95bFM: The Wire

The government claims its new Conservation Amendment Bill will improve protections of conservation land while also enabling more economic growth. Its opponents say the bill will undermine existing protections, however, especially as it enables the sale of large swathes of conservation land into private ownership. This would also undermine existing legal protections for land specifically in the Coromandel, which alongside the Fast Track Bill illustrates this government’s intention to entirely circumvent many of New Zealand’s long-standing environmental policies. To discuss the Conservation Amendment Bill, what makes it an interesting policy, and how it could end up affecting local conservation efforts in the region, News Director Castor spoke to Chair of Coromandel Watchdog of Hauraki, Catherine Delahunty. You can make a submission on the bill here. Submissions close at midnight on the second of July. 

Worker First Union has recently released a report covering Aotearoa’s ambulance system, calling for urgent reform and public funding from the government. Various issues are outlined in the report including New Zealand’s aging population, a growing trans-Tasman wage gap bleeding the workforce, the collapse of charitable giving and a fuel crisis. First Union says if these problems are not addressed they risk getting significantly worse in years to come. The report suggests catching the ambulance up with the rest of New Zealand’s health service and making it fully publically funded for the betterment of those who rely on emergency health response and its workers. To talk about the failing Aotearoa ambulance system and how it can be fixed, producer Thomas talked to Deputy Secretary for Workers First Union Anita Rosentreter.

The Green Party has announced a new policy to fine individuals and companies for privacy breaches. This includes fines of up to $500,000 for breaches by individuals and $10 million for corporates.  Wire Host Caeden spoke to Professor Gehan Gunasekara, a privacy law expert at the University of Auckland Business School, about this proposal. 

For Politics with Māni Dunlop from Te Ao Māori News, Wire Host Caeden asked about a new investment from the Government in Māori businesses and funding for Māori organisations in Budget 2026.  And they spoke to Professor Gehan Gunasekara, a privacy law expert at the University of Auckland Business School, about a new Green Party policy that would fine individuals and businesses for privacy breaches.  For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, News Director Castor spoke with Shanan Halbert about the party’s newly announced $20 fare cap and its broader policy plan for this year’s election.  And Castor spoke to Professor Michael Baker from the University of Otago about influenza management and improving New Zealand’s public health response.

Labour has announced its first major policy in over six months: a proposal to cap public transport costs at $20 a week in major centres and $10 elsewhere. The party says the policy would help with the cost of living and make public transport more accessible. The announcement comes after the coalition government removed several public transport subsidies introduced under Labour, including half-price fares for young people and free fares for children. Alongside the fare cap, Labour has already announced a targeted capital gains tax to fund three free GP visits a year and a proposed Future Fund aimed at investing in infrastructure and innovative Kiwi businesses. For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, News Director Castor spoke with Shanan Halbert about these policies.

The Government has announced it is investing $5 million into Māori-owned businesses as part of its initiatives to support economic growth and create jobs.  It follows a mixed bag of funding and cuts to Māori organisations in Budget 2026.  For Politics with Māni Dunlop from Te Ao Māori News, Wire Host Caeden has Māni on the line to discuss these recent announcements. 

Per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (or, PFAS) have been called ‘forever chemicals’. That’s because these synthetic chemicals are incredibly durable, lasting thousands of years. This durability has made this large group of chemicals useful in a variety of industries, from cosmetics to electronic and cookware. However, PFAS have been linked to a myriad of health risks including cancers, liver damage, and suppressed immunity, bad news, given their ubiquity within the environment and humans. Recently, the Australian Government moved to sue the manufacturing giant 3M for $2.4b NZD, for their use of forever chemicals in firefighting foam, which contaminated numerous defence force bases across the country. While no such legal action is yet on the cards for New Zealand, increased attention is being given to the presence of PFAS in our environment. In 2022 PFAS were for the first time included in the suite of compounds analysed in a quadrennial groundwater survey. However, there is still a lack of information on how present PFAS are in Aotearoa New Zealand, so later this year the Environmental Protection Authority will be engaging with councils and other agencies to carry out further groundwater testing. To learn more, producer Theo spoke with the Environmental Protection Authority's acting manager of hazardous substances applications, Dr Shaun Presow.

