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.
After a new report from the science media centre mentions that after reviewing the evidence around puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria, the Ministry of Health is taking a more precautionary approach.
Producer Yesenia spoke to paediatric endocrinologist and Professor at the University of Auckland Paul Hofman about the multidisciplinary approach the ministry of health is wanting to approach with Puberty Blockers and the changes coming for those seeking gender affirming care.
A report from the annual New Zealand health survey data for 2023-2024 showed that the proportion of children from homes where food ran out sometimes or often has increased by nearly six percentage points in one year. That’s 21.3 percent to 27 percent.
However, the food insecurity dives into areas of wellbeing like growth, wellbeing and immunity should these childrens not get all the nutrients they need in their meals.
Producer Yesenia spoke to Māori health researcher and spokesperson for the Health Coalition Aotearoa Doctor Christina McKerchar, about the harms that Maori and pasifika children have due to food insecurity, where linking information can be found for school performance and what communities can do to diminish food insecurity in Aotearoa.
Last Thursday the first reading of the ACT party’s controversial “Treaty Principles Bill” took place in Parliament. Members of the opposition joined in the hīkoi in response to the bill and were there to greet protestors at Parēmata.
And yesterday was the third and final reading of the Citizenship Western Samoa Amendment Bill. The bill restores the citizenship of 3480 Samoan elders.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about both of these topics.
Earlier this week, the nine-day trek that was Hīkoi mō te Tiriti made it to its final destination, the grounds of Parliament.
The hīkoi was in response to a myriad of policies from the National, ACT, and NZ First coalition government regarding Māori and te Tiriti o Waitangi, including the ACT Party’s highly controversial Treaty Principles Bill, and sought to highlight how te Tiriti unites Aotearoa through kotahitanga.
Producer Sofia spoke to renowned Māori activist and artist, Tāme Iti, about the overall energy on the hīkoi, the support for its kaupapa, and the message he thinks it sent to the coalition.
Wire Hosts Caeden and Castor were at the hīkoi in Te Whanganui-a-Tara on Tuesday. They spoke to Tangata Whenua, Tangata Moana, and Tangata Tiriti about why they were there, also asking protestors if they had a message for ACT leader David Seymour, who brought the Bill to Parliament.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum occured last week with the United States in attendance. The 21 nations discussed issues of free trade and climate change impact in the region.
The United States has also shifted their foreign policy on Ukraine, allowing the use of their missiles in Russia.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has received scrutiny for unconventional cabinet picks over the past week. The most controversial of these is Attorney-General nominee Matt Gaetz, who is under investigation by the House ethics committee for drug use, misuse of campaign funds, and allegations of sexual misconduct.
Wire Host Caeden speaks to Andre Fa'oso from the Yale Daily News about all of these topics for State of the States.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden speaks to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about hīkoi mō te Tiriti and the successful third reading of the Restoring Samoan Citizenship bill.
For State of the States this week they speak to Andre Fa’aoso from the Yale Daily News about United States commitments on free trade and climate at the APEC forum, a shift in policy on Ukraine, and recent Trump cabinet appointments.
They speak to Kanak youth activist Viro Xulue about a new United Nations report calling the French response to pro-independence protestors “alarming.”
And, with Tuesday Wire Host Castor, they caught up with protestors at the final leg of hīkoi mō te Tiriti in Te Whanganui-a-tara.
For City Counselling this week, Sofia speaks to Councillor Julie Fairey about Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown’s Draft Mayoral Proposal for Auckland Council’s Annual Plan for the year 2025-26 as well as a new space for homeless support in Auckland’s city centre
She also speaks to renowned Māori activist, Tāme Iti, about hīkoi mō te Tiriti and the support for its kaupapa.
Oto spoke to Professor of Māori studies at the University of Auckland - Margaret Mutu of Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa and Ngāti Whātua descent, to discuss the treaty principles bill and why it generated such a strong reaction from those in attendance at the Hīkoi.
Margaret is an expert on Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and says that ACT’s treaty principles bill would reinterpret Te Tiriti in a way that would undermine the rights of Māori and tangata whenua.
For their regular catch-up, Oto spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez March about the arrival of hīkoi mō te tiriti on parliament grounds, as well as the government’s plan to introduce visitors fees to conservation areas.
He spoke to Margaret Mutu, a professor of Māori studies at the University of Auckland, for a follow up conversation about the hīkoi with a focus on Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
For this week’s Get Action! He spoke to Charlotte Melser representing the Concerned Communities of Taranaki and Manawatu, to discuss a petition of theirs opposing the granting of any seabed mining consents to Trans Tasman Resource Limited.
And he spoke to Emeritus Professor of Law - Jane Kelsey, to discuss the impacts of Donald Trump’s tariff proposal on the economy of New Zealand.
Producer Yesenia spoke to Director of Organising at E Tū - Savage, about the unions calls to the ministry of health to improve the Work and Safety Act of 2015 in wake of the 10-year annviersary of the Pike River mine disaster which killed 29 miners.
On November 19th, 2010 a coal mining accident in Pike River Mine resulted in a methane explosion claiming the lives of 29 miners on the site. Now as the ten year anniversary has come and gone, the minister of Workplace relations, ACT MP Brooke van Velden read a statement commenorating the miners who have passed.
This comes after the minsters' actions on health and safety failed to understand the lessons of Pike River, the reduction of serious injuries and death at work, the harsh realities of workers needing safety standards.
Producer Yesenia spoke to Savage, Director of Organusations at E Tū about the core messages workers have for the ministry of Health, the high number of deaths occuring in a singular day and where the Work and Safety Act of 2015 could be improved ro reflect workers vitality.
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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