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This week on the Monday Wire: For our weekly catchup with Te Pāti Māori's Takutai Kemp, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to her about changes to prisoners' voting eligibility, the party calling for more funding for Whakaata Māori in Budget 2025, and ECE recommendations. For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, Producer Evie spoke to Simon Court about David Seymour's proposal to reduce the size of cabinet, an ACT Members Bill aimed at removing mandatory climate-related disclosures for banks, as well as last week's unprecedented senior doctor strikes. Joel spoke to Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere, an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland, about animal product imports to New Zealand, as a petition to Parliament to ensure imports are coming from country's with animal welfare standards on par with ours. Joel also spoke to Robert Patman, a Professor of International Relations at the University of Otago, about his article on the Conversation, discussing his concerns over the Trump Administration's proposed peace deal regarding Russia's war on Ukraine, and how New Zealand should proceed with supporting Ukraine. And Global Innovator, Matt Hart, joins us in studio to discuss young people developing their political views through social media. Whakarongo mai

This week's show featured new music from Phoebe Rings, Car Seat Headrest and more.

Frances Chan celebrates NZ Music Month, Mother's Day and the birthdays of Carla Bley, Julian Joseph and Freddie Roach, plus the latest London sounds, an Italian guitar wunderkind and a tour to the Middle East to round out the show. Setlist: Clear Path Ensemble – Best Life Carla Bley – Song Sung Long Julian Joseph – The Other Side of Town Freddie Roach – On Our Way Up Etta James – Something's Got a Hold of Me (live)  Charles Mingus – Track A – Solo Dancer Mike Nock & Frank Gibson Jr – Phaedra's Lullaby   Julian Joseph – Hard Cash Carla Bley Trio – Life Goes On: and On Brandi Younger ft. Ravi Coltrane – Soulris Emma-Jean Thackray – Save Me Joe Armon-Jones – The Citadel Matteo Mancuso – Open Fields  Nautilus – La Ritournelle Genevieve Artadi with the Norbotten Big Band – Life Exploder Aziza Mustafa Zadeh – Always Salah Ragab & The Cairo Jazz Band – Egypt Strut  

Radio Mother's Joel spoke to comedian James Mustapic about his new show, All Good If Not, heading to Q Threatre from the 13th to 17th of May as a part of the New Zealand International Comedy Festival!

"On behalf of all stoners - thank you." - Anon.

Radio Mother's day (tomorrow)! With a chat with James Mustapic about his upcoming comedy show, All Good If Not, as a part of the New Zealand International Comedy Festival, and a chat with Megan Bishop from the Charlotte Museum about the upcoming events the museum are holding to celebrate queer, sapphic, lesbian music in Aotearoa for New Zealand Music Month! Whakarongo mai!

The Charlotte Museum is a queer, sapphic, lesbian museum in the heart of Tāmaki Makaurau, and they are holding a bunch of different events to celebrate New Zealand Music Month! Radio Mother's Joel spoke to the host, event coordinator, and community coordinator of the museum about the museum and what the exciting upcoming events the museum are holding!

e kō, nō hea koe is the debut poetry collection by award-winning slam poet and filmmaker Matariki Bennett (Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Hinerangi).  Published by Dead Bird Books, e kō, nō hea koe is “a series of goodbyes and attempts to slow the shedding, it's a group of teenagers sparking up as they watch the great pacific garbage patch catapult into space and become a second moon, it's endless conversations with Grandmama about stars, it is the constant rebirth of whakapapa and learning that silence isn't the best part of her.”  Sofia caught up with Matariki about the themes of this body of work and how it came to fruition.

Intimidation of Endless Space Given in a Small Window of Time (approximately 10 minutes) is a new exhibition by graphic designer Lina Grumm and composer Ethan Braun at Artspace Aotearoa.  The exhibition tends to relationships between sound, space, the visual, and the body, inviting deep listening and limitless interpretation, and engendering a gallery in constant flux.  Sofia had a kōrero with Kaitohu Director of Artspace Aotearoa, Ruth Buchanan, about the show and the artists.

