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.
Welcome to the latest addition to the Tuesday Wire: Green World! A segment run by bfm news team-ers Sara, Leilani & Max, Green World will dive into the eco-future — uncovering everything from niche research topics, strange and interesting tech innovations, and the latest environmental developments from across the globe.
This week, the first ever Overshoot Conference will take place in Austria, where climate experts from around the world will come together to discuss how climate targets can be recovered as we head toward exceeding 1.5 degrees of warming.
New Zealand Climate Change Commissioner Dr Andy Reisinger, who will be attending the event, says the global capacity to respond to this urgent issue “depends on collective social and political will”.
Last week’s UN Climate Summit also saw numerous political leaders speaking to global climate commitments, in particular in the lead up to COP30.
US President Donald Trump denounced scientific evidence on the urgency of climate change, Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo called for urgent climate action.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand spokesperson Carolyn Schwalger called for refreshed commitments to international cooperation on climate solutions, and Albanese specifically called out isolationist decision-making across the globe.
In the first interview with Dr Andy Reisinger, Host Sara talks about the Overshoot Conference and global climate action.
When it comes to a global response to climate impacts, UN Chief of International development Achim Steiner has said that an observed increase of national defence spending has detracted from critical investment.
University of Auckland Management and International Business professor Sasha Maher who has engaged with research on climate finance, spoke to Sara about the financial obligation of individual states, towards climate solution.
Last Week, at a United Nations Climate Summit, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters pointed to what he called the “elephant in the room” - that in order to rein in emissions, the top 4 countries in terms of emissions, at 60% of the world’s emissions, must do their part.
While there is validity to these claims, and they offer a welcome contrast to the Climate Denialism of leaders such as US President Donald Trump, there are still concerns over what these claims may mean in terms of Aotearoa’s own responsibilities and approach to climate change and action.
Monday Wire Producer Alex spoke to Senior Lecturer in accountancy and Finance at the University of Otago, Dr Sebastian Gehricke, about these claims, and how they may reflect the Government’s approach to Aotearoa’s emissions responsibilities.
Over the weekend, at the United Nations General Assembly, Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced that New Zealand would not formally recognise a Palestinian state.
This follows weeks of the Government not explicitly laying out what their plans were regarding recognising Palestine, unlike countries such as France, the UK, Canada, and Australia, who all announced they would be recognising a Palestinian state.
The government’s decision to not recognise a Palestinian state has received criticisms from the opposition parties, international relations experts, and pro-Palestinian advocates.
For our weekly catchup, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the ACT Party’s Simon Court about the country’s decision not to recognise Palestinian statehood.
We also discussed the government overhauling the Holidays Act.
The changes include a shift to hours-based accrual system for annual leave and a 12.5% Leave Compensation Payment for casual employees as opposed to accruing leave.
Joel also spoke to Simon about this topic, specifically about its impact on casual and part-time employees.
But first, we discussed the Government’s decision not to recognise Palestine.
Last week, US President Donald Trump had an outburst of criticism towards the UN. Despite the why and what of these criticisms by the right wing leader, he is not the first to levy criticisms against the organisation and its structures.
Particularly, the inability for the organisation to enact, oversee and rule on meaningful change, as well as the powers invested in an outdated security council, have been subject of significant concern, especially in the 21st century.
Monday Wire Producer Alex spoke to Senior Tutor in Law at the University of Auckland, Dr Justin Sobion, about the UN’s glaring issues, and potential fixes.
For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to MP Simon Court about the Government not announcing they would recognise a Palestinian state and the government’s new Employment Act.
Producer Alex spoke to Senior Lecturer in Accountancy and Finance and the University of Otago, Dr Sebastian Gehricke, about Winston Peters’ comments to the UN about top Emitters, and what it means for Aotearoa’s climate approach.
Alex also spoke to Senior Tutor in Law at the University of Auckland, Dr Justin Sobion about the problems with the UN, the Security Council, and how these can be fixed.
And Joel spoke to Nick Wilson - a Public Health Professor at the University of Otago, Wellington, about a new study, showing a majority of New Zealanders in the study want the Government to develop specific plans in case of catastrophic risks to the nation.
In a recently released study from the University of Otago, researchers surveyed over 1000 participants, with over two thirds of these participants supporting the idea of the government developing plans to deal with catastrophe’s, extending across the political spectrum.
Such catastrophes include nuclear war, the spread of bioengineer infectious diseases, and weather events.
News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to Senior Researcher and a Population Health Professor at the University of Otago, Wellington, Nick Wilson, about this study, and what the government already has in place to deal with these risks.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Shanan Halbert about the results of the New Zealand Herald’s mood of the boardroom survey, and the University reforms announced by the Government earlier this month.
For International Desk, they also spoke to Dr Marieke Riethof, Senior Lecturer in Latin American Politics at the University of Liverpool, about the conviction of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and the public response.
On City Counselling this week, Producer Sanat talked to Councilor Jule Fairey about the passing of Plan Change 78 and higher density housing
He also had a chat with Te Ohu Whakawhanaunga Marlon Drake about the 300 person mayoral forum that was hosted last week on housing and wages.
Auckland Council’s Policy and Planning committee met yesterday to vote on a new plan that would zone the city for two million homes, primarily around train stations and rapid bus routes.
This plan is a response to legislation put forward by housing minister Chris Bishop which requires councils across the country to zone for higher density housing.
This plan has not been without controversy, with councillors claiming that Aucklanders are being “put to the firing squad”
Deputy PM David Seymour has publicly disagreed with his own housing minister, arguing that suburbs like Epsom and Parnell don’t have the right infrastructure to accommodate for this growth.
Advocates for the plan, including mayor Wayne Brown argue that the council cannot continue to drag its feet on the need for housing that is closer to the city, and is more affordable. They argue that it’s better to build in places with pipes, public transport routes and job opportunities.
The plan passed with a majority last evening, so Producer Sanat talked to Councilor Julie Fairey about the plan change and what it means for the future of the city.
Yesterday, the New Zealand Herald released their latest “Mood of the Boardroom” survey results, based on the responses from 150 senior business leaders.
And earlier this month, the Minister for Universities, Dr Shane Reti, announced a series of reforms for tertiary education.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden asked Shanan Halbert about both of these topics.
Earlier this month, four out of five members of Brazil’s supreme court voted to convict the former president, Jair Bolsonaro, for plotting a military coup after losing the 2022 election.
However, members of the right-wing political opposition that support Bolsonaro are attempting to pass a bill that would give him amnesty.
For International Desk, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Dr Marieke Riethof, Senior Lecturer in Latin American Politics at the University of Liverpool, about the conviction of Bolsonaro and the public response.
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!
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
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!
95bFM 
