The Wire with Joel

E whai ake nei, on the Thursday Wire today...

Liam had bFM’s first chat with defence minister Andrew Little for 2023, where they talked about his first couple weeks in the role and the extreme weather events in Te Ika-Ā-Maui, the North Island. 
Continuing on with the cyclone reporting, Liam spoke to Daithi Stone from NIWA about the links between Cyclone Gabrielle and the climate crisis.
We also have bFM European Correspondent Cameron Adams back on for EuroVision, chatting about the war in Ukraine, Scotland first minister NIcola Sturgeon's resignation, and more. 
Liam also spoke to Sophie Lund Ramussen, an Oxford University researcher at the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit in Denmark. We had a chat about her discovery of the world's oldest hedgehog named Thorvald, and what it means for species conservation.
And producer Hanna Thompson spoke to Professor Euan Mason from the NZ school of forestry at the University of Canterbury about erosion in the cyclones. 

Since the Christchurch mosque attacks in 2019, the pandemic and the conspiracy theories and anti-government sentiment that developed in response, there has been increased scrutiny and media coverage of far-right groups in Aotearoa.

In his new book, FEAR: New Zealand's Hostile Underworld of Extremists, Independent researcher Byron Clark helps make sense of alt-right influence in Aotearoa, identifies the main perpetrators and looks at why we are susceptible to misinformation, conspiracy theories, and fear-mongering.

News & Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Clark about why we should be watchful and fearful of the alt-rights growing influence. 

Here is that interview…

For their first catch-up this year, News & Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Auckland University Students’ Association (AUSA) President Alan Shaker about the support available for students affected by Cyclone Gabrielle, their safe zones initiative in collaboration with the Auckland Council, aggressive religious recruitment on campus, and orientation week plans. 

To get a sense of what’s driving the devastating Cyclone Gabrielle and what makes in an unprecedented weather event, Casper talked to Dr Dáithí Stone, climate scientist at NIWA.