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.
On the 23rd June 2022, The US Food And Drug Administration moved to ban JUUL e-cigarettes from the United States market. Their reasoning? Their business model fails to assure that their user base remains safe while using the e-cigarette. This motion follows a two year investigation into their parent company Juul Labs.
Trishil deep dives into the state of affairs in the United States, as well as speaking to Sarah Helm from the New Zealand Drug Foundation about the perception of vaping in New Zealand and how the US ban could affect us.
For the past two weeks Jack Horsnell been embarking on an investigation, answering the questions, why are student fees so expensive? And where they are spent? Jack spoke to a range of experts with the goal of unravelling the complicated world of university fees.
In a dramatic shift at the United Nations oceans conference in Lisbon this week, a series of Pacific Governments have formed an alliance to oppose deep sea mining in international waters but Greenpeace says the continued silence from the New Zealand Government on the issue is deafening.
To standing ovations, a series of Pacific nations including Fiji and Samoa joined an alliance opposing deep sea mining announced by Palau on Monday. Adding to the momentum, the following day, Tuvalu, Tonga, and Guam announced their support for a halt to deep sea mining and France is now also calling for a legal and robust framework to ban deep sea mining in the high seas. But to date, the New Zealand Government has not formed a position on the issue.
Joe spoke to James Hita, part of the Deep Seabed and Mining Campaign at Greenpeace Aotearoa on the matter.
Plastic Free July has rolled around again and we’ll all be hearing about reducing plastic use in our daily lives. Much of the messaging is targeted toward young people through school and youth-focused messaging. However, within our sustainability efforts, we must also look at how we can conduct real change and look at the worst plastic producers around the globe, as well as how New Zealand can improve their efforts.
Joe spoke to Sara Tolbert, Associate Professor of Science and Environmental Education at the University of Canterbury, on the matter
The Sale and Supply of Alcohol Harm Minimisation Amendment Bill, introduced by Green Party Drug Reform Spokesperson Chlöe Swarbrick, seeks to overhaul the state of alcohol awareness and advertising in New Zealand. The bill will also allow local councils to control policies that affect their communities.
Trishil spoke with Chlöe Swarbrick and Alcohol Healthwatch Executive Director Dr Nicki Jackson about the provisions of the bill, including the establishment of Local Alcohol Policies and restrictions of Sponsorships and Advertising.
On this week’s regular segment in collaboration with OurActionStation, we’re discussing the pay gap and disparity between women and ethnic communities. Nina Santos, Delivery Manager of MindThatGap, spoke with Trishil today about the petiton, and their push to gain governmental support and instituite a mandatory pay registry
Joe speaks to Sara Tolbert, Associate Professor of Science and Environmental Education at the University of Canterbury, about Plastic Free July. He also talks James Hita from Greenpeace about New Zealand’s silence surrounding deep sea mining.
Trishil speaks to Nina Santos from MindTheGap for regular segment with OurActionStation. They talk about their mission to ensure that the pay gap is closed for women and ethnic communities. Trishil also speaks to the Green Party's Drug Reform Spokesperson Chloe Swarbrick and Dr Nicki Jackson from Alcohol HealthWatch about the Alcohol Harm Minimisation Bill.
Another stacked and varied show on this Fridays Wire! Today:
Liam spoke with councillor Richard Hills about the positive new report on Kauri Dieback in the Waitakere Ranges on City Counselling.
They also had a chat with UoAs Stephen Hoadley about the new NZ EU trade deal.
Frances spoke to Sarah McFadden, the GM of Kelmarna Gardens in Ponsonby about regenerative local food systems.
Liam also spoke with Liam Mcllvanney from UoO on Scottish independence.
And finally Alejandra Perotti from the University of Reading on the possible extinction of tiny mites that have sex on your face as a part of our newest segment, Strangest Things!
Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, has proposed a referendum date for Scots to vote on their independence from the United Kingdom - the 19th of October, 2023.
However despite UK PM Boris Johnson saying now is not the time, Sturgeon says they will run the referendum regardless by having her party run on the sole issue of independence.
The last referendum vote on this issue took place in 2014, but commentators have pointed out the major shift in the UK landscape since due to Brexit.
To learn more, Liam spoke to the University of Otago’s Liam Mcllvanney ,first asking why some Scots are pushing for independence and what's getting in their way.
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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