Listen back to features and interviews from 95bFM's daily news and current affairs show. Castor Chacko, Alex Fox, Emmanuel Orange, and Caeden Tipler focus on the issues of Tāmaki Makaurau and elsewhere in independent-thinking bFM style. Monday-Thursday 12-1pm on 95bFM.
RNZ recently conducted an investigation into sales of illicit tobacco in Aotearoa New Zealand, finding an increasing sale throughout the country. The investigation described illicit tobacco as an open secret, with many dairies now stocking and imported cigarettes and indicated an increase in both supply and demand.
Professor Chris Bullen, Professor of Public Health in the Department of General Practice and Primary Care at the School of Population Health of the University of Auckland has refuted the claims made in the RNZ investigation and Flo spoke to him about his research into the illegal tobacco market.
A report published by the World Meteorological Organisation found that 2025 was the second or third hottest year on record. As temperatures increase due to climate change and emissions, the world’s governments are seeing a similar increase in pressure to act.
In New Zealand, often the narratives around climate change are that our impact through generating emissions or reducing emissions would be minimal, due to our low population. Despite that, the impact of climate change on our country and on our pacific allies is significant.
To discuss what New Zealand can do in the face of rising temperatures and what our role is in responding to climate change, News director Castor spoke to Professor of Climate Science and Physical Geography at Victoria University of Wellington, James Renwick.
Health Coalition Aotearoa and Healthy Families South Auckland have recently released a report looking at food security issues in South Auckland and actions which can be taken to improve access to affordable, nutritious food in these areas.
The report recommended multiple measures which could be taken such as expanding Ka Ora Ka Ako the Healthy School Lunches programme through a sugary drinks tax, giving communities a say in how many junk food outlets are in their neighbourhoods and allowing Auckland Council to better utilize underused public land for kai initiatives.
Its main call to action, however, is to ensure solutions are community-led with a collaborative approach from local and central government, to guarantee those suffering are being put first in systematic fights against the industrial food complex and economic inequality.
To discuss the report and its findings producer Thomas spoke to Health Coalition Aotearoa CoChair and Professor of Population Nutrition and Global Health, Boyd Swinburn.
A new report by the World Meteorological Organization has found that 2025 was among the three hottest years on record.
High temperatures pose significant risks for our native wildlife, particularly our shorebirds, fish, and alpine birds. As we see a change in the needs of our native species, many of which are already endangered, the response from the Department of Conservation must also change.
To discuss what DOC is doing as climate change continues to impact conservation efforts, News Director Castor spoke to Principal Science Advisor with the Department of Conservation, Drew Bingham.
For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News Director Castor spoke to MP Simon Court about the government’s fuel management plan.
They also spoke to Professor of Climate Science and Physical Geography at Victoria University, James Renwick, about 2025 being one of the hottest years on record and what can be done about it from a policy perspective.
And they spoke to Principal Science Advisor with the Department of Conservation, Drew Bingham, about how increasing temperatures impact conservation efforts.
Producer Thomas spoke to Health Coalition Aotearoa CoChair and Professor of Population Nutrition and Global Health, Boyd Swinburn about a new South Auckland food security report and its findings.
On March 28, Democrats Abroad members across the globe will be organising and participating in Anti-Trump administration protests as part of the “No Tyrants” movement.
This aligns with a wave of “No Kings” protests expected to take place across the United States on the same day.
Wire Host Caeden spoke to Jennifer Frost, Associate Professor in History at the University of Auckland, about the protest happening in Auckland this Saturday.
The Government has announced a support package to address rising fuel prices.
And the McCains processing factory in Hastings is set to close in January 2027, but it is not yet known how many workers and growers will be affected by the closure.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden asked about both of these topics.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to MP Shanan Halbert about the government’s response to the fuel crisis and the McCain factory closure.
They also spoke to Dr Timothy Welch, Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland, for a follow-up interview about the government’s response to the fuel crisis.
And they spoke to University of Auckland Associate Professor in History Jennifer Frost about the upcoming ‘No Tyrants’ protest in Auckland this Saturday.
For City Counselling this week, News Director Castor spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson about public transport usage amidst the fuel crisis, resource consent changes, and dog control law reform.
And Producer Pranuja spoke to Niamh O’Flynn from Greenpeace on the energy crisis in Aotearoa and our next move to renewable energy.
The government’s planned expansion of police powers to allow them to charge people for sleeping in public and begging has generated a lot of community criticism accusing the government of targeting homeless people who they are not offering alternatives to rough sleeping.
To protest these moves and show support for our street whanau Community groups across Aotearoa are organising a national day of action this Sunday to protest against the move-on orders proposed by the government.
To discuss the move-on orders and the day of action, Host Manny spoke to co-founder of Sunday Blessings Danielle LeGallais.
For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party, Host Manny speaks to MP Ricardo Menéndez March about the letter they sent to the National Party detailing the measures they’d give their votes to to support Kiwis and conserve fuel during the Iran Supply Crisis.
Producer Theo speaks to Leonie Morris, from Te Wāhi Wāhine o Tāmaki Makaurau - the Auckland Women’s centre - on their petition to bring back Te Tiriti-based, inclusive relationships and Sexuality education in schools.
Producer Toby speaks to theology expert Andrew Shepherd about religious rhetoric and Trump's war with Iran.
Then Host Manny speaks to Danielle LeGallais, co-founder of Sunday Blessings, about the day of action in opposition to the government's proposed move on orders.
Last week the ACT Party announced a new health policy that would see the responsibilities of pharmacists expanded to move pressure away from GPs. The idea of the policy is that for less significant health issues, people could see their local pharmacist instead of their GP, reducing wait times and costs for the public.
