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 New report released by Oxfam has revealed that less than 49% of the expected 2.1 billion vaccine donations intended for poorer countries have been delievered and administered.
With the systemic issues surrounding the distribution of vaccines, Trishil spoke with Oxfam Interim Executive Director Jo Spratt on the matter, covering the role of G7 nations, the major pharmaceuticals, and even how well New Zealand has kept to it's pledge supporting the Pacific.
This piece contains themes of rape and sexual assault.
On Saturday, the US Supreme Court released its opinion in a case called Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, in which the Court held that the Constitution of the United States does not confer any right to abortion, thus overruling the long-standing Roe v. Wade. The United States now joins Poland, El Salvador, and Nicaragua in recent reversals of abortion rights.
Emilia Sullivan spoke with Ella Shepherd, spokesperson for ALRANZ Abortion Rights Aotearoa.
Joe had the privilege of having a conversation with Dr Nic Rawlence from the Palaeongenetics Lab at the University of Otago about how the New Zealand Grayling went extinct and the Mysterious Adzebill. Two long lost species which used to roam Aotearoa.
Tuva’a speaks about Labour Party’s Andrew Little and whether or not the health system is in crisis or not.
The Green Desk is back! Frances brings us the latest on Green related issues. This week she speaks to Professor Dan Tompkins, the Science Director for Predator Free 2050.
Joe speaks to Nic Rawlence from the Palaeongenetics Lab at the University of Otago about how the New Zealand Grayling went extinct and the Mysterious Adzebill. He’ll also be speaking to Amy Chan from the University of Auckland about digital tech helping with asthma medication. Finally, he speaks talks to Dr Lis Ellison-Loschmann from the health research council about addressing key Maori health policies.
One potential solution for asthma lies in digital technologies that can reduce the risks associated with not taking medication as prescribed. These technologies include text message reminders, web-based apps, interactive voice response systems and smart inhalers.
Joe spoke to Dr Amy Chan, a Senior Clinical Research Fellow for the School of Pharmacy at the University of Auckland, on the matter.
An independent Māori-led research team has been awarded $1.5M by the Ministry of Health and Health Research Council of New Zealand to track the implementation and progress of the government’s Whakamaua Māori Health Action Plan 2020–2025.
In addition to the Ministry of Health’s internal evaluation of the plan, the research team’s assessment will directly inform implementation, progress, and direction of Whakamaua from now through to 2025, and identify gaps that need to be filled along the way.
Joe spoke to one of the project’s co-lead researchers, Dr Lis Ellison-Loschmann, on the matter
Aotearoa’s culture of masculinity and gender is notoriously troublesome in a lot of ways. Projects are arising to combat such rigid roles, such as Shifting the Line, from the University of Auckland. Its first round of workshops started way back in 2017, and those findings are still relevant today. I spoke to Kris Taylor, one of the researchers, about what’s happened in the interim, where we go from those results, and the intricacies of the project.
Welcome to another Wednesday Wire with Stella! This week, Alex chats with ACT Leader David Seymour about the Tauranga by-election and New Zealand’s foreign policy in the Pacific.
Stella speaks to Kris Taylor from the University of Auckland about the ever-relevant project Shifting The Line.
Stella talks to Kyle Tan from PATHA about the mental health of the transgender community in Aotearoa.
Aneeka talks to European correspondent Cameron Mulgan on this week’s episode of Eurovision.
It’s pride month, and there has been extensive coverage of events in the rainbow community recently. Stella spoke with Kyle Tan from the Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa about the landscape of accessibility to healthcare and mental health of Aotearoa’s transgender youth.
Aneeka takes over Eurovision from Frances this week, speaking to European correspondant Cameron Adams. They cover an update on the war in Ukraine, the French election, and more.
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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