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.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party Wire Host Caeden speaks to Willow-Jean Prime about the Treaty Principles Bill, Labour calling for a pause in Gumboot Friday’s funding, and a leaked document showing force will be allowed against young people in the Government’s bootcamps for youth offenders.
And for State of the States, following Trump’s win yesterday, they speak to Andre Fa’aoso from the Yale Daily News, political commentator Tom Unger, and University of Auckland’s Professor of Law Scott Optican.
For City Counselling this week, Sofia speaks to Councillor Julie Fairey about Tātaki Auckland Unlimited’s ‘Happy Guide’ as well as Council’s decision to move the Western Springs speedway
She also speaks to the University of Auckland’s Professor Margaret Mutu about the Treaty Principles Bill being introduced today - over a week earlier than its original date.
She also speaks to lecturer at the University of Auckland and spokesperson for and organiser of Toitū te Tiriti, Eru Kapa Kingi, about the nationwide hīkoi planned for the week the Bill was originally meant to be introduced.
The United States General Elections are officially being held today, and thousands of American citizens are rushing to polling stations to cast their vote for the next leader of the world’s largest superpower.
The two prospective candidates, Donald J. Trump of the Republican party, and Kamala Harris of the Democrats, are expected to be neck and neck in the polls, with the final outcome of the election to be won only by a slim margin.
However, a number of experts have purported that, in the possible event of his election loss, Donald Trump may denounce the results and accuse the US electoral college of fraud, a call that may lead to widespread uproar from his devoted supporters.
Oto spoke to Dr Timothy Fadgen, a Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland on Donald Trump’s possible reaction to the results of the US General Elections in the event that he loses, and the potential of him decrying the US electoral college.
Oto reached out to Sarita Divis from the Child Poverty Action Group for her organisation’s take on the proposed changes to Child Poverty Reduction goals by Minister Louise Upston.
This comes after Louise Upston, called for a statutory review of New Zealand’s current 10-year child poverty reduction targets, and subsequent reduction of them, in a recently revealed document.
The Child Poverty Action Group have officially criticised the review, saying that the current goals were important for reducing child poverty and have called upon National to retain them.
For their regular catch-up, Oto spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez March about proposed cuts to Aotearoa’s long term child poverty reduction goals by Minister for Child Poverty Reduction, Louise Upston, as well Todd McClay’s new charter for recreational hunting and fishing and the Green party’s calls to ban bottom trawling.
He spoke to Sarita Divis from the child poverty action group for an expert opinion on the Louise Upston’s decision to reduce child poverty reduction targets.
For this week’s Get Action! He speak to Rachel Jaboon from the Victoria African Diaspora Student Association to discuss a petition of hers calling for the Wellington government to make the CBD safer for Rangatahi and students.
And He spoke to Dr Timothy Fadgen from the University of Auckland to talk about how Donald Trump might raise allegations of voter fraud if he loses the upcoming U.S elections, as American voters head to the polls today.
Sasha spoke to Professor Simon Thrush, from the institute of Marine Science about the past week’s commonwealth ocean declaration
And he spoke to Emily Hall from the SAFE organisation calling for changes to New Zealand’s animal welfare and banning rodeo events.
The new rodeo season commenced this past Sunday the 3rd of November, and animal rights organisation SAFE is calling for a ban on this sport.
SAFE Campaign Manager Emily Hall spoke to Sasha about these rodeo events, stating that they breach the New Zealand Animal Welfare Act. There are many other issues with the rodeo sport industry, as for example it is not necessary for the organisations to report deaths or injuries unless requested.
Commonwealth countries have recently adopted the Apia Ocean Declaration for One Resilient Common Future, which calls for an importance to restore and preserve all amenities of the ocean for future generations.
The declaration was signed last week in Samoa, and includes fifty-six independent sovereign states. Addressing the ocean through a declaration is inherently important, but due to the wide scope and similar previous declarations, experts question whether it will lead to real action.
Sasha spoke to Professor of the Marine Institute from the University of Auckland, Simon Thrush, about the recent commonwealth ocean declaration and potential implications.
For Dear Science this week, our expert, Doctor Cushla McGoverin, talked to us about using glowing gel to improve surgery, using rats to sniff out contraband wildlife, and how parrots change their plumage.
In our weekly catchup with the National Party, News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to MP Katie Nimon about Mike King’s comments regarding alcohol and mental health, and David Seymour’s comments regarding a ban on swastikas in public.
Wire host Castor spoke to Social Work Doctoral Candidate and addiction researcher, Suzette Jackson, about the extent of substance abuse in Aotearoa and how it affects our most vulnerable populations.
Producer Josef spoke to Nadia Abu-Shanab, an organiser of the Don’t Bank on Apartheid Campaign, about this week’s protests outside ASB branches across the country.
Josef also spoke to the New Zealand Veterinary Association’s Head of Veterinary Services for Companion Animals, Sally Corey, about a new petition to ban the sale of fireworks to the public.
Wire Host Caeden spoke to Dr Mike Lee, Associate Professor of Marketing at the Auckland Business School on the sustainability issues associated with Halloween and growing anti-consumerism movements.
Mike King’s recent comments about alcohol use and mental health have brought to light larger issues around substance abuse by our most vulnerable populations. Particularly affected by substance abuse are mothers, Māori, and Pasifika communities, particularly those who are living in poverty.
Wire host Castor spoke to Social Work Doctoral Candidate and addiction researcher, Suzette Jackson, about the causes and consequences of substance abuse in Aotearoa.
Several protests are taking place on the 5th of November and the rest of the week outside branches of the bank ASB across the country.
These protests are being organised as part of Justice for Palestine’s ‘Don’t Bank on Apartheid’ campaign who oppose the companies investment practices which, they say, are financing Israel’s actions in the Westbank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza.
The campaign is calling for ASB to end their investments in the communications company Motorola Solutions Incorporated and say that if ASB does not divest from Motorola Solutions, then a number of their customers will switch banks.
Producer Josef spoke to Nadia Abu-Shanab, a member of Justice for Palestine and a Campaign Organiser for 'Don’t Bank on Apartheid,' about the protests, boycotting, and why ASB specifically is being targeted by the protests.
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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