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 Zazi and Brooke talk about the Christopher Luxon being elected the new National Party Leader and the new Omicron coronavirus variant.
In the first half, the two talk about the announcement yesterday that Christopher Luxon has been elected the new National Party Leader, alongside Nicola Willis as Deputy Leader. Zazi asks Brooke what the feeling around parliament was after the announcement, if Brooke believes Christopher Luxon is experienced enough for this role and whether she believes this new leadership will result in more National Party voters.
In the second half, Zazi speaks to Brooke about the new coronavirus variant. Brooke shares how concerned she is about the new variant for Aotearoa, and talks about vaccine access in both developed and developing countries.
Yesterday, it was announced that Christopher Luxon, MP for Botany, is the new Leader of the National Party and Nicola Willis, List MP, is the Deputy Leader. This latest leadership vote came after Judith Collins was ousted from her position last week by a vote of no confidence from the National Party caucus.
For 95bFM listeners, Luxon taking the top position may have been a little surprising. On November 12 2021, as part of our weekly interview with the National Party on the Friday Wire, Luxon was asked whether he wanted to be the National Party leader in the future. Luxon answered, laughing, "No. I'm very focused on doing what I'm doing... I'm one of those people that do it day by day, job by job, and that's what I'm trying to do". A mere 17 days later, Luxon is elected the new leader of the Party.
National has been looking for a refreshed leadership team for some time now. Will Luxon's very short term in parliament and CEO background, alongside Willis' long-term history with National and more liberal point of view be what the Party needs to revitalise their policies and bring voters back?
News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston interviews Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland Jennifer Lees Marshment about the new National Party leadership team. Jennifer explains who Luxon is and what her thoughts are on the “liberal” pairing of Luxon and Willis.
News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston interviews Maria Bellringer, Director of the Gambling and Addictions Research Centre at AUT, about gambling habits in lockdown and gambling regulations in Aotearoa. Maria explains that online gambling is not as popular in lockdown as you might think and although online platforms attract more young people, it tends to attract those that already gamble in real life at casinos and bars. They also discuss how gambling is regulated in New Zealand and what she believes needs to be done to keep more New Zealander's safe from gambling harm.
Last week, a vote no confidence was made against Judith Collins as leader of the National Party and she was ousted from the position. Collins' Deputy Dr Shane Reti swiftly took over as interim leader and announced that a new leadership team would be voted on next week.
The sudden party fall out came after a late night statement from Collins that Simon Bridges, MP for Tauranga and previous party leader, had been demoted due to an allegation of serious misconduct by a colleague. This allegation was clarified by Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean who said Bridges had made inappropriate comments five years ago that upset her and Bridges had apologised for this at the time and again on that day.
Today, Tuesday 30 November, is the day that the National Party is expected to vote on their new leadership team. Reports are suggesting that the competition for the top position is really between Bridges and Christopher Luxon, MP for Botany and ex-CEO for Air New Zealand with a mere two years of political experience.
News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston speaks to political commentator David Slack about the National Party fall out last week, the vote expected later today, some of the core candidates, and why Dr Shane Reti is never considered to be in the running for the leadership role.
UPDATE: Christopher Luxon has been named as the new leader of the National Party, following Simon Bridges withdrawing his ticket.
Today is Giving Tuesday! After Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday is a day that some charities are using to encourage people to give back.
This year the Prostate Cancer Foundation New Zealand is getting involved in the Giving Tuesday movement to encourage people to help prevent suffering and death from prostate cancer. News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston speaks with Peter Dickens, the Chief Executive of the Prostate Cancer Foundation NZ, about the prostate cancer situation in Aotearoa and how people can help with Giving Tuesday.
This week on the Wire, Emily Bell speaks with University of Canterbury Epidemiology Professor Arindam Basu about the new Covid-19 variant, Omicron.
Jemima Huston talks to political commentator David Slack about the National Party leadership vote expected later this afternoon.
Emily discusses the Afghanistan humanitarian crisis and the call for the New Zealand aid with the World Christian Service Director Murray Ovetron.
Jemima interviews Maria Bellringer from the Gambling and Addictions Research Centre at AUT about gambling habits in lockdown, online gambling in New Zealand and gambling regulation.
Finally, Jemima speaks to Peter Dickens, Chief Executive of the Prostate Cancer Foundation NZ, about Giving Tuesday and supporting the Foundation.
A new meta-analysis of reducing tools regarding COVID-19 transmission has been published by Dr Stella Talic, an epidemiologist from Monash University. The study discusses how mask wearing can significantly reduce transmission rates in large population groups. Charlie spoke to Dr Talic regarding her study, and what is needed for new COVID-19 research to be undertaken.
Louis spoke with the University of Canterbury's Michael Plank, the Green Party's Dr Elizabeth Kerekere, and the Restaurant Association's Marissa Bidois about the Covid-19 traffic light system. He also spoke to Metservice's Kevin Alder about newfound logbooks from early Antarctic expeditions and the University of Auckland's Dr Rajshri Roy about comfort food and lockdown.
Charlie talked to Monash University's Dr Stella Talic about Covid-19 prevention strategies and Omar Hamed about the upcoming perfusionist strike.
Perfusionists are highly trained medical professionals that operate heart-lung machines during surgical procedures. Auckland perfusionists intend to strike later this week to take industrial action regarding the pay freeze that affects salaries over $100,000. Omar Hamed, advocate for Apex Union perfusionists, spoke to Charlie regarding why the strike is important for perfusionists and how the strike will affect elective surgeries.
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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