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.
Milly spoke to Bindi Norwell from Procare regarding the recent goverment announcement which gives a pay increase to some healthcare workers but not general practisioners or nurses, who have requested the change.
Yesterday, there was a big protest organised by the dairy owners association regarding the scale of and response to retail crime in the country.
With so many New Zealanders concerned about retail crime, which is quickly becoming a flashpoint political issue, Casper spoke to Greg Harford from Retail NZ - discussing the government’s response, the issue of retail workers feeling unsafe, and what different causes might be at play.
Last week the Reserve Bank of New Zealand announced a hike to the Official Cash Rate of 75 basis point, which was quite a shock and has been reported on extensively as it’s not usually changed this quickly.
Casper had a chat to Robert MacCoulloch from the University of Auckland about what the OCR is, why the Reserve Bank raised it, and what this might mean for New Zealanders.
Recent statistics for the 2021 and 2022 period shows smoking rates are at an all-time low in New Zealand. Arno spoke to Haden McRobbie, regional director for the national public health service Te Whatu Ora, to find out more about New Zealand’s nicotine-consuming population, and to find out how the organisation is progressing on its goals toward a smoke-free New Zealand.
Spike speaks to Auckland Central MP Chloe Swarbrick about the St. James Theatre and the campaign for its restoration.
Arno speaks to Haden McRobbie from Te Whatu Ora about New Zealand's smoking rates and nicotine consumption trends, and criminologist Dr Ronald Kramer about National's bootcamp plan for youth offenders.
National party has proposed to send teen offenders to military-style boot camps. Ten to seventeen year olds are considered being put in a new “serious young offender” category. National's leader Christopher Luxon said the policy was about reforming young offenders and he was confident it would work. Amnesty International and others have said it’s a bad idea. Arno spoke to University of Auckland criminologist Dr Ronald Kramer to find out more.
'Power to the princess: This princess is brave, bold and needs no prince'
This is the title of a study showing that children movies often enforce gender stereotypes, but they also hold the power to quickly shift them.
Daniel spoke with Anita Azeem who explains how some disney movies carry strong messages about gender roles and how children are affected by these messages. She also talks about her research thats shows how gender stereotypes can be changed.
Joe speaks to Greenpeace’s James Hita, who confronted a deep sea mining ship off a Mexican coast last week. He also speaks to Dr Nick Munn, a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy from the University of Waikato about justifying lowering the voting age.
95bFM’s News and Editorial Director Jess Hopkins speaks to White Ribbon Day Ambassador Floyd Ormsby about teaching and role modelling ‘healthy masculinity.’
Daniel looks at a project from Waka Kotahi which will look at lowering the speed limit. He talks to Professor of Human Geography Simon Kingham. He also speaks to Anita Azeem from the University of Otago about why gender stereotypes can be problematic in children's movies.
Finally, David speaks to Otago University’s Ben Wheeler about a lifesaving diabetes treatment.
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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