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.
This week marks our final weekly catchup with the National Party before the election. Former Wire host, Milly, took this opportunity to cover National's 100-day plan and the party's Foreign Buyer's Tax plan.
Milly also took the opportunity to discuss the Bowel Cancer screening age.
A surprise attack from Palestinian group Hamas has resulted in the Israeli Prime Minister declaring a quote “state of war”, with the death toll from fighting having reached 700 today.
It comes after 16 years of a blockade in Gaza by Israel, and an occupation which has been ongoing since 1967.
The blockade has created an economic and human rights crisis that has been condemned by the United Nations and numerous humanitarian organisations.
Today Caeden spoke about the occupation of Palestine, and recent attack from Hamas, with Co-Founder of Alternative Jewish Voices Marilyn Garson, and Palestinian New Zealander and descendent of Palestinian refugees Tameem Shaltoni.
Marilyn Garson describes herself as an “observant jew”. She lived in Gaza for four years. Caeden spoke to her about the range of anti-Zionist views that exist within the Jewish community, and comments made by the New Zealand Jewish Council.
They also spoke to Palestinian New Zealander Tameem Shaltoni about what Palestinians have and are currently experiencing, the immediate future for Palestine, and the lack of Palestinian voices being heard from in media currently.
Caeden spoke about the long-term occupation of Palestine, and recent attack from Hamas, with Co-Founder of Alternative Jewish Voices Marilyn Garson, and Palestinian New Zealander and descendent of Palestinian refugees Tameem Shaltoni.
For our bi-weekly segment of Get Action, where we speak to campaigners about their grass roots movements, Rosetta spoke to Kassie Hartendorp, director of Action Station, about their most recent campaign Triple The Vote.
Rosetta also spoke to Dr Olivia Yates, co-author of the report and policy brief “Preparing for Climate Mobility from Tuvalu and Kiribati to Aotearoa” about improving pathways for climate migrants Aotearoa.
For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director Jess spoke to Simon Court about the party's stance on issues effecting young people, and ACT Candidates with conspiracist beliefs.
Finally, Rosetta spoke to Saunomali’i Karinina Sumeo, acting Race Relations Comissioner for Te Kahui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission, about their recent statement calling for respect for all to be upheld when discussing important issues around election season.
For our regular catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to ACT’s Simon Court about ACT’s stance on issues affecting young voters including the cost of living and the climate crisis, as well as allegations of ACT platforming candidates with conspiracist beliefs.
She started off the interview asking Court why voters, in particular young voters, would benefit from ACT’s policies?
Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission has released a statement calling for the respect and dignity of all to be upheld when discussing important issues in Aotearoa, particularly in regards to the election. The statement condemns the use of race-baiting, or using race as a political football, and urges New Zealanders to look out for our most vulnerable people at this time.
Rosetta spoke to Saunomali'i Karanina Sumeo, Acting Race Relations Commissioner at Te Kāhui Tika Tangata about the statement, and what more needs to be done to hold individuals accountable for race baiting and spreading harmful rhetoric.
Dr Olivia Yates is a research assistant at the University of Auckland, and a research advisor at WorldVision. She is also the co-author of a recently published report and policy brief “Preparing for Climate Mobility from Tuvalu and Kiribati to Aotearoa” which explores what more needs to be done to improve pathways for climate migrants to Aotearoa.
Olivia and Rosetta had a kо̄rero about her research, and what the future of climate migration to Aotearoa could look like.
Family for Every Child, VOYCE - Whakarongo Mai and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren have come together to collaborate with Tick 4 Kids, a movement designed to stimulate conversation around what must be done to improve the lives of children and young people in Aotearoa.
Today on the Wire Beth spoke to Christina Howe from Grandparents Raising Grandchildren about Tick 4 Kids’ scorecard, a survey that Family, VOYCE and GRG contributed to, that asks political parties which policy solutions surrounding care and protection they will implement if elected.
Other scorecards have been developed across other liveable incomes including housing, health, education, belonging, climate action and youth justice.
Earlier this year Green Party MP Chloe Swarbrick had an alcohol harm minimisation bill voted down by Parliament which would have limited alcohol advertising in sports amongst other measures.
Since today is their 18th bday, Caeden spoke to Chloe about her bill and the drinking culture that kicks in with the drinking age.
They started by asking if Aotearoa has a drinking culture problem.
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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