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 Wire, Aneeka Moheed is joined in the studio by Liam Hansen.
First up, we have another episode of Tomorrow's World! This week Stella and Isla investigate the different cloning techniques used to genetically modify crops, as well as some of the questions surrounding the GMO debate. They speak to Biochemistry Masters student Tyler McCourt from the University of Otago about her research on perennial ryegrass and male sterility in flowering plants, to get a better understanding of the methods used.
Liam Hansen talks to climate science researcher, Tim Naish about an unprecedented heat wave in Eastern Antarctica. Later on, Liam interviews Tourism NZ's Ann Marie Johsnon about Aotearoa reopening its borders to internatinal tourists.
Sam Clark has a quick interview with Lewis Ferris from MetService about the severe weather warning in Auckland and Upper North Island.
And Charlie Parker talks to Medical Director for The Asthma & Respiratory Foundation NZ, Dr James Fingleton about concerns for asthmatic people as the omicron variant spreads through the community.
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.
Last week Eastern Antarctica saw an unprecedented heat wave, shocking scientists in the process.
The area went fourty degrees celsius above what is normal, from between minus fourty six and minus fifty one degrees to between minus eighteen and minus twelve degrees.
While this is still below freezing and does not pose any risk of melting, it sets a terrifying precedent for what’s to come.
To learn more, Liam spoke with TIm Naish, a lead climate science and Antarctic researcher at Victoria University of Wellington about what the heat wave means for the future.
It's another Friday Wire! This week on the show, Casper talked to Green party MP Ricardo Menendez March about a media release he put out calling for the Ukraine response to be a part of a broader equitable framework.
Liam had a chat with with Jackie Edmond from Family Planning about the safe areas bill surrounding abortion clinics.
Casper also spoke to Shane Henderson as part of our regular city counselling segment, and today we talked about the government’s recent announcement to temporarily reduce the cost of fuel and public transport as well as the time running out for Auckland city’s annual budget consultation.
Liam also spoke to Alan Renwick from Lincoln University about the implications of Te Pati Maoris New policy to end the GST on Kai.
Finally, Casper interviewed Dr Timothy Welch from the university of Auckland on the hidden costs of cars.
Earlier in the week the government announced the 2022 Special Ukraine Policy which will open up a fasttracked path for immigration for the family of Ukrainians in New Zealand.
This policy is expected to benefit around four thousand people and will be open for one year from now.
Green party MP and immigration spokesperson Ricardo Menéndez March put out a media release following the announcement in which he calls for this response to be a part of a broader equitable framework.
Casper spoke to Ricardo about the policy and how it might be extended as a part of New Zealand’s immigration approach.
After two years since Abortion was initially decriminalised in Aotearoa, the Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment Bill has passed with a vast majority.
Led by Labour MP Louisa Wall, 108 MP’s voted for the bill with only nine national MP’s and three Labour MP’s voting against.
The bill allows for a hundred and fifty metre safe area around clinics banning protests from taking place within the space area.
To learn more abot the bill and how it’ll affect Aotearoa, Liam Hansen spoke to NZ family planning chief executive Jackie Edmond about the bill.
There has been a great deal of talk recently about the rising cost of fuel with the price per liter reaching over $3 in New Zealand.
However, there are hidden costs to driving cars that are not factored in at the pump, particularly in regards to the environmental and social impacts of the car’s prevalence.
Casper had a chat with Dr Tim Welch, a senior lecturer in architecture and planning at the University of Auckland, about the hidden costs of cars and what rising fuel prices mean from a broader, social lens.
Today on the show, Joe Wickins speaks to Dr. David Welch about New Zealand's border reopening being shifted to April.
In our weekly chat with Andrew Little, Tuva'a Clifton talks to him about mental health and the strike action by healthcare workers that was called off.
Joe also speaks to Lynda Stuart, former President of the NZEI and current principal of May Road School about the most recent OECD report.
Emilia Sullivan speaks to Sarah Salmond, a partner at MinterEllisonRuddWatts about the Russia Sanctions Act and how she is helping her clients navigate new restrictions.
Lastly, Joe also speaks to the Dr. Katie Ayers of the New Zealand Dental Association regarding the upcoming World Oral Health day.
The New Zealand Dental Association is calling on the Government to deliver on its dental promises this World Oral Health Day. Joe spoke to Dr. Katie Ayers, the NZDA Access to Care spokesperson on the matter.
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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