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.
Over the weekend Australia announced that it would be opening its borders to all fully vaccinated tourists from February 21st. This is quite different from New Zealand’s five step gradual reopening plan that will take place over the next few months.
News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston talks to Professor Michael Plank from the University of Canterbury about the difference in New Zealand and Australia's border reopening strategies, and how Australia's border reopening to all vaccinated people will impact Aotearoa.
Today on the Wire, Emily Bell speaks to University of Auckland Māori Studies Professor Margaret Mutu about the significance of Waitangi Day.
Jemima Huston talks to Professor Michael Plank about why Australia has opened its borders to all fully vaccinated travellers, when New Zealand has decided to reopen gradually with a five-step process.
Emily interviews the CEO of the Bus and Coaches Association NZ Ben McFadgen about how the pandemic has impacted the bus and coach industry.
Jemima catches up with with promoter rep and freelance tour manager Sarin Moddel about her feelings on the government's $121 million covid relief funding announcement for the arts and culture sector.
Finally, Jemima speaks to Dr Roshini Peiris-John, Associate Professor at the School of Population Health in Auckland, about her study into the Youth19 health survey and the finding that young Asian people who experience discrimination and racism are more likely to forgo healthcare.
As the pandemic continues, many businesses and industries across New Zealand are struggling to stay afloat. This includes New Zealand’s tourism industry and all of the businesses which rely on overseas travelers to make up most of their annual income. A sector of the tourism industry which has been hit hard is the tourism bus and coach businesses. It has been reported that roughly a third of these companies have closed over the course of the pandemic, and if the pandemic is to continue for much longer, a further thirty percent more could also shut down. Emily Bell spoke to Ben McFadge, the CEO of the Bus and Coach Association New Zealand about the need for support from the government and what the future looks like for the industry.
This week has seen a couple of major announcements from the government regarding their response to Covid-19 and the Omicron variant.
Firstly, the gap between the second vaccine and the booster shot has been shortened from a four month gap to just three, and the steps for Aotearoa to open up its borders have been laid out.
Liam spoke to Doctor Dion O’Neale, a Principal Investigator, for Te Pūnaha Matatini and a senior physics lecturer at the University of Auckland about these decisions.
This week on the show, host Jessica Hopkins spoke to Jason from Otago’s The Penguin Place about the support they are receiving from the Government's Jobs for Nature funding.
Auckland Councillor Shane Henderson is back for his regular chat with Jessica. They talked all things public transport from light rail to Shane's call for Auckland Transport for an update on Northwestern bus improvements and his recent discovery that there are USB ports on buses.
Producer Liam Hansen spoke to Doctor Dion O’Neale from the Auckland of University about the shortening of the booster gaps and the Government's plan for reopening the borders. He also talked to University of Otago Research Fellow Nick Bowden and Autism New Zealand Chief Executive Dane Dougan about a recent study debunking some misconceptions about how Autistic people are treated in the criminal justice system.
New Zealand has several misconceptions surrounding Autistic people and their lives, especially when it comes to the Criminal Justice System.
A recent University of Otago study looked into the misconceptions with the support of Autism New Zealand. First, Liam spoke to Nick Bowden, an Otago Uni Research Fellow about the study and it’s findings.
Liam then spoke to Autism New Zealande chief executive Dane Dougan, who helped support the study, on the social implications we could see in the future.
The government has unveiled plans for an unemployment insurance, which would see people who were laid off or lost their jobs having as much as eighty percent of their former income for up to seven months.
While it is supported by Business New Zealand and the Council of Trade Unions, welfare advocates have questioned that it would drive inequality.
Associate Professor Mike O'Brien is the Child Poverty Action Group's social security spokesperson, and Richard Wagstaff is the President of the Council of Trade Unions. They spoke to Justin Wong.
Animal Rights Activists form The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses are opposing the holding of the Taranaki Cup, due to the sports' complications surrounding horse health and wellbeing. Joe speaks to Elin Arbez from The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses on the impact of horse racing and their protest against the holding of the Taranaki Cup.
Joe speaks to the CEO of Changing Minds and Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission board member Taimi Allan about the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill and the inequities within our health system.
Justin spoke to Sue Moroney, the chief executive of Community Law Centres Aotearoa, on New Zealand residents who are still stuck in Afghanistan.
He also spoke to the Council of Trade Union's president Richard Wagstaff, and the Child Poverty Action Group's Mike O'Brien on the government's proposal for an unemployment insurance.
Joe talked to Tami Allen of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission on their submission for the health sector reform legislation.
He also chatted with Elin Arbez from the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses on their protest against the Taranaki Cup.
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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