Listen back to features and interviews from 95bFM's daily news and current affairs show. Joel Armstrong, Sara Mckoy, Max Micheel, and Caeden Tipler focus on the issues of Tāmaki Makaurau and elsewhere in independent-thinking bFM style. Monday-Thursday 12-1pm on 95bFM.
This week marks 50 years since the establishment of Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, following the 1972 Māori Language Petition. As part of this week everyone across Aotearoa is encouraged to use and learn te reo Māori, fostering its revival and integrating it into their daily life.
However, even 50 years on, the revitalisation of Te Reo still faces a number of issues, with the current coalition Government facing criticism over its policies relating to te reo, such as the removal of te reo on the New Zealand passport, government offices and even in some school books.
Wednesday Wire Host Oto spoke with Professor Māori studies at the University of Auckland, Margaret Mutu, about Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, and the milestones in te reo revitalisation that have been achieved since it began.
For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party Oto spoke with MP Ricardo Menendez-March about The Greens renewed call for the government to recognise Palestinian statehood, The Greens call for an extension on Māori wards referendum, The most recent failed ETS auction.
For Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, he spoke to Professor of Māori Studies at the University of Auckland - Margaret Mutu about the significance of Te Wiki and the milestones in te reo revitalisation that have been achieved over the past 50 years.
And for this week’s Get Action! He spoke with Nadine Mortaja Spokesperson for the march for humanity about a petition calling on the government to sanction Israel
Max spoke to Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa Co-chair John Minto, to discuss the United Nations officially declaring a genocide in Gaza and how the New Zealand Government should respond.
And Manny spoke to the PSA’s Mar-Sia Puru to discuss the missing candidate profiles in several Māori ward electorates and what they think can be done about it.
This morning, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry officially announced they had found that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. To count as genocide under the 1948 UN genocide convention, at least one of five acts must have occurred, of which the commission accuses Israel of committing four. The Commission of Inquiry does not speak on behalf of the UN, however they have called on member countries to punish those responsible for it.
To this date, the New Zealand government has not issued any type of sanction against Israel or officially recognised a Palestinian state. However, Saturday’s Pro-Palestine protest – which attracted around 25,000 people to the streets of Auckland – has only increased pressure on the government to act.
Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa co-chair John Minto believes that recent protests are an accurate measure of where the Aotearoa public stand on this issue and that it’s time for the government to abandon what he describes as “pro-Israel policies”. To discuss this, as well as the UN commission of inquiry declaring genocide in Gaza, Producer Max spoke with John Minto.
The profiles of candidates standing in several Māori ward elections were missing from booklets given to enrolled voters intended to inform their votes.
In response to the missing candidate profiles, Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi The Public Service Association (PSA) — representing public servants — has called on the government to move the responsibility for running these elections out of the hands of private companies and back to the Electoral Commission.
Wednesday Wire Producer Emmanuel spoke to the PSA’s acting Kaihautū Māori, Marcia Puru, to discuss the PSA's view on the missing candidate information and its implications.
This week on Green Desk, Wire Host Sara takes a deep-dive into the environmental issues surrounding the proliferation of AI technology, particularly in New Zealand.
In the context of Luxon’s recent announcement about a $7.5 billion investment by Amazon Web Services into data centres in New Zealand, alongside the rapid adoption of generative AI in sectors across the country, academics have raised concerns about the environmental impact of the growth of this industry.
Last year, University of Waikato’s Dr Amanda Turnbull co-published an article about how New Zealand is outsourcing the “risks and costs” of AI and data centres, highlighting the water and resource consumption of global reliance on data centres and AI.
Sara spoke with Dr Amanda Turnbull about her concerns relating to AI’s environmental impact and how the New Zealand government should be responding to the ever-expanding industry.
Following the interview with Turnbull, Sara was interested in exploring how businesses are confronting the issue of AI, especially as it becomes more integral to work. Layer3’s Solution Director Daniel Bohan published an article earlier this year scrutinising the confusing data surrounding the water footprint of AI. Sara spoke with Bohan more about how businesses and consumers should engage with AI and better understand the environmental impacts.
She start by asking about how he engaged with AI in his mahi
The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup is coming to a close this week, with reigning World Champions the Black Ferns on track to defend their title. As the final approaches, New Zealand media personalities How To Dad and Tegan Yorwarth have reignited conversations around the disappointing lack of coverage of the tournament, and wider women’s sport in general, by NZ media. Concerns are running high as media attention on the sport remains relatively absent despite the growing successes of our wāhine.
Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Toni Bruce, Professor of Sociology of Sport and Sports Media at Waipapa Taumata Rau, about the issue ahead of the Black Ferns semi-final against Canada this Saturday.
For Dear Science this week, our expert, Dr Cushla McGoverin speaks with us about potential biosignatures on Mars, iridescent mammals & plastic waste for carbon capture.
For our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire Host Sara spoke to MP Carl Bates about Saturday’s March for Humanity, AI and other new subjects in schools, and MP property declarations
For Green Desk, Sara spoke with Dr Amanda Turnbull from the University of Waikato, and IT service Layer3 Solutions Director Daniel Bohan about the environmental impact of AI
Jasmine spoke with Professor Toni Bruce about the lack of coverage of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, and what this means for Women’s sport in Aotearoa
On Saturday, tens of thousands of people rallied in Auckland calling for the government to sanction Israel for their actions and violence in Gaza.
