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The Wire

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.

Climate Change Reparations w/ Dr Kevin Trenberth: November 8, 2022

Climate Change Reparations w/ Dr Kevin Trenberth: November 8, 2022 Climate Change Reparations w/ Dr Kevin Trenberth: November 8, 2022, 17.23 MB
Tue 8 Nov 2022

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.

Climate Change altering wave height w/ Dr João Albuquerque: November 7, 2022

Climate Change altering wave height w/ Dr João Albuquerque: November 7, 2022 Climate Change altering wave height w/ Dr João Albuquerque: November 7, 2022, 17.11 MB
Mon 7 Nov 2022

Researchers are predicting waves will get higher on New Zealand’s west coast, and lower on the east as a result of climate change.

Modelling at the University of Auckland also indicated shifts in wave direction, with implications for coastal erosion as waves hit the shore at altered angles.

Joe spoke to one of the researchers, Dr João Albuquerque, a PhD graduate from School of Environment at the University of Auckland about his findings.

Overdose Deaths w/ Sarah Helm: November 7, 2022

Overdose Deaths w/ Sarah Helm: November 7, 2022 Overdose Deaths w/ Sarah Helm: November 7, 2022, 17.22 MB
Mon 7 Nov 2022

Spike speaks to Sarah Helm, director of the NZ Drug Foundation, about their latest report on overdoses and the wider introduction of Naloxone in New Zealand. 

Festival Drug Testing w/ Brin Ryder: November 7, 2022

Festival Drug Testing w/ Brin Ryder: November 7, 2022 Festival Drug Testing w/ Brin Ryder: November 7, 2022, 14.63 MB
Mon 7 Nov 2022

Spike speaks to Brin Ryder about drug testing services, the approaching festival season, and what that might mean for people planning to take psychoactive substances over summer.

The Wire w/ Joe: November 7, 2022

The Wire w/ Joe: November 7, 2022 The Wire w/ Joe: November 7, 2022, 106.75 MB
Mon 7 Nov 2022

On The Wire for Rāhina Monday!

Joe speaks to Dr Nic Rawlence, from the Paleogenetics Lab at the University of Otago about the ethics of fossil collecting. He also speaks to Dr João Albuquerque, a PhD graduate from School of Environment at the University of Auckland about his research looking at how climate change is altering the heights of waves in New Zealand.

Our segment with OurActionStation is back this week! Joe speaks to Angela Meyer, Director at Project Gender, about the open letter to TVNZ in regards to f-boy island.  

Spike is speaking to Brin Ryder from KnowYourStuff about summer festival drug testing, along with Sarah Helm from the NZ Drug Foundation, about a rise in New Zealand overdose deaths and the wider availability of Naloxone, aka Narcan.

That's us for the Monday Wire!

The ethics surrounding fossil collection w/ Dr Nic Rawlence: November 7, 2022

The ethics surrounding fossil collection w/ Dr Nic Rawlence: November 7, 2022 The ethics surrounding fossil collection w/ Dr Nic Rawlence: November 7, 2022, 23.34 MB
Mon 7 Nov 2022

With the recent case of a 23-million-year-old whale fossil recently excavated by a private collector on the West Coast of the South Island. Karamea locals and Ngāti Waewae, who viewed the fossil as a treasured local attraction, and has led to a police investigation.

Despite the upset it caused, the actual legal situation remains unclear. But the incident has generated significant local and international media attention, and raised questions about the role and ethics of private fossil collecting and trading

Joe spoke to Dr Nic Rawlence from the Paleogenetics Lab at the University of Otago on this matter.

 

OurActionStation: Pulling F-Boy Island New Zealand w/ Angela Meyer

OurActionStation: Pulling F-Boy Island New Zealand w/ Angela Meyer OurActionStation: Pulling F-Boy Island New Zealand w/ Angela Meyer, 15.43 MB
Mon 7 Nov 2022

Our segment with OurActionStation is back! This week Joe spoke to Project Gender about their campaign on pulling TV Show F-Boy Island. They say our public broadcasters need to do better. In an open letter to TVNZ, Project Gender demanded the network pull the FBoy Island NZ show immediately. This is because it normalises and champions predatory and dangerous sexual behaviour that harms people, particularly our rangatahi.

Joe spoke to the Director at Project Gender Angela Meyer about the research surrounding this campaign and the importance of promoting safe sexual practices.

 

US midterm elections w/ Robert Patman: 4th November, 2022

US midterm elections w/ Robert Patman: 4th November, 2022 US midterm elections w/ Robert Patman: 4th November, 2022 , 22.58 MB
Fri 4 Nov 2022

The all important US midterm elections take place on Wednesday our time.

Control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate is up grabs.

Who has the majority in these two chambers will impact how US President Joe Biden and the US government will operate.

David spoke to Otago University Professor of International Relations at the Department of Politics Robert Patman about the topic.

The Wire with Liam: November 4, 2022

The Wire with Liam: November 4, 2022 The Wire with Liam: November 4, 2022, 102 MB
Fri 4 Nov 2022

This week on The Wire for Rāmere, Friday:

Liam had a korero with the University of Canterbury's Bronwyn Hayward about the upcoming COP27 summit 

He also had my my first regular chat with Waitemata and gulf councillor Mike Lee for City Counselling

He also spoke to Lisa Woods from Amnesty Aotearoa about reforming hate speech laws in New Zealand.