Last week, the United Nations released a report on the environmental cost of artificial intelligence, giving estimates for the amount of carbon, water, and land that will likely be dedicated to powering AI in the near future. For example, the report predicts that by 2030, Artificial Intelligence could consume 3% of the world’s electricity and require more water than the total amount drunk by the entire population of Earth annually.  However, experts in AI also predict that the technology will continue to become more efficient as time goes on, requiring less electricity, water and land to operate. To explain how all of this can be true at the same time, some people in the AI world have invoked the so-called “Jevons Paradox”—referring to an insight from the Victorian-period economist William Stanely Jevons, who noticed that the increased efficiency of steam engines went hand-in-hand with increased coal consumption. This morning, producer Toby spoke to Dr. Amanda Turnbull-McRae, senior lecturer in Law at the University of Waikato, about this apparent economic paradox as it relates to the future of AI.

This week on the Wednesday Wire..... For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party, Host Manny spoke with MP Ricardo Menéndez March about the ongoing scandal over the government's missing emails with lobbyists; and energy policy. Producer Toby spoke to senior lecturer in Law at the University of Waikato Dr. Amanda Turnbull-Rae about the future of Ai energy use Producer Theo spoke to the Environmental Protection Authority acting manager of hazardous substances applications, Dr Shaun Presow, on upcoming groundwater testing of PFAS. He then spoke to the University of Auckland’s Dr Gerhard Sundborn, a member of the New Zealand Beverages Guidance Panel, on the policy brief they released this morning calling for a ban on sugary drinks in schools.

The revelation of hidden correspondence shared between major NZ polluters and a private email account of someone working in the Prime Minister's Office has sparked a spiralling scandal.  Why were the emails not revealed when any such correspondence had been specifically requested if it existed?  Were key law changes made specifically to end a high-profile court case against these polluters?  How could the government’s failure to provide such emails not be in breach of fundamental transparency rules? And what else might be hidden?  The Greens are now asking the Ombudsman to expand his investigation into the emails to use the full breadth of the powers availableto him to determine what has gone down. And this week the government walked back their plan to fund an import terminal for Liquid Natural Gas with a levy, or tax, on Kiwis’ energy bills. While the policy is still going forward, how it will be funded remains an open question. And following the energy shock caused by the US war with Iran, the Greens highlighted their support for Rewiring Aotearoa’s Ratepayers' Assistance Scheme to provide cheap loans for installing home solar systems, which they say would make widespread solar uptake accessible to more kiwi’s, lowering energy bills and increasing energy security. So for our weekly catch-up with the Green Party, Host Manny spoke with MP Ricardo Menéndez March about the ongoing scandal over the government's missing emails and energy policy.  

Sugary drinks are a favourite for many children across the country. However, this consumption of high-sugar drinks is proving harmful, with dental issues, heightened risk of diabetes, and other health issues tied to these drinks. Despite this, sugary drinks are stil readily available to children across Aotearoa New Zealand, even within their schools. This morning, the New Zealand Beverages Guidance Panel, published a policy brief calling for the ban of sugary drinks from school grounds - prohibiting them from being purchased or brought by students into schools To learn more, I spoke to the University of Auckland’s Dr Gerhard Sundborn, a member of the New Zealand Beverages Guidance Panel, on their policy brief.

Two weeks ago, the 2026 Budget revealed the government’s spending and funding plan. Notably absent, however, is support for care workers, except for a minor boost to mileage rates while the fuel crisis is ongoing. The E Tū union, however, has said that these changes do little to match the inflated costs, and still leaves support and care workers woefully unsupported in the midst of an already struggling health system. Host Alex spoke with the National Secretary of E Tū, Rachel Mackintosh, about the state of care work in NZ, and what this budget means for the priority given to care work by the government.  

