95bFM: The Wire

Last week ABC, who is owned by Disney, announced that American Late Night Host Jimmy Kimmel was to be suspended indefinitely after pressure from the FCC and President Donald Trump’s administration, over comments he made related to the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Yesterday, Disney announced that Kimmel would be re-instated, and would continue hosting the show starting today.

This follows news from July, when it was announced that CBS would be ending the The Late Show franchise at the end of this season – currently hosted by Stephen Colbert – after similar pressure from the Trump administration.

After Kimmel’s suspension, reports followed that estimated Disney had lost a reported $3.8 billion USD in market value. Along with this, many actors involved with Disney in the past and present promoted cancellation of Disney Plus subscriptions to their fans through social media, with many hundreds of celebrities, including Meryl Streep, Jennifer Aniston and Robert De Niro signing a letter where they backed Kimmel.

To discuss these events and how they impact free speech in the United States, Producer Max spoke to Stephen Hoadley, a retired professor in international relations and editor of a series of books on international human rights.

For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party Oto spoke with MP Ricardo Menendez-March about the government’s changes to sick leave laws with their planned overhaul of the Holidays Act 2003, as well as Environment Canterbury’s decision to carry a motion declaring a nitrate emergency and the responses to the Greens petition calling on te reo Māori names to be restored to Wellington electorates

And he spoke with Dr Ritesh Shah a Senior Lecturer in Critical Studies in Education at the University of Auckland about the number of countries announcing their recognition of Palestine at the UN General Assembly and why it might just be a symbolic gesture.

Max spoke to Stephen Hoadley, a retired professor of international relations, to talk about the suspension and later reinstation of American Late Night Host Jimmy Kimmel.

And he spoke to Dr. Lucy Telfar-Barnard from the University of Otago, Wellington, to discuss the recent study released by the University of Otago that showed how firearm incidents are costing New Zealand $322 million per year.

A 2025 survey regarding experiences of disclosure to donor-conceived children about their origins reported that the majority of parents do choose to have a conversation with their tamariki about their whakapapa.

Further research into donor whānau dynamics is being conducted by collaborative research group Donor Identity in Aotearoa New Zealand (DIANZ), with an intention to identify where support is needed for all parties of donor-conception in Aotearoa. 

Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to researcher and Professor Cindy Farquhar from the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at UoA, about the important role whakapapa plays in identity for donor-conceived tamariki, and the path to best support the wellbeing of these diverse whānau units.

For Dear Science this week, our expert, Professor Allan Blackman speaks with us about the Mars orbiter, ethanol in fruit and how to avoid mozzie bites.

These School Holidays at MOTAT, test your communication skills, become a Pilot of the Future and see automatic tech take off!

Thanks to MOTAT, the museum inspiring the innovators of tomorrow!

For Dear Science this week, our expert, Professor Allan Blackman speaks with us about the Mars orbiter, ethanol in fruit and how to avoid mozzie bites.

For our weekly catchup with the National Party, Host Sara spoke to MP Carl Bates about the latest GDP figures and the RNZ Reid Research poll 

Producer Jasmine spoke with Professor Cindy Farquhar about new research exploring how whānau navigate wellbeing and conversations of whakapapa with donor-conceived children in Aotearoa

Over the weekend, the United Nations High Seas treaty — also called the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, received its 60th and final required ratification to allow it to take effect, from January 2026.

The treaty introduces historically significant measures for the protection of the ocean and marine biodiversity, especially in parts of the ocean that do not fall under the jurisdiction of a single nation.

After decades of negotiation, sixty countries have now ratified the agreement, with a further 145 countries, including New Zealand, being signatories. 

Some of the key aspects of the agreement will be the establishment of Marine Protected Areas, the introduction of legal obligations for countries to maintain high environmental standards around ocean activities, and the advancement of critical climate goals including the ban of bottom trawling and deep sea mining. 

Tuesday Wire Host Sara spoke with Victoria University law professor Joanna Mossop more about the significance of this treaty, and how effective its legal obligations on an international stage will be — starting with her research interest in international marine law

The latest GDP figures released on Thursday reveal a drop in GDP in the second quarter, down 0.9%.

Recent data revealed in the RNZ -Reid Research political poll has indicated higher public support for Labour than National, lower preference for Luxon as Prime Minister over Hipkins, New Zealanders increasingly believing the country is heading in the wrong direction and more people blaming the current government for our financial situation than the previous one.

Wire Host Sara spoke with National MP Carl Bates about his thoughts on this data, starting with the GDP

This week on the Monday Wire:

For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to MP Simon Court about the new school subjects set to be implemented into the new, proposed curriculum, and the drastic changes to art history and outdoor education.

Producer Alex spoke with the University of Otago's Robert Patman about international support for Palestinian Statehood, and whether or not Foreign Minister Winston Peters will follow his Australian and Canadian counterparts.

Joel spoke to the Children’s Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad about the temporary pause of international adoptions, and what this means for children overseas.

And Alex spoke with the University of Aucklands Helen petousis-Harris about the CDC reviewing vaccine recommendations and regulations under an anti-vax committee.

Whakarongo mai!

Foreign Minister Winston Peters has headed to New York for a conference on a Two State solution in the middle east, where debate over Palestinian recognition and statehood will take place during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.

As countries like Australia and Canada pledge support for Palestinian Statehood, alongside other countries that have either expressed intent or already done so, Peters has remained closed off as to whether or not New Zealand will join these ranks.

Monday Wire Producer Alex spoke to the Professor of International Relations at the University of Otago, Robert Patman, about what these expressions of support for Palestinian Statehood mean in the long run, and what we can and should expect from Peters and the Government in this regard.

The Government has passed with urgency a temporary halt on some international adoptions under the Adoption Amendment Bill.

The urgency of this bill is aimed at combating the exploitation of young children who have been adopted from overseas.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to the Children's Commissioner, Dr Claire Achmad, about this temporary pause, and what this will mean for some children overseas awaiting adoption.