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.
This week on the Wire, Christina and Jack did some deep dives on some hot-button topics.
In the wake of a string of mass shootings over the weekend, Christina looked into gun culture and gun control laws in the United States.
Jack looked into graffiti in Tamaki Makaurau. He spoke with graffiti artist CAPO, street art expert Dr Reuben Woods, and city councillor Shane Henderson.
Christina also had her regular catch up with Allan Blackman on Dear Science. This week, they discussed the imperial and metric systems, a super-reactive chemical that could change how we analyse the climate, and silk tags used to detect if medication is dodgy or not.
And finally, James Hita, a seabed mining campaigner from Greenpeace, called into the show to chat with Christina about a Greenpeace petition being delivered to Parliament on Wednesday.
In the past few months, following Auckland's long lockdowns, residents saw a boom in graffiti on public structures.
This has led to a lot of discussion about the artform, and its place in the cultural zeitgeist.
While everyone from artists to politicians to locals agree that graffiti on private residential property is vandalism, the conversation of painting on public structures like bridges and trains has been more divided.
Jack Horsnell spoke with Graffiti artist, CAPO, street art expert, Dr Reuben Woods and Auckland Councillor Shane Henderson to understand why this discussion is taking place.
We've got a nice range of climates stories, policy discussions, and more to end off The Wire this week!
Casper talked to Auckland city counsellor Pippa Coom about Phil Goff’s proposed climate action budget.
Liam spoke to Liam Martin from Victoria University of Wellington about the Clean Slate scheme.
Casper also spoke to Abdur Razzaq from the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand about the delay of a recommended intelligence and security agency,
Liam also had a chat with Professor Craig Stevens on the recently discovered Amphipod ecosystem under Antarctica.
And finally Casper spoke to Tom Kay from Forest and Bird about wetland preservation.
The Clean Slate Act has recently been under discussion, as activists fight for the scheme to be extended to those who’ve been imprisoned.
The scheme currently allows criminal records to be sealed, drastically assisting former criminals with getting employed, becoming a tenant and getting a mortgage.
The scheme currently does not apply to those who've been imprisoned within their lifetime, instead focusing on those who have paid fines or undergone other forms of punishment.
To learn more about the scheme and how it could be changed, Liam spoke to Liam Martin, a Criminology professor at Victoria University of Wellington.
One of the primary recommendations by the Royal Comission following the March 15 Christchurch mosque attack was the establishment of a new national intelligence and security agency.
However, this agency which would be named NISA, is yet to be created.
Casper spoke to Abdur Razzaq from the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand about what this agency is and why community advocates are questioning the government’s hesitation on the matter.
A recent government announcement would allow ‘additional consenting pathways’ in some of New Zealand’s precious wetland areas.
This development, especially the potential consenting of coal mines in wetland areas, would massively endanger the country’s eco-systems and carbon sequestration.
Casper had a chat with Tom Kay, the freshwater advocate at Forest and Bird about the government’s announcement, why wetlands are so precious and how they will be impacted.
Happy Samoan Language Week! This week on the Wire for Aso Tofi, Tuva’a speaks to Labour Party’s Andrew Little about the Budget for 2022.
Joe looks at the Ministry of Health’s decision regarding worker pay and why it has been regarded as a major setback for healthcare workers. He speaks to Kirsty McCully, the Director for E tū , Jocelyn Pratt, an organiser for the PSA, and Ruby Sayer, a worker in aged healthcare on the matter.
Emilia is speaks to Bianca Ranson from Protect Putiki on Mayor Phil Goff’s comments about the Kennedy Point Marina. She also talks to Bodo Lang from the University of Auckland on Sugary Drinks in Schools
Work has begun to move rocks from Waiheke Island’s Kennedy Bay where there are plans to build a Marina consisting of 180 berths, a floating car park, and onshore facilities like sewage containment and a cafe. This is despite the immediate area having a large, but declining, population of Korora, or Little Blue Penguins.
Concerns have been raised over the council and the Department of Conservation’s handling of resource consent granting, and failures to consider tikanga and the protection of local species.
On Tuesday, Mayor Phil Goff discussed the issue on the Breakfast show, and Emilia Sullivan spoke to Bianca Ranson from Protect Pūtiki about their response to the mayor’s comments.
The Ministry of Education is seeking feedback for their proposal to ban the selling of sugary drinks in schools, which would mean students in Years one to eight would only be allowed to drink water, milk and plant-based milks.
While banning the sale of sugary drinks in schools is a good start in addressing New Zealand’s rising youth health issues, some believe that it doesn’t go far enough.
Ahead of submissions closing today, Emilia Sullivan spoke to Bodo Lang, Associate Professor of Marketing at the University of Auckland about the issue.
The United States has frequently been in the news cycle recently for the Trump administration’s unstable foreign policy decisions.
This includes their decisions to cut 90% of USAID foreign contracts and to pause military aid to Ukraine following a fiery meeting between the leaders of both countries.
University of Otago’s Professor Richard Jackson describes President Trump’s behaviours as a threat to global order and security.
