95bFM: The Wire

This week on the Thursday Wire...

For City Counselling this week, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey on Mayor Wayne Brown’s controversial comment towards an RNZ staff member, the latest statistics on illegal dumping in Auckland, and alternative names for the City Rail Link.

News Director Castor spoke to Executive Director of the New Zealand Drug Foundation, Sarah Helm, about a new bill that would remove the possibility of prosecution for those looking for medical support after an overdose. 

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Producer Pranuja spoke with Shanan Halbert about proposed changes to Te Tiriti, the NZ–India Free Trade Agreement, and rising anti-Indian sentiment in New Zealand.

She also spoke with World Vision New Zealand National Director TJ Grant about the first reading of the Modern Slavery Bill.

And she spoke with Dr Peter Wills about punctuated equilibrium, the origins of genetic code, and why this research is gaining international attention.

Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter has put forward a bill to parliament that would remove any chance for prosecution of someone who needs medical assistance for a drug overdose.

The bill has passed through its first reading, with support from the Greens, Labour, ACT, and Te Pāti Māori. It is now set to go to select committee for consultation.

To discuss why the bill has come about and what kind of impacts it could have on drug safety in Aotearoa, News Director Castor spoke to executive director of the NZ Drug Foundation, Sarah Helm.

University of Auckland researchers have been recognised by Quanta Magazine for one of the major biology breakthroughs of 2025.

The study suggests evolution often happens in short, intense bursts, rather than as a slow and steady process. Researchers looked at examples across cephalopods, ancient enzymes, and Indo-European languages to better understand how change happens over time.

Producer Pranuja spoke with Dr Peter Wills about punctuated equilibrium, the origins of genetic code, and why this research is gaining international attention.

The Modern Slavery Bill has passed its first reading in Parliament with strong cross-party support. The Bill would introduce mandatory reporting for large businesses, requiring them to publish annual statements on modern slavery risks in their operations and supply chains.

World Vision says the Bill is an important step in strengthening New Zealand’s response to child labour, human trafficking, and exploitation.

Producer Pranuja spoke with World Vision New Zealand’s National Director TJ Grant about what the Bill would change, how modern slavery can end up in everyday products, and what happens next at the select committee.

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.

Last Thursday, University of Auckland student Benjiman Law sent out a 'test' email to the entire student body email list. 

Following this, hundreds of students used the "Reply to All" function for almost half an hour, until the University blocked sending and receiving from student emails. 

Thursday Wire Host Caeden spoke to Benjiman Law about the incident. 

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.

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.

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.