95bFM: The Wire

This week on the Monday Wire...

For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party’s Simon Court, Producer Thomas asked about the Iran ceasefire, the United States blocking the Strait of Hormuz and the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

News Director Castor spoke to Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, Dr. Elham Bahmanteymouri, about the new Auckland City Deal and the differing opinions on Auckland’s development. 

Thomas also talked to E tū director, Mat Danaher about a new survey of journalist union members which found some concerning trends.

And he spoke to Te Kaihautū Māori for the PSA, Jack McDonald about new proposed job cuts to the Ministry of Justice and Te Puni Kōkiri.

For City Counselling this week, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson about the increased demand for public transport in Auckland and the boil water notice for parts of Auckland that was lifted yesterday. 

And they spoke to Dhilum Nightingale, CEO and Founder of VERI-Mi Charitable Trust, about an app she has built to support anti-migrant exploitation advocacy. 

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, News Director Castor spoke to MP Shanan Halbert about the government’s stance on the US/Iran conflict, the Tukituki water security project, and Labour’s public transport policy. 

Producer Pranuja spoke with Dr Kate Kersey about new research exploring how middle-aged women understand and manage their drinking.

And she spoke with Associate Professor Bridget Conor about a new UNESCO report highlighting gender inequality in creative industries.

A new UNESCO report looking at gender equality in creative industries across more than 100 countries has found that while women make up a large part of the workforce, they’re still underrepresented when it comes to power, pay, and visibility.

The report also highlights growing concerns around bias in generative AI and increasing online abuse, which are shaping who gets to participate in digital creative spaces.

Producer Pranuja spoke with Associate Professor of Communications at the University of Auckland, Bridget Conor, about what’s driving these inequalities, and what’s at stake if they continue.

A record number of Aucklanders are using public transport amidst rising fuel costs. The average number of users is up 10% from the same time last year. 

And yesterday, Watercare lifted its boil water notice for the suburbs of Hillsborough, Mt Roskill, Royal Oak, and Three Kings after 2 days under the notice. 

The notice was due to a detection of bacteria on Monday, which a Watercare investigation found was caused by a single water quality monitoring tap. 

For City Counselling this week, The Wire Host Caeden spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson about these topics.

VERI-Mi is an organisation working to combat migrant exploitation in Aotearoa New Zealand. Their new app has been designed to collect proof of underpayment of wages and other breaches.

Wire Host Caeden spoke to Dhilum Nightingale, the CEO and Founder of VERI-Mi Charitable Trust, who is also a Barrister in Kate Sheppard Chambers, about the app and the process from development to launch.

New research out of the University of Auckland is exploring how middle-aged women understand and manage their drinking.

The study found that many women have a strong awareness of alcohol’s effects on their bodies, particularly when it comes to things like sleep, energy, and overall well-being. But those understandings are shaped by broader social expectations around productivity, health, and self-care.

Producer Pranuja spoke with Dr Kate Kersey,  a researcher in the department of social and community health at the University of Auckland, about how women navigate those pressures, and what that tells us about drinking culture in Aotearoa.

This week on the Wednesday Wire... 

For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party, Wire host Manny spoke with MP Ricardo Menéndez March about their recently released housing platform and Trump's threats to destroy Iranian civilisation.

Producer Toby spoke to astronomer Josh Aoraki about the Artemis II lunar flyby mission.

And Producer Theo spoke to Patrick and Colden from the Reeferendum 2026 campaign on their petition to legalise cannabis and reform drug laws and policing in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Four NASA astronauts aboard an Orion spacecraft are currently on their return trip to planet Earth, having just conducted a successful flyby mission to the moon. The mission brought humans within the vicinity of the moon for the first time in over fifty years, and when the four astronauts passed behind its far side, they set the record for the furthest distance that any human has ever travelled away from Earth.

The test mission is paving the way for a manned landing on the lunar surface, currently scheduled for 2028, and eventually, a permanent lunar base.

Producer Toby spoke to Josh Aoraki, resident astronomer at Auckland’s Stardome Observatory, about the past, present, and future of lunar exploration.

This week on the Tuesday Wire...

For Dear Science this week, our expert, Dr Cushla McGoverin speaks with us about Artemis II, and forever chemicals in bacteria.

For our weekly catchup with the National Party, Host Alex spoke with Ryan Hamilton about the cabinet reshuffle, the Auckland Housing Amendment Bill, and public transport.

Alex also spoke with Assistant National Secretary of the E tū union, Annie Newman, about the rise in Living Wage, and what it means that minimum wage is lagging behind.

And Producer Liam spoke to Sinéad Deighton-O’Flynn, the agricultural campaigner at Greenpeace Aotearoa, about the result of Greenpeace’s lawsuit against Fonterra, which recently admitted to having falsely advertised its butter to consumers, and the impact this will have in New Zealand. 

Last week, Living Wage was raised to$29.90. This puts it at roughly $6 more than minimum wage, sparking debate and discussions around the need for a raise in minimum wage, particularly amidst the fuel crisis placing more pressure on Aotearoa’s workers.

Wire Host Alex spoke with Assistant National Secretary of the E Tū Union, Annie Newman, about the living wage, the discrepancy with minimum wage, and the political nature of the Government’s ability to raise the latter.