Laking on the government's amendments to change the purpose, objectives, and functions of Pae ora legislation of Health New Zealand.
From hiring freezes to canning Te Aka Whai Ora, we've seen a significant shake-up of our public health system under this current administration, and now, Minister of Health Simeon Brown has put forward further amendments to change Health New Zealand's purpose, objectives, and functions.
Wednesday Wire Producer Emmanuel spoke to George Laking, an Associate Oncology Professor at the University of Auckland, over his concerns that the reforms will degrade access to preventative care and worsen health outcomes.
Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu was greeted by United States President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss many things, including ending the war in Gaza. After a lengthy talk, the leaders announced to the press the conditions they had come up with to offer to Hamas, despite no Palestinian or Hamas officials being present.
The proposal calls for an immediate ceasefire, a swap of hostages held by Hamas and prisoners held by Israel, a staged Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian territory and demands that Hamas immediately disarms and renounces any governance in the strip. The US President’s plan would also establish a temporary governing board that would be headed by Trump himself and would include former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Trump then announced Hamas had three or four days to respond to the deal, and Netenyahu promised that if Hamas were to reject the deal, he would “finish the job” in Gaza.
To talk about the peace proposal led by Donald Trump and if it brings the war in Gaza any closer to ending, Producer Max spoke to co-chair of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa John Minto and retired professor in international relations Stephen Hoadley.
The government has announced their plan to repeal the Holidays Act in an effort to make the application of leave entitlements for workers easier to calculate — an issue which has been estimated to have resulted in more than $2 billion in remediation payments to workers for miscalculated entitlements.
But critics including from Labour and the Greens say the changes will see some workers lose protections, especially when their hours defer from the traditional employment arrangement.
Submissions on the Electoral Amendment Bill reveal that many New Zealanders believe the changes will disenfranchise voters and negatively impact democratic participation.
The proposed changes in the bill include removing the ability to enrol on voting day, banning prisoners from voting, and disallowing the provision of food and drink at election booths.
Over the weekend, Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ announced that New Zealand does not officially recognise Palestinian statehood, going against the decisions of countries like Australia, the UK and Canada.
Peters said that, at this stage, such a decision might legitimise Hamas, but that the government will take a ‘when, not if’ approach to the issue.
Wire Host Sara spoke with National MP Carl Bates about all of these topics, starting with the Holidays Act
Yesterday, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk announced changes to the earthquake-prone building regulations that will remove nearly 3000 buildings from the classification register.
Previously, buildings would have to meet a 34%NBS (new building standard) threshold to predict likelihoods of withstanding seismic action. The new system instead prioritises identifying structures that pose a higher risk to human life. Alterations seek to measure risk in a manner that balances safety with more affordable and realistic remediation action for existing properties.
Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Dr. Megan Boston, Senior Lecturer for Civil Engineering, at the University of Waikato about what the new quake-prone building regulations mean for Aotearoa’s community safety and heritage.
For Dear Science today, Sara and Jasmine speak to Cushla McGoverin about using hot glue guns to mend bones, tooth-in-eye surgery, and a large penguin species went extinct in Aotearoa 3 million years ago.
For Dear Science this week, our expert, Dr Cushla McGoverin talks about a crafty way to fix broken bones, an unusual surgery to restore vision, and a long extinct New Zealand penguin species.
For our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire Host Sara spoke to MP Carl Bates about the Holidays Act overhaul, submissions on the Electoral Amendment Bill, and the government’s decision not to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly,
For our new segment Green World, Sara spoke with climate commissioner Dr Andy Reisinger about this week’s Overshoot Conference and the future of global climate action, as well as University of Auckland’s Sasha Maher on global and national climate investment and solutions.
Wire Producer Jasmine spoke with Dr. Megan Boston about the government's updated Earthquake-prone building regulation
Tāmaki Makaurau’s council budget is among those impacted by the proposal of a rates cap, considering Tāmaki’s average 5.8% annual rates increase across the 25/26 financial year.
Youth homelessness is a growing concern as discussions continue around “move on” orders for those without housing in Auckland’s CBD.
And the Skycity Convention Centre is set to open in 2026, with high hopes for what it may bring for Tāmaki Makaurau after its prolonged development.
Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Counsellor Fairey about these topics.
The Trump administration has caused issues of significant food waste due to a range of its policies, including immigration raids, tariffs, cuts to food assistance programmes, and the destruction of food for programmes like USAID.
This has had huge consequences, including environmental impacts, as well as impacts on the estimated more than 47 million people in the US who don’t have enough food to eat, and those who have relied on US foreign aid that has been cut.
For International Desk, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Garrett Graddy-Lovelace, Provost Associate Professor in Environment, Development & Health at American University, about these issues.
Thanks to MOTAT, the museum inspiring the innovators of tomorrow!
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Recently, the government has announced some major reforms to how regional councils operate, with regional councillors proposed to be replaced by boards made up of city and regional mayors, and potentially even Crown-appointed representatives, called combined territories boards, or CTBs.
As well as this, Health Minister, Simeon Brown, has called for the decentralisation of Health New Zealand, with the expectation that the entity focuses on deliveries closer to the front-line, additionally expecting a plan to do so by the end of the year.
For our weekly catch up with the National Party, News and Editorial Director Joel spoke to MP Stuart Smith about these topics, starting with the regional council.
From today until the 4th of December, a conference will be held in Queenstown that will look into pest management and how best to protect native species.
The event not only brings experts in the sector from Aotearoa, but will also involve Australian experts as well.
Tuesday Wire Host Sara spoke to Dr Sze-Wing Yiu, a Wildlife Ecologist at the Bioeconomy Science Institute, about this week’s conference, and what to expect.
The government has recently announced some major reforms to how regional councils operate, with regional councillors proposed to be replaced by boards made up of city and regional mayors, and potentially even Crown-appointed representatives, called combined territories boards, or CTBs.
The ‘shake-up’ of regional councils has left concerns that the move would water down environmental regulations at a local level, reduce Māori and iwi voices in decision making, and would result in central government overreaching into local politics.
As well as this, Parliament’s Justice Committee has recommended passing the Electoral Amendment Bill, albeit with some amendments
For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to MP Simon Court about both of these topics, starting with the changes to regional councils.
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka announced the government’s release of the new social housing investment plan which aims to shift to a “needs-based, data driven approach”.
The new flexible fund includes $41 million dollars in operating funding over the next four years, and the government have stated they expect to support up to 770 social homes and affordable rentals in the initial phase.
As well, Health Minister Simeon Brown last week announced a Cabinet decision to stop new prescriptions for puberty blockers for young people identifying as trans or experiencing gender dysphoria.
The rule, in effect from 19th of December, is based on recommendations from a UK National Health Service review which determined that the evidence to the benefits or risks of the treatment was “remarkably weak”.
The government is expected to pause new prescriptions until the outcome of a clinical trial being conducted in the UK, expected to be completed in 2031.
Wire Host Sara spoke with MP Carl Bates about all of these topics, firstly by asking about the flexible fund which will replace the so-called ‘patchwork of programmes’ in place for social housing.
Christmas Lights at MOTAT - experience Auckland’s most magical Christmas lights - heritage trams, festive music, Santa visits, and thousands of sparkling lights Tickets at MOTAT.NZ.
Thanks to MOTAT, the museum inspiring the innovators of tomorrow!
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