95bFM: The Wire

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

I 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.

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.

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.

One hundred Kiwi kids are diagnosed with a life-threatening condition called Hydrocephalus yearly. Hydrocephalus is a condition where the brain gets an abnormal amount of fluid buildup, which causes harmful pressure on brain tissues.  

The current standard treatment for it is a shunt implantation, which is a tiny silicon tube that gets inserted into the brain to drain any excess fluid into other parts of the body harmlessly.

However, these shunts have the tendency to get blocked about fifty percent of the time. And if they don’t get replaced in time the raised pressure in the brain could cause huge damage and even death. The major problem is that symptoms of a failed shunt are very common and are hard to interpret. 

To fix this, researchers have been developing an implantable wireless brain sensor, which will be able to read brain pressure wirelessly and safely at home. 

To learn more about this new technology and how it will work in the future. Producer Jude spoke to University of Auckland Senior Research Fellow Dr Sarah-Jane Guild.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand is currently consulting on a proposal to make health star ratings mandatory, with the present voluntary system coming under fire.

Currently, only 36% of eligible packaged foods in New Zealand display a health star rating, well short of the 70% goal set by food ministers in November 2025. 

Additionally, a recent briefing by the Public Health Communication Centre had nutrition experts arguing that labels can help improve dietary choices, encourage product reformulation and strengthen transparency. Front-of-pack nutrition labelling is also recommended by the World Health Organisation.

To discuss making food health star ratings mandatory, producer Thomas spoke to University of Auckland Professor Dr Sally Mackay.