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.
International Desk reports on the growing migrant crisis at the border between Belarus and Poland, which comes in the wake of the European Union placing sanctions on Belarus and Minsk saying they would retaliate.
Justin spoke to University senior lectuerer Dr Jennifer Mathers on the geopolitics of the crisis, and the University of Warsaw's Professor Renata Mieńkowska-Norkiene on the side of local politics.
On their weekly chat, Justin talked to Health and Pike River re-entry Minister Andrew Little on the traffic light system, human remains discovered at Pike River Mine, and parliamentary security.
International Desk reports on the migrant crisis between Belarus and Poland.
Producer Joe Wickins spoke to Patient Voice Aotearoa's Fiona Tolich on PHARMAC's wishlist for funding.
He also talked to World Vision's Rebekah Armstrong on the need for a Modern Slavery Act.
Justin spoke to Health and Pike River re-entry Minister Andrew Little on the traffic light system which New Zealand will move into after November 29, the human remains discovered inside the Pike River Mine, and parliamentary security from antivax threats.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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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