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City Counselling w/ Julie Fairey: 25 June, 2026

 City Counselling w/ Julie Fairey: 25 June, 2026 City Counselling w/ Julie Fairey: 25 June, 2026, 15.81 MB
Thu 25 Jun 2026

Auckland’s local boards have opened consultation on their 3-year plans. Feedback received during this process will inform final plans that will be adopted later this year.

And New Zealand First is calling for the Independent Māori Statutory Board to be scrapped due to its influence on Council decision-making.

However, Mayor Wayne Brown called this campaign “dumb, racist stuff”. 

For City Counselling this week Wire Host Caeden spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about both of these topics.

The Wire w/ Caeden: 25 June, 2026

 The Wire w/ Caeden: 25 June, 2026 The Wire w/ Caeden: 25 June, 2026, 81.51 MB
Thu 25 Jun 2026

For City Counselling this week, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about the consultation process for local board plans and New Zealand First campaigning on scrapping the Independent Māori Statutory Board.

For Politics with Māni Dunlop, they caught up about the Conservation Amendment Bill, the Nelson Tenths Trust bill introduction, and recent polling. 

And they spoke to Dr Antje Deckert, Associate Professor in Criminology at Auckland University of Technology, about the impact tougher penalties for theft would have on women and children.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, News Director Castor spoke with Shanan Halbert about the government’s environmental policy and the Green Party’s tax announcement. 

And Producer Pranuja spoke to Professor Andrew Shelling about a new breast cancer treatment that poses an alternative to chemotherapy.

The Wire w/ Manny: 24th June, 2026

 The Wire w/ Manny: 24th June, 2026 The Wire w/ Manny: 24th June, 2026, 82.13 MB
Wed 24 Jun 2026

This week on the Wednesday Wire...

For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party, News Director Castor spoke about the party’s newly announced tax policy.

Then Host Manny spoke to Visiting Fellow at the Australia University’s Crawford School of Public Policy, Dr Jacob Priergaard about the Australian Robodebt controversy and how we can watch out for the tragic mistakes they made as we automate decision making in our welfare system.

After this Producer Theo, spoke to Professor Jemma Geoghegan on the arrival of the H5N1 bird flu in Australia.

And we round off with Dr Timothy Fadgen on a proposal for an emergency protection framework for refugees that he coauthored.

Detection of the H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus in Australia w/ the University of Otago's Professor Jemma Geoghegan: 24th June, 2026

 Detection of the H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus in Australia w/ the University of Otago's Professor Jemma Geoghegan: 24th June, 2026 Detection of the H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus in Australia w/ the University of Otago's Professor Jemma Geoghegan: 24th June, 2026, 11.67 MB
Wed 24 Jun 2026

The H5N1 strain of bird flu has now been detected in two dead birds that washed up on Australian shores. The first positive detection last week marked a major milestone - the avian influenza strain has now been found on all continents across the globe.

For New Zealand, and its already threatened population of endemic avian wildlife, the virus poses a potentially catastrophic threat. Given the virus’ jump to mammals, including dairy cows in the United States, our primary industries may be placed in a potentially perilous position as well.

However the finding also brings with it an important reminder, that New Zealand cannot rely on its geographical isolation and become complacent with the transmission of global viruses.

However, that isolation has brought us some time. So, to learn more about the steps New Zealand is taking, and the trajectory of the virus so far, producer Theo spoke with the University of Otago’s Professor Jemma Geoghegan.

If you do spot three or more sick or dead wild birds, marine mammals or other wildlife, call the exotic pest and disease hotline on 0800 80 99 66.

Proposal for an Emergency Protection Framework for Refugees in Aotearoa New Zealand w/ UoA's Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies' Dr Timothy Fadgen: 24th June, 2026

 Proposal for an Emergency Protection Framework for Refugees in Aotearoa New Zealand w/ UoA's Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies' Dr Timothy Fadgen: 24th June, 2026 Proposal for an Emergency Protection Framework for Refugees in Aotearoa New Zealand w/ UoA's Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies' Dr Timothy Fadgen: 24th June, 2026, 15.66 MB
Wed 24 Jun 2026

Globally, we’re seeing a large increase in the number of people who have been forcibly displaced - by the end of 2025 we saw numbers that were three times those from 15 years ago. Looking forward, estimates are that by 2050 we may see up to 216 million people displaced globally.

However, these increases have been accompanied by a decrease in protection - funding has shrunk from meeting just over half  of requirements in 2024 to just over a third in 2025.

Given this need, and the crises we’re witnessing globally, researchers at the University of Auckland’s Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies  - alongside World Vision New Zealand - have argued that New Zealand’s current ad hoc approach is not enough. Instead, they’ve proposed the adoption of an Emergency Protection Framework for Aotearoa New Zealand that would provide a more efficient, fair, and transparent pathway for refugees, consistent with New Zealand’s international, humanitarian, and ethical obligations.

So, to hear more on the need for this framework  - and what it would look like - producer Theo spoke with one of the authors of this proposed framework, the University of Auckland’s Dr Timothy Fadgen.

Is NZ Headed for Robodebt? w/ Dr Jacob Priergaard

 Is NZ Headed for Robodebt? w/ Dr Jacob Priergaard Is NZ Headed for Robodebt? w/ Dr Jacob Priergaard, 31.51 MB
Wed 24 Jun 2026

Following the release of the budget and the reports that thousands more civil servants would be losing their jobs to ‘right size’ the government, a bill quickly passed under urgency to allow automated decision making through out the social security system in NZ.

The Social Security (Modernisation) Amendment Bill 2026 was passed in two days, circumventing the usual processes that would enable public consultation and lacking the parliamentary discussion intended to catch issues that before they arise and build in guardrails.

