Listen back to features and interviews from 95bFM's daily news and current affairs show. Castor Chacko, Alex Fox, Emmanuel Orange, and Caeden Tipler focus on the issues of Tāmaki Makaurau and elsewhere in independent-thinking bFM style. Monday-Thursday 12-1pm on 95bFM.
World Endometriosis Day is coming up this week on the 28th of March.
Endometriosis is a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus, causing severe pain in the pelvis.
Endometriosis is hard to diagnose and there is currently no cure.
However, international studies have shown that CBD oil is a promising natural treatment for endometriosis pain relief.
Producer Sofia Roger Williams spoke to the CEO of the Green Leaf Group and Co-founder of the Cannabis Clinic, Dr. Waseem Alzaher, about the effectiveness of existing treatments and the use of cannabis to relieve pain.
Last week, on Monday 18th March, Whaikaha - the Ministry for Disabled People announced that it was making changes to its Purchasing Rules and Equipment and Modification Services.
These changes mean that people can no longer use disability funding for expenses that provide respite, self-care services for carers and whānau, gifts for volunteers providing support, and overseas and domestic travel costs.
The changes came into effect the same day they were announced.
Producer Sofia Roger Williams spoke to Labour MP and Spokesperson for Disability Issues, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, about these changes and the implications they will have for disabled communities and whānau.
Last week, the government announced a complete ban on disposable vapes and higher fines for vape retailers and individuals caught selling to under-18-year-olds, as part of its ‘crackdown’ on youth vaping.
News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to Co-Founder of Vape-Free Kids NZ, Marnie Wilton, about how effective she believes these measures will be in stopping youth vaping.
She also asked Associate Professor at the University of Auckland Bioengineering Institute, Kelly Burrowes, for her thoughts on the government’s crackdown.
She started off the interview asking what impact Burrowes thinks the recently announced measures will have on reducing vaping among young people?
For their regular catch-up News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to ACT’s Simon Court about youth vaping, public sector cuts, and calls for the government to create a special humanitarian visa for Palestinians in Gaza with family connections to New Zealand.
She also spoke to Co-Founder of Vape-Free Kids NZ, Marnie Wilton, and Associate Professor at the University of Auckland Bioengineering Institute, Kelly Burrowes, about how effective they believe the government’s new measures to reduce youth vaping will be.
Producer Ezra spoke to Pharmacy Lecturer Dr Jay Gong, and Clinical Pharmacist, Hoda Fahmy, from the University of Auckland, about a rise in opioid misuse among older adult and post-surgery patients.
Research from the University of Auckland highlights a rise in the prescription and use of opioids in New Zealand, particularly among post-surgery and older adult patients.
Producer Ezra spoke to Pharmacy Lecturer Dr Jay Gong, and Clinical Pharmacist, Hoda Fahmy, from the University of Auckland, about the research and its implications on older adult and post-surgery patients.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party Caeden spoke to Labour Party spokesperson for Education and Women Jan Tinetti. They asked about Winston Peter’s comments comparing co-governance with Nazi Germany, the response to the Freyberg High School students performing a haka against David Seymour, and Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech yesterday.
Yesterday the Western line was closed for some stops including between New Market and Britomart, while two Britomart stations remained closed due to KiwiRail maintenance issues. This won’t surprise commuters in Tāmaki Makaurau who are far too used to trains not running or turning up.
Caeden spoke to West Auckland based counsellor Shane Henderson about our public transport woes and the success of the cost-cutting budget. Here is that interview.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party Caeden chats with Labour spokesperson for Education and Women Jan Tinetti about Winston Peters recent comments on co-governance, the students at Freyberg High School, and Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech.
They also also chat with Auckland Councillor Shane Henderson about public transport in Tāmaki Makaurau and Auckland’s last cost cutting budget for City Counselling.
Jasmine speaks to Professor Margaret Mutu about the path to a constitution of indigenous rights for Māori in Aotearoa.
She also speaks to Dr Pippa McKelvie-Sebileau about the emergence of more international research in support of free school lunches, and what this means for government research and action ahead of the proposed funding axe.
More international research has emerged evidencing the connection between hunger and school achievement both internationally and in Aotearoa, ahead of the proposed funding cuts for free school lunch programme, Ka Ora, Ka Ako.
Producer Jasmine Gray speaks with public health researcher, Dr. Pippa McKelvie-Sebileau, about the lacking evaluation processes of Aotearoa’s government bodies ahead of cuts, and the positive impact of our free school lunch programmes that has been evidenced through community research.
Producer Jasmine Gray speaks with Professor of Māori Studies Margaret Mutu of Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa, and Ngāti Whātua. As chairperson of Matike Mai Aotearoa and of Te Rūnanga-a-Iwi o Ngāti Kahu, Margaret shares with us the path to securing indigenous rights in Aotearoa in light of the upcoming hui on this kaupapa hosted at Waipapa Taumata Rau in April.
