Listen back to features and interviews from 95bFM's daily news and current affairs show. Jessica Hopkins, Castor Chacko, Nicholas Lindstrom, and Caeden Tipler focus on the issues of Tāmaki Makaurau and elsewhere in independent-thinking bFM style. Monday-Thursday 12-1pm on 95bFM.
Auckland Council has proposed a change from weekly to fortnightly rubbish collections in its Waste Management Plan 2024.
Ezra spoke to the General Manager of Waste Management at Auckland Council, Parul Sood about how the proposal will affect Aucklanders, particularly those with large households.
For their regular catch-up, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, speaks to ACT’s Simon Court about rates increases facing home-owners across the country and investment in public transport infrastructure.
She also speaks to Jewish New Zealander and Co-Founder of Dayenu: New Zealand Jews Against Occupation, Justine Sachs, about Winston Peters comments comparing co-governance in Aotearoa to Nazi Germany.
And she speaks to The Future is Rail Spokesperson, Suraya Sidhu Singh, about their opposition to the government’s plans for transport.
Homeowners across the motu are facing an average rates rise of 15 percent in the next year.
Councils say they need to balance the need for investment with affordable rates increases, but that budgetary pressures have reached a “tipping point”.
For their weekly interview, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to ACT’s Simon Court about their party’s stance on investing in local infrastructure, amid the government reducing funding for public transport.
During his State of the Nation speech in Palmerston North this weekend, Winston Peters compared co-governance in Aotearoa to Nazi Germany.
In a statement, Dayenu: New Zealand Jews Against Occupation, called the Deputy Prime Minister's comments anti-Māori and anti-Semitic.
News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to Jewish New Zealander and Dayenu Co-Founder Justine Sachs, about what she believes the consequences are of a statement like this coming from a senior politician like Peters.
Earlier this month, the government outlined its plans for transport, including scrapping free public transport for children and half-price fares for young people under 25 by the end of next month.
News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to advocacy group, The Future is Rail Spokesperson, Suraya Sidhu Singh, about their opposition to this, as well as a collective protest action happening tomorrow, calling on the government to centre transport in planning and funding.
She started off the interview asking Singh for their thoughts on the government’s transport plans.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Caeden speaks to Labour spokesperson for Education and Women Jan Tinneti.
For City Counselling they speak to Auckland Councillor Lotu Fuli about feminist cities.
And they also speak to E Tū negotiation specialist Michael Wood about the job losses at TVNZ.
Jessica spoke to World Vision New Zealand’s Head of Advocacy and Justice, Rebekah Armstrong, about their report on the rising cost of basic food items in Aotearoa.
And Jasmine speaks to Dr. Hayden McRobbie from Te Whatu Ora and Sharon Pihema from the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation about Youth Vaping Culture in Aotearoa and the efficacy of current prevention initiatives.
The Government is introducing a new bill to Parliament today aiming to fast track consent processes for economic activities such as farming and mining.
Caeden talks about the bill with Greenpeace Spokesperson Genevieve Toop while she was outside Parliament protesting it going ahead.
The population of Aotearoa is growing rapidly, increasing by more than 100,000 people annually, with the largest recent growth happening in the years after COVID-19. In order to accommodate for this increase, Aotearoa needs to ensure that there is robust investment going into its public infrastructure so that the growing population has adequate access to services such as medical care and public transport.
Currently, the coalition government seems to be ensuring the opposite of that, cutting around $2.4 billion in expenditure across the public sector to fund tax cuts as part of their commitment to what they call “fiscal responsibility”. As a result, it is speculated that already limited and struggling public services in Aotearoa will become more scarce and inaccessible to both Kiwis and the growing population.
Oto spoke to Craig Renney, the economist and director of policy at the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, who wrote a report titled “Investing in a growing population” that specifically details the problem and impacts of public spending cuts on the growing population here in Aotearoa.
Associate Education Minister and ACT Party Leader David Seymour has indicated that Ka Ora, Ka Ako Healthy School Lunches Programme is under review as the government puts together their new budget.
Ka Ora Ka Ako was introduced under the Labour Government in 2019. The programme currently provides lunches for 220,000 students at a cost to the Government of around $325 million a year.
