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.
Global Innovator, Matt Hart, joins News and Editorial Director, and Monday Wire Host, Joel, and Producer Evie in studio to discuss new years resolutions, as we begin 2025!
NIWA has recently released their annual climate summary for 2024, which shows that last year was New Zealand’s tenth warmest year on record.
Of the top ten warmest years on record, eight of these have occurred in the past twelve years.
The report shows that these rising temperatures, which are in line with global trends, are largely due to climate change caused by humans.
As well as this, this comes as Copernicus, ECMWF, and NASA are expected to release their annual climate summary, which is expected to show that 2024 was the Earth’s warmest year on record.
News and Editorial Director, and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to Principal Scientist at GNS Science, Dr Nick Cradock-Henry, about this report, and what this report means for 2025.
They started off by asking him about the rapidness in temperatures seen in the report in prior years.
On this week's Thursday Wire, we reflect on our favourite interviews from 2024 as we wrap up our reporting for the year.
In May,Wire Host Caeden spoke to Yale University student Andre Fa’aoso and University of Auckland student Layan Khalil about the pro-Palestine protests that swept across United States college campuses and then the world. The protests were part of the movement to divest from Israel due to their ongoing war on Gaza.
And in November,Tuesday Wire host Castor and Caeden went down to Te Whanganui-a-Tara to speak to Hīkoi Mō Te Tiriti protestors who were arriving at Parliament to protest against the Treaty Principles Bill.
As part of Caeden and Castor’s coverage, producer Sofia spoke to renowned Māori activist Tāme Iti in November about the hīkoi.
In April,Sofia spoke toAssociate Professor at the University of Auckland Faculty of Law, Carrie Leonetti, about calls to criminalise stalking.
And in July, she spoke to the Research Director at the Disinformation Project, Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa, about the Employment Court’s judgement on Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles’ case against the University of Auckland.
For the Best of the Wire today, Oto and Sasha reflected on their favourite interviews over the past year as the bFM news team heads into the holiday period.
In April this year, Oto did an on the ground interview with Students for Fair Rent Chairman - Matthew Lee and Green Party Co-Leader - Chloe Swarbrick at a protest held by Students for Fair Rent calling for a rent strike and end to the cost of living crisis at the University of Auckland's halls of residence.
A month later, Oto spoke to organisers and attendees at another protest held by Students for Justice in Palestine - Auckland, around the time that Palestinian solidarity encampments were being held at universities across the globe.
In July, Oto spoke with Professor Emmy Rākete from the Department of Social Sciences at the University of Auckland to discuss the findings of the Abuse in Care Inquiry and how abuse in state and faith-based institutions lead to a prison pipeline that disproportionately affected Māori.
And, in his funniest and most light-hearted Interview, Oto spoke to comedian and professor in the department of chemical sciences at the University of Auckland - Dr Joel Rindelaub, to discuss the impacts of microplastics on the human brain and body.
In October, Sasha had a chat with Doctor Alex Beattie - a lecturer in Media and Communication at Victoria University of Wellington, to discuss why New Zealanders are becoming more distrustful of the media and why the younger generation is becoming more apathetic.
And, in September, Sasha talked to Associate Professor Laszlo Sajtos at the University of Auckland Business School about the trial usage of facial recognition technology by Foodstuffs in their North Island outlets.
On this week's Monday Wire, we reflect on our favourite interviews from 2024, as we wrap up our reporting for the year.
In August, for her weekly catch up with the ACT Party's Simon Court, Producer Evie spoke to him about the proposed repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act on the same day Aotearoa’s largest iwi, Ngāpuhi, was on a hikoi in opposition to the proposal. You can listen back to this interview here.
A week prior to this, Evie also spoke to Emmy Rakete, a lecturer at the University of Auckland who is Ngāpuhi herself, about the hikoi and her thoughts on the proposed repeal. You can listen back to this interview here.
In October, News and Editorial Director, and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to Professor in the Faculty of Law at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT), Paul Myburgh, about the legislative implications of the Inquiry into the sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui, as well as Lecturer in the Department of Marine Science at the University of Otago, Dr Bridie Allan, about what environmental implications we were seeing due to the oil spillage. You can listen back to these interviewshere.
And in November, Producer Yesenia spoke to E Tū Union's Savage Director of Organisations at E Tū about the core messages workers have for the ministry of Health and where the Work and Safety Act of 2015 could be improved to reflect workers vitality. You can listen to this interview here.
This week on the Tuesday Wire is a special 'Best of the Wire' segment...
For Dear Science this week, our expert Doctor Cushla McGoverin chatted with us about worms eating face masks, spray on tattoos, and neanderthal-human interbreeding. Afterward, we ran back some clips from some of the best Dear Science segments this year.
We also ran back some of the best Tuesday Wire interviews today, including…
Wire host Castor spoke with Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Information and Technology at Monash University in Melbourne, Jathan Sadowski, about the use and development of Artificial Intelligence.
They also spoke with President of the New Zealand Police Association Chris Cahill about the organisation’s open letter to the government regarding their involvement with firearms legislation reform.
And they spoke with Professor at the University of Auckland, James Russell to talk about the costs and methods of pest eradication in Aotearoa.
Producer Athena spoke with Professor at the University of Auckland, Ngaire Kerse, about the loneliness epidemic among older people.
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.
Last week, the Minister for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Judith Collins, announced that the 30-year-old Marsden Fund would no longer support social sciences and humanities.
In 2024, Māori made up 13% of all Marsden funded investigators. By taking away the humanities and social sciences panel, that number plunges to just 5.5%.
The decision has been harshly criticised by researchers across academic disciplines. Now, 80 Rutherford Discovery Fellows have come together to present an open letter to the Minister voicing their concerns, condemning the ‘damaging changes’ to the Marsden Fund’s terms of reference which they want to see reversed, immediately.
Producer Sofia spoke to Principal Social Scientist at GNS Science Te Pū Ao, Dr Nicholas Cradock-Henry, about this announcement and his concerns.
She also spoke to Kaihautū of Te Whare Whakatupu Mātauranga, Te Wānanga o Raukawa; and Honorary Adjunct Professor at Te Kawa a Māui - School of Māori Studies at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, Dr Carwyn Jones (Ngāti Kahungunu), about how the Marsden Fund cuts disproportionately impact Māori researchers.
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.
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.
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