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.
Today on the Wire, Aneeka Moheed is joined in the studio by Liam Hansen.
First up, we have another episode of Tomorrow's World! This week Stella and Isla investigate the different cloning techniques used to genetically modify crops, as well as some of the questions surrounding the GMO debate. They speak to Biochemistry Masters student Tyler McCourt from the University of Otago about her research on perennial ryegrass and male sterility in flowering plants, to get a better understanding of the methods used.
Liam Hansen talks to climate science researcher, Tim Naish about an unprecedented heat wave in Eastern Antarctica. Later on, Liam interviews Tourism NZ's Ann Marie Johsnon about Aotearoa reopening its borders to internatinal tourists.
Sam Clark has a quick interview with Lewis Ferris from MetService about the severe weather warning in Auckland and Upper North Island.
And Charlie Parker talks to Medical Director for The Asthma & Respiratory Foundation NZ, Dr James Fingleton about concerns for asthmatic people as the omicron variant spreads through the community.
Last week saw the announcement of Aotearoa’s re-opening to international tourists, after two years of closure due to the pandemic.
Travellers from Australia can arrive from mid-April, and travellers from other visa-waiver countries can visit from the first of May.
The loss of tourism saw a drop of 15.6 billion dollars within the first year of the pandemic, and the state of the job market has left employers optimistic yet uncertain about the future.
Liam had a chat with Ann-Marie Johnson from Tourism Industry Aotearoa about the state of the industry and what’s to come.
Last week Eastern Antarctica saw an unprecedented heat wave, shocking scientists in the process.
The area went fourty degrees celsius above what is normal, from between minus fourty six and minus fifty one degrees to between minus eighteen and minus twelve degrees.
While this is still below freezing and does not pose any risk of melting, it sets a terrifying precedent for what’s to come.
To learn more, Liam spoke with TIm Naish, a lead climate science and Antarctic researcher at Victoria University of Wellington about what the heat wave means for the future.
There has been a great deal of talk recently about the rising cost of fuel with the price per liter reaching over $3 in New Zealand.
However, there are hidden costs to driving cars that are not factored in at the pump, particularly in regards to the environmental and social impacts of the car’s prevalence.
Casper had a chat with Dr Tim Welch, a senior lecturer in architecture and planning at the University of Auckland, about the hidden costs of cars and what rising fuel prices mean from a broader, social lens.
It's another Friday Wire! This week on the show, Casper talked to Green party MP Ricardo Menendez March about a media release he put out calling for the Ukraine response to be a part of a broader equitable framework.
Liam had a chat with with Jackie Edmond from Family Planning about the safe areas bill surrounding abortion clinics.
Casper also spoke to Shane Henderson as part of our regular city counselling segment, and today we talked about the government’s recent announcement to temporarily reduce the cost of fuel and public transport as well as the time running out for Auckland city’s annual budget consultation.
Liam also spoke to Alan Renwick from Lincoln University about the implications of Te Pati Maoris New policy to end the GST on Kai.
Finally, Casper interviewed Dr Timothy Welch from the university of Auckland on the hidden costs of cars.
Earlier in the week the government announced the 2022 Special Ukraine Policy which will open up a fasttracked path for immigration for the family of Ukrainians in New Zealand.
This policy is expected to benefit around four thousand people and will be open for one year from now.
Green party MP and immigration spokesperson Ricardo Menéndez March put out a media release following the announcement in which he calls for this response to be a part of a broader equitable framework.
Casper spoke to Ricardo about the policy and how it might be extended as a part of New Zealand’s immigration approach.
After two years since Abortion was initially decriminalised in Aotearoa, the Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment Bill has passed with a vast majority.
Led by Labour MP Louisa Wall, 108 MP’s voted for the bill with only nine national MP’s and three Labour MP’s voting against.
The bill allows for a hundred and fifty metre safe area around clinics banning protests from taking place within the space area.
To learn more abot the bill and how it’ll affect Aotearoa, Liam Hansen spoke to NZ family planning chief executive Jackie Edmond about the bill.
Parliament unanimously passed the Russia Sanctions Act last week in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the sanctions would be able to target those associated with the invasion, including people, services, companies, and assets.
Emilia Sullivan spoke to Sarah Salmond, a Partner at MinterEllisonRuddWatts who is currently helping clients navigate these new restrictions.
The New Zealand Dental Association is calling on the Government to deliver on its dental promises this World Oral Health Day. Joe spoke to Dr. Katie Ayers, the NZDA Access to Care spokesperson on the matter.
Last year, Auckland Council removed 30% of bins from public places with the hopes of saving about $9.5 million over an eight year period. While the council didn’t foresee an increase in littering, last week Stuff published an article sharing the frustrations of residents who observed a growing litter problem in council parks.
Illegal dumping has also been on the rise across Auckland.
With more than 1300 reports per month, the cost of retrieving illegally dumped items is about $2.7 million every year and rising.
Also Mayor Wayne Brown has announced that he wants to see Auckland become the “premier tech city” of New Zealand to boost our global influence and reputation—-- calling on the government to establish the new Advanced Technology Institute here, which he says could play a key role in guiding new start-ups, so ideas don’t ‘die on the vine’.
Beginning with the problem of rubbish in Auckland, Producer Sara started by asking Julie Fairey if she believed the removal of bins was to blame for increased littering
International pressure is mounting against Israel for the 11-week-long and ongoing blockade of aid into Gaza.
The few aid trucks that have been let into Gaza have not been distributed, according to the United Nations.
It comes as cases against Israel in the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court (ICC) for existing violations of international law remain ongoing.
