Listen back to features and interviews from 95bFM's daily news and current affairs show. Castor Chacko, Alex Fox, Emmanuel Orange, 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 Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about Labour’s caucus reshuffle and the Taxpayers Union-Curia poll.
For International Desk, they spoke to University of Waikato Senior Lecturer Garritt Van Dyk and Yale Daily News’ Andre Fa’aoso about the emerging protest movements against the Trump administration in the United States.
For City Counselling, Producer Sara spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about the rise in homelessness in Tamaki, as well as Auckland Council’s recent announcement of an AI digital assistant for customer service support.
Throughout many Pacific island nations, the belief in sorcery and black magic as the cause of disease, death and other forms of misfortune is a major contributor to violence amongst a number of families and communities.
Despite outreach from community leaders, church groups and government officials, many say that sorcery-related violent incidents are increasing in bopth rural and urban areas in countries such as Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, with many of the victims being women.
Oto spoke to Post-Doctoral Fellow in Pacific Studies Dr Kerryn Sogha Galokale, who is from the Solomon Islands, about the prevalence of sorcery related violence in the west pacific, it’s impacts and what community groups are doing to address it.
For their weekly catch up with the Green Party, Oto spoke to Ricardo Menendez March about Health Minister Simeon Brown’s major overhaul to New Zealand’s public healthcare system, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s favorability falling below Labour Leader Chris Hipkins in the latest Taxpayers’ union Curia poll and The Greens petition calling on the Government to extend visa-free travel to visitors from Pacific Island nations.
He spoke to Dr Sarah Kapeli, A lecturer in the school of psychology at the University of Auckland, about a study she and a team of researchers did on the wellbeing of students from minority communities at the University of Auckland.
And he speak to Dr Kerryn Galokale, a PHD Graduate in Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland, about the prevalence of Sorcery Related Violence in the Solomon Islands.
Today, Sasha spoke with Chris Ogden, Associate Professor in Global Studies at the University of Auckland about the United States potential decision of leaving the United Nations and the implications this may have for global order.
And, to kick off Green Desk for 2025, Producer Leilani speaks to Paul Geraets, New Zealand’s most prolific rammed earth designer and builder, about the benefits and history of these sustainable houses, as well as his related upcoming event for EcoFest 2025 - a month-long celebration of our unique environment and sustainable living across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland!
It seems that the United States continues to be a hot topic for many people and journalists following Trump’s inauguration. This is not only because of his intense challenging of the pre-established international order or his strong determination to turn the world into his view, but also with his alliances with prominent billionaires and tech entrepreneurs.
While he has been successful in his establishment of chaos to rouse the public while quietly enacting new policies fundamentally but slowly changing the country, questions arise around his right-hand man, Elon Musk, and his own personal agenda. It seems as though pretending to be a man of the internet and “i am become meme” archetype has not worked out for him, and he has shown his true colours much like other people in great positions of power and money.
Sasha spoke to Chris Ogden, Associate Professor from The University of Auckland about Elon Musk’s comments about the United States leaving the UN, the potential implications and stability of the world order shifting towards a multipolar governance.
There will be changes to Aotearoa's vape laws coming into effect on June 17, which aim to cut down on the high number of tamariki that are vaping.
Changes include a ban on displaying vape products in-store and online, with companies already exploring website redesigns and new customer engagement strategies to bypass the upcoming changes.
Producer Amani spoke to the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation's Chief Executive Letita Harding on how companies are already searching for loopholes and an update on how Aotearoa is tracking in terms of "Smokefree Aotearoa 2025".
Homelessness is on the rise in Aotearoa over the past few months, particularly due to the high cost of living and rent costs. Wire Host Castor spoke to Associate Professor at the University of Auckland, Shiloh Groot, about the causes and potential solutions for homelessness in Aotearoa.
For Dear Science this week, our expert, Professor Allan Blackman chats to us about an old meteorite crater in Aus, the ozone hole healing, and rat fat consumption linked to memory loss.
In our weekly catchup with the National Party’s Tom Rutherford, Wire Host Castor asked about changes to the health sector and recent targeting of woke legislation.
They also spoke to Associate Professor at the University of Auckland, Shiloh Groot, about increased homelessness in Aotearoa.
Producer Amani spoke to the Respiratory Foundation’s Letitia Harding about changes to Aotearoa’s vaping legislation.
The government has announced that it will introduce legislation for a four year parliamentary term - subject to referendum.
Most parties are largely in favour of a four year term - feeling that it gives more opportunity to develop policy and make changes.
However, exempt from this bill is Local Government, which also currently operates on a three year term.
Local Government New Zealand are now also calling for a four year term, saying the legislation provides a strong opportunity for central and local government to become aligned.
On Friday, Producer Evie spoke to Chair of Local Government NZ’s electoral reform working group, Nick Smith about why they are continuing to call for these changes.
For our weekly catch up with Te Pāti Māori’s Takutai Kemp, News and Editorial Director, and Monday Wire Host Joel, spoke to her about the coalition government’s free school lunch programme, and the recent comments from Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, regarding this, the first reading of The Land Transport Management (Time of Use Charging) Amendment Bill, and changes made to free bowel cancer screening.
For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party’s Simon Court, Joel spoke to him about the changes to free bowel cancer screening, NCEA testing, and the Labour Party’s portfolio reshuffle.
Producer Evie spoke to the Chief Executive of Bowel Cancer NZ, Peter Huskinson, on the changes to free bowel cancer screening, and his organisation’s opinion that this move will be “a step backwards for health equity,” for Māori and Pacific people.
