95bFM

Algerian Boxer Imane Khelif was the subject of a widespread disinformation campaign during this year’s olympics, with commentators and netizens from right-wing spaces alleging that Khelif had been assigned male at birth and should not have qualified to compete in the women’s Olympic boxing tournament.

No medical evidence has been given to suggest that Khelif had XY chromosomes or elevated levels of testosterone and the International Olympic Committee issued a statement saying that Khelif fulfilled all the requirements needed to compete in women’s boxing. 

However, this did not stop our own Deputy Prime Minister, Winston Peters, from contributing to the disinformation campaign against Khelif, making a statement on X, formerly twitter, saying that Khelif had “failed a gender test”, which is why NZ first fought for gender rules in sports to be in their coalition agreement. 

In response, concerned citizens and takatāpui, Louisa Wall and Samantha Green, launched a petition on our action station calling for Peters to be held accountable for his comments and for legislative framework to be established for officials who peddle disinformation. 

For this week’s Get Action! Oto spoke to Louisa and Samantha about the petition and their calls to the government.

To sign this petition, click here:

Nicola Willis + an Aural Emporium!

In the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle, there was widespread damage to homes across affected areas in the North Island, with the housing market across the whole country facing massive subsequent reductions. 

Around 170 homes were deemed unsafe to enter, with almost 5000 others facing other infrastructural damages. 

Oto spoke to Maude Loutsch, a lecturer and PHD candidate in the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland, to discuss the impacts to housing caused by Cyclone Gabrielle and Aotearoa’s preparedness for housing impacts in the event of natural disasters.

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

New Zealand is a first world country, and to be of such a presumption would require us to believe that electricity and heating should be basic right of life in our country. This, however, is not the case for all New Zealanders who endure power hardship, especially so during winter months. The cause for this is the privatisation of these power companies causing them to pursue money which in turn controls their policies and costs. Unfortunately a large portion of New Zealanders experience power hardship, which ultimately is a cumulative issue of inadequate housing on top of expensive rental prices. Sasha spoke to Jodi Gardner, professor of Law from the University of Auckland about power companies' unregulated control, as well as the problems lower and middle income New Zealanders face related to heating and electricity.

The government recently announced that they would be introducing a “traffic light” sanction system for people on the jobseeker support benefit who did not fulfil their obligations as beneficiaries. This includes a green level for compliant beneficiaries and an orange and red level for beneficiaries who haven’t met their obligations and who may face sanctions.

For their weekly catch up, Oto spoke to Green Party MP Ricardo Menendez-March to discuss his thoughts on the newly introduced sanctions. 

They also had a chat about job cuts at the Environmental Protection Agency and the party’s petition calling for Simeon Brown’s speed limit increases to be rolled back.

Dr Avi Vajpeyi visits the bFM studi oto chat about Gravitational Waves & Black Holes.

Thanks to The University of Auckland!

Jonny speaks with Flamingo Pier while they're in Berlin, hot of the back of a US Tour. 

Jonny speaks with Auckland Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson about the recently released State of the City 2024 Report, and the Regional Historic Heritage Grants Programme being open.

Tuesday includes a chat with Flamingo Pier, Desley Simpson, and Ready Steady Learn discussion on Black Holes & Gravitational waves