Also last week, the government announced plans to scrap the broadcasting standards authority. The announcement follows a period of complaints from the government over the BSA, which had ruled on online broadcaster The Platform. The government (and The Platform) say that the BSA shouldn’t be able to make rulings on online broadcasters, but some others disagree.
Without the BSA, many of the restrictions and rules that broadcasters are held to could disappear. In addition, the BSA offers a vehicle for members of the public to hold said organisations to account. Without the BSA, avenues for public feedback on poor conduct are minimal.
For this week’s catchup with the ACT Party’s Simon Court, News Director Castor asked about each of these issues, beginning with the party’s new health policy.
Auckland Council has approved their first-ever transport policy statement, which, together with the central Government’s Policy Statement on Land Transport, will shape the future of transport funding in Auckland.
And a petition is being hosted on Our ActionStation that calls on the Government to strengthen protections for the Waitākere Ranges.
For City Counselling, Wire Host Caeden spoke with Councillor Shane Henderson about both of these topics.
The Government has signed a new Agreement on Trade in Essential Supplies with Singapore, aimed at keeping crucial goods like fuel, food, medicine and construction materials moving during future crises.
Meanwhile, ACT has released a new immigration policy, framing it as a way to make immigration “work for New Zealand,” with proposals including tougher deportation settings and requirements for migrants.
And leaked emails around New Zealand’s response to US strikes on Iran have raised questions about the coalition’s foreign policy direction.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Producer Pranuja spoke with Shanan Halbert on these topics.
In 1915, the Ottoman Empire began a campaign of arrests, deportations, death marches, and massacres that we now call the Armenian Genocide. The campaign itself took place in a wider context of Armenian persecution, but between the years 1915–1916, 1.5 million Armenians, alongside Assyrians and Greeks, were killed.
The term ‘genocide’ was not coined until several decades later, but the academic consensus is that the massacres, rapes, deportations, and destruction of Armenian cultural heritage that took place readily meets the criteria of the term.
At the time, members of Parliament in New Zealand - including the prime minister - decried the atrocities, with at least one representative pointing to what seemed like the murder of the entire Armenian nation. However, New Zealand is not one of the 34 governments and parliaments that officially recognise the Armenian Genocide. This position is in line with the successor state to the Ottoman Empire, Türkiye’s, protracted campaign of denial to this day.
So for this week’s Get Action, producer Theo spoke to Lo Aleen, on their petition for New Zealand to formally recognise the Armenian Genocide.
If you'd like to sign this petition, you can find it here.
Last week, the Green Party's bill to protect overdose emergency callers from legal risks received cross-party support, passing its first reading, keeping it on track to potentially become law. Minor infractions, such as minor possession and paraphernalia, would be overlooked when calling for emergency services to obtain help for someone overdosing.
And an Official Information Request by the Herald into Winston Peter’s Foreign Minister’s office revealed disagreements between the NZ First Leader and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon over the Coalition government's stance on the war with Iran, with the prime minister pushing for greater support for the United States bombings.
So for our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party, Host Manny spoke with MP Ricardo Menéndez March about the Green Party’s overdose emergency callers bill and the revelations over the US war with Iran.
The past few weeks have seen the New Zealand First Party and the National Party trading jabs, with the crux of the issue beginning with the India Free Trade Agreement.
The issue began with NZ First refusing to support the trade agreement, leading Labour to collaborate with National and back it to fruition. NZ First Deputy Leader Shane Jones expressed his concerns over the bill, making derogatory comments about an implied mass arrival of Indian immigrants.
The comments were rejected by ministers in National, ACT, Labour, the Greens, and Te Pāti Māori. Despite these criticisms, little has been done in response, and the coalition government remains intact.
Following the incident, another disagreement was observed when NZ First Leader Winston Peters leaked emails that indicated a disagreement between him and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon over New Zealand’s response to US Strikes on Iran. The emails allege that Luxon wanted to express support for the strikes, though New Zealand’s official response only acknowledged them.
Finally, the government has also been looking into changing how treaty principles influence policy. The plan has been criticised for its similarities to the Treaty Principles Bill, which was rejected in parliament and by the public, who protested en masse in 2024 against the bill. The current proposed changes are not set to be discussed by parliament until August.
For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party's Simon Court, News Director Castor asked him about each of these issues, beginning with the party’s take on discourse between NZFirst and National.
The government is reviewing Treaty of Waitangi references across 28 pieces of legislation, with concerns that stronger obligations could be reduced to simply “taking into account” Treaty principles.
At the same time, New Zealand has signed a new Free Trade Agreement with India, while incidents of anti-Indian graffiti and political comments about Indian communities have raised concerns about rising anti-Indian sentiment in Aotearoa.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Producer Pranuja spoke with Shanan Halbert about proposed changes to Te Tiriti, the NZ–India Free Trade Agreement, and rising anti-Indian sentiment in New Zealand.
Last week, the Green Party released a statement highlighting the recently released Dental For All report, which they say confirms that New Zealand can afford a free, universal public dental service.
And the recently signed Free Trade Agreement between India and New Zealand is being touted as a pivotal moment, garnering support from both Labour and National parties, however, NZFirst MP and coalition minister for Oceans and Fisheries, Shane Jones, expressed his opposition to the agreement with derogatory comments against potential indian immigrants that have drawn the ire of other parliamentary parties.
So for our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party, I spoke with MP Ricardo Menéndez March about the Green Party’s Dental policy and their stance on the Free trade agreement with India.
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