For International Desk this week, Wire Host Caeden spoke to him about the instability of United States foreign policy and the global ramifications of this.
Earlier this week, an investigation was launched into the school lunch programme after baked-in plastic was found in several lunches.
However, principals say the programme has already had various issues since Associate Education Minister David Seymour switched providers as a cost-saving measure last year.
And the coalition government is set to introduce legislation that would give the option of 4 year parliamentary terms.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Deputy LeaderCarmel Sepuloni about both of these topics.
Recently, Auckland Council has re-committed $15 million in funding; which they have pledged since 2016, to restore the historic St. James Theatre in Auckland’s CBD — one part of a cross-party agreement between the Council, Central Government, and owner of the theatre.
The theatre, which has been inoperational since a fire broke out in 2007, left significant damage and resulted in the closure of the venue.
The revitalisation of St James has seen support from the public and a variety of different figures, including the co-leader of the Green Party and MP for Auckland Central, Chlöe Swarbrick, and the organisation Save the St. James Theatre Auckland.
For our weekly catchup with Auckland Council, News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson, about Auckland Council's re-commitment to revitalise the St James Theatre and their goals regarding this.
We also spoke about a proposal by Council to develop half of Takapuna Golf Course into wetlands, in aims of mitigating flooding risks which the area is susceptible to.
This move has been criticised by the Golf Course, who say there are better ways to adapt the park without taking away any of the area available to golfers.
But first, they started off by asking how Shane is feeling now that we are one step closer to having the St James operational again.
The ministry for Primary Industries has launched an investigation after a number of meals served to children by the School Lunch Collective were found to have their plastic packaging melted into their food.
This would be the fourth investigation launched into the collective after the government introduced the Alternative Provision Model for Ka Ora Ka Ako, replacing local suppliers.
Around this same period of time, a consultation document was sent to schools across the motu by education minister Erica Stanford asking for feedback on a proposal to defund and disestablish 174 full time roles for Resource Teachers of Literacy and Resource Teachers of Māori.
And the Greens recently issued a call to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon calling on him to rule out any possibility of joining the AUKUS military pact, following the contentious bilateral meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Whitehouse last week.
For their weekly catch up, Oto spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez-March for the Green Party’s take on all of these issues.
Last week the government announced a new citizen’s arrest policy that would allow members of the public to detain those who commit a crime. The policy has been met with criticism for its potential impact on retail workers and marginalised communities. While the government has asserted that citizen’s arrest should only be conducted when it is safe to do so, some are still worried about safety, especially with employer/employee power dynamics.
Others are concerned that the law will encourage members of the public to conduct citizens arrests on anyone they suspect of committing a crime, even if their suspicions are false. This would predominantly affect marginalised groups already affected by harmful stereotypes
In our weekly catchup with the National Party’s Tom Rutherford, Tuesday Wire Host Castor asked about how the new Citizens Arrest policy will work in Aotearoa.
For Dear Science this week, our expert, Dr Cushla McGoverin, chats to us about the International Space Station being too clean, birds of paradise being more colourful than we originally thought, and stretchy displays.
Thanks to MOTAT, the museum inspiring the innovators of tomorrow!
The government has announced that it will introduce legislation for a four year parliamentary term - subject to referendum.
Most parties are largely in favour of a four year term - feeling that it gives more opportunity to develop policy and make changes.
As part of their coalition deal, the ACT party designed a caveat to be included in the legislation that would put more ‘checks and balances’ on the government.
This essentially means the opposition would have more powers in select committees. If this legislation is passed and voted on, a four year government term would not be mandatory - but would instead be decided after the government was elected.
For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, Producer Evie spoke to Simon Court about the legislation and why the party supports a four year term.
They also talked about the government giving retailers and members of the public more power to detain shoplifters under legislative reforms. Otherwise known as citizens' arrests.
Last week, Auckland Council presented a proposal to shift Kumeū’s town centre as an effort to address the area’s history of flooding.
Additionally, late last month public consultation opened on Council’s proposed bed night visitor levy. The levy would fill a budget gap of $7 million for major events in Tāmaki Makaurau.
For City Counselling this week, Sofia spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about both of these topics, beginning by asking her what current issues Kumeū is facing that informed the proposal to move its town centre.
Conflict has escalated in the Democratic Republic of Congo this year, driven by ethnic tensions and access to mineral resources.
The conflict has been marked by murder, violence, and forced displacement. Over 6.9 million people in the Congo were displaced by the end of 2023, and 7,000 have been killed since January this year.
For International desk this week, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Aotearoa African Foundation President Red Tsounga about the ongoing violence in the Congo and what more the international community can do to support those who have been displaced.
StatsNZ has released new data showing the government has missed all its child poverty targets, and that the number of children in material hardship has risen from 144,100 to 156,600.
The government’s proposal to expand citizen arrest laws has been met with a mixed response. The proposal has been criticised by business groups, First Union, and the Labour Party, largely for the risk to workers.
And protestors against a sewerage pipeline being installed through the tapu Lake Rotokākahu have committed to staying at the site after facing off with police.
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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