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.
Genetically Modified Technologies have struggled to receive research or approval for innovative technologies in New Zealand.
Trishil spoke to Ganesh Nana from the New Zealand Productivity Commission to discuss why the current regulations should be reviewed and overhauled, and the flow on effects of these calls.
Christina kicked off the show with her regular catch up with AUT Professor Allan Blackman for Dear Science. Today, they discussed the anniversary of the first man in space, researchers separating a complete genomic sequence for the very first time, and a physics puzzle that may change how we understand the universe.
Christina also reported on the ongoing economic and humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka. She spoke to economist Anushka Wijesinha and constitutional lawyer Bhavani Fonseka.
Aneeka spoke to Dr Shane Reti from the National Party about the Maori Health Authority and 21 million dollars in expired vaccines that are now wasted.
And Trishil spoke to Ganesh Nana from the New Zealand Productivity Commission about calls for new regulations on genetically modified organisms.
This week on Dear Science, Christina caught up with AUT Professor Allan Blackman. They talked about the anniversay of Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin heading up to space (being the first ever person to do so), Researchers finally completing the genomic sequence for the first time, and a confounding physics puzzle that has the potential to change how we understand the universe.
Here is the first of a new fortnightly segment on the Monday Wire, in collaboration with OurActionStation. Today we discuss intercity trains and why they're being neglected, in relation to the Save Our Trains Campaign. Charlie speaks to Patrick Rooney, one of the creators of the campaign, about why we should care more about this type of transport.
Today on the Monday Wire, amongst a few tunes, we bring you:
A new fortnightly segment begins in collaboration with OurActionStation. Every fornight Charlie will speak about a new interviewee about their campaign. this week, she spoke to Patrick Rooney about the Save Our Trains Campaign that wants for done for New Zealand's intercity rail network.
Sam speaks to Dr Richard Stein, The Chair of Crohn’s & Colitis NZ, about IBD medication and how New Zealand isn't putting enough funding into the medication, despite other countries doing so.
Dr Matt Rayner is also with us today, speaking with Charlie about the upcoming T-Rex exhibit that the Auckland War Memorial Museum will be hosting.
Peter the Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton will be shown in the Auckland War Memorial Museum from Friday 15th April.
Peter is one of the most complete T-Rex fossils ever discovered and is being shown for the first time to the public right here in Auckland. The exhibit is free to all visitors.
Dr Matt Rayner, Curator of Land Vertebrates at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, spoke with Charlie today about the exhibit and the curation of the fossil.
Aotearoa has the third highest rate of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD in the world, but essential medication is still unavailable due to Pharmac’s budget. Ustekinumab, otherwise known by its brand name – Stelara was approved by MedSafe in 2018 and is already funded in Australia. Crohn’s & Colitis NZ petitioned to get Stelara funded here last year - receiving 30,000 signatures. This led to Pharmac testifying before the petitions committee in October last year – where they said Stelara is needed but they still don’t have the funding. Sam Clark spoke to the Chair of Crohn’s & Colitis NZ, Dr Richard Stein about what has happened since.
This week saw the release of another major IPCC Climate Report, stating that without immediate action we will reach a one point five degree rise in climate and beyond by 20300.
Several new contributors to climate change were highlighted, including the cumulative impact of big cities and towns on the climate.
Efforts to turn our cities more green have been taking place across Aotearoa for several months, so Liam Hansen spoke to Crystal Olin from Sustainable cities Aotearoa about what’s being done and what needs to come next.
Aotearoa has a housing crisis. However, Auckland alone has 40,000 unoccupied houses.
Dr Anthony Hoete, a professor of architecture at the University of Auckand and director at QuakeCoRE, New Zealand Centre for Earthquake Resilience talked about issues with housing availability, how Māori housing needs can be rethought, and how different materials might solve construction issues.
Amid hikes in rent prices across the country, the Green Party has launched an open letter calling for a rent freeze and stronger rent controls.
This is the latest in a series of calls from the Greens to revitalise the renting system in Aotearoa, previously including a warrant of fitness for homes and a registrare for landlords.
To learn more, Liam spoke to Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson about what the open letter contains and why the issue is so important.
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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