95bFM: The Wire

This week on the Tuesday Wire...

For Dear Science this week, we chat with our experts, Professor Sebastian Leuzinger and Associate Professor Armagan Sabetion, about AI, LLMs and consciousness, and AI in Universities.

Producer Thomas speaks to University of Auckland Honorary Associate Professor Susan St John about New Zealand First’s new kiwi kids grant policy.

And this week, producer Liam to speaksEmma Brodie, campaign manager from SAFE for Animals, about the recent banning of Greyhound racing in Aotearoa and its significance to greyhounds and animal welfare in New Zealand.

Liam also popped over to Auckland City Fire Station during the New Zealand Firefighter Union’s 50th strike, and spoke to union member Adam Wright about the continuing industrial action and what firefighters are hoping to achieve.  

And finally, Liam chats with Angus Dowell from the University of Auckland, about who is likely to benefit from the creation of AI Data Centres in New Zealand. 

On Sunday, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters announced the Kiwi Kids Grant as the party’s newest election policy. The grant would pay parents $5000 a year for the first three years of a child’s life, covering up to three children.

Winston Peter’s has justified the policy saying New Zealand is facing a population precipice, and the grant is necessary to stop the declining birth rate among New Zealand citizens. The policy is estimated to cost $400m a year, and New Zealand First has been unclear about where the funds would come from.

Critics of the policy have accused Peters of playing into replacement theory, which he has denied, and say similar policies overseas haven’t seen their desired effect.

To discuss the Kiwi Kids Grant producer Thomas spoke to University of Auckland Honorary Associate Professor Susan St John.

Hyperscale AI Data Centres are the basis of the artificial intelligence boom worldwide, but incur a high energy and water cost. New Zealand has recently seen the approval of a hyperscale AI data centre, being built by Singaporean company Datagrid near Invercargill, which has been lauded by the government as an upgrade to New Zealand's digital infrastructure, and providing investment and eighty jobs into New Zealand. However, many have raised concerns that these will take large amounts of New Zealand's resources, and that consents have been given with little public consultation. 

I spoke to Angus Dowell, an economic geographer from the University of Auckland’s School of Environmental Science, about who is likely to benefit from the approval of hyperscale AI data centres in New Zealand and what part New Zealand could play in the new AI landscape. 

On Saturday the 1st of August, greyhound racing was banned in New Zealand, with the final race taking place at the Addington Raceway in Christchurch. This was announced by Racing Minister Winston Peters in 2024, following repeated failed attempts to address animal welfare issues. Now 1,400 greyhounds are to be rehomed by the Greyhound Transition Agency. 

I spoke to Emma Brodie, a campaign manager at SAFE for Animals, about the importance of this moment for greyhounds and animal welfare in New Zealand. 

After 50 strikes by firefighters, there still has been little progress in the negotiations between Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union. The Union has been striking among other things to see improvements to their pay and what they say are inadequate fleet and equipment. 

I attended the 50th strike at the Auckland City Fire Station and spoke with Adam Wright, an Auckland local NZPFU committee member and firefighter, about why we have reached 50 strikes, what firefighters are fighting for and hoping to see happen and whether we can expect more action in the future.

The government’s COVID-19 inquiry recently returned a series of recommendations around New Zealand’s preparations for future pandemics. While the government accepted the vast majority of these recommendations, there are concerns about the implementation, especially as the pandemic and its management have become a topic of significant political polarisation. 

To discuss the inquiry and how politics is influencing our disease management, News Director Castor spoke to Professor of Public Health Michael Baker.

This week on the Monday Wire...

For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party, News Director Castor spoke to MP Simon Court about discriminatory comments from NZ First MPs and candidates, and about the possibilities of plug in solar in Aotearoa. 

They also spoke to Professor of Public Health Michael Baker about the recommendations from the latest COVID-19 Inquiry and how politics is influencing pandemic management. 

And Producer Pranuja spoke to Associate Professor of Social Sciences, Carisa Showden, about proposed changes to New Zealand’s sexual consent laws.

Last week, NZ First leader Winston Peters made derogatory comments towards Green Party MP Lawrence Xu-Nan. The comments echoed racist stereotypes about immigrants and led to strong backlash from members of the public and politicians across parliament.

This is not the first example of discriminatory comments from NZ First politicians this year. Candidate Stuart Nash spouted misogynistic rhetoric about National MP Katie Nimon earlier this year, and Deputy Leader Shane Jones made some derogatory comments about Indian migrants even earlier in the year. While MPs continue to call out these comments, little is being done to actually respond to them, especially as ACT and National continue to support NZ First in power.

Also this past week saw the Ministry for Regulation advising that legalising plug-in solar could provide significant benefits. While plug-in solar rarely generates enough electricity to power a home, it can alleviate power costs especially in sunny months, reducing the burden on households and the electrical grid. 

For this week’s catchup with ACT’s Simon Court, News Director Castor asked about each of these issues, beginning with NZ First leader Winston Peters’ comments.

Workplace relations minister Brooke van Velden’s employment leave bill is set for its third reading today. The bill is meant to replace the Holidays Act and move to a hours-based accrual system with a leave compensation payment for additional and casual hours.

The Public Service Association has spoken out against the bill, calculating that it could leave up to 200,000 workers worse off due to the change to overtime payments. Over half of those negatively affected workers are in the healthcare sector.

Van Velden has denied the calculation saying it wouldn’t be accurate as the new bill only sets new minimum standards, meaning worker conditions may stay the same. The PSA has accused the government of feigning ignorance of the harm the bill will cause.

To discuss the employment leave bill and the 200,000 workers who may be worse off, host Thomas spoke to PSA national secretary Fleur Fitzsimons.

Over the weekend, the Green Party announced their proposal to have a one year national moratorium on the consenting of new Artificial Intelligence Data Centres until proper regulations have been set up. Consent for a 3.5 billion dollar hyperscale AI data centre has already been approved for Southland, which is set to be the second highest consumer of electricity in the country, requiring 280 MW of power. While supporters claim that it will bring in jobs and allow New Zealand to be at the forefront of the AI industry, many have raised concerns about the harm it could cause to New Zealand’s natural environment, the strain it will put on our energy and water resources, and the fact that projects have been seemingly approved with little public consultation. 

I spoke to Dr Kerry McInerney from the School of Computer Science at the University of Auckland, about public perceptions towards AI Data Centres in New Zealand, concerns that have been raised and whether there can be a social license for data centres to be implemented.