Wire Host Caeden spoke to Professor Donald Rothwell from the Australian National University Law School about the aid blockade and response in international law.
Today is Budget Day, the day the government releases their spending plans for the next year.
The embargo on the budget lifts at 2pm, however, there have already been several pre-budget spending announcements.
Earlier this week, the debate on the Privileges Committee report into the Treaty Principles Bill haka, led by Te Paati Māori, was deferred.
Opposition MPs have raised concerns that because the debate has been deferred, the Te Paati Māori co-leaders may not be back in time to vote on the budget.
For our weekly catch-up with Labour’s Carmel Sepuloni, Wire Host Caeden asked about all of these topics.
Yesterday the debate in the privileges committee regarding the suspension of Te Pāti Māori MPs Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi was adjourned until after the upcoming budget announcement.
The Privileges Committee Report and recommended punishments for the three Te Pāti Māori MPs were issued last week for the Haka they performed during a parliamentary session in November 2024 in opposition to the ACT party’s Treaty Principles Bill.
In that same week, the Green party recently issued a call to the government to scrap the Regulatory Standards Bill after the Waitangi Tribunal found that the Bill breaches the Crown’s Tiriti o Waitangi obligations.
And the government recently passed the Social Security Amendment Bill, which the government says would support people into employment and off benefits, however, opponents of the bill have said it could harm beneficiaries and lower income New Zealanders.
For our weekly catch up with the Green Party, Oto spoke to MP Ricardo Menendez-March about all of these issues.
Just under two weeks ago the government passed the pay equity amendment bill under urgency. This bill would change existing pay equity legislation to make it more restrictive, which the government says will save billions of dollars.
The process was originally introduced to address issues of pay inequity between sectors. While the Equal Pay Act mandates that people working the same job are paid the same regardless of gender, Pay Equity is meant to ensure industries dominated by women are not paid less than similar industries dominated by men. The process has worked by allowing applicants to compare their positions with positions in other sectors with similar workloads, skills, or experience.
The government’s changes will limit the criteria for comparators, allow only industries with over 70% women in the workforce as opposed to the previous 60%, and removing the ability for the authority to award back pay, among other changes.
These changes have been met with criticism from rights organisations, advocacy groups, and opposition parties. In our weekly catchup with National’s Tom Rutherford, Wire host Castor asked about the government’s reasoning behind the Pay Equity Amendment Bill.
The Waitangi Tribunal review into the controversial regulatory standards bill has found that the Crown would be in breach of Treaty principles if it were to introduce the regulatory standards bill to Parliament without more consultation with Māori.
Because of this the tribunal has called for an immediate halt to be put on the bill.
Despite this, the bill is set to be introduced to Parliament today.
The recommendation came after following a one day urgent hearing from the Waitangi Tribunal last week, which was pushed forward from June 6, after it was revealed the bill would be introduced to Parliament today.
Critics of the bill fear it will work against Māori rights and interests. However, the ACT Party, fronted by Minister for Regulation, David Seymour simply say the Tribunal is ‘incorrect’.
For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, Producer Evie spoke to Simon Court to unpack this further. Discussing why they contest the tribunal’s review, and where they plan to take the bill from here.
We also spoke about the government launching a review into the Waitangi Tribunal, which is heavily backed by ACT - David Seymour saying the tribunal needs to be ‘put in its place’.
Last week, the Privileges Committee recommended Te Pāti Māori co-leaders, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi, be “severely censured” with a 21-day suspension, with Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi Clarke facing a 7-day suspension for their haka during the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill.
Telling RNZ, Judith Collins - the chairperson of the Privileges Committee, says the ruling was unprecedented because the “situation was unprecedented” and said the decision was not taken lightly.
Te Pāti Māori’s lawyer says the punishment given to the MPs is an “absolute disgrace”.
For our weekly catch up with Te Pāti Māori’s Takutai Kemp, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to her about this, and how she is feeling heading into the debate of the report tomorrow.
We also discussed the Waitangi Tribunals recommendations regarding the Regulatory Standards Bill.
But first, we discussed the Privileges Committee's recommendations.
In 2014, Victoria University of Wellington made an official promise to divest $650,000 worth of investments in fossil fuel companies which, at the time, comprised of 2.1% of the University’s total investments.
However, more than 10 years on, a student-led investigation found that the university still held significant investments in companies like Exxon Mobil and SHELL through third-party investment managers.
A year after a successful petition by Students for Justice in Palestine Pōneke calling on the university to divest funding from Israeli companies, a group of students from Climate Action Victoria University of Wellington have made renewed calls to the university to divest from fossil fuel companies.
For this week’s Get Action! Oto spoke to Hugh Acton, a member of Climate Action Victoria of University of Wellington, who’s launched a petition calling on the university to disclose their investments in companies involved in fossil fuel production and to divest from them immediately.
If you'd like to sign this petition, you can find it here:
Last week, the government announced that they would begin an official review of the Waitangi Tribunal and the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975.
The government has said that the review is to ensure the Waitangi Tribunal remains effective and relevant, however, a number of Māori and treaty law experts have referred to the review as an attack on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its principles.
In that same week, the government announced that they would be investing $774 million towards improving the redress process for survivors of abuse in state care in Budget 2025.
However, going against one of the key recommendations of both the Royal Commission and the Redress Design Group, the government will not be looking to set up a new redress scheme for abuse survivors.
And the government recently passed amendments to the Wildlife Act that would permit the “incidental killing” of certain native wildlife species by companies during lawful activities like construction and development.
For our weekly catchup with the Green party, Oto spoke to MP Ricardo Menendez March for the party’s take on all of these issues.
95bFM 
