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.
In mid-May, the world was shocked when an armed man entered a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, and opened fire on ordinary shoppers. It soon became clear that the shooting was a white-supremisist terrorist attack. The shooter cited talking points from a new sector of the far-right to justify his actions: this ideology is called ecofascism.
Jack spoke to author and activist Byron Clarke, an expert on the far-right and disinformation, to find out what ecofascism is and why we should be concerned about it.
On Monday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the departure of Kris Faafoi and Trevor Mallard from politics, and with it, a number of changes to Cabinet. On the Wire, Christina caught up with political scientist Dr Lara Greaves from the University of Auckland to discuss these changes.
Matariki is just two weeks away on June 24th, and progressively more discussions on how to properly celebrate the public holiday are taking place.
A specific spotlight has been placed on light pollution, with some regional councils receiving backlash on plans to put on fireworks displays.
A petition has also been launched, calling for turning off lights in central cities to clear the skies and make the constellation visible.
To learn more about light pollution, Liam spoke to Richard Easter from UoA about how it could affect Matariki as well as the world in general.
Alongside the environmental effects of Light Pollution, many are talking about the cultural issues of the inability to see Matariki in central cities.
This is only one of many fears of how Matariki will be celebrated, with concerns being raised of the commercialisation of the holiday and the loss of its meaning.
I also spoke to AUT’s Paul Moon, who is a professor for the schools NZ history and Māori culture programmes, about the holiday, its significance and what meaning could be at risk.
At an international climate summit in Germany, experts urged the world to transition towards plant-based diets.
IPCC research has shown that an uptake in such plant-based diets having the potential to massively reduce carbon emissions, and could be one of the major lifestyle changes necessary to combat climate change.
Casper spoke to Claire Insley, spokesperson for the Vegan Society of Aotearoa, about the impact of our diets on climate change and how it might be possible to reduce emissions by having more people transition to plant-based.
Today on the Friday Wire Casper talked to Auckland city counsellor Shane Henderson about the council passing the mayor’s climate budget, as well as the Ports of Auckland’s scrapped automation project. He also spoke to Clair Insley from the Vegan Society of Aotearoa about the importance of plant-based diets in combatting climate change.
Liam spoke to Richard Esther, as well as Paul Moon about Light Pollution, Matariki and how they intersect. Liam also spoke to Jessica Godfrey from Vicbooks about their closure in VUW’s Piptea campus due to the anti-parliment protests.
Victoria University of Wellington's Pipitea campus bookstore, VicBooks, has recently announced their closure.
Whilst the store was already having difficulties coming out of the pandemic, the early years anti-mandate protests at parliament made matters much more difficult.
The Pipitea campus is located directly next to the Beehive, meaning they were forced to completely close down until the protests ended, and couldn’t bounce back after reopening.
To hear more, Liam spoke to VicBooks General Manager Jessica Godfrey.
In a world-first, a New Zealand study has confirmed microplastics are present in Antarctica’s Ross Island region. Kiwi researchers analysed fresh snow from 19 sites, finding an average concentration of 29 microplastic particles per litre of melted snow. These microplastics most likely come from plastic products used at local scientific research stations, however, this team’s modelling also suggests their origin could have been up to 6,000 km away.
Joe spoke to Dr Holly Winton, a Research Fellow in Antarctic ice core climatology from the Antarctic Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington, on the matter.
Tuva’a speaks to Labour Party’s Andrew Little about the selection of the Hauora Maori Advisory Board, Hauora Healthy Futures Bill and COVID-19 booster access for vulnerable groups.
Joe will speaking to Dr Holly Winton about the first microplastics being found in Antarctica, he’ll also be speaking to SAFE For Animals & A Dairy Farmer about the He Waka Eke Noa Emissions Pricing Plan
Emilia talks to Dr. Neal Curtis about what’s next for Boris Johnson after surviving a no-confidence vote, and she also speaks to Associate Professor Fiona Hutton from Victoria University about why medicinal cannabis is still out of reach for many despite being legal.
On Tuesday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson survived a vote of no confidence from his Conservative Party colleagues with a margin of 211 votes to 148.
Former Tory leaders Margaret Thatcher, John Major and Theresa May have in the past survived no-confidence votes, only either to step down shortly thereafter, or suffer defeat in the next general election.
To find out what this could mean for the future of both Boris Johnson and the Tory party, Emilia Sullivan spoke to Associate Professor Neal Curtis.
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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