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.
A couple of weeks ago National Party Housing Spokesperson Chris Bishop indicated at an Auckland meeting that the party is open to making changes to housing zoning laws.
To get a clearer picture of National’s current stance on what policies are needed to allieviate the housing crisis, with a particular focus on Auckland and the discourse around special character areas and intensification, Casper spoke to National MP Dr. Shane Reti.
Casper first asked what major ongoing issues with the housing market could be alleviated by policy and how high a priority it is right now.
The Human Rights Commission is calling for a rent freeze to be implemented as part of a proposal to alleviate cost of living pressure on New Zealanders.
The proposal intends to address high rental prices as well as a growing need for renting to be recognised as a permanent housing reality for a growing number of New Zealanders.
For more details on their proposal and why they believe it to be necessary Casper spoke to Vee Blackwood, the Human Rights Commission’s housing inquiry manager.
New legislation will see councils directly own and operate public transport services, a move which Transport Minister Michael Wood claims will alleviate worker shortages and give local authorities greater flexibility.
The changes will see the existing, long-running operating model be replaced with a Sustainable Public Transport Framework.
Emily spoke with New Zealand Bus and Coach Association Chief Executive Ben McFadgen about the changes.
This week on Dear Science Casper and Emily had a chat with Allan Blackman about music alleviating chronic pain, bacteria as a possible fuel for personal electronics, and how magnets might be able to produce oxygen in space.
In 1922, the tomb of the young king Tutankhamun was uncovered by Archaeologist Howard Carter, led by his patron George Herbert (5th Earl of Carnarvon), opening up widespread interest into Ancient Egypt civilization.
Since then, he has long been suspected of stealing it’s treasures before the tomb was officially opened. These claims have been hard to validify, but a newly discovered letter penned by renowned philologist Sir Alan Gardiner may hold the answer to the questions that have swelled up in the 100 years since the discovery of the tomb.
Gardiner’s letter was never published, but the letter details how Carter compensated his work translating the cave hieroglyphics with a ‘whm amulet’, which was historically used as an offering for the dead.
Despite being told by Carter that the amulet hadn’t originated from the tomb, confirmation came from the then-director of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo Rex Engelbach after testing other finds transported to the museum.
To understand more about the controversy and history surrounding the tomb of Tutankhamun, and the surrounding context, I reached out to University of Auckland Professor Anthony Spalinger to discuss the news and more.
Joe speaks to Jason Gurney, from Department of Public Health at the University of Otago, about travel costs being a barrier for Māori in need of liver cancer treatment. He also chats to Steve Bielby, the owner of St James Theatre, and Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick on the revitalisation of St James Theatre.
Trishil speaks to Catherine Delahunty from Coromandel Watchdog about her petition calling for a moratorium on mining permits for conservation land. He also speaks Anthony Spalinger from the Ancient History Department at the University of Auckland about the recently resurfaced letter from Sir Alan Gardiner confirming the tomb of Tutankhamun had been raided prior to it’s official unveiling.
On this week’s regular segment in collaboration with OurActionStation, we’re discussing the call from Coromandel Watchdog for a Moratorium on Mining Permit applications on public conservation land.
Despite the commitment placed by the Government in 2017 to stop issuing mining permits on conservation land, it has failed to implement the measure and continue to issue permits under the ‘stewardship land’ reasoning’.
Trishil spoke to the organiser of the petition Catherine Delahunty on this issue, discussing the issue with stewardship land, and the harms that mining has on flora and fauna.
New video footage of the interior of the vandalised St James Theatre has been released by Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick, showing fungi growing on damp floors, damaged electrical fittings and roof, as well as an exposure to the weather and rain, and foundation-eroding dampness.
Swarbrick has written an open letter calling for the government to match the Auckland Council's $15 million commitment to restoring the building. She says this decision can't be kicked down the road any more and that the revival of the theatre will secure Queen Streets' status as a buzzing destination that will provide space and a place for Auckland's creative community.
Built in 1928, St James Theatre once hosted many shows and concerts. St James Theatre is also regarded as a Category 1 Heritage building, meaning it is a historic places are of special or outstanding historical or cultural significance or value.
However, Building owner Steve Bielby says thieves and vandals had 'gutted' the once historic site.
Joe spoke to the owner of St James Theatre, Steve Bielby as well as Green Party MP for Auckland Central Chlöe Swarbrick, about why the revitalisation of St James Theatre is so significant to Auckland.
Māori are currently 31% more likely to die from liver cancer than non-Māori with the same diagnosis, but covering the travel costs associated with liver cancer surgery could help close this disparity.
Researchers analysed the distance travelled by Māori and Pākehā patients to receive their first primary surgery for liver cancer and found that on average, Māori liver cancer patients travelled twice as far than their Pākehā counterparts.
Joe spoke to Jason Gurney, from the Department of Public Health at the University of Otago, about how travel costs being are a barrier for Māori in need of liver cancer treatment.
It’s not breaking news that the Cost-of-Living has been messed up across the country.
However, new reports are showing the affects the financial difficulties are having on our physical and emotional health.
The Southern Cross's most recent Healthy Futures Report has shown direct links through several measures, such as people having difficulty sleeping, feeling more stressed, and having more difficulty affording health care.
To learn more Liam spoke to Chief Medical Officer of Southern Cross Insurance Arm Doctor Stephen Child.
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