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.
News and Editorial Director Jess Hopkins speaks to Brooke van Velden in our weekly chat with the ACT Party.
Joe looks at a recent study which shows ocean warming rates being predicted to quadruple by 2090 if we don’t mitigate climate change. He spoke to Dr Kevin Trenberth, from the University of Auckland, who co-authored the study. Joe also speaks to Ariel-Micaiah Heswall from the University of Auckland about the toll light pollution takes on Seabirds.
We have Eurovision with our European Correspondent Cameron Adams, who tells us about The War in Ukraine, Liz Truss and Swiss Chocolate Bunnies. Cameron also speaks to Radical Aid Force, an aid group operating in Ukraine.
A new comprehensive review of global ocean temperature data has allowed researchers to paint a clear picture of ocean warming since the 1950s, and predict future warming scenarios.
They found that if we don’t take action, the rate of ocean warming will be four times larger than the current level by 2090, with dire consequences for all life on Earth.
However, Authors also point out that if the world succeeds in limiting global surface temperature to 2°C above pre-industrial levels, as per the Paris Agreement, the acceleration of ocean warming will stop at around 2030, highlighting the need for urgent action to mitigate climate change
Joe spoke to Dr Kevin Trenberth, from the University of Auckland, who co-authored the study on the matter
Radical Aid Force is a left wing aid group from Berlin. Since the start of the Russian Invasion in Ukraine, they have been supplying aid and supplies to people and fighters in Ukraine, and helping to evacuate vulnerable civilians out of the country.
European correspondent Cameron Adams spoke to them about their work, including providing the morning after pill for women affected by the conflict.
A new study has found that having female directors on the board of a socially responsible company can have a moderating effect - socially responsible companies benefit from having more women on their boards, but on the flip side, any negative press involving social irresponsibility will result in the company value tanking more if there are women on the board.
Christina spoke to one of the researchers, Dr Lina Li from the University of Auckland's Business School about this study and what it means for businesses.
The 2022 Ethical Fashion Report by Tearfund has been released and shows low standards overall in labour practices and sustainable production.
Footwear companies scored particularly poorly, with the Ngahuia group, which trades as Hannahs and Number One Shoes getting a zero on the report. This morning, they put out a press release blaming the challenges of covid for their refusal to take part.
Casper and Christina reported on these new numbers on The Wire, speaking to Morgan Theakston, advocacy specialist at Tearfund, and Lisa McEwan, a fashion and sustainability lecturer from AUT.
This week on the Tuesday Wire, Casper and Christina chatted science news with Joel Rindelaub for Dear Science.
Casper spoke to National's Dr. Shane Reti for their weekly segment about food prices and agricultural emissions.
Christina had a chat with Dr Lina Li about the benefits of having women on corporate boards.
And they both investigated Tearfund's Ethical Fashion Report with Casper speaking to Tearfund's Morgan Theakston and Christina having a chat to AUT's Lisa McEwan.
Although recent morning’s CPI numbers show that inflation may have peaked, the cost of food continues to be disproportionately high.
Statistics New Zealand is telling us that the increase to food prices is the highest it’s been in 13 years at 8.3 percent.
For Casper's weekly catchup with the National Party’s Dr. Shane Reti, they spoke about the issue of food inflation as well as last week’s He Waka Eke Noa announcement.
Joe speaks to Sir Ray Avery about his work with Papakura Marae surrounding a family violence support and prevention programme. He also be speaking to Nathan Joe, the Creative Director at Auckland Pride about their loss of funding.
Spike will be talking to Ellie Hooper from Greenpeace about the latest Marine Environment report and what it means for our oceans. Spike also speaks to Dr Tom Logan about urban density and the idea of the 15 minute city.
Finally, we've got Tomorrow's World! Stella chats to Dr Kim Handley, a microbiologist from the University of Auckland, about Macroscopic Microbes.\
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
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.