While politicians across the spectrum have responded to the protests with a mix of support and disapproval, the New Zealand government is not expected to announce their official decision on the recognition of a Palestinian state until a General Assembly in New York next week.
Following the government’s announcement to get rid of NCEA in favour of a new system, Education Minister Erica Stanford has revealed numerous subjects to join the senior school curriculum, which will include the incorporation of generative AI.
Finally, the New Zealand Herald published information last week pertaining to MP Carl Bates’ failure to disclose 25 properties to Parliament, against what has been argued as a ‘breach of public trust’.
Wire Host Sara spoke with National MP Bates about all of these topics, starting with the pro-Palestine rally.
Celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori at MOTAT with a week full of playful, creative, and hands-on experiences for tamariki and whānau! From 13 to 21 September
Thanks to MOTAT, the museum inspiring the innovators of tomorrow!
A study from the University of Otago, looking into how New Zealand news coverage depicted the country’s responses to the Covid-19 pandemic, has shown elements of nationalism and creating a sense of competition.
News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to Emma Anderson, a PhD Candidate at the Bioethics Centre at the University of Otago, about the study and the harmful consequences of this framing.
Tāmaki Makaurau’s council budget is among those impacted by the proposal of a rates cap, considering Tāmaki’s average 5.8% annual rates increase across the 25/26 financial year.
Youth homelessness is a growing concern as discussions continue around “move on” orders for those without housing in Auckland’s CBD.
And the Skycity Convention Centre is set to open in 2026, with high hopes for what it may bring for Tāmaki Makaurau after its prolonged development.
Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Counsellor Fairey about these topics.
The Trump administration has caused issues of significant food waste due to a range of its policies, including immigration raids, tariffs, cuts to food assistance programmes, and the destruction of food for programmes like USAID.
This has had huge consequences, including environmental impacts, as well as impacts on the estimated more than 47 million people in the US who don’t have enough food to eat, and those who have relied on US foreign aid that has been cut.
For International Desk, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Garrett Graddy-Lovelace, Provost Associate Professor in Environment, Development & Health at American University, about these issues.
Thanks to MOTAT, the museum inspiring the innovators of tomorrow!
Christmas Lights at MOTAT - experience Auckland’s most magical Christmas lights - heritage trams, festive music, Santa visits, and thousands of sparkling lights Tickets at motat.nz
Recently, the government has announced some major reforms to how regional councils operate, with regional councillors proposed to be replaced by boards made up of city and regional mayors, and potentially even Crown-appointed representatives, called combined territories boards, or CTBs.
As well as this, Health Minister, Simeon Brown, has called for the decentralisation of Health New Zealand, with the expectation that the entity focuses on deliveries closer to the front-line, additionally expecting a plan to do so by the end of the year.
For our weekly catch up with the National Party, News and Editorial Director Joel spoke to MP Stuart Smith about these topics, starting with the regional council.
From today until the 4th of December, a conference will be held in Queenstown that will look into pest management and how best to protect native species.
The event not only brings experts in the sector from Aotearoa, but will also involve Australian experts as well.
Tuesday Wire Host Sara spoke to Dr Sze-Wing Yiu, a Wildlife Ecologist at the Bioeconomy Science Institute, about this week’s conference, and what to expect.
The government has recently announced some major reforms to how regional councils operate, with regional councillors proposed to be replaced by boards made up of city and regional mayors, and potentially even Crown-appointed representatives, called combined territories boards, or CTBs.
The ‘shake-up’ of regional councils has left concerns that the move would water down environmental regulations at a local level, reduce Māori and iwi voices in decision making, and would result in central government overreaching into local politics.
As well as this, Parliament’s Justice Committee has recommended passing the Electoral Amendment Bill, albeit with some amendments
For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to MP Simon Court about both of these topics, starting with the changes to regional councils.
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka announced the government’s release of the new social housing investment plan which aims to shift to a “needs-based, data driven approach”.
The new flexible fund includes $41 million dollars in operating funding over the next four years, and the government have stated they expect to support up to 770 social homes and affordable rentals in the initial phase.
As well, Health Minister Simeon Brown last week announced a Cabinet decision to stop new prescriptions for puberty blockers for young people identifying as trans or experiencing gender dysphoria.
The rule, in effect from 19th of December, is based on recommendations from a UK National Health Service review which determined that the evidence to the benefits or risks of the treatment was “remarkably weak”.
The government is expected to pause new prescriptions until the outcome of a clinical trial being conducted in the UK, expected to be completed in 2031.
Wire Host Sara spoke with MP Carl Bates about all of these topics, firstly by asking about the flexible fund which will replace the so-called ‘patchwork of programmes’ in place for social housing.
Christmas Lights at MOTAT - experience Auckland’s most magical Christmas lights - heritage trams, festive music, Santa visits, and thousands of sparkling lights Tickets at MOTAT.NZ.
Thanks to MOTAT, the museum inspiring the innovators of tomorrow!
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