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.
The National Party has scrapped the Regional Fuel Tax and Mayor Wayne Brown has ordered that all work by Auckland Transport on projects funded by the tax is to be stopped.
Beth spoke to Counsellor for Manukau, Lotu Fuli, about Wayne Brown’s decision, and to what extent these projects were integral to the future of the city.
The Supreme Court found that Northland iwi leader Mike Smith (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu) has the right to sue seven big polluters in Aotearoa New Zealand, including Fonterra, Genesis Energy and Z Energy for their role in contributing to climate change. The ruling also denies these companies from attempting to strike out the case, and it will now continue to trial.
Beth spoke to Head of Campaigns for Greenpeace Aotearoa, Amanda Larssen, about this win, and its significance for our climate.
Our welfare system has regulations surrounding relationships, which can greatly impact the amount of welfare entitlement they receive. A person's benefits can be greatly reduced if they are in a relationship, which includes casual dating.
Many have criticised these regulations, saying it prevents people from entering relationships due to fears of losing their benefits, and risks trapping people in unsafe relationships due to forced financial dependence. Olivia spoke to Fairer Future spokesperson, and ActionStation campaigner, Vanessa Cole, about the issues with these regulations, and the action the government should take.
For our regular catch-up with the Green Party, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to co-leader, James Shaw, about the government’s plans to increase benefit sanctions and Israel’s ground invasion of Rafah.
She talked to Local Government New Zealand President and Selwyn District Council Mayor, Sam Broughton, about the government re-introducing referendums on Māori wards.
And she spoke to Medical Oncologist, Dr George Laking, about an initiative taking cancer services into marae and other community settings.
News teamer Faith spoke to Tertiary Education Union organiser, Drew Mayhem, about union members at Yoobee College of Creative Innovation striking yesterday.
Producer Olivia spoke to musician Jason Parker about the relationship between pop music and queerness in Aotearoa, and his event, the “Little Gay In”.
And for Get Action! this week, she spoke to Fairer Future spokesperson, Vanessa Cole, about our welfare system’s restrictive relationship regulations.
For our weekly catch-up, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to Green Party Co-Leader James Shaw about the government’s plans to increase benefit sanctions and decrease the rate at which benefits increase annually.
They also discussed Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters meeting with Israel's Ambassador to New Zealand.
Yesterday union members at Yoobee College of Creative Innovation campuses across the motu went on strike for four and a half hours after failed collective agreement negotiations that have been going on since September 2022.
News teamer Faith spoke to Tertiary Education Union organiser, Drew Mayhem, about why their members took strike action.
Queer musicians have a unique relationship with pop music, especially here in Aotearoa, where the queer pop music scene is thriving.
Musician Jason Parker, who has just released his first EP, "How To Be Lonely", is producing the "Little Gay In" , a live showcase to celebrate queer music and build the community. Olivia talked to Jason about his personal experience with pop music, the history of queer pop music, and the importance of queer music events.
The coalition government plans to make Māori wards go through a referendum process.
Previously, Māori wards could be overturned with a referendum - but this rule did not apply to any other wards.
News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to Local Government New Zealand President and Selwyn District Council Mayor, Sam Broughton, about their opposition to this.
Wedged in between a city-rail link office and an empty building is a netball-sized green sanctuary; otherwise known as OMG: the Organic Market Garden farm.
Charity organisation For The Love of Bees revitalised the small block of land into a regenerative farm that provides vegetables for over 40 families alongside hosting bee-friendly workshops.
The garden is an outlier in the way its farming benefits the soil and ecosystem in stark comparison to western practice, which are the leading cause of soil degradation.
Sofia spoke to Head Farmer Jake Clarke about the garden and its nourishment of both soil and community
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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