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For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to MP Shanan Halbert about Casey Costello’s Te Whatu Ora language directive, consultation opening on the new relationship and sexuality education draft framework, and the Treaty Principles Bill being voted down at second reading. For International Desk, they spoke to Jean Lantz Reisz from the University of Southern California Law School about the removal of Kilmar Abrego García from the United States without due process. Wire Producer Sara spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson for City Counselling about council amalgamation and the roles available in Auckland Council in this year’s local elections. And she spoke to Dr Olivier Jutel from the University of Otago on the use of AI in political content, specifically ACT’s recent social media post.

Associate Health Minister Casey Costello has directed Te Whatu Ora to say “women” instead of “pregnant people” in all communications. The government has opened consultation on the new relationships and sexuality education (RSE) draft framework. And last week, the divisive and controversial Treaty Principles Bill was voted down at second reading. For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Shanan Halbert about all of these issues.

Kāhui Ako is a government programme providing funding to teachers and schools identified by the government as having greater educational quality. Recent government leaks have revealed that the programme may be cut.  While the programme did provide funding for the education sector, its implementation was inconsistent.  To discuss the programme, why it's being cut, and what the government could do for education, Wire host Castor spoke to Deputy Dean in the Faculty of Arts and Education at the University of Auckland, Camilla Highfield.

Earlier this week, Wayne Brown shared an opinion piece offering a case for council amalgamation. He discusses his experience in the Upper North Island Strategic Alliance, stating that discussions on local issues can be inefficient because of the number of members, and arguing that some sort of council amalgamation would be more beneficial in terms of efficiency, and providing better representation for New-Zealanders in this region. As well, ahead of this year’s local elections, Auckland Council has posted an advertisement on LinkedIn for “passionate Aucklanders” to throw their hat in the ring for an Auckland Council position. They have said they are hoping to draw in a ‘diverse range of community leaders’ to help represent Auckland within local governance.  Producer Sara spoke with Councillor Shane Henderson this morning about both these topics. Here is that interview

As artificial intelligence systems including the likes of chatbots and art generators become more advanced, their use has begun to pervade the political arena.  Across the world, political leaders and parties including Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and now New Zealand’s own ACT Party, have used AI images to promote a certain political agenda or message.  In the case of the ACT Party, an artificial stock image from Adobe AI titled “happy Māori couple sitting in a living room” was featured in a social media post underneath the tagline “Kiwis are saving over $150 per week on their mortgages since ACT entered government”. Producer Sara spoke with University of Otago Media, Film and Communications Professor, Dr Olivier Jutel about this new era of AI political content.  To begin, she asked him to discuss why ACTs recent social media post was so problematic.

Get it while it's hot Thanks to The Tuning Fork

Thanks to NZ On Air Music and Big Pop's Drake Street Studios!

Hayden from the New Zealand Drug Foundation chats with Sof about new roadside drug testing. For more information on roadside drug testing, check out their website here. Brought to you by The Level, for more information and advice head to their website. 

Featuring Political Commentary with Dr Bryce Edwards and What's The Buzz with Hayden from the New Zealand Drug Foundation, with thanks to The Level.

The 95bFM Top Ten counts down the best tunes from the bFM playlist as chosen by you!

Wednesday One To Four, Weds 16 April, 2025

Have you ever thought about what happens to all the food, which, while perfectly edible, simply doesn’t make it to the table? This week, the Green Desk delves into the growing issues of food waste, food insecurity and social isolation, and discusses how they can all be remedied by making better use of the perfectly good food that would otherwise end up in the bin.  Everybody Eats is an organisation founded in 2017 which rescues surplus food items from charities and businesses and converts them into restaurant style food. They have a pay-what-you-can mode, with the aim of making this food accessible to all.  Ahead of Earth Day 2025, Green Desk Producer Liam spoke to Amanda Butland, the Systems and Support Manager at Everybody Eats, about the current food waste crisis and what we could all learn from the Everybody Eats ethos. Thanks to EcoFest!

Greenpeace Aotearoa recently conducted a round of water testing at a series of bore wells in the Ashburton district.  The tests found that close to one in five private bores they tested were above the Government’s maximum allowable value of nitrate in drinking water, which is 11.3mg per litre, and that nitrate contamination had been linked to a number of preterm birth complications. Greenpeace have also linked the nitrate contamination to the dairy industry and the use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser which leaches into groundwater. Oto spoke to Will Applebe, Greenpeace Aotearoa’s Freshwater campaigner, about nitrate contamination in the Ashburton district’s water and their calls to the ministry of health to address it.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters recently completed the last leg of his trip across the Pacific in Hawai’i, having hosted a number of meetings with US military and political leaders in the American Indo-Pacific territories. Winston Peters said that this portion of his Pacific trip was aimed at strengthening New Zealand’s partnership with the United States and our shared strategic objectives in the Pacific, additionally saying that “Our Pacific links with the United States are more important than ever”. The week before, the Greens recently made a renewed call for Visa waivers to be granted to Pacific Nationals looking to travel to Aotearoa after the government announced that visitors from Pacific Islands Forum countries may be eligible for a multi-entry visa, into Aotearoa from July onwards. And the government recently released their annual child poverty statistics, which showed an increase in the number of Tamariki experiencing material hardship, rates of food insecurity and the number of children in households receiving a main benefit. For our weekly catchup with the Green Party, Oto spoke to Green Party MP Ricardo Menendez-March about all of these issues.

UNICEF Aotearoa recently put out a response to the child poverty statistics in the government’s Child and Youth Strategy report. UNICEF have said that the coalition government lacked policies to make meaningful change to address the number of Tamariki living in material hardship and called for specific investment into programmes that would materially improve children’s lives. I spoke to UNICEF Aotearoa’s Senior Policy and Advocacy Advisor, Clare McLennan-Kissel, about the report and their calls to the government to address the number of Tamariki living in material hardship.

Featuring What's Up with Steve Abel of the Green Party and the bFM recap of this years' Taite Awards! Congratulations to all the winners and nominees, and thanks to Independent Music New Zealand for throwing a damn good party!

Very tired 95bFM correspondents Elle Daaji and Rosetta Stone recap all the excitement from last night's award ceremony for the Taite Prize 2025. They spoke to a bunch of the very talented nominees, and interviewed award recepients Byllie-Jean, MOKOTRON, and Rohan Evans in the green room post-ceremony. It was a massive night and a true testament to the importance of celebrating independent music and recognising the artistry, mahi and dedication to community that defines indie music in Aotearoa. Congratulations to this years' recepients - IMNZ Taite Music Prize MOKOTRON - WAEREA Auckland Live Best Independent Debut  Byllie-Jean - Filter Independent Spirit Award Rohan Evans NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award Chris Schulz for Boiler Room IMNZ Classic Record Award Shihad - Killjoy

As a part of the Government's recent demands for savings in health, Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand announced they are looking to reduce its People and Culture services from 1632 roles to 1294; a net reduction of 338 roles. People and Culture provide support such as ensuring there are enough health workers, and that the workers are supported, kept safe, paid properly and kept well. Producer Max spoke with PSA National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, to talk about the repercussions of the recent proposal by Te Whatu Ora, as well as how it might impact New Zealanders.

The monthly check in with Green Party MP, discussing the Net Zero Carbon Emissions plan by the government and pine planting on Crown land and the Treaty Principles Bill being voted down during the second reading.

The weekly stenchmark of riddim'n'renk