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.
Stella speaks to University of Canterbury physicist Jenni Adams about the university's involvement with IceCube Collaboration, a project that uses polar ice to research neutrino and multimessenger astronomy.
Welcome to The Wire for this Rāpare, Thursday! This week, Tuva'a has his weekly catch-up with Labour's Andrew Little, and Milly speaks to Sarah Sneyd from Alcohol Watch about the proposed harm reduction bill. Stella speaks to Marsden Fund recipients Julia De Bres (for research into supporting transgender youth) and Dr Nick Mortimer (about the toughness of pounamu). Stella also speaks to Jennifer Curtin about the impact the Black Ferns in raising the profile of women's rugby. She also speaks to Jenni Adams about the IceCube Collaboration- revealing more about nearby galaxies.
On Wednesday morning it was announced that the government would be giving $20,000,000 to developing nations to help address loss and damage caused by climate change.
The funding comes as part of the government’s commitment to deal with the impacts of climate change not covered by funding for adaptation measures.
This makes New Zealand one of only a few nations to make a loss and damage payment, which have also been described as reparations for the economic damage caused to developing nations by global warming.
Emilia spoke to Climate Change Minister James Shaw & Oxfam's Communications and Advocacy Director Jo Spratt.
Our News and Editorial Director Jess speaks to Brooke van Velden in our weekly chat with the ACT Party, this week they’ll be talking about hate speech laws & the End of Life Choice Act one year on.
Emilia will be chatting about this morning’s announcement to give $20,000,000 in funding to help address loss and damage caused by climate change in developing countries, she talks to Climate Change Minister James Shaw and Oxfam's Communications and Advocacy Director Jo Spratt.
And she will also be chatting to Jess Chambers, Head of Campaigns from SAFE about the non-ban on cage-farmed hens.
With the COP27 climate summit underway and the recent agricultural emissions reduction plan the government released, attention is being drawn to how New Zealand will meet its emissions reductions target of net-zero by 2050.
For their weekly catch-up Casper discussed emissions reductions policy with National party MP Dr Shane Reti, how the National party differs from the government and what alternative approaches they’re considering.
They also spoke about recent concerns that have been appearing in the media and in policitcal messaging around the impact monetary policy is having on mortgage holders, and whether this debate is showing the whole picture.
With another Guy Fawkes come and gone, calls to implement stronger fireworks regulations have reignited amid several blazes wreaking havoc around the country this weekend. Every year, the public are urged to use fireworks safely, but some argue simply issuing annual warnings is not enough.
Christina discussed this with Alice Hayward, a spokesperson for Ban the Boom, a campaign which is hoping to "support fun not fear" and end the private sales of fireworks.
Climate change reparations are set to take centre stage at this years COP27 summit. This will see developing countries being paid for climate change damages, especially when they have contributed the least to climate change. So how exactly will this work?
Christina asked Dr Kevin Trenberth, a Distinguished Scholar at the National Centre of Atmospheric Research in Colorado.
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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