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.
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.
On the Wire for Rāpare Thursday, hosted by News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins.
Producer Beth spoke to Professor of Social and Community Health at the University of Auckland, Peter Adams, about the influence of the tobacco industry in Aotearoa.
For City Counselling this week, Beth spoke to counsellor for Manukau, Lotu Fuli, about the Auckland Climate Budget and the review of Auckland Council’s 10 year budget.
Anbd producer Castor, spoke to Oxfam’s climate justice lead, Nick Henry, about a report he authored on New Zealand’s fossil fuel industry.
The new government announced a repeal of Aotearaoa’s Smoke Free legislation and regulation of tobacco products, making international news.
Beth spoke to Professor of Social and Community Health at the University of Auckland Peter Adams about the influence of the tobacco industry on Aotearoa New Zealand and what needs to happen in order to create unbiased policymaking.
Oxfam has published a report on New Zealand’s fossil fuel industry, calling upon the government to immediately end the production of oil and gas.
While New Zealand has made numerous commitments to reducing our climate impact, the new government has announced policies that promote further oil and gas production.
Castor spoke to Oxfam’s climate justice lead and the report’s lead author, Nick Henry, about the report and how the new government’s policies will affect our emissions targets.
Despite recent years' initiatives to mitigate child poverty, it remains an important issue that negatively impacts children's development and health. Experts have proposed cost-effective solutions to improve children's neurological, physical, and mental health, emphasising the importance of the first 2000 days of a child’s life to development.
Intergenerational disadvantage and inequity is a key cause of continuing child poverty, with up to 30% of Aotearoa New Zealand’s children lacking their basic needs’ adequate fulfilment.
The Knowledge Hub for Maternal and Child Health at Koi Tū has released a report aimed at the Government to implement these solutions through policy, which parents and guardians can read for their own benefit.
Olivia spoke with the leader of the Knowledge Hub for Maternal and Child Health at Koi Tū, Dr Felicia Low, about the current state of child poverty, and Koi Tū’s report on evidence-based solutions.
With the seven-day humanitarian pause in Gaza having come to an end, many have continued to call for a permanent ceasefire. In Aotearoa New Zealand, there has been continued peaceful action by protestors calling for entities to condemn Israel’s bombings and to stand with Palestine.
For this week’s Get Action! segment, Olivia talked to Senior Lecturer of Law at the University of Auckland, Dylan Asafo, about his open letter calling for universities to stand with Palestine. In this letter, he calls for Vice-Chancellors of the New Zealand Universities to condemn Israel’s attacks.
The Tuesday Wire team is joined by Dr Alan Blackman, where they discuss a failed superconductivity project, the health positives and negatives associated with alcohol consumption and why going Vegan might just be better for our health.
This week for our weekly catchup with Dr Shane Reti the discussion centred on how policy aimed at Māori will be affected under National’s coalition agreements with Act and NZ First.
During our discussion we touched on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous people and He Puapua, both of which have been scrapped under coalition agreements.
Nicholas also touched on the Act Party’s treaty principles bill, which the National Party has agreed to support to the select committee stage.
To finish our interview I asked Dr Reti to clarify claims made by the Primeminister and senior minister Chris Bishop. During an interview with Q and A Chris Bishop made the claim that under Labour's smokefree 2025 plan, there would only be one tobacco retailer in the entirety of Northland, potentially making that retailer a magnet for crime.
According to the plans laid out by the director general, there would be not one but 35 retailers able to sell tobacco across Northland. I followed this up with a question about potential new vaping regulations.
The interview began with a question about the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous people.
The Tuesday Wire team is joined by Dr Alan Blackman, where they discuss a failed superconductivity project, the health positives and negatives associated with alcohol consumption and why going Vegan might just be better for our health.
Nicholas spoke to Professor Claire Charters, co-author of He Puapua, about the reports' genesis and controversy surrounding He Puapua.
Nicholas catches up with the National Party's Dr Shane Reti about the policy aimed at Māori will be affected under National’s coalition agreements with Act and NZ First. As well as comments made by Chris Bishop about Labour’s smokefree plans.
Nicholas also spoke to to Kerri Nuku, the spokesperson for the New Zealand Nurses' organisation about the needs they want the new Government to adress.
He Puapua, the odds are that you may not have read it, but it is most likely that you have at least heard of the controversial report.
The report was labelled as “segregation by stealth” by the former National Party Leader Judith Collins, and the report even garnered a special mention in National’s Coalition Agreement with NZ First, with the National Party agreeing to stop all work on He Puapua.
Amidst the controversy and outrage one question has remained unanswered, what actually is He Puapua?
He Puapua was a report published by a working group intended to help envision what Aotearoa would look like if we were compliant with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous people.
The National government signed New Zealand up to the declaration in 2010 after we had previously rejected joining the declaration, despite the declaration not having any legislative effect in Aotearoa.
He Puapua was written to give advice and recommendations, but had no legal authority or legislative power.
Despite this He Puapua has been purposefully obfuscated and misconstrued.
Nicholas spoke to Co-author of He Puapua Claire Charters about the report, our discussion began with a question about the reports inception.
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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