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.
For Dear Science this week, Dr Cushla McGoverin chatted to us about an orangutan treating its own wounds, beluga whales changing their shape, and a plant based bandage for burns.
Wire host Castor spoke to the National Party’s Katie Nimon about the National government’s education approach and their two main policies: “structured learning” and “away for the day.”
He also spoke to Forest and Bird’s Climate spokesperson, Geoff Keey, about the organisation’s submission opposing the Fast Track Approvals Bill.
Producer Sofia spoke to Director of Kaitiaki Research and Evaluation and Adjunct Professor at Victoria University, Doctor Michael Roguski, about his research article, ‘Conversion practices in Aotearoa New Zealand: Developing a holistic response to spiritual abuse’.
She also spoke to Lived Experience and human rights advisor, Andre Afamasaga, about how Te Kāhui Tika Tangata, the Human Rights Commission, supports survivors of conversion practices and the significance of Doctor Michael Roguski’s research.
For their regular catch-up, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to ACT MP Simon Court about the latest 1 News Verian Poll.
She also reported on the government announcing a review into disability support services and new measures to address challenges faced by those with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and their whanau. She spoke to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Care Action Network (FASD-CAN) Chairperson Leigh Henderson, Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Director of the FASD Centre Aotearoa Dr Valerie McGinn, leader of Kick Back Make Change, a non-profit organisation serving rangatahi experiencing homelessness, and Byron a young-person with FASD.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a neural-disability caused by prenatal alcohol exposure which can affect memory, intellectual ability, and emotional regulation.
The Ministry of Health estimates that between three to five percent of the population in Aotearoa are affected by FASD, with around 1800 to 3000 babies being born with FASD each year.
The government has recently announced it will be establishing new guidelines to help health professionals diagnose FASD, a programme to support families, and launching a FASD prevention campaign.
First, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Care Action Network (FASD-CAN) Chairperson, Leigh Henderson. FASD-CAN is a non-profit, incorporated society made up of parents, caregivers, extended whānau and professionals. She spoke to Henderson about how the government can better support those with FASD.She started off the interview asking Henderson what difference she believes the government’s proposed initiatives will make?
She also spoke to Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Director of the FASD Centre Aotearoa, Dr Valerie McGinn. The FASD Centre Aotearoa assesses and helps with the management of children, young people, and adults with FASD. She started off the interview asking for her thoughts on the government’s announcement.
To hear from a person with FASD, she spoke to Byron, a young adult with FASD, about his experience and what support he would like to see from the government.
And she spoke to leader of Kick Back Make Change, a non-profit organisation serving rangatahi experiencing homelessness, about support needed for young people experiencing homelessness who have disabilities including FASD.
Animal rights in Aotearoa have been called into question once again with tensions rising between agricultural industry players and animal rights activists in light of coalition government agreements that outline a reversal of the recent ban on live animal export. In 2021, Aotearoa took a world-leading stance in banning live animal exports by sea, phasing out the practice this time last year. The proposed repeal signals a wider conversation around animal rights in Aotearoa, from political responsibility to public knowledge and transparent practice.
Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Tara Jackson, Executive Director of New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society, to gain insight into the broader current state of animal rights in Aotearoa and to get her comments on the Live Export bill.
NZAVS is Aotearoa’s only registered charity dedicated to ending animal experimentation. To learn more about their mahi, and access the resources Tara mentioned, head to NZAVS.org.nz
Last night hundreds gathered outside the General Library at the University of Auckland to rally in support of students in Palestine. The action was inspired by, and in solidarity with, students in campuses across the United States. Thousands of US students have set up encampments to protest their University and Government’s role in supporting Israel to carry out a genocide in Gaza.
Caeden spoke to one of the leaders of the action in Tāmaki Makaurau, Layan Khalil. They started by asking her to describe Student Justice for Palestine.
They also spoke to Yale University student Andre Fa’aoso about the protests on the ground in the United States. Andre is a former Wire host and has been reporting on the events for the Yale Daily News. They spoke about the reports of both police violence against protestors and anti-semitism from protestors, and the goals and demands of the striking students. It comes as US College Presidents, including the Yale President, have been summoned to Congress to speak on anti-semitism on their campuses.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party Wire Host Caeden speaks to Carmel Sepuloni about pay rises for MPs and National’s new social housing policy.
They speak to Shane Henderson for City Counselling about the Palestine protests in Tāmaki Makaurau and the end of half priced public transport for under 25s.
They speak to Student Justice for Palestine Organiser Layan Khalil about the student rally for Palestine that took place on campus last night, and with Andre Fa’aoso on the student protests for Palestine in the United States.
And they speak to Dr Kirsten Zemke about the racist backlash Beyoncé received after releasing her popular country album, Cowboy Carter, earlier this year.
News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins speaks to Professor Law at the University of Auckland, Claire Charters, about the United Nations Human Rights Council’s five-yearly Universal Periodic Review.
Producer Jasmine speaks Tara Jackson, Executive Director of the New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society, about the current state of animal rights protections in Aotearoa.