This week, the New Zealand government has pushed through with urgency, the introduction of a Pay Equity Amendment Bill which makes changes to the Equal Pay Act 1972, making the criteria for pay equity claims stricter, and discontinuing thirty three existing claims, which were representing thousands of workers. While coalition party politicians say the amendment would benefit women and could save ‘billions', opposition parties and community commentators reject these notions and have expressed disappointment and frustration at the lack of opportunity for public engagement on the issue. Producer Sara spoke with University of Auckland teaching fellow Simon Schofield about the issue. She began the interview by asking why this bill is so problematic

A new research paper published this week is exploring how the treatment of wastewater with alkaline minerals could reduce carbon emissions through the mitigation of ocean acidification. The ocean plays a critical role in the Earth's ecosystem as a ‘carbon sink', absorbing about 30% of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.  As climate change, driven by activities like the burning of fossil fuels and acceleration of land use, has led to an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, oceans are absorbing increasing amounts of CO2, increasing ocean acidification and negatively impacting marine life. If scalable, the treatment of wastewater released into the ocean to offset acidification could be a valuable piece in the puzzle of global climate solutions.  Producer Sara spoke with University of Canterbury academics and members of the team at New Zealand cleantech company ‘Aspiring Materials', Dr Matt Watson, and Dr Simon Reid, about the potential for these findings, as well as how carbon sequestration can be maximised for the benefit of the environment. Here is that interview.

Winter is coming, and so is a projected increase in respiratory illnesses and COVID cases. Schools are particularly notorious breeding grounds for such diseases with children being more susceptible to respiratory illnesses. Ultimately, this results in teachers also being subject to COVID and respiratory illnesses at a higher rate than other professions, and an increased number of teachers leaving the profession due to long COVID symptoms is worsening Aotearoa's already severe teacher shortage. For this week's Get Action! Oto spoke to Tara Forde from Aotearoa Covid Action, to discuss a petition of hers calling for the government to prevent the spread of COVID in our schools by making improvements to school air quality and improving accessibility to Booster Vaccines and Rapid Antigen Tests. If you'd like to sign this petition, you can find it here:

Elle spoke to many a person today on the show! We listen back to a kōrero with Lael Neale, about her latest album release. You can listen back HERE.  Jude Savage and River Hann-Ellen call in to chat about their latest single. You can listen back HERE. 

Ahead of some exciting performances in June, Dropper call in to chat to us about their debut single YOUR FACE SAYS IT ALL. 

Lael Neale's fourth album Altogether Stranger released on May 2nd, and oh boy is it a beautiful body of work. Elle spoke to Neale about the production of the album with her partner Guy Blakeslee at their home studio, the process that goes into writing her lyrics and her love of the omnichord. Highly likely that this is Elle's album of the year. 

This week, a study was launched which looked into the location of vape stores around schools in Aotearoa. In the study it was found that 44% of schools in New Zealand have a vape store within a one-kilometer radius, and that 13% have a dedicated store within 300 meters. This is despite a legislation being passed by the government in 2023, which banned specialist vape stores from opening within 300 meters of schools and marae, the legislation however, allowed existing vape shops to continue operating. Ronan Payinda, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Auckland, who led the study, says that he saw the explosion of vaping while he was at school in Northland, and felt that New Zealand was failing as a society to grapple with its potentially serious health effects. To talk about this, Producer Max spoke with Ronan Payinda.

For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party's Ricardo Menendez-March, Oto spoke to him about The $2 billion boost for naval helicopters, the voting ban for prisoners and the party's new members bill to ensure that imported products meet animal welfare regulations. For this week's Get Action! He spoke to Tara Forde from Aotearoa Covid Action to discuss a petition of hers calling for improvements to the air quality in schools. And he spoke to Rachel Mackintosh from E Tu Union to discuss Brooke Van Velden's changes to pay equity claims Max spoke to National Co-chair of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa, John Minto, about the attack on the ‘Conscience', a Freedom Flotilla boat which was loaded with life-saving humanitarian aid for Gaza, before being disabled off the coast of Malta. And he spoke to Ronan Payinda, a student at the University of Auckland, who led a study which looked into the location and frequency of Vape stores, around schools in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This week, an attack on the Freedom Flotilla boat, The ‘Conscience', was launched while it was off the coast of Malta. The ‘Conscience' was loaded with life-saving humanitarian aid for Gaza before being disabled. The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa, has said that the attack, which happened in international waters, was a thoroughly predictable war crime committed by an “out-of-control” Israel, and shows that Israel's genocide strategy has now gone global. To talk about this, as well as how the New Zealand government should respond, Producer Max spoke with John Minto, National Co-Chair of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa.

This week's show featured new music from Car Seat Headrest, Hemi Hemingway and more.

"May the Fourth be with you... always."

Me āra te tohu huarere.

Lots of rock and punk this morning? Whakarongo mai!

Maria Somerville jumps on a call with Hunter to talk all things 'Luster' her new album and debut on 4AD.

Cam selects tracks from new wax and recent represses, this week featuring Ghostface Killa, V*agra Boys and more! Thanks to Southbound Records.

