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.
Care and Support workers, many of whom are working disability and elderly care, will be rallying across the Motu to call on the Government to fund a pay equity settlement for the sector.
Oto to Rachel Mackintosh from E Tu Union, representing care and support workers and organising the rally with PSA and the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, to talk about the upcoming rallies and the demands of workers in the sector.
Last week, Te Hiringa Mahara - the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission - released data on the state of New Zealand youth mental health.
It found that while most rangatahi are doing well, there is a steady decline in youth wellbeing in comparison to older age groups more recently, with 1 in 5 young people experiencing higher rates of psychological distress.
Wire host Sofia Roger Williams spoke to Dr Ella Cullen, the Director of Wellbeing System Leadership at Te Hiringa Mahara, about this data, the factors contributing to this, and how to better support rangatahi.
Last week, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith announced he would introduce a bill to parliament that would officially make stalking illegal by the end of the year.
The announcement comes after an open letter and petition with more than 21,000 signatures called for the government to introduce anti-stalking legislation.
The movement to criminalise stalking was ignited after the murder of 21-year old Farzana Yaqubi in 2022, who was stalked for several weeks leading up to her death, and was effectively ignored by New Zealand police as there are currently no laws criminalising stalking.
Wire host Sofia Roger Williams spoke to the Chair of the Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children, Leonie Morris, to discuss why the government has brought the introduction of the bill forward, prevention measures, and indications of what the bill might look like.
Wire Host Caeden speaks to Labour Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about Three Strikes Laws and cuts to food banks
For City Counselling they speak to Councillor Shane Henderson about Matariki and local government crime prevention plans.
And they speak to Palestine Solidarity Network’s John Minto about their open letter warning the government that they will take action against their complicity in Gaza
Sofia speaks to CEO of SAFE, Debra Ashton, about a petition presented to parliament this week calling for the ban on live exports to be kept.
Castor speaks to spokesperson for Eczema Assocation New Zealand, Vanessa Jenkins, about the impacts of eczema on daily life.
The Palestine Solidarity Network has issued a letter of demand to the government for complicity in Israel’s siege on Gaza.
It comes as the death toll in Gaza reaches nearly 38,000 including 15,000 children. At least 10 countries, including Spain, Mexico and Ireland, have joined South Africa in their case against Israel for committing what they call a Genocide.
Wire Host Caeden speaks to PSN’s John Minto about how the Government’s been complicit, and what their impact could be on the international stage.
A ban on live animal exports was introduced last year by the previous Labour government. However, the coalition government has said it would like to reverse it.
This past week, a petition signed by over 57,000 people was handed to parliament, calling for the Government to keep its ban on live animal exports.
Producer Sofia spoke to CEO of SAFE Aotearoa, Debra Ashton, about the petition, the importance of keeping the ban, and what reversal could look like.
Eczema is a health issue that affects large groups of people across the country. The Eczema Association New Zealand, or EANZ, is a group that attempts to understand and address the impacts of eczema on both those who have it and those around them, such as families and friends.
Producer Castor spoke to spokesperson from EANZ, Vanessa Jenkins, about the impacts of eczema and what more the government can do to support those who are affected by it.
The environment committee has unanimously recommended that the Hauraki Gulf Protection Bill should be passed in its entirety.
This means that if parliament votes for this recommendation there will be 19 new protection areas in the Tīkapa Moana Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.
Many environmental organisations have welcomed this possibility and highlighted its importance.
Rawan spoke with Bianca Ranson from forest and bird about what this new bill would mean, why it is important and how it incorporates local iwi and hapu values.
The government recently announced it would increase funding to the New Zealand Pharmaceutical agency, also known as Pharmac, by $604 Million over the next four years to fund the treatment of 54 new drugs, 13 of which are cancer treating medication.
The announcement comes after the government experienced widespread backlash when cancer treatment funding was left out of the annual budget announcement made last month, going against Nationals promise during the general elections to increase funding for cancer treatments.
For their weekly catch-up, Oto spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez-March to discuss the party’s take on the government’s recent announcement and decision.
They also talked about the government’s introduction of a new sentencing Category for Young Offenders and the implementation of check-in requirements for Jobseeker beneficiaries.
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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