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.
Former Wire host Christina Huang is back to her old stomping grounds for a special guest spot on the Tuesday Wire.
In exciting news, the team welcomed brand new Dear Science co-host Dr Joel Rindelaub from UoA. This week, Joel chatted to Christina and producer Emily about air pollution and gut health, diamond rain on icy planets, and the complex social structures that dolphins can form, which can apparently get quite freaky!
Christina spoke to Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick about Sunday's allegations of sub-standard living conditions in motels used as emergency housing on Rotorua's Fenton Street.
She also spoke to Dr Shane Reti for the Wire's weekly catch-up with the National Party. This week, they discussed the Rotorua emergency housing crisis, youth crime and the banning of petrol cars.
Emily spoke to Asuka Burge from the New Zealand Blood Service about the need for plasma donors.
She also spoke to Sarah Pritchett from WasteMINZ about food waste minimisation efforts at the consumer and retail levels.
Finally, Christina wrapped up the show with a chat to University of Auckland student Viviana Becker about the recent Chilean referendum to implement a new constitution.
Nationwide demand for plasma donations now exceeds that for blood. Yesterday Sky Tower lit up gold to highlight the urgent need for plasma donors nationwide, with the New Zealand Blood Service urging Kiwis to give up an hour and a half of their time to give some of this life-saving "liquid gold" and save lives.
Emily spoke to the National Communications and Marketing Manager at New Zealand Blood Service, Asuka Burge, about the agency's new plasma campaign and how you can get involved.
Joe speaks to Emma Brodie, a Campaign's Officer from SAFE for Animals, about animals continuing to suffer amidst calls from agri-business to delay winter grazing regulations. He also chats with Katherine Ellis from the University of Canterbury, about women with endometriosis experiencing long delays and dismissive doctors before a diagnosis. Finally, Joe speaks to Sarah Helm, the NZ Drug Foundation’s Executive Director, about the recent report to overhaul Aotearoa’s approach to methamphetamine treatment
For this weeks regular fortnightly segment, Tomorrow's World! Isla and Stella explore a new combination of methodologies that means we can extract DNA from shells. They speak to Kerry Walton from the University of Otago on the matter.
Endometriosis is a chronically painful, invasive, inflammatory disease, with limited treatment options and long delays to diagnosis, which impacts 10% of females in New Zealand.
This study, conducted by the University of Canterbury, covers three themes associated with endometriosis patient experiences: intensity of pain, diagnostic tool shortcomings and perspectives of treatment options.
Joe spoke to Katherine Ellis, one of the co-authors of the study from the University of Canterbury, on the matter.
The NZ Drug Foundation has called for a thorough overhaul of Aotearoa's approach to the treatment of Methamphetamine, following a new report which showed that existing policies were failing the community and causing significant harm.
This recent report, Minimising the Harms from Methamphetamine, jointly commissioned by the NZ Drug Foundation and the Helen Clark Foundation, takes an in-depth look at how methamphetamine is impacting Aotearoa and proposes a various of new health-based solutions backed by local and international evidence.
Joe spoke to Sarah Helm, the NZ Drug Foundation’s Executive Director, on the matter.
Federated Farmers, DairyNZ and Beef + Lamb NZ are calling for winter grazing regulations to be delayed again.
Intensive winter grazing regulations were meant to come into effect in May 2021, but were initially delayed until May 2022, only to be further delayed to November 2022. SAFE CEO Debra Ashton says the multiple delays have left animals to suffer in cold, wet, and muddy conditions. This has led to questions being raised about animal welfare.
Joe spoke to Emma Brodie, SAFE’s Campaign Officer, on the matter.
The Healthcare exec Brian Thompson was shot dead by a masked assailant last week.
The crime has gained significant controversy and attention online, with many using it to restart the debate on the inequities of the United States healthcare system.
And this week Yale University was the latest college to commit to divesting from weapons manufacturing after a student vote.
For State of the States this week Wire Host Caeden speak to Andre Fa’aoso from the Yale Daily News about both of these topics.
The government as announced their plan for the Cook Strait ferry a year after they scrapped Labour’s plan, including cancelling the ferries the Labour government had ordered.
And a new report from the Ministry of Social Development has revealed nearly a quarter of beneficiaries are not receiving their correct entitlements.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden speaks to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about both of these topics.
For City Counselling this week, producer Sofia caught up with Councillor Shane Henderson about proposed time-of-use charging to solve congestion problems in Tāmaki and Council selling their remaining Auckland Airport shares last week.
The Green party recently released He Ara Anamata - the Green party’s emissions reduction plan.
The document covers more than 10 areas of the economy and energy Sector that a Greens-led government would be looking to adapt to minimise carbon emissions and protect the natural landscapes of Aotearoa.
It also comes 5 months after the government released their own draft emissions plan. Numerous experts pointed out that the government is behind on their own plan’s targets to meet the crucial emissions budget for 2031-2035.
For their weekly catchup, Oto spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez-March to discuss the party’s new emissions reduction plan and how they would address climate and the economy in a greens-led government.
Last election, one of the National Party’s main campaign promises was to be ‘tough on crime’, promising to increase police coverage and penalties for crimes. A target was set to increase the number of police officers by 500 by November 2025, however some police leaders today say this goal is unrealistic.
The government also announced this week some shakeups to insulation standards, which they say should make houses more affordable.
In our weekly catchup with the National Party’s Tom Rutherford, Wire host Castor spoke to him about police staffing targets and new insulation standards.
This week on Dear Science, our expert Doctor Cushla McGoverin chatted with us about what latrines teach us about people, climate variation affecting Chinese dynasties, and invasive species becoming threatened.
Thanks to MOTAT, the museum inspiring the innovators of tomorrow!
Last week it was revealed that two of the ten participants in the government's pilot bootcamp programme were on the run.
The youth were two months into the community rehabilitation phase of the programme, following the three month youth justice residence phase. Both teens were found in the weekend, but had allegedly reoffended, and are now set to come before the court.
For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, who have been heavily advocating for this programme, Producer Evie spoke to Simon Court about this incident.
She also talks to him about proposed changes to employment law which would give employers the power to dismiss workers earning over $180,000 without the employee refuting the decision.
And finally, she talks to him about David Seymour’s incumbent run as Deputy Prime Minister, which is set to begin in May of next year.
For City Counselling this week, Producer Sofia spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about changes to Auckland Transport’s responsibilities, nationwide bus and train fare hikes, and concerns over the opening of the City Rail Link.
For State of the States this week, Wire Host Caeden speaks to Andre Fa'aoso from the Yale Daily News about President Biden's decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden, who was due to be sentenced next week for three felony charges.
They also discuss Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for FBI director, who is the latest in a long list of unorthodox picks for government positions from Trump
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