Elle spoke to Blondshell about her latest album, 'If You Asked For A Picture.' They spoke about the development of the album during her years spent on tour and the interpersonal relationships that came from it. She has some very wise words for us, so listen up!

VIDA joins bFM in the lounge to play some songs off the recently released aquatopialien.    Thanks to McLeod's Brewery and NZ On Air!

HALFQUEEN chats with Ladi6 about her new single LightBulb - the second single to drop off from her forthcoming album Le Vā as well as her staacked nationwide tour across June and July!

Featuring Marijuana Media with Chris Fowlie, thanks to The Hempstore and a kōrero with Ladi6 about her brand new single LightBulb. Whakarongo mai nei! Thanks to The Beer Spot!

Hayden from the Drug Foundation chats mushrooms - just in time for Autumn! Thanks to The Level!

A recent review of Pharmac, also known as Te Pātaka Whaioranga,  has found their current approach not fit for purpose, calling for an overhaul of their strategy and internal culture.  The pharmaceutical management agency faced criticism last year as a result of a lack of credibility and inconsistency of services.  With the proposal this week to scrap Pharmac's Māori directorate, concerns were especially emphasised about the equitable outcomes for Maaori and Pasifika populations. While the aim of the independent review was to look into ways to improve the services of Pharmac, it found that staff were sceptical that any meaningful changes could occur. Producer Sara spoke with University of Auckland's Professor of Health Economics Paula Lorgelly about the review and what changes are necessary. She started by asking about the key findings

Thanks to The Hempstore!

Numerous political figures including Ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour have spoken out in the media this week with allegations that Auckland Council is trying to usher in ‘co-governance' on a local level, with their proposal on the management of the Waitākere Ranges. CEO of Te Kawerau ā Maki Edward Ashby called out the political lashback as “fear-mongering” and ‘misinformation', affirming that the proposal is not actually a co-governance structure.  The proposal is for a decision-making committee of 50% representation from the Crown and tangata whenua to manage the land under a deed of acknowledgement. The council says the deed of acknowledgement is in line with the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Act 2008, and follows on from the existing management structures in place.  Producer Sara spoke with Councillor Shane Henderson during his bus commute about this topic and the political commentary that's been witnessed this week. Here is that interview

A packed to the gills morning for you. Starting off with Political Commentary with Dr Bryce Edwards. Later, two 95bFM special announcements, first Tāmaki Makaurau's most beloved multi-venue street festival The Other's Way is back for 2025, and Dave Dobbyn will be performing for one-show-only for the Winter Series. Love Square chat to Jonny about the upcoming first-ever K Road FAM festival, and then Downtown Days on the harbour. Hayden discusses mushrooms (just in time for Autumn) on What's The Buzz thanks to The Level and the New Zealand Drug Foundation. 

An un-official request show primarily composed of your favourite Kiwi artists and bands. Thanks to The Tuning Fork

Last week Transport minister Chris Bishop announced steps towards improvements to public transport from the Northwest of Auckland. The plan involves three stages, each promoting faster and more consistent public transport from the region. While early stages are planned for the next few years, later stages will be coming over the next ten or more years.  The government has also announced $53 million towards subsidising teachers registration fees. This announcement follows extensive campaigning from teachers on this issue, eliminating a barrier for new and long-time teachers in Aotearoa.  In our weekly catchup with National's Tom Rutherford, Wire host Castor asked about each of these issues, starting with the transport upgrades in Northwest Auckland.

Recently, the government has announced regulations for physician associates, or PAs. Minister of Health Simeon Brown says regulating this role "demonstrates the Government's commitment to patient safety and providing high quality care". The aim of regulating PAs would allow for more workers in the medical sector, and to entice overseas workers to fill gaps in rural practices. This move has faced backlash over concerns physician associates do not have the adequate medical expertise.  In the UK, there have been multiple reports of medical malpractice resulting in patient deaths, which resulted in the launch of an independent review into the safety of PAs. Currently in Aotearoa, Simeon Brown says there are 50 PAs across 29 different clinics. News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to the National Secretary of the New Zealand Residential Doctors' Association or the NZRDA, Dr Deborah Powell, about her concerns with this announcement.

Professor David Lines from the School of Music is in the studio to discuss the Creative Pedagogies Network. Brought to you by the University of Auckland!

Featuring What's Up? with Labour Leader Chris Hipkins, Rhys Matthewson hops on for a chat about his show Time Trial at this years' Best Foods Comedy Festival, and Professor David Lines is on Ready Steady Learn, brought to you by the University of Auckland.