The government is reviewing Treaty of Waitangi references across 28 pieces of legislation, with concerns that stronger obligations could be reduced to simply “taking into account” Treaty principles.
At the same time, New Zealand has signed a new Free Trade Agreement with India, while incidents of anti-Indian graffiti and political comments about Indian communities have raised concerns about rising anti-Indian sentiment in Aotearoa.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Producer Pranuja spoke with Shanan Halbert about proposed changes to Te Tiriti, the NZ–India Free Trade Agreement, and rising anti-Indian sentiment in New Zealand.
Last week, the Green Party released a statement highlighting the recently released Dental For All report, which they say confirms that New Zealand can afford a free, universal public dental service.
And the recently signed Free Trade Agreement between India and New Zealand is being touted as a pivotal moment, garnering support from both Labour and National parties, however, NZFirst MP and coalition minister for Oceans and Fisheries, Shane Jones, expressed his opposition to the agreement with derogatory comments against potential indian immigrants that have drawn the ire of other parliamentary parties.
So for our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party, I spoke with MP Ricardo Menéndez March about the Green Party’s Dental policy and their stance on the Free trade agreement with India.
Since its inception in 2008, the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (or ETS) has been, according to the government, its primary tool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle the climate crisis. As part of the scheme, the government sets a price for carbon units, which companies must pay to offset their emissions. The Climate Change Commission has recently highlighted that the scheme was not stable and susceptible to changes in the market, and did not have sufficient carbon units to last until 2030, requiring urgent reform.
For Green World, Wire producer Liam spoke with Scott Burnett, the Regional Conservation Manager for the top of the South Island and Forest and Bird’s climate spokesperson about why Forest and Bird has called the system broken, what impact this has on Aotearoa and what reforms should be implemented.
Last week, NZ First MP and Government Minister Shane Jones was criticised over using derogatory language towards Indian Immigrants. These comments were condemned by the National Party and Christopher Luxon, who labelled NZ First’s belief system as ‘anti-immigrant’, and saidd Jones was ‘scaremongering’.
That was not the extent of criticism between NZ First and National, however, with tensions between the two sparking after NZ First Leader Winston Peters calling out Luxon for not giving coalition partners prior notice of his confidence vote during a national party caucus meeting last week. In turn, these comments have been dismissed, and Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Luxon accused NZ First and Peters of putting Labour Governments, like Arderns, into power. Despite all of this, however, Peters has insisted the coalition is as stable as a ‘three-legged stool’.
Last week also saw the Treasury announce that they would revisit their forecasts for the economy ahead of the impending government budget. The Government also announced some changes to the way Infrastructure is run by the government, giving more power to the Independent Infrastructure Commission, increasing their oversight and changing the way that Ministers receive advice and information.
This week, Host Alex spoke with National MP Ryan Hamilton about these developments, beginning with Shane Jones’ comments.
The Prime Minister has survived the recent confidence vote, but questions remain about the stability of Christopher Luxon’s leadership and what that means for the government going forward. At the same time, inflation has come in higher than expected, rising 3.1 percent annually and 0.9 percent in the March quarter, adding to ongoing concerns about the cost of living. And in Wellington, severe flash flooding has once again raised questions about whether our cities are prepared for increasingly extreme weather.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Producer Pranuja spoke to Shanan Halbert about all of these issues.
Despite a tenuous ceasefire, the fuel crisis - resulting from the US and Israel bombing of Iran, and subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz - drags on. Prices have remained high, hitting low-income households hard, and while fuel stocks in or on-the-way to the country sit comfortably above a month’s cover, approaches to conserving fuel remain front-of-mind for many.
One strategy that New Zealanders have been urged to adopt is switching to public transport, which would put fewer cars on the road. However, access is often dependent on location and affordability.
Over the past few years, the Ministry of Education has reviewed numerous rural school bus routes, cancelling some, cutting off students from ready access to their education.
For this week’s Get Action, producer Theo spoke to Alicia Hall from Parents for Climate Aotearoa, on their petition to restore rural school bus routes and make public transport free for children, and students under 25.
If you'd like to sign this petition, you can find it here.
Last week, the Green Party leaders, Marama Davidson and Chloe Swarbrick, hosted their state of the planet address, where they launched their call to electrify the nation.
On top of that, events this week have led the party to criticise the government. The first critique, instigated by the floods that swept the nation, hitting the Coromandel and causing a state of emergency in the Wellington Region, led the Greens to question the government's decreased funding of flood responses as harsh weather increases.
The second critique came with a cabinet paper this week that shows the government is planning on moving ahead with reforms to legislation that will see references to the Treaty of Waitangi and Te Tiriti o Waitangi redefined, in what the government sez is about ‘standardisation’ but what the Green Party sees as dishonouring Te Tiriti.
So for our weekly catch-up with the Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez March, we discuss their criticisms of the government but start with a discussion of their electrification policy.
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