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.
Today Rawan spoke with ACT MP Karen Chhour about the final election results released on Friday.
Rawan started off by asking what the overall experience has been since the final results were released. They then spoke about the National ACT coalition having to include New Zealand first and what this might look like moving forward.
Rawan also asked about the impact of having no Pacifica MPs in government as well as the likely possibility of disassembling the Maori health authority
The Tūpuna Maunga Authority will be closing the Maunga leading up to Guy Fawkes. This decision follows the devastating fires of 2019 and 2020. The 14 ancestral Tūpuna Maunga will be closed from Thursday 2 November to Sunday 5 November 2023. Beth caught up with the manager of the Tūpuna Maunga Authority Nick Turoa and asked him why it is important that the maunga are closed for Guy Fawkes.
Israel has now killed more than 8000 Palestinians, including thousands of children who are trapped in Gaza with no way to leave.
Israel is continuing to bomb Gaza indiscriminanently with a refugee camp among the most recent places bombed following the 7 October terrorist attack from Hamas in Israel.
However, the occupation of Palestine by Israel did not begin this year. Caeden spoke to Dr Rand Hazou, Palestinian-Kiwi and Senior Arts Lecturer at Massey University, about the impact the conflict has had both recently but also for generations.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party Caeden spoke to Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni about Labour’s achievements over the past term, and her hopes for Labour’s upcoming time in opposition. They started by asking her what she was most proud to have achieved as a minister over the past term.
Kiwis are being urged to be vigilant about measles to get vaccinated. Measles vaccination for children in Aotearoa is currently sitting at 83.2% when it needs to be 10% higher to be taking full effect. Today Beth spoke with Microbiologist and PAA ambassador Dr Juliet Elvy about the importance of measles vaccination in Aotearoa, and where we need to be sitting in order to keep our communities safe.
Caeden spoke to Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni about the recent election result and her achievements over the past three years.
They also spoke to Dr Rand Hazou about the ongoing situation in Palestine, and the impacts of the Israeli occupation which has lasted for decades.
Beth spoke to Counsellor for Waitakere Shane Henderson about rising rates and water bills in Tāmaki Makaurau and Auckland Council’s endorsement of Auckland Transport’s Public Transport Growth Programme 2023/24.
She also spoke to manager of the Tūpuna Maunga Authority Nick Turoa and asked him about the closure of Tūpuna Maunga over Guy Fawkes.
And she spoke to Microbiologist and PAA ambassador Dr Juliet Elvy about the importance of measles vaccination in Aotearoa, and where we need to be sitting in order to keep our communities safe.
Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable blindness in New Zealand, and less than 50% of Kiwis with diabetes are getting free regular eye checks. Diabetes can lead to deteriorated vision, and even complete blindness — with this happening overnight in certain cases.
This month marks Diabetes Action Month. This month Diabetes New Zealand is focusing on raising awareness to make sure that the growing number of people suffering from diabetes do not have to endure further eye problems as well.
To find out more, Arno spoke to Diabetes New Zealand CEO Heather Verry.
News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to Green Party Co-Leader, James Shaw, about the Green Party's stance on New Zealand’s response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the Auckland Council voting against having indigenous representation in the form of Māori seats.
She also spoke to President of University of Auckland Student Justice for Palestine, Layan Khalil, about students showing solidarity with Palesrine.
And she spoke to Co-Founder of Alternative Jewish Voices, Marilyn Garson, about reports of increasing anti-semitism and Islamophobia, the conflation of being critical of Israel with anti-semitism, and calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Arno spoke to Well Foundation CEO Tim Edmonds about the funding of a garden inside the new North Shore hospital building.
And he spoke to Diabetes New Zealand CEO Heather Verry about Diabetes Action Month and how diabetes can lead to blindness.
On Saturday, 28 October, almost 7000 people marched in Auckland’s Aotea Square calling for Palestinian liberation, with several other marches taking place across the motu and around the globe.
News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to President of University of Auckland Student Justice for Palestine, Layan Khalil, about what it has meant to see growing numbers of people show up to Palestinian solidarity marches, and how students can support their advocacy.
Several Jewish organisations and individuals have spoken out in support of Palestinian liberation and oppose the conflation of criticising Israel with anti-semitism.
There have also been reports of isolated incidents of anti-semitic threats in the past few weeks, which has caused concern among the Jewish community.
News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to the Co-Founder of Alternative Jewish Voices, Marilyn Garson, who lived in Gaza for four years, about the difference between calling out the injustices of the Israeli government's actions and being anti-Semitic, and their calls for New Zealand political leaders in their response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
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
95bFM 
