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.
Parliament unanimously passed the Russia Sanctions Act last week in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the sanctions would be able to target those associated with the invasion, including people, services, companies, and assets.
Emilia Sullivan spoke to Sarah Salmond, a Partner at MinterEllisonRuddWatts who is currently helping clients navigate these new restrictions.
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.
A recent OECD Report has highlighted the need for increased levels of equity funding and better support for teachers and school leaders in disadvantaged schools. Joe spoke to Lynda Stuart, the former President of the NZEI and the current Principal of May Road School about the report.
This week Frances started off speaking to Ron Moorhouse and Project Janszoon Project Director Bruce Vander Lee about their conservation work in the Abel Tasman national park, and the new kaka chicks that are bringing the forest to life there
Alex then spoke with Helen Robinson, Manutaki of the Auckland City Mission on the impacts on the Omicron outbreak and red light setting on the homeless.
Frances then had her regular segment EuroVision where she speaks to Europe Correspondent Cameron Mulgan about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Alex then speaks with the ACT party’s Brooke Van Velden about the new Medium Density Residential Standards (or MDRS) and what they mean for the housing shortage, as well as about yesterdays government announcement of 4000 Special Humanitarian Visas for Ukrainians with family in NZ.
The Abel Tasman National Park is currently coming alive to the sound of young kākā following a successful breeding season for the park’s resident birds. Collaborators on the breeding programme including Project Janszoon, DOC and the Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust are all celebrating the successful fledging of eight chicks from three nests in the Bark Bay and Torrent Bay areas.
In 2015, Kākā were virtually extinct in the park with only a few wild male birds surviving there. Since then a total of 35 captive-bred birds have been released, with the last release happening in 2019. Most of these birds came from captive South Island kaka but about a third were raised from eggs or chicks collected from Nelson Lakes and Kahurangi National Parks. This year’s chicks were all banded and fitted with a transmitter before they left their nests. They are particularly vulnerable in the period between leaving the nest and learning to fly, which can take up to a week, but most are now competent flyers and adding their tunes to the chorus of the park.
This week on the Wire, Frances speaks with ornithologist Ron Moorhouse and Project Janszoon’s Project Director Bruce Vander Lee about the much loved birds and conservation in the area.
Earlier today Producer Alex spoke with Auckland City Mission Manutaki Helen Robinson about how the ongoing Omicron outbreak and red light setting are impacting the homeless. Auckland City Mission have a range of services that cater to vulnerable, unhoused people in Auckland and the pandemic has led to them adapting their approach so that workers, volunteers and people seeking their services can remain safe.
This week is the third week of EuroVision, our regular segment where Frances catches up with our European Correspondent Cameron Mulgan. This week Cameron joined Frances from Berlin and they spoke about the developments in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
On Dear Science, Christina spoke to AUT Professor Allan Blackman. Today, they discussed the link between gut biomes and mood, the impact of lead exposure on the body, as well as New Zealand science icon William Pickering.
Christina also covered the government’s recent announcement of a cost of living relief package. She spoke to Minister of Energy and Resources Megan Woods about the package, and to Robert MacCulloch, a professor of economics from the University of Auckland.
Trishil spoke to Mohammed Ridwan about Islamophobia and how it affects the Muslim population, three years on from the Christchurch attacks
And finally, Christina spoke to Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon about the Islamophobia and racism that persists in our society, and what we can do to combat racism in Aotearoa.
Aneeka had her regular catch up with Dr Shane Reti from the National Party, which was cut due to time restraints. This week they discussed sanctions on Russia, and the borders reopening to international travellers. Listen back!
Three years on from the Christchurch attacks, Islamophobia still persists in our society, affecting the way of life for those in the Muslim Community. The Third Islamophobia in Australia report released this morning has highlighted the increase in online and offline abuse in recent years despite the horrors of March 15th 2019.
Trishil spoke with Dr Mohammad Ridwan from the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand about the fallout of the attacks, discussing the recent abuse of Otago student Hoda-Al Jammar, and how islamophobia can be challenged in the future.
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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