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.
One of the most highlighted aspects of the 2022 budget is the Cost Of Living Package, allowing those making less than seventy grand per year to receive three hundred and fifty dollars over the span of three months.
The check will not go ahead for those under eighteen, nor anyone who is already receiving the Winter Energy Payment.
As well as speaking to ACT Party Leader David Seymour, Liam spoke with the Green Parties Finance spokesperson Julie Anne Genter about their thoughts on the budget, and how they think some of it could’ve been spent differently.
He first asked her how much she thinks the payment will alleviate the cost of living crisis.
Last week, the govt announced that its family and sexual violence prevention strategy would be getting a $115m boost as part of this years budget. Joe spoke to Carrie Leonetti from the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland and got her thoughts on the matter.
Our regular chat with Andrew Little is back. The audio corrupted on Tuva’a’s interview, so he will be reporting on his chat with Andrew Little about pre-budget announcements on mental health, as well as the funding towards the Mana Ake programme.
Joe will be speaking to Professor Carrie Leonetti from the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland, about the Government’s family violence prevention plan and how it may be inadequate. He’ll also be speaking to Nick Bowden, a Research Fellow from the University of Otago, about how kids with autism are getting suspended from school at higher rates. He also speaks to Seton Butler from the Veterinary Council of New Zealand about Canine Cough symptoms being present in Aotearoa.
Emilia will be speaking to Dr. Tim Welch about whether today’s budget will get people out of their cars and into more sustainable transport options, and she’ll also be chatting with Professor Jennifer Curtin about this weekend’s Australian federal election.
Today is Budget Day, which means many sectors are eagerly awaiting what share of the pie they’ll get for the upcoming year. One issue in particular at the forefront at the moment is accessibility to sustainable transport such as electric vehicles, public transport, cycling, and walking.
To get his thoughts on how sustainable transport should be funded, Emilia Sullivan spoke to Dr. Tim Welch from the University of Auckland.
This weekend, Australians will be heading to the polls to have their say as to who should be their prime minister. The two big players are the Liberal-National Coalition with Scott Morrison at the helm and Anthony Albanese with the Australian Labor Party.
Emilia Sullivan spoke to Professor Jennifer Curtin from the University of Auckland about what we should expect from this year's election.
Canine cough is a common, contagious, infectious upper respiratory disease, seen in dogs, and symptoms of it are now being seen in dogs in Aotearoa. It is also known as kennel cough or canine infectious tracheobronchitis. Joe spoke to Seton Butler from the Veterinary Council of New Zealand about Canine Cough.
Autistic students are nearly three times more likely to be suspended from school than their nonautistic peers, finds a New Zealand study that linked data from more than 730,000 students. However, the researchers also revealed that autistic students who received high-need Ongoing Resourcing Scheme funding had significantly lower odds of being suspended compared to autistic children without these funds.
Joe spoke to Nick Bowden, a research fellow from the university of Otago, who was a part of the study.
As international conflicts continue, the likelihood of nuclear war looms. Matthew Boyd, director of adapt research, speaks to Stella on the topic, specifically centred around his recently published paper Sustained Resilience: the Impact of Nuclear War on NZ and how to Mitigate Catastrophe.
One of our regular segments continues this week, where we chat with one of our most important minor parties about the hot topics of today, and tomorrow. Alex speaks with Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden of the ACT Party about the Budget, with a specific focus on mental health.
On this week's Wednesday Wire, producer Alex speaks with ACT party deputy leader Brooke Van Velden about the budget, with a specific focus on mental health.
Stella speaks with Matt Boyd, director of Adapt Research about the predicted effects of nuclear war in New Zealand.
Frances is back with Eurovision, speaking with Cameron Mulgan about the war in Ukraine, NATO applications from Sweden and Finland, McDonalds leaving Russia, Mask-wearing in Europe at the moment, the outcome of the Swiss Frontex vote, and the segment's namesake; EuroVision results.
Stella speaks with Forest and Bird’s George Hobson about an increase in dotterel populations in the Hawkes Bay.
Finally, Stella talks to Laura Boren, science adviser at DOC about citizen interactions with wildlife as conservation efforts bring animals further into urban areas.
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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