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.
Ilena talks to Paris Marx, a Canada-based phD student at the University of Auckland, writer and host of the 'Tech Won’t Save Us' podcast about Facebook's 'metaverse'.
Today, during Facebook’s annual Connect Conference, Mark Zuckerberg shared his vision for what he calls a ‘metaverse’. The metaverse will be a social, 3D virtual space where users can share immersive experiences with other people, in real-time. It won’t be built, run or owned exclusively by Facebook. Rather, the company will collaborate with policymakers, experts and industry partners. There are already a wealth of New Zealand companies and creators working in this space, including fashion designers, gaming and VR experience creators, academics and marketers involved. To better reflect this new chapter in the company, Facebook is rebranding to ‘Meta’. This will include a new logo and colour.
Paris discusses their concern that the rebranding could mean a renewed focus on addressing misinformation and echo chambers, or serves to distract from recent scrutiny that Facebook is under after internal documents were leaked by a whistleblower. They also talk about what the implications might be in who is funding this venture, and how the metaverse sits in a post-Covid, increasingly digitalised world.
On their weekly chat, Justin and Health Minister Andrew Little talked about drug testing at festivals, the bill that reforms the entire health system, and public consultations to repeal and replace the Mental Health Act.
Justin also talked to Otago University's Professor Michael Baker on the latest Covid-19 cases in Christchurch.
He also spoke to Yvonne Booysen from drug testing service Know Your Stuff and Splore Fesitval's Director John Minty on funding for drug testing at festivals.
He also talked to Fatima Imran and Tessa Guest, the presidents of Massey University's student association in Manawatu and Wellington, after the university's Massive student magazine feedback survey raised eyebrows for asking questions on censorship and editorial control.
An annual feedback survey for Massey University’s student magazine Massive has raised eyebrows on questions about censorship and editorial control.
Massey University has 10 student associations for students in Auckland, Manawatu, and Wellington, and they make up the Massey University Students’ Association Federation or MUSAF.
The survey by MUSAF asked students whether it is the right for student associations to censor magazine content, or whether the editor, MUSAF, or an individual student association should retain editorial control of the magazine.
Fatima Imran and Tessa Guest are the presidents of the Massey University Student Association in Manawatū and Wellington. They spoke to Justin Wong.
Two cases of Covid-19 have been detected in Christchurch, with one travelling from Auckland earlier this month and could be infectious in the community for up to two weeks.
The city remains at Alert Level 2.
Otago University epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker said earlier rapid antigen testing for departing passengers is needed to limit transmission out of Auckland.
Justin spoke to Health Minister Andrew Little on festival drug testing, the health reforms bill, and public consultations opening for the repeal and replace of the Mental Health Act.
This week Zazi and Brooke talk about the COVID traffic light system and the vaccine mandate for workplaces requiring a certificate of vaccination for entry.
First off, the two talk about Aotearoa New Zealand’s New COVID-19 Protection Framework. Zazi asks Brooke if she supports the framework, what she thinks this means for reopening the international border, and whether she thinks this framework discriminates against vulnerable communities.
Secondly, Zazi asks Brooke about the Government announcing that vaccines will be mandated for workplaces requiring a certificate of vaccination for entry. Brooke shares whether she believes this was a logical move, if vaccine mandates are a good way to lift vaccination rates, and also talks about why she believes businesses should have a choice in having mandated vaccinations, over the Government enforcing them.
At the beginning of October more than 120 psychologists employed by the Ministry of Health in schools and early childhood centres stopped accepting referrals in a nationwide strike asking for better pay and conditions. In 2020 more than three thousand children and youth were on waiting lists for learning support from the ministry, and there are currently more than 50 psychologist vacancies across the country.
Because the month of the strike is drawing to an end, this week on the Wire Frances spoke with with educational psychologist Shelley O’Sullivan. She is one of only four educational psychologists in Taranaki whose work involves supporting most ‘at-risk’ children in schools. They talked about the reality of working as an educational psychologist, COVID’s impact on Shelley’s work and her hopes for the result of the strikes.
This week on the Wednesday Wire we had a packed show!
Zazi began by talking to Senior lecturer in Computer Science and the Director of Games and Extended Reality Lab at Massey University, Dr. Nilufar Baghaei, about her new research discussing how virtual reality can help treat anxiety and depression.
Frances then spoke with Shelley O’Sullivan, an educational psychologist about the month-long strike of psychologists coming to an end.
Next up, Zazi spoke with the leader of the Green Party and Minister of Climate Change, James Shaw, about New Zealand passing a world-first Climate reporting legislation.
Then, we had our regular segment Dear Science with AUT Professor Allan Blackman. This week Frances and Allan are talked about ammonia synthesis in a ball mill, vikings in North America and what happened in the world of nylon on October 27th in 1938…
And finally Zazi had her regular talk with Act Party’s Brooke van Velden, talking about the COVID traffic light system and the vaccine mandate for workplaces requiring a certificate of vaccination for entry.
Last Thursday it was announced that New Zealand has become the first country in the world to pass a law that will ensure financial organisations disclose and ultimately act on climate-related risks and opportunities. The requirement applies to publicly listed companies and large insurers, banks, non-bank deposit takers and investment managers.
Zazi spoke to the Leader of the Green Party and Minister of Climate Change, James Shaw, to talk about this legislation in a little more detail.
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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