The Carrington Hospital, also known as Building One, was built in 1867 and stands as a monument to Victorian era healthcare in New Zealand. Until 2018, this category 1 heritage building was part of Unitec’s Mt Albert Campus, but was sold to the government as part of the Carrington Residential Development - Te Kukūnga Waka. The goal was to build 4,000 new homes in collaboration with Ockham Residential and various iwi. However, concerns have been raised by locals about the degrading state of Building One as well as whether local infrastructure will be able to cope with intensification. I spoke to a range of individuals who want to see the building preserved, and attended some of their protests. This Carrington Building One movement is also active on Facebook and Instagram.  Among the people I spoke to were Chris Casey, Chair of the Cachet Foundation, Helen White, MP for Mt Albert, Gareth Hughes, operator of the Waterview Coffee Project, Allan Matson, President of the Civic Trust as well as a high school student from Mt Albert. I also reached out to the owner’s Ockham Residential and Marutūāhu, as well as Auckland Council and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, for comment. 

This week on the Tuesday Wire... For Dear Science this week, our expert, Professor Allan Blackman, chats with us about taking too many vitamins, bees, and AI failing psychological tests. For our weekly catchup with the National Party, Host Alex spoke with MP Ryan Hamilton about the US threat of further tariffs on New Zealand, our relationship with the US, and changes to local government committees to limit the impact of unelected members. Producer Liam spoke to a range of people, including Chris Casey of the Cachet foundation, about the current deteriorating state of the former Carrington Hospital in Mt Albert, also known as Building One, and efforts to see it restored and repurposed.  And Alex also spoke with Rachel Mackintosh, National Secretary of E Tū, about where the 2026 Budget leaves struggling care and support workers in Aotearoa.

Defence Minister Chris Penk recently tabled New Zealand’s nuclear free stance for debate, when he suggested it could be a topic New Zealand should look into. In an interview with Newstalk ZB’s Heather du Plessis-Allan, however, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon denied that the country’s stance would change any time soon. While du Plessis-Allan asked about the military applications of nuclear technology, she also mentioned the potential benefits of nuclear energy. It’s an important question, especially as New Zealanders see rising energy prices and seek to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.  To discuss the benefits of nuclear energy and how it compares to our current energy infrastructure in New Zealand, News Director Castor spoke to Associate Professor at the University of Auckland and co-director at the Geothermal Institute, Sadio Zarrouk.

This week on the Monday Wire... For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party, News director Castor spoke to MP Laura McClure, filling in for Simon Court. They asked about the Budget 2026 and funding for health, defence, and cuts to fees free.  They also spoke to Associate Professor at the University of Auckland and co-director at the geothermal institute Sadio Zarrouk, about nuclear energy and if it has a place in New Zealand’s energy ecosystem.  Producer Thomas spoke to University of Auckland Social Sciences Professor Barry Milne about a new study which has linked ‘deaths of despair’ with living in deprived areas.  He also talked to Greenpeace freshwater campaigner Will Appelbe about the organisation calling for New Zealand to follow Denmark and lower the drinking water nitrate limit.

New research from the University of Auckland has found children’s screen use is linked with later difficulties in skills like attention, planning, self-control, and emotional regulation. The study pulled together 58 studies from around the world, with 81 percent showing at least one negative association between screen use and executive function over time. Researchers caution this does not prove causation, but say the findings raise important questions about how screen use affects children’s development. Producer Pranuja spoke with Doctoral Researcher Claire Reid about what the research found, what executive function actually means, and how parents, schools, and policymakers should think about healthy screen use.

The Government is introducing a new citizenship test on the “responsibilities and privileges” of New Zealand citizenship for future applicants.  Topics will include the Bill of Rights Act, voting rights, and the structure of government. Other proposed questions include human rights, certain offences, and general democratic principles.  Currently, applicants only need to sign a form stating that they understand these topics. Existing requirements regarding residency, good character, and English skills will remain.  The change was announced by Internal Affairs Minister and ACT MP Brooke van Velden, who says, “people seeking citizenship should understand New Zealanders believe in certain rights, like freedom of speech, or that no one person or group is above the law.” Wire Host Caeden spoke to Sher Singh, President of the Migrant Rights Network, about this change.

