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.
On Thursday, Broadcasting and Media Minister Kris Fafoi announced that a new public media entity will be created through the merging of TVNZ and Radio New Zealand.
Fafoi has stated that this will future proof both organisations and provide a centralised source for all New Zealanders to rely on for public journalism.
The announcement has received mixed responses from across the media sector, with it being called a "solution looking for a problem” by National Party broadcasting spokesperson Melissa Lee .
Liam spoke to former MP Tracey Martin, who was a chairperson on the Public Broadcasting Governance Group about what we could see out of the new entity.
Today, Greenpeace has set sail on a peace flotilla to Helena Bay in Northland, in protest outside Russian oligarch Alexander Abramov’s residence, amidst the conflict in Ukraine. Joe speaks to Niamh O'Flynn, the Programme Director for Greenpeace, while they were on their way to Helena Bay.
In the 10 weeks of 2022, 10 cyclists have sadly died on our roads. While Auckland Transport has adopted 'Vision Zero', an approach that aims for zero deaths on our roads by 2050, there is a desire for a more immediate response.
Emilia Sullivan spoke to Tony Mitchell, Chair of Bike Auckland to get his views on the current state of cycling in Auckland.
The Government has introduced legislation that would see random roadside drug testing beginning in 2023. Police would use saliva testing to check for the presence of drugs in a driver's system, and if the test detects any, the driver will be fined and stopped from driving for a minimum of 12 hours.
Emilia Sullivan spoke to Kali Mercier, Policy and Advocacy Manager of the New Zealand Drug Foundation about how this new legislation would work.
Today on The Wire, our regular interview with Labour’s Andrew Little is back. Tuva’a speaks to Little about hospital bed capacity, health system restructure and the new Pharmac review.
Emilia speaks to Kali Mercier, the Policy and Advocacy Manager of the New Zealand Drug Foundation about new roadside drug testing legislation.
She also talks to Tony Mitchell, Chair of Bike Auckland about the current state of cycling safety in Auckland, whether we will see a change in the urgency of reforms as gas prices get steeper, and how more kiwis turn to cost-efficient transport such as cycling.
Finally, Joe speaks to Niamh O'Flynn, the programme director for Greenpeace, who today was sailing to Helena Bay to protest against the war in Ukraine.
Producer Alex and Dr Shane Reti of the National Party discuss how the government can do more for Pacific peoples during the pandemic. Pacific peoples have suffered infections at a rate eight times higher than non-Maori and four times higher than Maori. Dr Shane issued a press release on Saturday calling for greater collaboration between government and faith and community leaders, as well as action on housing, to try and combat this. We discuss this in greater detail.
This week on the Wire, Frances and producer Alex kick off with the new weekly segment 'EuroVision'. Europe Correspondent Cameron Mulgan updates Frances from the ground about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and we talk a little about International women’s day celebrations in Europe.
Alex speaks with National’s Dr Shane Reti about how the government can do more for Pacific peoples during the pandemic and Frances talks to Professor Maurice Curtis from the University of Auckland about a big new study that’s come out on the effects of covid-19 on the brain
Then Alex has his weekly chat to the ACT party’s Brooke Van Velden, this week about what the “cooling” housing market means for first home buyers and whether the NZ-UK FTA signed last week is a good precedent for future trade deals. He also speaks with Dr. Bodo Lang about what the Commerce Commission's report on the supermarket sector means for consumers.
At the end of the show we farewell our News and Editorial Director, Jemima, as she heads off on a new adventure. That's us for this Wednesday!
This week on our new segment 'EuroVision', Wire host Frances Wright catches up with our European Correspondent Cameron Mulgan. Cameron joins Frances from London, and updates her on developments in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, what it’s looking like on the ground for refugees around Europe, and a little about International Women’s Day in Europe.
Producer Alex talks with Dr. Bodo Lang what the Commerce Commision report on the supermarket sector means for the average consumer. Released on 8 March 2022, the report details reforms designed to increase competition and reduce prices, but is significantly lighter than previous drafts. Dr Lang is a marketing Associate Professor at the University of Auckland who has extensive experience in the academic and private sectors whose research has included work on consumer behaviour and food products.
This week, one of the biggest COVID-19 brain imaging studies was released from researchers in the UK. In the study, researchers looked at the results of 785 people before and after Covid-19 infection. The scans showed that those infected with Covid-19 display changes in areas of the brain that affect memory and smell, and that the virus may result in increased cognitive decline. To understand the study and its findings a little further, Frances caught up with Professor Maurice Curtis from the University of Auckland where he is the head of department in Anatomy and Medical Imaging. They talked about the results of the study and its implications for life going forward.
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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