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.
The Labour Party was one of many to criticise the National Parties policy announcements of minimising welfare for youth and focusing on pushing them into work.
However, the Auckland Action Against Poverty group has called out the government for their own actions of sanctioning those on the benefit.
They claim Labour has cut benefits of around 4000 people who aren't well, are injured or living with a disability in the last 5 years.
To learn more, Liam spoke to Brooke Stanley Pao from the organisation about their frustrations.
Today is national independence day for Ukraine, celebrating their separation from the Soviet Union- it’s also the 6 month mark for the ongoing conflict with Russia. Stella spoke with Andy Robinson from World Vision about the ramifications of the conflict for the innocent children caught in the crossfire. World Vision is working on multiple aspects of child wellbeing, and today Stella and Andy focused on education and mental health.
Kia ora, and welcome to the Thursday Wire! This week, Stella speaks to Andy Robinson from World Vision about the education and mental health of Ukrainian children. She also speaks to conservation scientist Professor James Russell from the University of Auckland about his recent work, that shows Aotearoa is one of the highest contributors to pest eradication worldwide!
Green Desk is back as always, Frances updates us on the week’s environmental news, this week speaking to Watercare about one of their largest projects. Finally, Tuva’a has his regular catch-up with Labour’s Andrew Little, who responds to comments made by Brooke Van Velden, from the ACT party, about funding usage for ICU beds.
A recent study compiling international data has shown that Aotearoa is responsible for almost a quarter of international pest eradication on islands. Stella spoke to one of the contributors, University of Auckland’s Professor James Russell, a conservation biologist, about the nuances of the data.
This week Tuva’a chats with Labour’s Andrew Little about comments made by ACT’s Brooke Van Velden about ICU bed numbers, in bfm reporter Alex’s interview yesterday. They also talk about the outgoing speaker, Trevor Mallard's accomplishments in the role.
Frances speaks with Shane Cunis from Watercare about their Central Interceptor project- which just might be the biggest wastewater infrastructure project in Aotearoa.
People from across the country converged upon Parliament once again yesterday for a comparatively subdued protest by the Freedom and Rights Coalition led by Brian Tamaki.
However, Parliament grounds were not only full of people claiming high crimes against the government, it also attracted a significant turnout of counter-protestors. One of them was Teanau Tuiono from the Green Party, and Emilia chatted with him this morning.
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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