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.

This week on the Wednesday Wire... For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party, host Manny spoke with MP Ricardo Menéndez March about the Green Party’s bill to protect people placing emergency calls for drug overdoses and the tensions between National and NZ First over our stance on the Iran war. Producer Toby spoke to Auckland University emeritus professor Dr. Ralph Cooney about the uptake of renewable energy in the United States. Producer Theo spoke to Lo Aleen, campaigner calling for New Zealand to officially recognise the Armenian Genocide.

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.

For decades now, scientists have been raising the alarm about climate change, and urging those in power to move towards the adoption of greener, more renewable sources of energy production. These calls have often been met with fierce resistance from the political right in the United States, with republican president Donald Trump repeatedly describing climate change as a hoax and reversing efforts to transition away from fossil fuels. At the same time, however, the sun-drenched regions of the Southern United States have immense potential for solar power. Many states in this region are now switching to renewable energy sources for simple economic reasons, despite being Republican strongholds. Producer Toby spoke to chemistry expert Dr. Ralph Cooney about this growing trend.

This week on the Tuesday Wire... For Dear Science this week, our expert, Dr Cushla McGoverin, speaks with us about AI spotting Pancreatic Cancer, Foetal surgery, and Yellowstone. For our weekly catchup with the National Party, I spoke with Ryan Hamilton about the emails between Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon released last week, what they mean for growing tensions and instability within the coalition, and proposed changes to Treaty Obligations that would see the Te Tiriti only need to be ‘taken into account’. For Green World today, Producer Liam spoke with Max Harvey from the University of Otago, who lead a recent research study about the habitat usage of the Hector’s dolphin, about the research that they carried out on dolphin populations in Southland, what they discovered and what it tells us about how we can better look after this dolphin species.  Liam also spoke to Professor Sally Gaw from the University of Canterbury, about the government’s new rules to reduce the amount of lead in drinking water pipes, what this means for New Zealand and why it was not done sooner.  And Producer Flo spoke to Doctor Lucy Goodman, researcher at the University of Auckland’s School of Optometry and Vision Science about her study into accessible eye health and potential government funding of eye care.

This week on the Wednesday Wire... For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party, Manny spoke with MP Ricardo Menéndez March about the Green Party’s Dental policy and the Free trade agreement with India Toby spoke to Auckland University’s Jennifer Frost about the so-called ‘redistricting war’ in the United States Theo spoke to the Director of the MacDiarmid Institute, and Physics Professor at the University of Auckland, Professor Nicola Gaston, on the report to the prime minister on Prioritisation in New Zealand’s Science, Innovation and Technology system.

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.  

In March, the Prime Minister’s Science, Innovation, and Technology Advisory Council released a report to the Prime Minister calling for a change in how science, innovation, and technology are funded in Aotearoa New Zealand. Of the $1.7 billion of government spending on science, innovation, and technology, the report identified $839 million for potential reprioritisation. Needless to say, this marks a large shift in how research will be done in Aotearoa New Zealand, with an increased emphasis on ‘mission-led’ research (where the government determines what research is funded) compared to ‘investigator-led’ research, which is competitively funded and curiosity-driven. Within this ‘mission-led’ approach, the report calls for increasing funding for ‘advanced technology’, such as AI. However, many scientists are concerned with what this approach will mean for the areas Aotearoa excels in, and point to the significant disruption that the pursuit of ‘fashionable’ research, directed by bureaucrats, will cause. So to better understand this shift in the direction of science research in Aotearoa New Zealand, producer Theo spoke with Professor Nicola Gaston, Director of the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, and Professor of Physics at the University of Auckland.

We are now about six months away from the 2026 mid-term election in the United States, in which all 435 seats in the House of Representatives will be up for grabs. This election has the potential to transform the political landscape in the States by overturning the Republican majority in the House and rendering Trump a sitting duck president for the remainder of his term. Producer Toby spoke to Auckland University’s Dr. Jennifer Frost about the so-called ‘redistricting war,’ in which multiple states vie to redraw their electoral boundaries ahead of the vote in November.

