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.
Two years into the global pandemic, the world has faced a lot of changes: from new variants of the coronavirus running rampant, to the rollout of vaccines to protect us against Covid-19. We have seen nations mobilise to tackle the virus but we have also seen a small minority of people pushing back against the health measures that have been enacted. And in our digital age, it is no surprise that social media is fuelling the spread of fear and misinformation alongside the virus.
So why exactly does a global crisis invoke such strong reactions?
Christina Huang spoke to Associate Professor Danny Osborne from the University of Auckland Social psychology department about the recent antivaccination protests, anti-government attitudes and how our mindset towards the pandemic has shifted over the past two years.
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.
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.
A study looking into a survey of highschool students has found that experiences of racism and discrimination keep young asian people from accessing health services in New Zealand. News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston interviews Dr Roshini Peirs-John, Associate Professor at the School of Population Health in Auckland and co-investigator in this study. They talk about what the study entailed, the Youth19 survey it's based on and why it is important to break down the catchall ethnicity term 'Asian' into more specific Asian ethnic groupings to provide better health policies and data.
For the last few weeks, News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston has been following the calls made by people working in the arts and culture sector for more consistent and reliable government support to get people through the red setting. Last week, the government announced that $121 million of Covid relief funding for the sector had been made available and Jemima spoke to Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni about this. The Minister said that workers should be able to take comfort in the fact that the funding announced for Arts and Culture in 2020 had not yet been spent and that the government is taking any calls for help seriously.
This week Jemima wanted to know what the industry reaction to the latest funding announcement has been. She caught up with promoter representative and freelance tour manager Sarin Moddle to ask what her thoughts were on the $121 million fund. Sarin says she has had mixed feelings about the fund but has settled on a belief that the government has simply "tinkered around the edges of what was already there" and have not made funding avenues that fit the purpose of providing direct financial support to industry workers.
Sarin spoke with Jemima last week about what little help there is out there for people working in the arts, music and events industry. To listen to that podcast and find more coverage on this issue, click here.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The United States has frequently been in the news cycle recently for the Trump administration’s unstable foreign policy decisions.
This includes their decisions to cut 90% of USAID foreign contracts and to pause military aid to Ukraine following a fiery meeting between the leaders of both countries.
University of Otago’s Professor Richard Jackson describes President Trump’s behaviours as a threat to global order and security.
For International Desk this week, Wire Host Caeden spoke to him about the instability of United States foreign policy and the global ramifications of this.
Earlier this week, an investigation was launched into the school lunch programme after baked-in plastic was found in several lunches.
However, principals say the programme has already had various issues since Associate Education Minister David Seymour switched providers as a cost-saving measure last year.
And the coalition government is set to introduce legislation that would give the option of 4 year parliamentary terms.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Deputy LeaderCarmel Sepuloni about both of these topics.
Recently, Auckland Council has re-committed $15 million in funding; which they have pledged since 2016, to restore the historic St. James Theatre in Auckland’s CBD — one part of a cross-party agreement between the Council, Central Government, and owner of the theatre.
The theatre, which has been inoperational since a fire broke out in 2007, left significant damage and resulted in the closure of the venue.
The revitalisation of St James has seen support from the public and a variety of different figures, including the co-leader of the Green Party and MP for Auckland Central, Chlöe Swarbrick, and the organisation Save the St. James Theatre Auckland.
For our weekly catchup with Auckland Council, News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson, about Auckland Council's re-commitment to revitalise the St James Theatre and their goals regarding this.
We also spoke about a proposal by Council to develop half of Takapuna Golf Course into wetlands, in aims of mitigating flooding risks which the area is susceptible to.
This move has been criticised by the Golf Course, who say there are better ways to adapt the park without taking away any of the area available to golfers.
But first, they started off by asking how Shane is feeling now that we are one step closer to having the St James operational again.
The ministry for Primary Industries has launched an investigation after a number of meals served to children by the School Lunch Collective were found to have their plastic packaging melted into their food.
This would be the fourth investigation launched into the collective after the government introduced the Alternative Provision Model for Ka Ora Ka Ako, replacing local suppliers.
Around this same period of time, a consultation document was sent to schools across the motu by education minister Erica Stanford asking for feedback on a proposal to defund and disestablish 174 full time roles for Resource Teachers of Literacy and Resource Teachers of Māori.
And the Greens recently issued a call to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon calling on him to rule out any possibility of joining the AUKUS military pact, following the contentious bilateral meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Whitehouse last week.
For their weekly catch up, Oto spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez-March for the Green Party’s take on all of these issues.
Last week the government announced a new citizen’s arrest policy that would allow members of the public to detain those who commit a crime. The policy has been met with criticism for its potential impact on retail workers and marginalised communities. While the government has asserted that citizen’s arrest should only be conducted when it is safe to do so, some are still worried about safety, especially with employer/employee power dynamics.
Others are concerned that the law will encourage members of the public to conduct citizens arrests on anyone they suspect of committing a crime, even if their suspicions are false. This would predominantly affect marginalised groups already affected by harmful stereotypes
In our weekly catchup with the National Party’s Tom Rutherford, Tuesday Wire Host Castor asked about how the new Citizens Arrest policy will work in Aotearoa.
For Dear Science this week, our expert, Dr Cushla McGoverin, chats to us about the International Space Station being too clean, birds of paradise being more colourful than we originally thought, and stretchy displays.
Thanks to MOTAT, the museum inspiring the innovators of tomorrow!
The government has announced that it will introduce legislation for a four year parliamentary term - subject to referendum.
Most parties are largely in favour of a four year term - feeling that it gives more opportunity to develop policy and make changes.
As part of their coalition deal, the ACT party designed a caveat to be included in the legislation that would put more ‘checks and balances’ on the government.
This essentially means the opposition would have more powers in select committees. If this legislation is passed and voted on, a four year government term would not be mandatory - but would instead be decided after the government was elected.
For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, Producer Evie spoke to Simon Court about the legislation and why the party supports a four year term.
They also talked about the government giving retailers and members of the public more power to detain shoplifters under legislative reforms. Otherwise known as citizens' arrests.
Last week, Auckland Council presented a proposal to shift Kumeū’s town centre as an effort to address the area’s history of flooding.
Additionally, late last month public consultation opened on Council’s proposed bed night visitor levy. The levy would fill a budget gap of $7 million for major events in Tāmaki Makaurau.
For City Counselling this week, Sofia spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about both of these topics, beginning by asking her what current issues Kumeū is facing that informed the proposal to move its town centre.
Conflict has escalated in the Democratic Republic of Congo this year, driven by ethnic tensions and access to mineral resources.
The conflict has been marked by murder, violence, and forced displacement. Over 6.9 million people in the Congo were displaced by the end of 2023, and 7,000 have been killed since January this year.
For International desk this week, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Aotearoa African Foundation President Red Tsounga about the ongoing violence in the Congo and what more the international community can do to support those who have been displaced.
StatsNZ has released new data showing the government has missed all its child poverty targets, and that the number of children in material hardship has risen from 144,100 to 156,600.
The government’s proposal to expand citizen arrest laws has been met with a mixed response. The proposal has been criticised by business groups, First Union, and the Labour Party, largely for the risk to workers.
And protestors against a sewerage pipeline being installed through the tapu Lake Rotokākahu have committed to staying at the site after facing off with police.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about all of these topics.
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