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.
Shortly before the show Prodcuer Alex chatted with Green MP Teanau Tuiono about how the omicron outbreak is affecting Maori and Pasifika communities and what the government can do better.
This week on EuroVision European Correspondent Cameron Mulgan joins us to tell us what’s going on in Europe. This week Cameron and Frances spoke about the developments in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who has just returned to the UK after being detained in Iran for nearly six years and a little about what’s happening with the music scene in the wake of Brexit over there.
Earlier today Producer Alex chatted with National Party MP and Mental Health Spokesperson Matt Doocey about the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission’s recent report, which was damning about the outcomes that are being achieved with the Government’s present approach to mental health.
In Tāmaki Makaurau 500 – 1000 bikes are reported stolen each year. However, it is estimated that the actual number is between 2500 – 5000. 7% of people who have a bike stolen don't replace it and stop riding altogether, and bike theft becomes a financial barrier to choosing to bike.
Bike Auckland is an advocacy group who are working to create a better city for people on bikes. They are wanting to reduce barriers that stop people riding bikes, so people can keep using their bikes – for the planet, for climate change, for safe live-able cities and for mental and physical health.
Bike Auckland have recently partnered with Project 529 to tackle bike theft with the launch of a new bike registration and recovery system called 529 Garage. This week on the Wire, Frances caught up with Gabriel Gati who is on the leadership team with Bike Auckland and spoke about bike theft in the city and what this initiative of 529 Garage might do to reduce it.
If you are interested in getting your bike registered with 529 you can send an email to 529@bikeauckland.org.nz, visit www.529garage.co.nz or find their app by searching 529 Garage.
This week on the Wire Alex begins by speaking to the ACT party’s Brooke Van Velden about the history curriculum and the housing market.
Frances then speaks to Gabriel Gati from Bike Auckland about the massive rates of bike theft in Auckland and an initiative called 529 Garage which is hoping to decrease the rates of bike theft. She then speaks with our Europe Correspondent Cameron Mulgan on this week's Eurovision segment. This week we get an update on Ukraine, talk about Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe returning to the UK, and what the music scene is looking like over there in the wake of Brexit
Alex wraps up the show speaking with Matt Doocey from the National Party about the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission report and the Green Party’s Teanau Tuiono about his call for more long-term support for Maori and Pasifika in the midst of the pandemic.
On Tuesday, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission released its latest report on mental health and addiction in Aotearoa. The report looks at the performance of these services between 2016 and 2017, and between 2020 and 2021. Christina spoke to the Commission’s Chief Executive Karen Orsborn about the report and the Commission's subsequent policy recommendations.
The Panama Papers, which were leaked 5 years ago, and revealing a shocking truth. Overseas businesses were exploiting New Zealand's tax incentives to avoid paying taxes.
Trishil Dahya took this opportunity to speak with Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark about his proposed business transparency bill, and how companies will be affected with these measures being put in place.
Today on the Wire, host Christina caught up with AUT Professor Marcus Jones for Dear Science. They talked about Russian and Ukrainian geopolitics reaching the International Space Station, an electrical circuit board that can learn on its own, and the implications of mapping the genome of an IVF embryo.
Producer Trishil Dahya spoke with Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clarke about a proposed bill to bring transparency around the tax and business affairs of foreign and domestic companies.
Christina talked to Karen Orsborn from the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission about their latest report on mental health and addiction in Aotearoa.
And finally, Christina spoke to Vivien Whyte and Lily Chen from Thursdays in Black about rape culture and sexual violence in the University of Auckland.
Recently, the Herald revealed that a woman, who was a student at the University of Auckland, had been sexually assaulted by another student from her university of hall of residence. The perpetrator was reprimanded and prohibited from contacting the victim, but eight months on, he remains enrolled at the university.
Christina spoke to Vivien Whyte and Lily Chen from Thursdays in Black about the incident. They discussed rape culture on campus and the university’s response.
Last week saw the announcement of Aotearoa’s re-opening to international tourists, after two years of closure due to the pandemic.
Travellers from Australia can arrive from mid-April, and travellers from other visa-waiver countries can visit from the first of May.
The loss of tourism saw a drop of 15.6 billion dollars within the first year of the pandemic, and the state of the job market has left employers optimistic yet uncertain about the future.
Liam had a chat with Ann-Marie Johnson from Tourism Industry Aotearoa about the state of the industry and what’s to come.
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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