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.
Today on the Friday Wire Liam spoke to Green Party MP Golriz Gharahman about Australia agreeing to New Zealand's offer to take in refugees. Liam also had a chat with Michael Plank from the University of Canterbury about changes in the Covid-19 Protection framework, as well as Christine Rose from Greenpeace about their new 'Halve the Herd' petition.
Casper had his regular chat with Auckland city councillor Pippa Coom and this week they discussed a motion that passed in the council to back a community alcohol harm reduction bill proposed by Chloe Swarbrick.
Emma Carrol from the University of Auckland talked to Jess about the discovery and naming of a new whale species as well as New Zealand vaccinologist Helen Petousis-Harris also from the University of Auckland about the current state and future of vaccinations.
Last Wednesday, Jacinda Ardern announced the latest changes to the Covid-19 Protection Framework.
These include changing of capacity levels at level Red and Orange, and letting go of many vaccine mandates.
As Auckland passes its peak in cases, discussions have begun taking place around the possibility of Tāmaki Makaurau moving down to Orange before the rest of the country.
To learn more, Liam spoke to professor Michael Plank from the university of Canterbury about the changes.
With more Covid restrictions such as vaccine passes lifting in April, vaccinologist Professor Helen Petousis-Harris from the Univerity of Auckland's Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care talked about the future of vaccines in Aotearoa.
A 2020 report from UNICEF revealed that over a third of fifteen year olds in New Zealand struggle with basic reading and writing.
Not-for-profit think-tank The Education Hub has compiled research from multiple studies to paint the picture of how dire the situation is in New Zealand schools right now in a report titled "Now I Don't Know My ABC: The Perilous State of Literacy in Aotearoa New Zealand".
Emilia Sullivan spoke to Dr. Nina Hood, founder of The Education Hub and co-author of the report.
Today on The Wire, our regular interview with Labour’s Andrew Little is back. Tuva’a speaks to Little about the latest report from the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission.
A 2020 report from UNICEF revealed that over a third of fifteen year olds in New Zealand struggle with basic reading and writing. Emilia spoke to Dr. Nina Hood, founder of the Education Hub and co-author of this report, and started by asking what were the biggest concerns her report highlighted?
The Indonesian Government plans to develop a gold mine in a conflicted region of Papua. Joe speaks to Veronica Koman, the Strategic Advocacy Campaigner for Amnesty International, speaking about the situation in Papua.
Emilia also looks at the Reimagining Tamaki Makaurau report with co-author Dr. Anne Bardsley. And Joe speaks to NZEI Te Riu Roa about the vaccine mandate lifts and how collaborative health and safety processes are essential for schools.
Yesterday the government announced a change with vaccine mandates, passes and tracking. NZEI Te Riu Roa has said they’re supporting members with adapting to the changes to ensure the health and wellbeing of tamariki and staff within school and ECE environments.
Joe spoke to Liam Rutherford, the President of NZEI on the matter.
The Indonesian Government plans to develop a gold mine in a region of Papua.The Sugapa district of the Intan Jaya regency is one of the biggest gold ore reserves in Indonesia, known as Wabu Block. The area is also a conflict hotspot. Between 2020 and 2021, 12 Indigenous Papuans were killed by Indonesians security forces occupying the area.
Joe spoke to Veronica Koman, the Strategic Advocacy Campaigner for Amnesty International, speaking about the situation in Papua.
Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures released its report yesterday, titled "Reimagining Tāmaki Makaurau", which intends to provoke discussion about the potential for Auckland by the year 2070 and explains why Auckland's structures for governance, management, planning, and funding need to be rethought.
Emilia Sullivan spoke to Dr. Anne Bardsley, Deputy Director of Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures and co-author of the report.
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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