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.
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.
This week on Dear Science, Casper, Emily and AUT Professor Allan Blackman discussed the resurrection of the extict Tasmanian Tiger, a study clamining all water is unsafe to drink, as well as a simple formula with potential to destroy solvent chemicals.
The National Party has been claiming that the workforce shortages New Zealand is seeing is a result of mismanaged immigration policy.
This week, to address the workforce shortages, the government announced that skilled migrant workers will be able to be payed under the median wage, as well as a doubling of the working holiday scheme cap and an extension to currently held working holiday visas.
For Casper's weekly catchup with National MP Dr. Shane Reti, he asked him to explain what he thinks needs to happen regarding immigration policy, as well as how he views this latest announcement.
New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union members are taking industrial action in response to unsuccessful long-term negotiation with Fire and Emergency NZ.
The Union is concerned about ongoing staff shortages, low pay and a lack of early identification of those who experience trauma on the job, and staged a strike on Friday with more planned for this week.
To get a better sense of what’s driving these concerns, and how they might be addressed, Casper spoke to the President of the Auckland Branch of the Professional Firefighters Union, Terry Bird.
This week on the Tuesday Wire, Dr Allan Blackman joined Casper and Emily in studio to talk science news for our Dear Science segment. Casper spoke to Dr Shane Reti from the National party, as he does each week, this time discussing immigration policy. He also had a chat with the President of the Auckland branch of the Professional Firefighters Union about the industrial action they’re taking
Emily spoke with the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Orthopaedics Association Andrea Pettett to discuss the contentious ethics of private medical scanning. She also spoke to the Head of Nutrition at Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Regina Wypych about a recent study revealing an alarming increase in iron deficiency symptoms
Ahead of World Iron Awareness Week, a survey from an online quiz titled "Could you be low on iron?" has produced some worrying results. It shows a large number of New Zealanders are suffering from iron deficiency symptoms.
Emily spoke to the Head of Nutrition at Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Regina Wypych about the implications of the survey and how we can check our iron deficiency levels.
Allegations of unethical practices in private radiology are heightening tensions within the clinical community and prompting wider concerns about money being prioritised over patient care.
Doctors are going to the High Court to block surgeons from owning medical imaging services, arguing the practice is dangerous because they have a financial incentive to refer more patients.
Emily spoke with Chief Executive of the New Zealand Orthopaedics Association Andrea Pettett about the claims and how the High Court ruling might affect patients and clinicians.
Joe speaks to Lisa Woods, the Campaigns Director for Amnesty International about raising the age for criminal responsibility. Joe also speaks to Dr Nic Rawlence from the Paleogenetics Lab at The University of Otago about new research surrounding the evolution of the Wattlebird.
Trishil speaks to Professor Geoff Chase about his Research into AI driven emotional regulation training that will work to assist those with high-functioning autism with social blindness.
Finally, Isla and Stella look at Hormonal Birth Control and the Brain w/ Dr Rachel Sumner for this weeks Tomorrow's World.
DNA analysis has uncovered the evolutionary history of New Zealand's kokako, huia and tieke saddlebacks.
Researchers from the University of Otago explored the origins of the wattlebirds by analysing their DNA and found the birds' ancestors arrived in New Zealand about 20 million years ago.
Joe spoke to Dr Nic Rawlence, from the Paleogenetics Lab at The University of Otago, 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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