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For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party, Wire Host Sara spoke to MP Simon Court about Resource Management Act reforms set to impact councils from the end of this month  Sara also spoke to University of Auckland’s Dr Stephen Winter about New Zealand’s constitutional instability. Finally, Manny and Sara – who will be your Election Night Hosts on bFM, sat down for a little kōrero about the election.

University of Auckland Associate Professor and political theory expert Dr Stephen Winter published an article last week discussing how a pattern of short-term policy reversals in New Zealand contributes to instability and underinvestment in sectors like environmental, infrastructure, and financial policy. He highlights that kiwi should be better engaged in discussions around our constitution, and highlights that public reaction to the Treaty Principles Bill demonstrates that these decisions are crucial. Producer Sara spoke with Dr Stephen Winter about his article and the topic of constitutional stability in New Zealand

In the last week left before enrolments close for the upcoming general election, 95bFM Election Night Hosts Manny and Sara chat on the election, electorates and MMP.  Consider this your reminder to enrol to vote before the 25th of October, and of course, to tune into bFM on election night November 7th for some very special election coverage!

Tāmaki has turned into one of the most unexpectedly tight electorate races in the country. A diverse electorate with a rich political history, containing suburbs from Glen Innes to Saint Heliers and the newly added Point England, also the home of ex Prime Minister Robert Muldoon and deputy PM Bob Tizard. With incumbent Brooke Van Velden stepping down, Labour’s Max Harris, ACT’s James Christmas and National’s Mahesh Muralidhar, none of whom have been in parliament before, are each throwing their hat into the ring. Each of the three primary candidates joined 95bFM journalist Thomas Malone to discuss policy and why they believe they can best serve the Tāmaki electorate. Whakarongo mai!

Lobbying has featured as a prominent political issue this election, with the particularly notable example of the Prime Minister’s office concealing documents received by major emitters - such as Fonterra - lobbying to shut down climate lawsuits. For coverage of this particular scandal, and to hear from experts on the lobbying landscape in Aotearoa New Zealand , do listen back to our recent interviews for the Wire, 95bfm.com/bcasts. A new study, published just last week, has provided an impressive case study of industry meddling. Combing through documents from 1986-96, US researchers have been able to paint a picture of the tactics used by the National Cattlemen's Association to deny climate science, and muddy the waters with their own research. So to hear more about the relevance of the troubling tale these documents tell for us in present day Aotearoa New Zealand, producer Theo spoke with the University of Otago’s Dr John Kerr.

For the final interview on Candidates of Tāmaki Makaurau, Wire Producer Theo sat down with Antonia Modkova, ACT Party candidate for Auckland Central.

This week on the Tuesday Wire... For Dear Science this week, we chat with our expert, Dr Syrie Hermans, about optogenetics, separating the brain in two, and human brain matter in mice. Producer Thomas talks to the CEO of ChildFund New Zealand Josie Pagani about the National Party’s plans to cut foreign aid to fund cancer drugs if reelected. Producer Liam speaks to E tū Assistant National Secretary Mat Danaher, about proposals to cut eighteen regional news staff at Stuff, and what this says about the direction of local journalism in New Zealand.  And for the latest installment of our Candidates of Tamaki Makaurau series, Wire Producer Sarah spoke with Yang Qu, ACT candidate for MT Roskill.

Stuff has recently announced it is planning on cutting 18 jobs in its regional newsrooms, which some fear will put stress upon local journalism across the country.  I spoke to Assistant National Secretary of E tū Mat Danaher, about these proposed cuts, what impacts they will have, and what this says about the direction of local journalism in New Zealand.

Last week, National leader Christopher Luxon pledged a $640 million increase in Pharmac’s medicines budget, which he said would be partially paid through a 10% reduction to foreign aid. This cut would decrease foreign aid spending by $430 million, but would exclude any spending in the Pacific.  The policy announcement has been controversial with Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters calling it dangerous and desperate, and some experts warning it could damage New Zealand’s position on the world stage To discuss the foreign aid spending cuts producer Thomas talked to Josie Pagani, CEO of ChildFund New Zealand.

For this interview on Candidates of Tāmaki Makaurau, Wire Producer Sara sat down with Yang Qu, ACT Party candidate for Mount Roskill.