This week on the Tuesday Wire... For Dear Science this week, our expert, Professor Allan Blackman, speaks with us about molecules on mars, Schrödinger's cat, and the link between learning and living a longer life. For our weekly catchup with the National Party, Host Alex spoke with Ryan Hamilton about the derogatory comments made last week by NZ First Minister Shane Jones, and other barbs traded between Winston Peters and the Prime Minister and Finance Minister, the Treasury revisiting forecasts for the budget, and changes to infrastructure oversight. Thursday Wire host Caeden spoke to Benjiman Law from the University of Auckland about an email he mistakenly sent to all undergraduate students.  And Producer Liam spoke with Scott Burnett, Regional Conservation Manager for the Top of the South Island and Forest and Bird’s climate spokesperson, about the Climate Change Commission's recent advice to the government that the Emissions Trading Scheme is in a precarious state and in need of reform, what the consequences of the government's current approach are for New Zealand and what can be done to improve the situation.

This week on the Monday Wire...  For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party’s Simon Court, News Director Castor asked about the ACT Party’s stance on conflict between National and NZ First within the coalition government. I also asked about the government’s proposed changes to treaty principles and how they influence policy.  They also spoke to Postdoctoral fellow at the University of Otago, Christchurch, Jai Whelan, about Nitrous Oxide use and its harms amidst plans for a government crackdown.  Producer Thomas talked to E tū union director Mat Danaher about Tiwai Point workers taking industrial action this week. He also spoke to Brake New Zealand Director Caroline Perry about road safety week and how the campaign is encouraging safe driving.

Health Minister Simeon Brown last week indicated that he’d like to crack down on the recreational use of Nitrous Oxide, commonly referred to as NOS or Nangs.  Brown says nitrous oxide is “becoming a serious public health concern”. However, when compared to other recreational drugs in Aotearoa, it seems that the risk factor is relatively low. In addition, nitrous oxide is used for medicinal purposes fairly frequently, meaning its health risks in standard doses are well documented.  To discuss the effects and risks involved with Nitrous Oxide, and how the government could develop a more holistic response, News Director Castor spoke to Postdoctoral fellow at the University of Otago, Christchurch, Jai Whelan.

This the New Zealand Brake charity has organised road safety week. Sponsored by the NZ transport agency, Beca and ACC the campaign aims to raise awareness for driver safety and the continued high rate of serious trauma and deaths from crashes in New Zealand. With a specific focus on youth due to their higher risk of being in crashes  the campaign will have Beca and NZTA officials travel to schools around the country to run safety activities and teach kids about road safety.  This year the theme for the week is road safety heroes, shining a light on those who help save lives on the roads. To discuss the road safety week campaign and how we can improve road safety in New Zealand producer Thomas talked to Director of Brake New Zealand Caroline Perry

New Zealand cities are having to make new, tough decisions about infrastructure as extreme weather intensifies.  Wire Host Caeden spoke to Professor Theuns Henning of the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Engineering about New Zealand’s infrastructure challenges and what the potential solutions are.

For City Counselling this week, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson about Community Committee Grants for 2026, and a proposal from Mainfreight to open bus lanes to trucks.  They also spoke to Associate Professor Theuns Henning of the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Engineering about the challenges for New Zealand’s infrastructure in the face of increasing extreme weather events.  For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Producer Pranuja spoke to Shanan Halbert about leadership pressure on the government, inflation, and the response to recent flooding. She spoke with Emeritus Professor Tim Hazledine about New Zealand First’s proposal to break up the supermarket duopoly. And she spoke with Dr Christopher Cornwall about the environmental impacts of sewage discharge following flooding in Wellington.

Auckland Council’s Community Committee has allocated $300,000 across 11 community-led organisations as part of the Thriving Communities Grant. Council has also allocated $286,000 to arts and culture projects, ranging from dance, performance, poetry, music, and storytelling. And logistics and transport company Mainfreight has approached Auckland Transport, suggesting that bus lanes be opened to trucks and courier vehicles.  Wire Host Caeden spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson about both of these topics.