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 Green Party, Rawan spoke with co-leader Marama Davidson about several topics that have been of concern recently.
The first topic was around COP28 which is currently being held in Dubai and is being attended by a few of Aotearoa’s leaders including CLimate change minister Simon Watts and Green party co-leader James Shaw. Rawan asked about what the green party hopes to achieve and represent in this year’s conference.
They then spoke about the new government's plans to review Te Tiriti o Waitangi and what this will mean for Aotearoa. Rawan also asked about the government’s plans to scrap the fair pay agreement and the impact this will have on working kiwis.
Finally they spoke about Prime minister Christopher Luxon’s statement this morning alongside Leaders form Canada and Australia which essentially called for a ceasefire in Gaza amidst the war with israel.
The pressure of buying presents is now upon us, but simultaneously, the cost of living crisis and inflation continues to affect New Zealanders’ lives. Experts have discussed means of saving money over the break, as well as balancing the need to celebrate loved ones and saving in these difficult times.
Olivia talked to the Director of Financial Education at the Research Centre at Massey University, Dr Pushpa Wood, about the need for avoiding overspending, and tips for people to manage their money.
For our weekly catchup with the National Party's Dr Shane Reti, Nicholas asked about the new Government's plans to repeal Fair pay agreement legislation.
The previous Government had passed the legislation that would allow a negotion to be triggered if 10% of a workforce ageed to beginning the fair pay process.
The interview begins with a question about why the Government chose repealling fair Pay Agreement legislation as a priority.
The new Government's commitment to repealing the Fair Pay Agreement legislation has been met by staunch opposition.
The legislation would have provided employees from a certain sector the ability to trigger negotiations on industry minimums.
Leaked Cabinet papers show that the ne Government recieved advice warning that repealling the legislation would have disproportinate effects on Māori, Women and Young people.
Nicholas spoke to Union negotiator Hamish McCraken about the negatives of repealling the legisalation.
A group of one hundred and nineteen University of Auckland academics have signed an open letter to the UoA council, calling for stronger clarity and action around safety concerns.
After professor Siouxsie Wiles called to concern vulnerabilities in UoA’s system in employment court, more academics have come forward expressing their discomfort around how seriously their safety is taken.
Liam had a chat with Professor Nicola Gaston about the open letter, and what changes she thinks need to be made. They first asked her about what the call specifically asked for.
Thousands of protestors took to the motorways December 5th, in protest against the recent policies announced by the new government. ACT Party leader David Seymour critiscised these actions, calling the tuesday events "diverse theatrics".
On our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, Lou spoke to Simon Court about David Seymour's response to the hikoi, and ACT's stance on the policies announced, such as the scrapping of the Māori Health Authority, restoring referendums for Māori wards and minimising Māori language use in public services.
Lou then enquired about ACT renewing their call for the removal of the Human Rights Commission as well as alternative measures proposed to safeguard and promote human rights in New Zealand.
Finally, Lou enquired about ACT's stance towards the climate change issues following Aotearoa's new climate minister participating in COP28, 2023's United Nations Climate Change Conference held at Expo City, Dubai.
According to research published on the 6th of December, the accurate percentage of vegetarians in New Zealand is more likely to be two percent than the almost 20 percent previously cited in market research.
According to this study:
93 percent of New Zealand eat red meat;
2.89 percent do not eat red meat, but eat seafood and poultry;
1.4 percent are pescatarians,
and 2 percent are true vegetarians.
In this interview, Lou speaks to Dr Kathryn Bradbury from the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the School of Population Health about the conclusions of this research.
Liam from Various Artists joins Lou on The Wire, as Rosetta hangs out in Pōneke. E whai ake nei:
Liam
spoke to Te Pati Māori’s Takutai Kemp about the parties hikoi last week, their swearing in to parliament, and the government's response to Israel's war on Gaza.
They also had a chat with University of Auckland professor Nicola Gaston about their joint call with other UoA academics to address safety concerns in the university.
As well as professor Micheal Baker, to chat about the recent covid wave that’s been hitting Aotearoa.
In our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, Lou spoke to ACT MP Simon Court about ACT’s response to Te Pāti Māori’s hikoi last Tuesday, ACT renewing their call to abolish the Human Rights Commission, and the outcomes of COP28.
She also spoke to Kathryn Bradbury, Senior Researcher at the University of Auckland in the School of Population Health about the recent study released surrounding the percentage of vegetarians in New Zealand
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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