Listen back to features and interviews from 95bFM's daily news and current affairs show. Castor Chacko, Sara Mckoy, 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.
The Science System Advisory Group headed by Sir Peter Gluckman, released its second report yesterday detailing new proposals for New Zealand’s science and innovation eco system.
As a part of this report and the Government’s response, a massive shakeup of the funding regime has been announced with the establishment of “Research funding New Zealand’ a new independent board that will replace most existing decision makers across science.
At the same time, this report outlines a clear lack of investment, funding and strategic leadership in terms of how New Zealand’s science ecosystem can solve problems that benefit all New Zealanders beyond short term economic growth.
Te Punaha Matatini is a research institute trying to solve the complex and wicked problems of the 21st century in Aotearoa. Thursday Wire Producer Sanat spoke with their co-director Markus Luckas-Roeshe about these announcements and what the future of New Zealand’s science eco-system needs to look like.
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Breast Cancer Foundation NZ is celebrating a landmark moment for women’s health today as the Government officially extends breast screening nationwide to women aged up to 74.
After campaigning for eight years to increase the screening age limit from 69 to 74, the Foundation’s Chair, Justine Smyth, says the national roll-out marks a significant victory for early detection.
“A woman’s risk of breast cancer is actually higher at 70 than it is at 50, which is why we campaigned so hard to get the age limit raised,” Justine says.
“Thanks to the extension, more women will have the chance to detect breast cancer early, when it’s most treatable. And early detection means less invasive treatment, faster recovery, and most importantly – more lives saved.”
Thursday Wire Producer Sanat spoke to Justine about the changes, what they mean for families and communities across the country, their advocacy journey and the next steps for Breast Cancer awareness.
Local elections wrapped up this Saturday across the country with Auckland recording the lowest turnout in decades. However, as councilors and local board members settle in for the next term, Thursday Wire Producer Sanat talked to Shane Henderson about how leaders from across our city step up and campaign for these elections, what his community is looking forward to over the next term and what sort of reforms he wants to pursue to stem this decline in local democracy.
Earlier this month, the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture visited Aotearoa for the first time since 2013. The delegation made a range of unannounced visits to facilities such as prisons, police stations, and youth justice and protection residencies.
The end of visit observations included a repeated emphasis on strengthening investment in and utility of our National Preventative Mechanism - the collective of Aotearoa’s independent statutory organisations tasked with advancing the kaupapa to keep detained people safe.
The subcommittee’s final report will be delivered to Aotearoa’s government, which is then up to government discretion whether the document is made public.
Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Meg de Ronde, CEO of Te Kāhui Tika Tangata (Human Rights Commission) - the coordinating body of the National Preventative Mechanism - about the subcommittee's statements.
Only 32.6% of eligible voters voted in local elections, the worst turnout in 36 years.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has welcomed the ceasefire in Gaza.
And politicians across the house have criticised Te Pāti Māori for the confusing infighting between members that has played out over the past few days.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Shanan Halbert about all of these issues.
Following on from my chat with MP Ricardo Menendez March, News and Editorial Director Joel spoke with Ritesh Shah, a Senior Lecturer in Critical Studies and Education and the Co-Director of the Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies at the University of Auckland, about the most recent ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel.
This comes following reports of Israeli soldiers having shot and killed nine Palestinians returning to their homes following the ceasefire.
US President, Donald Trump, has warned that if Hamas do not disarm, the US will “disarm them”.
Joel spoke to Shah about this topic and whether this ceasefire will stick.
For our weekly catchup with the Green Party News and Editorial Director Joel spoke with MP Ricardo Menendez-March about the government’s downgrade of methane targets, the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, and the country’s oceans warming 34% faster than the global average.
For this weeks Get Action Producer Manny speaks to The chair of the Public Issues for the Association of Psycho therapists, Rick Williment, on the open letter from Mental Health Professionals calling on the New Zealand Government to act on Palestine
Joel spoke to Ritesh Shah, a Senior Lecturer in Critical Studies and Education and the Co-Director of the Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies at the University of Auckland, about the most recent ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel and whether it will stick.
Manny spoke to the Chief Executive of Retail New Zealand Carolyn Young about the government's plans to ban stores passing on the contactless pay wave fee
Tuesday WireHost Sara also attended the Auckland Central World Homeless Day event on Friday, and spoke with Lifewise director Pam Elgar.
Earlier this week, the Government announced science-based biogenic methane targets for 2050, in what they say will provide farmers and exporters with a clear pathway to reduce emissions while maintaining productivity and trade competitiveness.
Following Cabinet approval, the target will be set at a range of 14–24 per cent below 2017 levels by 2050, reflecting the findings of the independent Methane Science Review released in 2024.
For our weekly catch-up with The Green Party, News and Editorial Director Joel spoke to MP Ricardo Menendez March about this topic.
They also discussed the most recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, and recent findings from the Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ showing Aotearoa’s oceans are warming 34% faster than the global average.
But first, they discussed the Government’s changes to methane targets.
The cost of living in Aotearoa New Zealand has been one of kiwi's main issues since it topped polls at the end of the Covid lockdowns, prompting the National Party, in oppostion at the time, to declare a cost of living crisis.
However, now the National led government is recieving push back for proposed reforms of contactless payments that critiques say will increase prices.