Joel spoke to the Director at E Tū Union, Michael Wood, about Canadian-born billionaire James Grenon purchasing 9.3% shares at NZME, which owns media outlets such as The Herald and Newstalk ZB, and the union’s concerns regarding this move.
Evie spoke to the Chair of Local Government New Zealand’s electoral reform working group, Nick Smith, on calls to make local governments four-year terms, in light of government introducing a four year parliamentary term.
And Global Innovator, Matt Hart, joins us in studio to discuss major life changes for young people in Aotearoa.
Bowel Cancer NZ has called the changes to screening ‘a step backwards for health equity.’
Māori face 50% and Pacific peoples 63% higher death rates from the disease once diagnosed. Māori, in particular, are diagnosed with bowel cancer an average of 10 years earlier than the general population.The organisation says a standard screening age does not adequately address the increased risk that Māori and Pasifika communities face.
Just one week earlier Bowel Cancer New Zealand presented proposals to the Health Minister - detailing how parity with Australia – which screens from age 45 – could be fully achieved.
The proposals also outlined how to ensure equitable screening access for Māori and Pacific communities, who face bowel cancer risk a decade earlier.
On Friday, Producer Evie spoke to Bowel Cancer NZ Chief Executive Peter Huskinson about the changes to screening and what impacts it will have on patients.
Despite a tenuous ceasefire, the fuel crisis - resulting from the US and Israel bombing of Iran, and subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz - drags on. Prices have remained high, hitting low-income households hard, and while fuel stocks in or on-the-way to the country sit comfortably above a month’s cover, approaches to conserving fuel remain front-of-mind for many.
One strategy that New Zealanders have been urged to adopt is switching to public transport, which would put fewer cars on the road. However, access is often dependent on location and affordability.
Over the past few years, the Ministry of Education has reviewed numerous rural school bus routes, cancelling some, cutting off students from ready access to their education.
For this week’s Get Action, producer Theo spoke to Alicia Hall from Parents for Climate Aotearoa, on their petition to restore rural school bus routes and make public transport free for children, and students under 25.
If you'd like to sign this petition, you can find it here.
Last week, the Green Party leaders, Marama Davidson and Chloe Swarbrick, hosted their state of the planet address, where they launched their call to electrify the nation.
On top of that, events this week have led the party to criticise the government. The first critique, instigated by the floods that swept the nation, hitting the Coromandel and causing a state of emergency in the Wellington Region, led the Greens to question the government's decreased funding of flood responses as harsh weather increases.
The second critique came with a cabinet paper this week that shows the government is planning on moving ahead with reforms to legislation that will see references to the Treaty of Waitangi and Te Tiriti o Waitangi redefined, in what the government sez is about ‘standardisation’ but what the Green Party sees as dishonouring Te Tiriti.
So for our weekly catch-up with the Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez March, we discuss their criticisms of the government but start with a discussion of their electrification policy.
Last week, fuel stocks in the country went down by three or four days across each fuel type. The government recognised this as not enough to change to phase two in the national fuel plan, drawing some concerned comments from the political opposition around the state of our stocks, and when the government plans to actually move up phases.
Following a week that saw both Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon comment on the state of the Strait of Hormuz, and the way the United States has handled the ongoing conflict, Willis also travelled to the US to meet with White House advisors.
This week, Host Alex spoke with National MP Ryan Hamilton about these fuel crisis developments, and what the government’s approach going forward may look like.
To start our discussion, however, we spoke briefly about the confidence in Christopher Luxon’s Leadership.
Earlier this week, Councillor Julie Fairey moved a resolution to investigate Auckland Council’s involvement with companies that are complicit in Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory.
And this week, Auckland Council launched an AI virtual assistant to report issues such as graffiti, roaming dogs, and noise complaints.
For City Counselling, Wire Host Caeden spoke with Councillor Julie Fairey about both of these topics.
Last Friday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown announced the signing of a new ‘City Deal’.
The deal will see closer partnership between the central government and Auckland Council, coordinating planning in areas such as infrastructure and transportation.
The deal will see a long-term partnership between the government and council, with regular meetings and cooperation on strategies for innovation and transportation, with reviews of sporting venues such as Eden Park and the Auckland Tennis Centre.
However, the deal has been critiqued by some as being a collection of promises without any new funding.
So for our weekly catch-up with the Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez March, he and producer Theo discussed the signing of the Auckland City Deal, and how the Green Party would work with Auckland Council on issues such as transportation and infrastructure.
Last week, the Ministry for the Environment together with Stats New Zealand released Our Freshwater 2026, a major report on the state of Aotearoa’s freshwater systems based on decades of data. The report highlights both long-term improvement and deterioration of waterways nationwide, with particular focus on groundwater sources and the impacts of agricultural land use and the climate crisis on water quality.
I spoke to Troy Baisden, co-president of the New Zealand Association of Scientists and Adjunct Professor at Victoria University of Wellington, about what the findings of this report mean and also about the strengths and limitations of freshwater reporting.
Last week, the Government and Auckland Council agreed on the ‘Auckland City Deal’, which seeks to enhance co-ordination between the two bodies to enable better investment in the city to get the most out of what Mayor Wayne Brown has called the ‘Engine’ of the economy. This will see better communication between the mayor and prime minister, co-operation on certain legislation, and funding.
The weekend also saw Cyclone Vaianu hit the country, with parts of the country facing damage and flooding. The government now has the job of responding to the damage, and deciding what needs to change, looking forward to future cyclones.
This week, Host Alex spoke with National Party MP Ryan Hamilton about each of these topics.
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