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.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party Caeden spoke to Labour Party spokesperson for Education and Women Jan Tinetti. They asked about Winston Peter’s comments comparing co-governance with Nazi Germany, the response to the Freyberg High School students performing a haka against David Seymour, and Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech yesterday.
The coalition Government has proposed a bill that would change the current process around the fast tracking of consents for developmental projects.
The legislation would enable the Ministers of transport, Infrastructure and Regional Development to approve consents for projects without going through the current considerations around communities and local and regional government, existing legislation regarding Te Tiriti and community participation.
The bill would mean that Minister’s could decide on projects, that would then be sent to an expert panel that will review their choices and apply any conditions before sending it back to Ministers for final approval.
The legislation would allow Ministers to veto any restrictions the expert panel places on projects.
Environmental activists have criticised the legislation as a potential avenue to undermine environmental considerations.
Nicholas spoke to Professor Nicolas Lewis about the proposed changes.
Bird feeding. It's one of life's simple pleasures that leads to rats, botuilism, and skewed biodiversity.
Though basic knowledge of bird feeding guidelines is present in Aotearoa, it is more often than not ignored, as demonstrated by the loaves of white bread that lay scattered in Auckland's Western Springs park.
Auckland regional representative for Birds NZ, Ian Mclean shares, his expert knowledge on what really happens when we feed birds.
Nicholas spoke to Associate Professor Mike Rehm about the reintroduction of interest deductibility and the implications for renters.
He also spoke to Professor Nicolas Lewis about the Government’s proposed bill to change regulations around the fast-tracking of consents for development.
Sofia spoke to Senior Research Fellow at the University of London, Dr Ladam Hashemi tells us about her research project at the University of Auckland that found higher vaccination rates for new migrants.
Oto spoke to Hiraia Haami-Wells, a student at the University of Auckland, to talk about a project she founded called “Kurutao”, aiming to bring more Tauira Māori into the world of entrepreneurship.
To end the show, Sofia spoke to Bird Connoisseur and Auckland regional representative for Birds New Zealand Ian Mclean about what really happens when we feed the birds at western springs
The coalition Government has announced that they will reintroduce interest deductibility for property owners with a mortgage.
This would mean that property owners with a mortgage would be able to deduct the interest they pay on their mortgage, from their total income when calculating how much tax they pay.
The coalition government has claimed that this move will help both landlords and renters with David Seymour that landlords not being able to deduct interest from income is a cost that is inevitably passed on to tenants, contributing to New Zealand having all time high rental costs.
This claim has been disputed with economists saying that the reintroduction of interest deductibility will have little to no effect on the prices landlords choose for their rentals.
Nicholas spoke to Associate Professor Michael Rehm about the changes.
The previous Labour government introduced a ban on the live export of animals, with former agriculture minister Damien O’ Connor claiming the ban upheld New Zealand’s reputation for animal welfare standards.
The current National led government has been pressured by several lobbying groups to overturn the ban, including a million dollar campaign by Livestock Export New Zealand.
Wire host Castor spoke to SAFE for Animals CEO, Debra Ashton, about SAFE, the possible repeal, and consequences for animals.
Earlier this month, the women’s Super Rugby Aupiki team Hurricanes Poua kicked off their season with a new haka calling out the coalition government, raising concerns about its policies on te reo Māori, and acknowledging He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Additionally, last week a school in Palmerston North, Freyberg High School, performed a protest haka to visiting ACT Leader David Seymour over his parties’ policies on Te Tiriti, education, and workforce issues.
Producer Sofia Roger Williams spoke to haka expert and University of Auckland Professional Teaching Fellow of Māori Studies in contemporary and traditional Māori performing arts and language, Paora Sharples, about the use of haka as political expression, how it’s been received, and movements led by rangatahi.
Many primary schools across the country have implemented “water only” policies, due to the low nutritional value of sugary drinks and their high impact on hospital visits among children.
However, sugary drinks remain available at some primary schools and many intermediate and secondary schools, where they continue to greatly impact students’ oral and physical health.
Wire host Castor spoke to spokesperson for the New Zealand Dental Association, Rob Beaglehole, about sugary drinks in these schools moving into World Oral Health day.
For Dear Science this week, Professor Alan Blackman chatted to us about daylight savings, handwriting for students, and a strange development for ladybugs.
Wire host Castor spoke to CEO of SAFE, Debra Ashton, about the organisation and their recent petition against the potential repeal of the Live Export ban.
Castor also spoke to Dr Rob Beaglehole, a spokesperson for the New Zealand Dental Association about sugary drinks in schools going into world oral health day.
Producer Sofia spoke to haka expert and University of Auckland Professional Teaching Fellow of Māori Studies, Paora Sharples, about political expression through haka.
Sofia also spoke to Co-President of the New Zealand Association of Scientists, Professor Troy Baisden, about the impending expiry of National Science Challenges and the future of science research funding.
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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