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.
This week on our fortnightly chat with Auckland Councillor Shane Henderson, Jessica Hopkins asked about Siren Battles in West Auckland that have been disrupting residents in Te Atatū and Massey.
They also discussed what the Auckland Council is doing to support those who have had their income affected by COVID-19 restrictions.
On Justin and Zoe's final Neighbourhood Watch, they talked about NSW nurses going on strike, envrionemental groups and native title holders in NT contesting the territory's largest water licence application.
They also touched base on Radio Adelaide's new home!
On their weekly chat, Justin and Health Minister Andrew Little talked about how does home isolation work for the homeless community, National MP Matt Doocey's proposal for a youth mental health summit, and free flu vaccines for more people.
International Desk reports on the situation in Ukraine.
Producer Joe Wickins talked to Netsafe's Chief Technology Officer Sean Lyons about cyberbullying, and the Drug Foundation's Chief Executive Sarah Helm on overdosing in New Zealand.
Neighbourhood Watch reports on NSW nurses striking, NT native title holders contesting the territoriy's largest water licence application, and Radio Adelaide finding a new home!
For the final time, Justin spoke with Health Minister Andrew Little on homeless communities under the home isolation scheme, National MP Matt Doocey's youth mental health summit, and making flu vaccines free for more people.
This week The Drug Foundation released a new report detailing how Aotearoa has not done enough in regards to preventable measures of overdosing. Joe speaks to Sarah Helm, the Executive Director of The Drug Foundation, on the matter.
With online safety being in the news over the last week, Joe looks at the prominence of Cyberbullying over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and what are some ways to deal with it. Joe speaks to Sean Lyons, the Director of Technology at Netsafe NZ on the matter.
On Monday evening, The Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill passed its third reading in Parliament. The Bill makes it illegal to attempt to change or suppress someone's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, and performing conversion practices on a minor can carry a prison sentence of up to three years. The Bill passed with near unanimous support, with the exception of eight National Party MPs.
Christina spoke to Auckland Pride's Executive Director Max Tweedie and Green Party spokesperson Dr Elizabeth Kerekere about the passing of the bill and what it means for the Rainbow community moving forward. Zoe also spoke to Dr Shane Reti, one of the MPs who voted no, about the bill.
Aneeka talks to National Board Member and Arable Chairperson of Federated Farmers New Zealand, Colin Hurst, about the widespread damage to arable crops currently faced by farmers. This has been a result of three weeks of unseasonable, intermittent rain followed by Cyclone Dovi which is having a huge impact on this harvest season.
Tonight at 11:59pm New Zealand will move to Phase Two of the government’s response to the Omicron outbreak. This does not make any difference to the red setting rules regarding access to public spaces, wearing masks in public, and contact tracing. Instead, this new phase will reduce isolation periods and narrow the meaning of a close contact.
News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston speaks to Lesley Gray from the University of Otago Wellington and Dr Dion O’Neale who is the Project Lead for Covid Modelling Aotearoa about what Phase Two actually means. They also discuss how New Zealanders should be responding to the increase in daily Covid-19 cases and whether the country is prepared for a shift to Phase Two.
Today on the Tuesday Wire, Jemima Huston speaks to Lesley Gray from the University of Otago Wellington and Dr Dion O'Neale from Covid Modelling Aotearoa about Phase Two of the government’s Omicron outbreak response.
Jemima talks to Massey Univeristy Russian politics expert Rouben Azizan about the Ukraine crisis and whether Russia will invade Ukraine.
Finally, Karla Akuhata from the Korehāhā Whakahau project speaks to Jemima about how they are working to erradicate possums in Ngāti Awa's rohe with an iwi led initative.
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