While David spoke to Robert Patman from Otago University about the US midterm elections.

City Counselling w/ Mike Lee: November 4th, 2022

City Counselling w/ Mike Lee: November 4th, 2022 City Counselling w/ Mike Lee: November 4th, 2022, 18.01 MB
Fri 4 Nov 2022

The recent local elections have resulted in Michael Lee becoming the new councillor for Waitemata and Gulf. 

Lee has previously held the position before losing in 2019, now coming back in the midst of a wave of new councillors. 

Liam had a chat with him for our City Counselling segment, to learn more about his run, his goals for the future, and helicopters. 

 

Political "fear-mongering" on Auckland Council's Waitākere Ranges management proposal w/ Councillor Shane Henderson: 01 May, 2025

Political "fear-mongering" on Auckland Council's Waitākere Ranges management proposal w/ Councillor Shane Henderson Political "fear-mongering" on Auckland Council's Waitākere Ranges management proposal w/ Councillor Shane Henderson, 12.74 MB
Thu 1 May 2025

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

International Desk: What the Canadian election results say about strategic voting, Trump, and young people w/ Vote16 Canada’s Aleksi Toiviainen: 1 May, 2025

International Desk: What the Canadian election results say about strategic voting, Trump, and young people w/ Vote16 Canada’s Aleksi Toiviainen: 1 May, 2025 International Desk: What the Canadian election results say about strategic voting, Trump, and young people w/ Vote16 Canada’s Aleksi Toiviainen: 1 May, 2025, 23.97 MB
Thu 1 May 2025

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.

Prisoner voting rights and the strikes happening this May Day w/ Labour’s Carmel Sepuloni: 1 May, 2025

Prisoner voting rights and the strikes happening this May Day w/ Labour’s Carmel Sepuloni: 1 May, 2025 Prisoner voting rights and the strikes happening this May Day w/ Labour’s Carmel Sepuloni: 1 May, 2025, 10.9 MB
Thu 1 May 2025

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.

Northwest transport upgrades and teachers registration fees w/ the National Party’s Tom Rutherford: 29th April, 2025

Northwest transport upgrades and teachers registration fees w/ the National Party’s Tom Rutherford: 29th April, 2025 Northwest transport upgrades and teachers registration fees w/ the National Party’s Tom Rutherford: 29th April, 2025, 11.53 MB
Wed 30 Apr 2025

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.

Get Action! Fairness for the Hospitalised Stop Benefit Cuts After 13 Weeks w/ President of New Zealand ME Society Fiona Charlton: 30 April, 2025

Get Action! Fairness for the Hospitalised Stop Benefit Cuts After 13 Weeks w/ President of New Zealand ME Society Fiona Charlton: 30 April, 2025 Get Action! Fairness for the Hospitalised Stop Benefit Cuts After 13 Weeks w/ President of New Zealand ME Society Fiona Charlton: 30 April, 2025, 20.16 MB
Wed 30 Apr 2025

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:

Weekly Catchup w/ The Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez March: 30 April, 2025

Weekly Catchup w/ The Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez March: 30 April, 2025 Weekly Catchup w/ The Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez March: 30 April, 2025, 23.96 MB
Wed 30 Apr 2025

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.

Dear Science w/ Dr. Cushla McGoverin: 29th April, 2025

Dear Science w/ Dr. Cushla McGoverin: 29th April, 2025 Cushla McGoverin: 29th April, 2025, 17.43 MB
Tue 29 Apr 2025

This week on Dear Science our expert Doctor Cushla McGoverin chatted with us about tree climbing salamanders, lab grown teeth, warnings for volcanic eruptions

Thanks to MOTAT, the museum inspiring the innovators of tomorrow!

ECE Regulations, NZ First Gender Bill and ACC Ethnic Outcomes w/ the ACT Party's Simon Court: 28 April, 2025

ECE Regulations, NZ First Gender Bill and ACC Ethnic Outcomes w/ the ACT Party's Simon Court: 28 April, 2025 ECE Regulations, NZ First Gender Bill and ACC Ethnic Outcomes w/ the ACT Party's Simon Court: 28 April, 2025, 24.8 MB
Mon 28 Apr 2025

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. 

International Desk: The backlash to the UK Supreme Court excluding trans women from its definition of “woman” w/ TransActual’s Jane Fae: 24 April, 2025.

International Desk: The backlash to the UK Supreme Court excluding trans women from its definition of “woman” w/ TransActual’s Jane Fae: 24 April, 2025. , 18.98 MB
Thu 24 Apr 2025

The United Kingdom Supreme Court has ruled that trans women do not meet the definition of women under UK equality laws.

The decision means services for women, such as refuges, hospital wards, and toilets, can exclude trans women.

For International Desk, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Jane Fae, a director at TransActual UK, about this decision and its backlash.

The cross-party delegation to the Pacific, NZ First’s trans-exclusionary definition of sex bill and his threat to cut funding to RNZ w/ Labour’s Carmel Sepuloni: 24 April, 2025

The cross-party delegation to the Pacific, NZ First’s trans-exclusionary definition of sex bill and his threat to cut funding to RNZ w/ Labour’s Carmel Sepuloni: 24 April, 2025 The cross-party delegation to the Pacific, NZ First’s trans-exclusionary definition of sex bill and his threat to cut funding to RNZ w/ Labour’s Carmel Sepuloni: 24 April, 2025, 14.19 MB
Thu 24 Apr 2025

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.