Superstar Beyoncé has recently put out a new country album titled Cowboy Carter. While fans have praised the album, it’s also been met with racist backlash on an institutional level.
Some have said Beyoncé, a woman from Texas, does not truly represent American or country values.
Caeden speaks to Anthropology lecturer at the University of Auckland, Kirsten Zemke, about the backlash and why it’s so harmful. They started by asking about what this backlash was.
The Waitangi Tribunal has urged the government not to scrap Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act, which legally requires Oranga Tamariki to adhere to Treaty principles and improve outcomes for tamariki Māori in state care, before allowing adequate time for an inquiry to review the legislation.
It warned repealing Section 7AA would diminish the rights, needs, and voices of tamariki Māori and cause a strong public reaction from communities.
The tribunal also summoned Children’s Minister Karen Chhour, who is responsible for the policy, which refused, and this request was overturned by the High Court.
News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to Lawyer and author of ‘Understanding Te Tiriti – a handbook about Te Tiriti o Waitangi’, Roimata Smail (Ngāti Maniapoto, Tainui, English, Scottish, Irish descent), about the importance of the tribunal as a watchdog of Crown actions which breach Te Tiriti.
According to TradeMe figures, rental rates across the motu are at an all time high, rising by an average increase of $50 since last year and bringing the nationwide median rental price up to $650 a week.
Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland, which remains the most expensive region of the country to rent in, has experienced a rent increase of 6.2%, bringing rental rates to $690 a week.
For their weekly chat, Oto spoke to Green Party MP Ricardo Menéndez March about the party’s calls to introduce rent controls to combat the increase in rent we’re experiencing here in Aotearoa.
We also had a chat about the government’s RMA reforms last week and the recent 1News Verian Poll.
Student-led Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have been taking place at multiple Universities in the US, with encampments being set up on campus grounds.
Protesters are calling on their universities to divest investments supporting Israel, which United Nations experts and humanitarian organisations say is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Videos have shown hundreds of students and faculty members being forcefully arrested, including Columbia University in New York and the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), and students have been threatened with suspension if they do not vacate encampments.
News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to Senior Lecturer of Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland, Dr Maria Armoudian about this.
On Wednesday Labour’s Carmel Sepuloni dominated political headlines with news that she is believed to be a contestant on this year's season of Celebrity Treasure Island.
The last MP to compete on a reality TV show was David Seymour, who competed on Dancing with the Stars in 2018. This appearance resulted in a now infamous video of Seymour twerking in 80s getup.
Last years Celebrity Treasure Island also drew headlines for including famous political figures, notably Tame Iti.
Political news this week has also included an announcement from Paul Goldsmith that the Government is looking at stopping election day voter enrolment due to the administrative burden.
Caeden asked about both these topics for our weekly catch-up with Carmel Sepuloni. They started by asking if she would appear in Celebrity Treasure Island.
On the 19th of December 2022, Farzana Yaqubi, a 21 year old law student at AUT, was murdered by a man who had been repeatedly stalking her and sending her threatening messages on social media. In the months leading up to her murder, Farzana made multiple police reports with evidence of her experienced stalking, urging law enforcement to intervene. However, her reports were effectively disregarded and treated as low priority, as there are no official laws in Aotearoa that criminalise stalking.
Farzana’s murder triggered a call to the government from numerous women’s rights advocates across the motu to come up with more effective legislation to criminalise stalking and establish more effective preventative measures in law enforcement.
For this week’s Get Action! Oto spoke to Leonie Morris from the Auckland Women’s Centre, to discuss a petition calling for the official criminalisation of stalking.
If you're interested, you can sign the petition here:
For Dear Science this week Doctor Cushla McGoverin chatted to us about an orangutan treating its own injury, beluga whales changing the shape of their foreheads, and the development of skin burn healing bandages from plant based materials.
Weekly Palestine protests have taken place in Britomart since last October, and an action in support of Palestine with several hundred students took place at the University of Auckland last night.
For City Counselling this week, Wire Host Caeden asked Councillor Shane Henderson for his stance on the Palestine protests, as well as Council’s view more generally.
They also ask about the community impacts of half priced public transport for under 25s, which ended on May 1st.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party’s Carmel Sepuloni I ask about MPs getting a pay raise, recent polling results that showed an increase in support for Labour, and a new policy from Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka which would prioritise whānau with tamariki for social housing.
The government recently made a series of changes to the licensing requirements for early childhood centres to be able to operate.
These include repealing the network approval provisions for people looking to establish early learning centres and removing the Person Responsible Staff requirements to have a full teaching licence.
The government justified these reforms by saying regulation cuts would make it easier for early childhood centres to operate, thus addressing Aotearoa’s teacher shortage.
However, many Kaiako working in early childhood education have said deregulation does not address the root causes of the teacher shortage, and that more focus is needed on addressing pay inequality for teachers within the sector.
For this week’s Get Action! Oto spoke to Early childhood Kaiako and member of the New Zealand Educational Institute, Hayley Cross, to discuss a petition from the union to the government calling for pay parity in early childhood education.
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