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.
News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to the 2024 University of Canterbury Teaching Medalist and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Art, Alison Griffith, on how she approaches understanding Roman society through Māori values.
Education Minister Erica Stanford and Associate Minister David Seymour put out a press release last Friday accusing the Post Primary Teachers Association of disrupting students’ learning.
The press release continues that the PPTA is prioritising ideology over students, and that the meetings create a poor example.
Stanford says “We can’t expect students to value the importance of education and attendance when adults walk off the job.”
To address these claims, Wire host Castor spoke to president of the PPTA, Chris Abercrombie, about the press release and the PPTA’s concerns for teaching in Aotearoa.
Pharmac has announced the funding of the ADHD medication Lisdexamfetamine, which is currently not available in the country, as well as removing the renewal criteria for funded treatments.
The new medication will be funded from December, which is expected to benefit over 6000 people.
Many have welcomed these developments, including ADHD New Zealand.
News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to the spokesperson from the organisation, Darrin Bull, about these developments, and why they are so important for Aotearoa’s ADHD community.
For Dear Science, our expert Professor Allan Blackman chatted with us about self-experimentation, the infinite monkey theorem, and votes for Charles Darwin.
In our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire host Castor to MP Tom Rutherford about the Treaty Principles Bill and the counter hīkoi.
They also spoke to president of the Post Primary Teachers Association, Chris Abercrombie, about the role of the organisation and the government’s recent comments.
News and Editorial Director, Joel spoke to the Media Spokesperson from ADHD New Zealand, Darrin Bull, about Pharmac set to fund a new ADHD medicine.
They also spoke to Associate Professor in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Canterbury, Alison Griffith, about how we can analyse Roman society through a Māori lens.
The Government will issue its apology to survivors of abuse in state care and faith based institutions tomorrow.
The apology has been a long time coming and is set to be a monumental day for survivors. The apology is taking place in Parliament, and with spaces being limited, a huge number of survivors won’t be able to watch it in person, instead entering a lottery to gain a space in Parliament.
The remaining survivors will be watching via livestream in multiple locations.
Beyond the apology the government is also yet to layout what its redress and compensation plans will include despite recommendations being made in the royal commission of inquiry into abuse in state care report.
Producer Evie spoke to the University of Auckland’s Stephen Winter about the apology and what to expect from the government next.
Last week, Transport Minister, Simeon Brown, announced that Auckland’s rail network will close for 96 days, with an additional 53 days where operations will be reduced.
Brown cites multiple reasons for these closures, which are to develop and upgrade Auckland’s rail network.
News and Editorial Director, and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the National Coordinator of the Public Transport Users Association New Zealand, Jon Reeves, about this announcement, what the association’s thoughts are regarding the matter, and what this will mean for public transport users.
Last week Donald Trump won the US election, securing his second term as President, and is now set to take office in January of next year.
This now leaves many questions of what his second term as president will look like.
In contrast to his 2016 presidency, there’s now an ongoing war in Gaza, in which the US has had much influence. Many have been dissatisfied with the response to this by the Biden/Harris administration, and now wait to see what action Trump will take on the issue.
There are also questions on what stance Trump will take on the ongoing war in Ukraine, in which the US has largely supported Ukraine. However Trump undoubtedly has his own relationship with Russia.
Producer Evie spoke to Geopolitical analyst at the University of Otago, Geoffrey Miller about these questions, and what we can expect to see under Trump's administration this time around.
For our weekly catch up with Te Pāti Māori, News and Editorial Director, and Monday Wire Host, Joel, speaks to Tākuta Ferris, about the Treaty Principles Bill being introduced to Parliament two weeks early than previously planned, and the Toitū te Tiriti hīkoi.
For our weekly catch up Producer Evie speaks to the ACT Party's Simon Court about the introduction of the Treaty Principals Bill being moved forward, the nationwide Hikoi kicking off today in opposition to the bill, and David Seymour stating he doesn’t support a ban on Nazi symbols.
Joel speaks to Senior Research Fellow in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland, Dr Samantha Marsh, about Australia announcing a law to ban under 16 year olds from social media, and her calls for similar legislation to be implemented here in Aotearoa.
Evie speaks to geopolitical analyst at the University of Otago, Geoffrey Miller, about Donald Trump’s potential impact on the wars in Gaza and Ukraine as he takes on the role of US President early next year.
Joel speaks to the National Coordinator of the Public Transport Users Association New Zealand, Jon Reeves, on Transport Minister Simeon Brown’s announcement that Tāmaki Makaurau’s rail network will be closed for 96 days next year.
And Evie speaks Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations, Dr Stephen Winter, about the government’s apology to abuse in state care survivors which is set to occur on the 12th of November.
Earlier this week the Government announced that it would introduce the controversial Treaty Principles Bill today, over a week earlier than its original date for introduction on November 18th.
The Bill has received much criticism, with a nationwide hīkoi in protest planned for next week to coincide with its introduction.
Producer Sofia spoke to Te Tiriti o Waitangi expert, Professor Margaret Mutu (Ngāti Kahu, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Whātua), from the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Arts, as well as lecturer at the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Law and spokesperson for and organiser of Toitū te Tiriti, Eru Kapa Kingi (Te Aupōuri, Ngāpuhi, Waikato-Tainui, and Te Whānau-ā-Apanui), about the Bill and the nationwide hīkoi that coincides with it.
Last night Republican Donald Trump won the United States election, sweeping battleground states and taking more than the 270 electoral college votes required to win.
Wire Host Caeden spoke to Andre Fa’aoso from the Yale Daily News about who voted for Trump yesterday and students’ reactions to the election outcome.
They then spoke to political commentator and former political show host at Radioactive Tom Unger, who is on the ground in New Jersey, about the reaction from both campaigns and the general public to Trump’s win.
And they spoke to Associate Professor in Law Scott Optican from the University of Auckland about the ramifications of Trump winning as a convicted felon, as well as the potential impacts of a Trump presidency in Aotearoa.
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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