Seymour has claimed that there is no hard evidence that the programme positively affects academic performance, a claim that is disputed by Health Coalition Aotearoa.
A petition has been launched by the Health Coalition Aotearoa, to advocate for the government to continue supporting the programme.
Nicholas spoke to Co-chair of the coalition Professor Lisa Te Morenga about the programme's benefits, as well as their new petition.
It’s been almost two months since the national hui at Ngāruawāhia, a unifying gathering of Maori and Iwi from across the Motu in response to policies by the coalition government, that many have said are anti-Maori. Despite widespread outrage against these policies, the government has appeared to double down and proceed with controversial moves such as disestablishing the Maori health authority and the proposal of ACT’s treaty principles bill.
In response, Ngāti Kahungunu have called for another national hui to be held in May this year at Ōmahu Marae in Heretaunga, Hastings, where a major point of discussion is expected to be centred around Kotahitanga, or the united Maori movement.
Oto spoke to Eru Kapa-Kingi, a legal academic at the University of Auckland of Te Aupouri and Ngāpuhi descent, and discussed the significance of the next national Hui.
For City Counselling this week, Wire host Caeden spoke with Counsellor Lotu Fuli about the early morning vandalisation of the Rainbow Crossing on Karangahape Road.
They also ask about the end of half-price fares for under 25s, and the relationship Wayne Brown, as well as Auckland Council more generally, has with Auckland Transport.
It is estimated that 50 million people worldwide are currently involved in some form of slavery. Many of those who have been enslaved for their labour, and work as child labourers, produce goods that we import and consume on a regular basis here in Aotearoa.
Currently, there is no existing legislation in Aotearoa that requires companies to disclose the source of their goods, or to ensure that their products are being ethically produced; giving them free rein to indulge in modern slavery in order to cut their production costs.
Producer Oto spoke to Dr Susan Maiava, Co-Founder of the ethical directory Fair & Good who have created a petition and open letter urging the government to introduce modern slavery legislation.
For their weekly interview, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to ACT’s Simon Court about the government’s new measures aimed at reducing youth vaping, significant cuts to the Ministries for Primary Industries and Health as directed by the government, and calls from more than 30 organisations, including World Vision, Save the Children, and Greenpeace, for the government to create a special humanitarian visa for Palestinians in Gaza with family connections to New Zealand.
Yesterday the Western line was closed for some stops including between New Market and Britomart, while two Britomart stations remained closed due to KiwiRail maintenance issues. This won’t surprise commuters in Tāmaki Makaurau who are far too used to trains not running or turning up.
Caeden spoke to West Auckland based counsellor Shane Henderson about our public transport woes and the success of the cost-cutting budget. Here is that interview.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party Caeden spoke to Labour Party spokesperson for Education and Women Jan Tinetti. They asked about Winston Peter’s comments comparing co-governance with Nazi Germany, the response to the Freyberg High School students performing a haka against David Seymour, and Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech yesterday.
This week on Dear Science, Wire host Castor spoke to Professor Alan Blackman about how daylight savings impacts car crashes, how handwriting notes can improve memory, and a strange defense tactic used by Spanish ladybugs.
Homeowners across the motu are facing an average rates rise of 15 percent in the next year.
Councils say they need to balance the need for investment with affordable rates increases, but that budgetary pressures have reached a “tipping point”.
For their weekly interview, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to ACT’s Simon Court about their party’s stance on investing in local infrastructure, amid the government reducing funding for public transport.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party Caeden speaks to Labour’s Jan Tinneti about the backlash from educators towards a Government proposal to cut free lunches in schools.
They also ask about last weeks International Women’s Day, and what more needs to be down for women in Aotearoa and overseas.
For Get Action!, Ngāti Kahu o Torongare joins producer Sofia Kent to talk about their current petition that stands against a series of land injustices.
Wāhi tapu of Whangārei, Te Kamo is battling an approved consent that will see 93 homes built upon sacred Onoke Pā.
Though having been legally recognised as wāhi tapu (sacred land), the council has chosen to ignore significant cultural importance in lieu of urban development.
Nicki Wakefield begins by explaining the significance of Onoke Pā.