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bLine News Podcast

bLine is a podcast aimed at bridging the gap between young people and the "decision-makers" in society through a youth-centred approach to interviewing.

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bLine #8: Student Politics

 bLine #8: Student Politics bLine #8: Student Politics, 90.67 MB
Thu 27 Nov 2025

This episode of bLine looks at student politics and student associations across Aotearoa. Student organisations and unions can be found in all of Aotearoa’s universities, and their names can be seen at countless student events. But what is it that these organisations actually do, and what kinds of challenges do they face? Is the heyday of student unions long gone, or is there more to look forward to on the horizon? To get a snapshot of how student associations are doing at the moment, we spoke to presidents from associations across the motu. 

Thanks to all of our guests, 2025 President of Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association, Liban Ali, 2025 President of the University of Canterbury Students’ Association, Luc MacKay, 2025 President of Otago University Students' Association, Liam White, and 2026 president of Auckland University’s Students' Association, Nimish Milan Singh. 

Happy listening!

bLine #7: Tu Māia ki Te Ao

 bLine #7: Tu Māia ki Te Ao bLine #7: Tu Māia ki Te Ao, 29.46 MB
Thu 30 Oct 2025

This episode of bLine heads to Te Whanganui a Tara for Tu Māia ki Te Ao: The Future of Democracy Forum, run by MakeIt16 and the New Zealand Centre for Global Studies. Aimed at discussing the various challenges that democracy has faced and what potential solutions could look like, the event featured a range of panels and workshops with various experts, politicians, and activists. This week we discuss the various struggles that democracy is facing in Aotearoa and what we can do to build a better system for the future. 

Thanks to all of our guests, MakeIt16 national coordinators Sanat and Caeden, research director at the Institute for Democratic and Economic Analysis, Max Rashbrooke, general manager of YouthLaw Aotearoa, Darryn Aitchison, and Associate Professor of Politics at Te Herenga a Waka Victoria University of Wellington, Lara Greaves. Thank you also to the New Zealand Centre for Global Studies and MakeIt16 for organising the forum.

Happy listening!

bLine #6: Youth Unemployment

 bLine #6: Youth Unemployment bLine #6: Youth Unemployment, 16.29 MB
Wed 8 Oct 2025

This episode of bLine looks at youth unemployment in Aotearoa. While unemployment is seen by everyone, its scale and effects are difficult to comprehend on a societal level. Additionally, we know unemployment has risen in Aotearoa before, including around the global financial crisis and during the COVID 19 lockdowns. We can see the struggles that people around us are facing - how can we use these experiences to make change to prevent unemployment from rising further?

In this week's episode of bLine we spoke to Principal Analyst at Stats NZ, Alexandra Ferguson, and Kick Back founder Aaron Hendry. The next episode will be in two weeks, where we’ll talk about alcohol related harm in Aotearoa. 

Happy listening!

bLine #5: Bird of the Year

 bLine #5: Bird of the Year bLine #5: Bird of the Year, 20.25 MB
Tue 23 Sep 2025

This week’s episode of bLine is about Bird of the Year. While many people may vote in Bird of the Year, not all of us are aware about its history, how the competition works, and how it benefits conservation efforts in Aotearoa. Before we get into it, bLine does not endorse any of the birds discussed today. Make your pick wisely.

Thanks to all of our guests, Senior Biodiversity Ranger at DOC Auckland, David Wilson, author Ellen Rykers, and songwriter and Bird of the Year campaigner, Claudia Robin Gunn. 

You can vote for your Bird of the Year here. 

Happy listening!

bLine #4: Representation in the Arts

 bLine #4: Representation in the Arts bLine #4: Representation in the Arts, 35.34 MB
Tue 9 Sep 2025

This episode of bLine looks at the importance of representation in the arts. As an audience member, I’m constantly searching for people like me in all the art I consume. There's something really special about identifying with a character in a movie or hearing someone sing about experiences that you’ve had. For those from marginalised and minority backgrounds, however, representation can be hard to come by.

In this week’s episode of bLine, we spoke to art director and founder of BEINGS.co, Leon Bristow, musician and presenter of Little Gay In, Jason Parker, and artist and project manager for Arts Makers Aotearoa, Claudia Jowitt.

Happy listening!

bLine #3: NCEA Overhaul

 bLine #3: NCEA Overhaul bLine #3: NCEA Overhaul, 36.35 MB
Tue 26 Aug 2025

This episode of bLine is about NCEA and the recently announced overhaul. In discussions around a change that will directly affect students, there’s been very little time given to student voices and perspectives. This seems to be a change directed primarily at parents, despite the experiences of young people with NCEA and the needs of students who will be most affected. 

In this week’s episode we wanted to highlight the perspectives that have been mostly ignored in discussions about the change. We spoke to students Jed and Kenahemana, President of the Post Primary Teachers Association Te Wehengarua, Chris Abercrombie, and lecturer in Teacher Education at the University of Canterbury, David Pomeroy.

You can share your thoughts on the NCEA overhaul with the government here: https://www.education.govt.nz/consultation-ncea. Consultation closes on September 15th. 

Happy listening!

bLine #2: News Media and Young People

 bLine #2: News Media and Young People bLine #2: News Media and Young People, 26.09 MB
Tue 19 Aug 2025

Young people are consistently painted as a group "disengaged" from news media and politics. Despite this, young people continue to post, comment, and interact on social media about political issues internationally. In this week's episode of bLine, we discuss why young people don't engage with traditional news content and what Aotearoa's media organisations are doing to combat this. 

This week, we spoke to politics reporter at The Spinoff, Lyric Waiwiri-Smith, and video journalist at Re: News, Janhavi Gosavi. 

Happy listening!

bLine #1: Public Transport and Young People

 bLine #1: Public Transport and Young People bLine #1: Public Transport and Young People, 38.85 MB
Mon 11 Aug 2025

Welcome to the first episode of bLine, 95bFM’s new news podcast. bLine aims to bridge the gap between young people and decision makers, through youth-centred interviews focused on youth issues. The upcoming episodes will feature a range of topics affecting young people in our everyday lives, starting off with public transport. 

As one of the largest public transport user groups, it’s important that young people are represented in decision making around the future of public transport developments in the city. One source of feedback that’s popped up recently is the explosion of activity around public transport on social media. In the first episode of bLine we spoke to @lethimdrive, @ifuckinghatethe394, the University of Auckland's Mohsen Mohammadzadeh, and Auckland Transport's Stacey van der Putten.

Happy listening!