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.
Earlier this week, the coalition government announced it would be re-introducing the Three Strikes sentencing law that was scrapped under the previous labour government.
The government plans to introduce harsher punishments for repeat criminal offenders, automatically giving the maximum sentence the third time someone commits an offence.
Oto spoke to Greens MP Ricardo Menendez about the Party’s stance on Three Strikes law, and how they believe recidivism in Aotearoa should be combatted.
They also had a conversation about the recent letter from Labour MP David Parker to Foreign Minister Winston Peters, calling for the government to officially recognise a Palestinian state.
In early April, Christopher Luxon and David Seymour addressed journalists with promises of several policies aimed at reducing absences in public schools.
These policies joined other policies introduced by the current government, such as the school cellphone ban and ban on disposable vapes, which hope to improve education outcomes in our schools and increase attendance.
Additionally, the government recently announced 565 job cuts in the Ministry of Education, including some currently vacant roles, in part of their larger move to cut costs across all ministries.
In our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire host Castor spoke to James Meager about these issues, both the theory behind the policies and how the policies will functionally be implemented.
Last week, the Independent Police Conduct Authority released its summary of police’s handling of Farzana Yaqubi’s complaints of a man stalking her, eight weeks before she was murdered in December 2022 by the same man.
The report found a litany of police failures in its handling, including that its assessment matrix did not consider all lines of inquiry.
New Zealand is one of the few countries that does not treat stalking as a crime.
As a result of the IPCA’s report and Yaqubi’s death, many have called for this to change.
Producer Sofia Roger Williams spoke to Associate Professor at the University of Auckland Faculty of Law, Carrie Leonetti, about current laws for stalking in Aotearoa, the importance of criminalising it, and what that could look like.
In early April, Christopher Luxon and David Seymour addressed journalists with promises of several policies aimed at reducing absences in public schools.
These policies join other policies introduced by the current government, such as the school cellphone ban and ban on disposable vapes, which hope to improve education outcomes in our schools and increase attendance.
Additionally, the government recently announced 565 job cuts in the Ministry of Education, including some currently vacant roles, in part of their larger move to cut costs across all ministries.
Wire host Castor spoke to the president of the Secondary Principals Association NZ and principal of Papatoetoe highschool, Vaughan Couillault, about these changes and how they affect teachers on the ground in Aotearoa.
For Dear Science this week, Doctor Cushla McGoverin chatted to us about underwater bumblebees, UV light for biofilm, and data analysis by Borderlands players.
Wire host Castor spoke to the National Party’s James Meager about absence rates in schools, ministry of education job cuts, and the school cellphone ban.
He also spoke to President of the Secondary Principals Association NZ and Principal of Papatoetoe Highschool about these same issues from a frontline perspective.
Producer Sofia spoke to Associate Professor at the University of Auckland Faculty of Law, Carrie Leonetti, about criminalising stalking.
A University of Otago study assessing the harm reduction behaviours of people who consume MDMA and their use of reagent testing and KnowYourStuff's drug checking service, found most MDMA consumers engage in harm reduction practices relatively frequently.
News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to lead author of the study, PhD candidate in the Department of Psychology at the University of Otago, Jai Whelan, about why it is important for drug-checking services to be accessible in Aotearoa.
She started off the interview by asking Whelan about what harms MDMA can cause and how to prevent it.
For our regular catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins spoke to MP Simon Court about pet bonds and no-cause evictions.
She also spoke to PhD candidate in the Department of Psychology at the University of Otago, Jai Whelan, about calls to increase the accessibility of drug checking services across the country.
Producer, Ezra, spoke to Senior Lecturer of Law at The University of Auckland, Dylan Asafo, about the proposed Restoring Citizenship Removed by Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982 Bill and the implication of Tiriti-based constitution on Māori, Pacific, and tauiwi relations.
Created to fill a gap in self-reporting well-being models; Ngaruroro ‘s development was a collaborative process.
The model includes eight key themes in relation to wellbeing;
1) Here tāngata (social and familial ties)
2) Te taiao (the environment)
3) Taonga tuku iho (cultural treasures)
4) Tinana (body)
5) Wairua (spirit)
6) Ngākau (inner-system)
7) Matea (core needs)
and,
8) Mana (authority)
Nicholas spoke to the lead author of the article and PhD researcher at Victoria University of Wellington, Finely Ngarangi Johnson (Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Kahungunu) about Ngaruroro. We also spoke about the application of well-being models.
Green Party MP Ricardo Menendez March to discuss their submission to the select committee regarding the Fast Track Approvals bill.
And,
E Tu Union Negotiation specialist, Michael Wood, to discuss E Tu’s claim against TVNZ with the Employment Relations Authority.
Rachel spoke to New Zealand’s Association of Scientists Co-President, Professor Troy Baisden, about the government’s proposed changes to coal mining provisions.
Nicholas spoke to PhD researcher at Victoria University, Finely Ngarangi Johnson about Ngaruroro, a new Māori wellbeing model.
And, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, speaks to Associate Professor in Hauora Māori at the University of Otago, Esther Willing (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Koata, Ngā Ruahine), about flu vaccines no longer being free for children under 12, or Māori and Pacific people aged 54-66.
The Public Health Communication Centre of Aotearoa have publicised their submission that is strongly against the proposed fast-track approvals bill. The submission outlines seven objections, ranging from democratic rigour to the imperative relationship between the environment and the health of New Zealanders. Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to research fellow Marnie Prickett about the organisation’s submission.
A reminder that today is the last day for the public to submit this legislation so if you’d like to share your feedback you can use the objections listed on the PHCC website to make your own.
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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