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 the Wednesday Wire, we start with Dear Science with Allan Blackman who joins us live in the studio for our first show of the year. Today Christina Huang asks Allan about the link between cataracts and dementia, the nutritional value of huhu bugs, and a clue on mars that could hint at past life on the planet.
Jemima Huston interviews ACT Party Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden about her party’s goals for 2022, the inevitable Omicron outbreak in New Zealand and the Tonga volcanic eruption and tsunami disaster.
Christina talks to Dr Xaviour Walker from the University of Otago about the disaster in Tonga and the subsequent health impacts that will affect the Tongan people.
Christina wraps up the show with a conversation with Associate Professor Leah Watkins about a recent study of marketing, where researchers found kids are exposed to one brand almost every minute.
The Pūtiki Protectors have been occupying Pūtiki Bay (Kennedy Point) on Waiheke Island since March 9 2021, to protect ancestral moana by stopping the construction of the Kennedy Point Marina. Tomorrow a hikoi has been organised to the Auckland High Court to support the Pūtiki 32 who were served an injunction banning them from protesting peacefully at Pūtiki Bay. The first court hearing regarding the injunction is taking place tomorrow following the hikoi.
News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston speaks to Zane Wedding from Mana Rākau - Save Our Trees, an ally of the Protect Pūtiki Movement, about the hikoi tomorrow, how the injunction came about and how people can support the movement.
The hikoi starts at 10am tomorrow (Wednesday 19 January 2022) at The Cloud in downtown Auckland. Head to the event page or the Protect Pūtiki Facebook and Instagram for more information.
This morning on RNZ's Morning Report, Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said that Aotearoa’s traffic light system is less suited to the Omicron variant than the Delta variant and will need to be adjusted. News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston speaks to Dr David Welch, a virus mutation expert at the University of Auckland, about what these adjustments may be and why they are necessary. Also, as the government is set to announce any changes to the public health repsonse in the coming weeks Jemima asks Dr Welch whether "weeks" is too long to wait to prepare for a major community outbreak of Omicron in Aotearoa.
Stories by Louis with University of Auckland's Dr Stuart Dalziel about Covid-19's impact on children and NIWA's Dr Emily Lane about the causes and impacts of the Tongan tsunami.
Charlie spoke with DOC's Clinton Duffy about the increase in drownings and Surflifesaving New Zealand's Chris Emmett about shark attacks.
Recent research claims that the impacts of Covid-19 in children is much more severe than is commonly perceived. The study assessed 3000 children who had tested positive for the virus in ten countries, including information on underlying risk factors and long term effects.
Louis was joined by the report's author, the University of Auckland's Dr Stuart Dalziel to talk about the findings, what this means for New Zealand's Covid-19 response and how it differs from impacts in adults.
Every Summer sharks return inland for feeding and to nurse their young. As shark presence increases, sightings and fear rises, but during these times the public must remain respectful to sharks. Department of Conservation's Clinton Duffy spoke with Charlie about shark activity, and how the public can help preserve the life of sharks on New Zealand's coasts.
On Sunday, a tsunami devastated the Tongan islands after the eruption of a large underwater volcano. Currently, there is little contact with the islands and specific information as to how the tsunami was caused is unknown.
Louis spoke with NIWA's Dr Emily Lane about the tsunamis causes, how much researchers know at the moment, and what will happen as they try to get more information in the coming weeks.
New Zealand's fatal drownings over the summer period has increased, with 15 preventable fatal drownings already occuring in the first two and a half weeks of 2022. Chris Emmett, Surf Life Saving NZ's National Club and Volunteer Development Manager discussed with Charlie why there is an increase in these fatalites this year, and what you can do to stay safe this summer.
Recently, Allergy New Zealand and Pub Charity announced the relaunch of their Free EpiPen Campaign, FundaPen. Joe speaks to Mark Dixon, the Chief Executive of Allergy New Zealand, about the campaign.
Throughout 2021, the National Party has had a regular slot on the Friday Wire and Christopher Luxon has been our contributing politician. Former Friday Wire host Noah Ferguson-Dudding has interviewed Luxon every week since March and spoke to him last on November 12th. Since then, Luxon has become the new Leader of the National Party.
In this interview Noah asks about Luxon’s previous statements made to 95bFM that he did not want to be leader of the National Party, whether the National Party has diverse representation, and the media's focus on Luxon’s faith.
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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