The government says they are removing an annoyance for consumers but stores say banning their ability to pass on the fees of using contactless payments to those using the service means they will have to compensate by increasing prices, leading to everyone, not just those paying with contactless, will bear the costs.
To learn more about this, Wednesday Wire Producer Manny spoke to Chief Executive of Retail NZ, Carolyn Young, about the impacts of governments plan.
On Friday last week, a range of organisations who provide services to the homeless population in Auckland and across New Zealand came together for a World Homeless Day event in the CBD.
Tuesday Wire Host Sara attended the event, and spoke with Lifewise Executive Chair, Pam Elgar about the kaupapa of the day.
Last week the National Party’s Greg Fleming and Labour’s Camilla Belich put forward a member’s bill to address modern slavery. The bill would require businesses with over $1,000,000 of annual consolidated revenue to generate a report on whether any of their suppliers use modern slavery.
Despite being a member’s bill, the bill will be heard in parliament next week thanks to gathering support from sixty non-cabinet MPs, the first time this process has been used. The ACT party did not support the bill, with leader David Seymour and deputy leader Brooke Van Velden levying multiple criticisms.
Also this past week saw an announcement that the prison population in Aotearoa reached an all time high, despite reports of overcrowding and underfunding last year.
For this week’s catchup with the ACT Party’s Simon Court, Wire host Castor asked about each of these issues, beginning by asking about modern slavery.
arlier this month, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a speech at the World Economic Forum that made international headlines.
The speech was focused on the future of global politics in the face of a world increasingly shaped by threats and hard power, and the need for “middle power” states to cooperate.
For International Desk, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Stewart Prest, Lecturer in Political Science at the University of British Columbia, about Mark Carney’s speech.
Last week, following weather warnings and torrential rain, slips across the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty wreaked havoc, cutting off communities, damaging houses, and worst of all, taking lives.
At the base of Mauoa, Mount Maunganui, a slip hit a council-owned campsite, claiming six lives and now eyes are turning towards how a tragedy like this could be prevented in future.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was among the world leaders offered membership on Trump's post conflict government body, the board of peace. The board has received scathing criticism for including people under investigation for war crimes and failing to have a representative voice for the Palestinian people. Luxon has, in turn, received criticism for not ruling out the invitation.
Finally, the New Zealand Defence Force has begun to incorporate uncrewed vehicles and drones as it moves into a new era of increased defence spending
For our weekly catchup with the Green Party, Wire host Manny spoke with MP Ricardo Menéndez March about Luxons refusal to rule out joining Trump’s board of peace, and the New Zealand Defence Forces incorporation of drones but began with asking him about the fatal slip in Tauranga,
As New Zealanders across the motu witness the fallout of extreme weather including landslips and flooding, climate experts reiterate the importance of connecting these events to a wider trend of increased frequency and intensity climate events.
In particular, experts including Dr Kevin Trenberth and Sustainability lecturer Sasha Maher say that New Zealand’s existing infrastructure needs to be upgraded to account for how future natural disasters and climate events will impact Aotearoa.
For Green World this week, Wire host Sara spoke to both of these experts about the challenges New Zealand will face on this issue.
First, Sara spoke to University of Auckland affiliated climate scientist Dr Kevin Trenberth about the drivers of extreme weather conditions, starting by asking how they reflect a larger pattern of temperature change.
Next, Sara spoke to University of Auckland lecturer Sasha Maher about the political response to these observable climate impacts.
Last week's landslide at Mount Maunganui has had severe consequences on people and the environment. Producer Vihan spoke to National MP Ryan Hamilton about the landslide and the government's response to it, as well as it's response to climate change, in general.
Tāmaki was hit with severe heavy rain warnings in recent days, with extreme weather and states of emergency declared around the motu. These heightened caution around risks of flooding in areas affected by 2023 Auckland Anniversary floods.
Last week, there were changes to national laws that now allow ‘granny flats’ to be built on properties without the need to obtain resource consent.
And stripping of marine life from rock pools around Whangaparāoa has raised discussion of shellfish protections, but not without increasing racial tensions in community discourse.
Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about how these topics impact Tāmaki Makaurau.
As a part of their energy policy, the current national-led government has reopened the door to offshore oil and gas exploration and mining after it was banned under the previous government. Last week, we saw reports of the first bid under the scheme, a sign of further oil and gas projects.
Alongside this the government has put through legislation increasing the maximum amount energy companies can be fined by three times, they say, to increase accountability.
Finally, rumours swirl that the central government is about to step in to override the rezoning plan crafted by the Auckland Council once again, as the groups protest the plan enabling higher-rise buildings around transport hubs.
For this week's Weekly Catch-up with the Green Party, Wire Producer Manny spoke to MP Recardo Menendez March about the expansion of fines on energy companies and the central government's intervention in Auckland Council's zoning plans. But first we discussed the first bid in offshore oil and gas.
The survey provides world-first substantial evidence of how unaffordable clean fuel supply can generate severe risks for health and climate in these communities.
Co-author Professor Hari Vuthaluru from Curtin's Western Australian School of Mines said toxic emissions, health issues and food contamination were among the consequences of this practice.
Wire Host Sara spoke to Vuthaluru further about the study in light of the environmental consequences.
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