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.
Waka Kotahi has recently released a report on the Waiheke Ferry Service, after months of locals calling for the service to be subsidised as public transport. The report recognised the service as integral to the Auckland public transport network, but sighted not enough evidence to justify a need for subsidising the route as public transport. The Ferry route run by Fullers was the only service running regularly between Downtown Auckland and Waiheke Island, until a new company “Island Ferry Direct” launched a route last week.
Rosetta spoke with Chlöe Swarbrick, Auckland Central MP, about her frustrations with the Waka Kotahi report, and the challenges that Waiheke Island residents are currently facing in regards to the Waiheke Ferry Service. We also spoke about what difference Island Ferry Direct will make as a competitive service with Fullers.
Age Concern Aotearoa is a national charity and advocacy group for older people, and has been working in collaboration with Driving Miss Daisy, a company that works across the country to provide personal assistance with transporting it’s largely older client base. The groups have been working together to produce the resource booklet called “Life without a car” which aims to help older people discuss the options of transport available to them, and how daily tasks such as grocery shopping, seeking medical care and remaining social with their communities can be maintained without driving.
Rosetta spoke to Age Concern Chief Executive Karen Billings-Jensen about the resource, the challenges our older population without cars can face, and what more needs to be done to support them.
Thanks for tuning in! E whai akei nei, on the show today:
Rosetta spoke to Auckland central MP Chloe Swarbrick about recent investigations by Waka Kotahi into the Waiheke island ferry route and why she believes the service should be subsidised as public transport.
Rosetta also spoke to Age Concern Aotearoa Chief Executive Karen Billings-Jensen about the charity’s collaboration with Driving Miss Daisy Aotearoa to produce the resource “Life without a car” for our older population who no longer drive or have access to cars.
For our weekly catch up with the ACT party, Lou spoke with ACT MP Karen Chhour about the coalition updates, funding for the department of conservation as well as ACT’s stance on calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
She also spoke with Claire Henry from the University of Otago in Wellington about the rise of Endometrial Cancer in New Zealand.
Lou also spoke to Alan Johnson from the Child Poverty Action Group following an open letter to the Government in their role to target the issue of Child Poverty in New Zealand.
In our weekly chat with the ACT Party, Lou spoke with Karen Chhour about the updates on the coalition negotiations, which seem to be in the final stages, seventeen days since the election result was finalised. Lou then enquired about the ACT Party’s stance on funding for the Department of Conservation and other organisations following the massive success of the Bird of the Century. Finally, Lou enquired into ACT’s stance on calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Elected Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has stated that they are committed to keeping the Child Poverty Reduction Act of 2018, as well as halving child poverty by 2028.
Six groups heavily invested in reducing child poverty in New Zealand released an open letter to the government, asking them to tackle the issue by meeting with them as soon as possible.
Lou spoke to Alan Johnson, Convenor and housing spokesperson for the Child Poverty Act Group about this further.
Research from the University of Otago in Wellington has found healthcare professionals are concerned about the management of endometrial cancer in Aotearoa. Despite other cancer rates staying the same or going down, cases of endometrial cancer have increased over the past ten years in New Zealand.
Lou talked to co-author Dr Claire Henry, Scientist and Lecturer at the University of Otago in Wellington about this further.
Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission recently released a fact sheet explaining the connection between human rights, te Tiriti o Waitangi and co-governance.
Professor of Law at the University of Auckland Claire Charters says that ‘the fact sheet helps to unpack co-governance arrangements in Aotearoa New Zealand and how they are consistent with a modern, liberal democracy.’
Beth spoke with Professor Charters about the relationship between co-governance, te Tiriti o Waitangi and human rights in Aotearoa New Zealand, and how our co-governance arrangement could better reflect te Tiriti and the rights of indigenous peoples. She began by asking about the importance of co-governance.
In the past year, New Zealanders have purchased a record number of pure electric vehicles at over 24,000, along with 88,000 hybrids, according to the Ministry of Transport. The new government has stated their intentions to scrap the Clean Car Discount along with the Ute Tax from December 31st.
Beth spoke with Volunteer at Better NZ Trust Rob Birnie about national support for the Clean Car Discount, and began asking him if he thought the Clean Car Discount had influenced people’s decision to purchase a pure electric vehicle or hybrid.
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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