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 APEC Leaders Summit that recently took place, as well as the 1 News Colmar Brunton poll.
First off, the two talk about the virtual Summit that took place on the 11th and 12th of November. Brooke shares if she thinks Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern did a good job with hosting this year, what she thinks of the Aotearoa Action Plan that was endorsed, as well as if she thinks climate change issues are one of the biggest economic challenges facing the world today.
Then, Zazi speaks to Brooke about the 1 News Colmar Brunton Poll results that came out this week. Zazi asks how Brooke feels about these results, what she thinks of David Seymour being above Judith Collins in the preferred Prime Minister poll, as well as if she thinks COVID-19 impacted the National Party's results.
Massey University recently published an article titled Microplastics revealed in New Zealand marine mammals for the first time, where scientists found microplactsics in all of the New Zealand dolphins they examined. The international team led by Massey University and the Institute of Environmental Science and Research, also known as ESR, discovered that all common dolphins examined post-mortem during 2019 and 2020 had ingested microplastics.
Zazi spoke with the study’s first author, Professor Karen Stockin, the ESR lead Dr. Olga Pantos as well as co-author Dr. Gabriel Machovsky, about their recent dolphin study. The three researchers talk about microplastics, what they are, how they affect wildlife and human health, as well as explain in more detail what specific things surprised them when conducting their research.
This week on the Wednesday Wire, the show kicks off with our new producer Christina having her regular segment Dear Science with AUT Professor Marcus Jones. They talk about a new Pfizer antiviral to fight Covid-19; touch on the recent Glasgow Climate Pact; as well as discuss how nonsense words can make us think of specific shapes.
Zazi then has her regular talk with ACT Party’s Deputy Leader, Brooke van Velden, where they speak about the APEC Leaders Summit that recently took place, as well as the 1 News Colmar Brunton poll.
After that, Zazi talks to Professor Karin Stockin, Dr. Olga Pantos and Dr. Gabriel Machovsky about their recent research discussing how microplastics have been found in New Zealand marine mammals for the first time.
And finally, Christina chats to Waikato District Deputy Mayor, Aksel Bech, and Vanessa Williams from the Hamilton Central Business Association, about Waikato’s shift to Alert Level 2.
As of 11.59pm on Tuesday, Waikato moved into Alert Level 2 of Covid-19 restrictions. With this shift, schools and hospitality venues are now able to open their doors after six weeks in lockdown. Christina spoke to Waikato District Deputy Mayor Aksel Bech and Hamilton Central Business Association General Manager Vanessa Williams about their newfound freedoms and what it means for local businesses.
Today on the Tuesday Wire, Emily Bell brings us her first piece where she speaks to Police Minister Poto Williams about the government's new firearms unit.
Jemima Huston interviews Deborah Hart, the Chair of Holocaust Centre NZ, about some of the comparisons that have been made by anti-vaccination protestors between the Holocaust and the government’s Covid restrictions here in New Zealand.
Jemima catches up with Auckland Women’s Refuge Chairperson Tauafu Havili to see how the refuge has been coping in lockdown.
Finally, Jemima speaks to Oxfam Aotearoa about the Covid support New Zealand has provided to Papua New Guinea.
News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston last spoke to Auckland Women's Refuge on Friday August 20. At this stage Aotearoa had been in lockdown for three days. Now, Auckland has been in lockdown for 91 days and a lot has changed. Jemima wanted to catch up with Auckland Women’s Refuge to see how operations have changed for them and whether the organisation feels it has been supported to carry out its work in the community. She speaks to Chairperson Tauafu Havili about how the refuge has been coping in lockdown.
If you are seeking support or are feeling unsafe in your bubble please call the Auckland Women's Refuge Office 09 378 7635 or call the national Women's Refuge 24/7 Crisis Line 0800 REFUGE (733 843).
If you want to donate to Auckland Women's Refuge head to www.awrefuge.org.nz or call their office number to organise a time to donate essential food items. You can also head to the national Women's Refuge website to Gift A Safe Night.
Over the weekend, Associate Foreign Minister Aupito Williams announced that a medical and logistics team had been sent from New Zealand to Papua New Guinea to assist with the Covid-19 crisis there. Oxfam Aotearoa says this is a good start but argues that New Zealand can do more to support Papua New Guinea. News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston speaks to Oxfam Aotearoa's Communications and Advocacy Director Dr Jo Spratt about how Covid-19 has impacted PNG, how New Zealand is stacking up as a good neighbour to PNG on an international scale and whether New Zealand has the means to support other nations during the economically devestating pandemic.
The Holocaust Centre of New Zealand is calling for anti-lockdown protestors to stop misuing the Holocaust and the Star of David. At anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination rallies New Zealand’s Covid-19 restrictions and vaccination mandates have been compared to the Holocaust by protestors. News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston interviews the Chair of the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand Deborah Hart about why this comparison is insensitive and wrong. They discuss how the inclusion of Holocaust related terms in anti-lockdown protests have impacted New Zealand's Jewish community and why the right to protest does not give you the right to appropriate the industrialised genocide of six million Jews.
Dr Nikki Renall of Massey University, Taranaki, has been awarded nearly $350,000 to undertake nutritional research involving Māori communities. Within the research, Dr Renall's hopes to connect Māori back to their traditional narratives around kai, and create a treasured space for historical information that can be used to help eating habits of future generations. Dr Renall's speaks with Charlie on the current hopes for the research project, and where Māori focused nutritional research should be taken in the future.
With the world focussing on COP26 discussions of climate change and pollution are rife. Ten days on from Guy Fawkes Day, Charlie speaks with Dr Joel Rindelaub from the University of Auckland to find out how much air pollution is created through fireworks. Dr Rindelaub discusses the biggest culprits for pollution in the fireworks market, and how these products can be affecting the whole communities health.
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