Listen back to features and interviews from 95bFM's daily news & current affairs show, The Wire. Your hosts Jessica Hopkins, Jemima Huston, Frances Wright, Zazi Hewlett, Justin Wong and Noah Ferguson-Dudding focus on the issues of Tāmaki Makaurau and elsewhere, in independent-thinking bFM style. Weekdays 12-1pm on 95bFM.
Yesterday, the Government announced that Auckland will remain at Alert Level 4 and the rest of the country at Alert Level 2 until at least Tuesday 21st of September at 11:59. News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston speaks to Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu, University of Otago Wellington Immunologist, Head of Pacific Office and Senior Lecturer in Pathology and Molecular Medicine, about her position on the government’s alert level announcement. They also discuss the progress of the vaccination roll out and whether enough support has been given to Pacific and Māori communities.
The Chinese government has recently made numerous policy reforms that support Xi Jinping's goal of Common Prosperity. The reforms suggest a return to socialist policies, including regulation on for-profit education, online gaming, and internet companies.
Louis spoke to Victoria University of Wellington's Jason Young about the reforms and what impacts they might have.
According to the United Nations, millions of people in Southern Madagascar are on the verge of extreme food insecurity. This comes as changing weather patterns have left the region without rain for almost four years.
Louis talked with the World Food Program's Shelley Thakral about the famine, the role of climate change, and what action needs to be taken.
Researchers at the University of Auckland have been using augmented realities to recreate the first contact between Māori and Pakeha. The project is focused on using such new technologies to support and improve intercultural relationships.
One of the researchers, Mairi Gunn, joined Louis to talk about using augmented reality and the outcomes that they were expecting.
Today on The Wire, Jessica Hopkins hears from Nyungar human rights lawyer and academic, Dr Hannah McGlade about Heritage protection laws in Western Australia.
Louis Macalister bring you three pieces this week. First, he interviews Mairi Gunn from the University of Auckland about a project using augmented realities to recreate the first contact between Maori and Pakeha. Then Jason Young from the University of Victoria about China's recent domestic policies. Lastly, Shelly Thakral from World Food Program about famine in Madagascar.
The Western Australian government is re-drafting its heritage protection laws, after mining company Rio Tinto destroyed a FORTY SIX THOUSAND year old sacred site.
However, under these new proposed laws, the Western Australia Government still retains the final decision in heritage disputes.
A group of Aboriginal Australians including Nyungar human rights lawyer and academic, Dr Hannah McGlade have made a formal request for the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to review the draft Cultural Heritage Bill.
Jessica Hopkins spoke to McGlade, who says the proposed legislation is insufficient protection of the right to culture, which prohibits states from destroying significant Indigenous cultural heritage.
Ilena spoke to Professor Bruce Robertson, from the Zoology department at the University of Otago, about the first ever study to genomically sequence kākāpō. The study was conducted with researchers from Sweden and New Zealand. Researchers looked at how the inbreeding of kākāpō on the small Stewart Island has, over a long time, been surprisingly positive in reducing harmful mutations. Bruce talks about what these findings mean for continuing efforts to sustain the population of the severely endangered kākāpō.
This week, Ilena spoke with Councillor Shane Henderson about what he calls the ‘week from hell’ for West Auckland. The week started with extensive flooding and ended with a terror attack at the LynnMall Countdown, all while the region was in level 4 lockdown. He gives some updates on where flooding emergency and support efforts are at now, and how West Aucklanders are coping.
On another note, Ilena and Shane also talked about bin tags and how a proposal to streamline Auckland’s rubbish service might look like.
A new study has found cannabidiol gels may help children with a severe form of epilepsy. Noah Ferguson-Dudding spoke to one of the authors of the study, Professor Lynette Sadlier from the University of Otago, about the findings.
Various governments around the world are reportedly preparing to provide citizens with booster shots to their vaccines against Covid-19. Noah Ferguson-Dudding spoke to Professor Nikki Turner, Director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre which advises the New Zealand government on vaccinations. They discussed what boosters do, why they may be useful, and whether they are ethical given the struggles many other countries are currently having with Covid-19.
Noah Ferguson-Dudding caught up with National MP Christopher Luxon for their weekly chat. They discussed what Luxon would like to see the government to do around their recent Three Waters proposal. They also touched on a recent poll which has put National at 21.3%, and the controversy around Judith Collins' criticism of Siouxsie Wiles.
Today, Pippa and Ilena talked about how Auckland Council will be helping local businesses move down through alert levels- in particular, how the Council can help the hospitality industry with licensing requirements so that they can do trading on the footpaths and allow more space between customers.
They also talked about Vision Zero, an ethics-based transport safety approach that was developed in Sweden and is now being implemented in Auckland. The vision states that there will be no deaths or serious injuries on our roads by 2050. Ilena asked Pippa about how realistic this goal is, what concrete steps have already been taken to make our roads safer and what future plans are in place.
Justin spoke to Health Minister Andrew Little about New Zealand's Covid-19 strategy post lockdown and the vaccine bus to boost vaccination rates in Auckland.
Justin talks about the Canadian federal election with Professor Daniel Béland of McGill University. The election will take place on September 20 after Prime Minister and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau called a snap election in August.
Justin talked to Victoria University's Professor Robert Ayson on the new Ausuk defence pact between Australia, the US, and the UK. Part of the pact would see Australia acquire its first nuclear-powered submarines to replace its aging fleet with the US and UK sharing technology.
On this week's Dear Science, Frances Wright was joined by AUT Professor Allan Blackman. They began by talking about the serious but hilarious Ig Nobel Prizes and then moved onto research on toilet training cows from the University of Auckland. They finished up by talking about the food scientists who have found the key to perfectly smooth chocolate.
This week Zazi spoke to Brooke about the Māori Party's petition to to change New Zealand's official name to Aotearoa as well as John Tamihere's comments in a Newshub interview yesterday.
Zazi asks Brooke about the Māori Party's petition - whether she supports it, thinks it’s important, or believes official titles don't make much of a difference.
In the second half, Zazi and Brooke talk about comments made by Māori Party's John Tamihere, saying that ACT members contacted him, appalled and apologetic of Seymour’s Māori priority vaccine tweet, posted last week.
The Māori Party's co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer also spoke with Zazi about the Aotearoa petition in today's Wednesday Wire show. If you would like to listen to that interview as well, click the link here.
In another week of level four lockdown, Isla and Stella look into how intermittent isolation could be affecting young kiwis. They chat with Maria Corkin from the University of Auckland about her research on 'technoference' and its influence on child development, executive functioning in kids, and the differences in outcomes depending on input.
Noah Ferguson-Dudding caught up with National MP Christopher Luxon for their weekly chat. They discussed the government's potential plans for booster vaccines against Covid-19, Auckland's ongoing Level 4 lockdown, and the National Party's identity given the current strength of the government.
This week, Ilena spoke with Councillor Shane Henderson about what he calls the ‘week from hell’ for West Auckland. The week started with extensive flooding and ended with a terror attack at the LynnMall Countdown, all while the region was in level 4 lockdown. He gives some updates on where flooding emergency and support efforts are at now, and how West Aucklanders are coping.
On another note, Ilena and Shane also talked about bin tags and how a proposal to streamline Auckland’s rubbish service might look like.
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