The unleashing of automated decision making in welfare and the lack of consultation has risen fears that we may be setting ourselves up to catastrophically fail our most vulnerable with several pundits bringing up similarities to Australia's experience doing something similar - the Robodebt scandal.

So Wire host Manny spoke to Visiting Fellow at the Australia University’s Crawford School of Public Policy, Dr Jacob Priergaard to learn about what happened in Australia when automated decision making went so wrong, and how we could avoid that here.

The Government’s Science Investment Plan, Budget 2026 and Science Funding in New Zealand w/ Professor Richard Easther : 23 June, 2026

 The Government’s Science Investment Plan, Budget 2026 and Science Funding in New Zealand w/ Professor Richard Easther : 23 June, 2026 The Government’s Science Investment Plan, Budget 2026 and Science Funding in New Zealand w/ Professor Richard Easther : 23 June, 2026, 21.3 MB
Tue 23 Jun 2026

This description has been edited to include a response from the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment. 

Scientists in New Zealand have faced increased cuts to science funding in the last few years, with the removal of the Marsden fund for blue-sky research and further cuts announced in this year's budget, with a greater emphasis placed on research commercialisation and funds controlled by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Enterprise. 

Producer Liam spoke with Professor Richard Easther, head of the Department of Physics at the University of Auckland, about what impact the current government’s policies have had on science and what this means for the future of science in New Zealand.

ADDENDUM:

The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment reached out to 95bFM shortly after this interview aired to respond to some of the claims made by Easther. These responses were discussed in this interview with General Manager of Science, Systems, and Performance at MBIE, Danette Olson. 

An additional response from Deputy Head of the New Zealand Space Agency, Andrew Johnson, discussed the MethaneSat mission. This response is presented in full:

While it’s undoubtedly disappointing the MethaneSat mission ended early, the mission has delivered space infrastructure that New Zealand previously did not have and has also elevated our scientific partnerships internationally.

The Misson Operations Control Centre (MOCC) at the University of Auckland’s Te Pūnaha Ātea – Space Institute is currently flying a cubesat, TPA-1. The MOCC will also be used to fly the Space Institute’s upcoming cubesat mission, TPA-2, partly funded through the Kiwi Space Activator pilot programme. The MOCC has built important capabilities among researchers and students, inspiring the next generation of space innovators.

It has been well canvassed that the technical failure was outside of New Zealand’s control and within the bounds of accepted risk in space missions. Importantly, the sensor - MethaneSAT’s most innovative element - performed exceptionally well and delivered meaningful science data which New Zealand researchers are utilising now.

An independent expert with experience in space missions found MBIE’s decision to rely on MethaneSAT LLC’s design, procurement, and risk management processes as outlined in the review was reasonable.

As the MBIE review report found last year, we acknowledge there were areas we need to improve for future missions, including in relation to public communications and setting clear public expectations for high-profile space investments.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Resignation and the British Labour Party Leadership Contest w/ Professor Aeron Davis : 23 June, 2026

 UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Resignation and the British Labour Party Leadership Contest w/ Professor Aeron Davis : 23 June, 2026 UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Resignation and the British Labour Party Leadership Contest w/ Professor Aeron Davis : 23 June, 2026, 27.74 MB
Tue 23 Jun 2026

This week, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation, paving the way for new leadership in the British Labour Party. Starmer had been increasingly criticised by the public and his own party for not taking decisive enough action given his sweeping majority in the previous election. The frontrunner to become the new Prime Minister is former Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham, who recently won the Makerfield by-election, putting him in the position to become the next Prime Minister. 

I spoke to Aeron Davis, Professor of Political Communication at Victoria University of Wellington, about the political situation in the United Kingdom, the differences in leadership between Keir Starmer and the incoming Andy Burnham, and what impacts these changes will have.

The Wire w/ Alex: 23 June, 2026

 The Wire w/ Alex: 23 June, 2026 The Wire w/ Alex: 23 June, 2026, 62.25 MB
Tue 23 Jun 2026

Today on the Tuesday Wire...

For Dear Science this week, our expert, Professor Allan Blackman, chats with us about Japan’s Islands moving, nuclear clocks, and recycling with barcodes

For our weekly catchup with the National Party, Host Alex speaks with MP Ryan Hamilton about Housing Minister Chris Bishop’s comments on social housing, the potential end of the Iran War, and the Conservation Amendment Bill.

Producer Liam speaks to Professor Richard Easther about the government’s approach to science funding and the impacts that budget 2026 and other measures will have on science and scientists in New Zealand. 

Liam also also speaks to Professor Aeron Davis, about Keir Starmer’s recent resignation, how this came about and what we might expect the future of the labour party to look like, with the likely appointment of former Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as Prime Minister.

Conservation Amendment Bill w/ University of Auckland Professor James Russell: 22nd June, 2026

 Conservation Amendment Bill w/ University of Auckland Professor James Russell: 22nd June, 2026 Conservation Amendment Bill w/ University of Auckland Professor James Russell: 22nd June, 2026, 13.63 MB
Mon 22 Jun 2026

After passing its first reading in May submissions are currently open for the conservation amendment bill, which would see up to 60 percent of current conservation land become open for sale as long as it's not considered important for threatened species. 

Additionally, the bill adds a new responsibility to the Department of Conservation to recognise and enable economic opportunities as much as possible from the land and resources it manages.

The bill has faced significant public pushback, with a recent poll finding that 64% of New Zealanders oppose it, including the majority of the current government coalition’s regular voters.

With submissions closing on the 2nd of July, producer Thomas spoke to University of Auckland Professor of conservation biology James Russell about the bill and its contentious proposals.