Listen back to features and interviews from 95bFM's daily news and current affairs show. Joel Armstrong, Sara Mckoy, Max Micheel, and Caeden Tipler focus on the issues of Tāmaki Makaurau and elsewhere in independent-thinking bFM style. Monday-Thursday 12-1pm on 95bFM.
Yesterday Māori Television CEO Paora Maxwell announced he was stepping down from the role. His resignation comes after a controversial tenure which saw many high profile staff leave and tension with staff. Reporter Sam Smith spoke to Māori political commentator and blogger Morgan Godfery about Maxwell's time at Māori Television and where to next for the station.
A group fighting to save sacred and culturally significant land from development in Māngere have taken their case to the United Nations Indigenous Peoples Forum in New York. Reporter Sam Smith looks at the latest from the Save Our Uniqaue Landscape Campaign.
Check out the full podcast for this week's Tuesday show, where we speak to political commentator Morgan Godfery about the CEO of Māori Television's resignation, SOUL spokesperson Pania Newton about the group's recent visit to a United Nations summit in New York, an Otago University professor about the ins and outs of 'de-extinction', and more.
A group of scientists are debating the merits of bringing back extinct animals, saying there needs to be a greater focus on conservation. Mack speaks with Otago University's Professor Phil Seddon about this.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff has proposed a targeted accomodation rate, or "bed tax", in order to raise money for infrastructure spending. Although still in development, the proposal has drawn criticism from business groups. Producer Ben speaks with Chris Roberts from Tourism Industry Aoteroa.
A study conducted by Victoria University resaerchers using data from Statistics NZ has found an increase in inequality over the last ten years. Producer Ben speaks with one of the researchers, Max Rashbrooke.
The Ockham Book Awards is coming up on Tuesday night next week. Hera Lindsay Bird’s debut self-titled book of poetry that was released last year is nominated for the Ockham Books Poetry Award. Host of The Wire, Amanda Jane Robinson, speaks to Hera about her work.
This Week host Amanda and producer Ben speak to Chris Roberts from Tourism Industry Aoteroa about the proposed "bed tax", Green Party co-leader James Shaw about National's social investment package and NZ students in Australia, AUT Pacific Media Centre's Kendall Hutt and David Robie about how French election results will impact the Pacific, and World Press Freedom Day. We also speak to researched Max Rashbrooke about inequality in New Zealand, and we talk with poet Hera Lindsay Bird ahead of the Ockham Book Awards next week.
All this and more on the Monday Wire - check out the full podcast here.
On Sunday, “Block the Ban” held a protest against the government’s decision to ban new prescriptions of puberty blockers for young people with gender dysphoria.
The United Nations’ committee for the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination has released a report warning that New Zealand is at serious risk of weakening Māori rights.
And last week, the government rejected the recommended methane emissions targets.
This is despite officials warning against the government doing so, stating that lowering methane emissions targets could increase New Zealand’s contribution to global warming.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Shanan Halbert about all of these topics.
Safety measures on public transport are of growing concern this week following the fatal and unprovoked attack that took place on route 76 in East Tāmkaki on Monday night.
Earlier this week there were also multiple critical incidents that occurred simultaneously across Auckland’s West Coast beaches and waterways, seeing an unusually high deployment of emergency services and surf lifesavers for this early in the summer.
Swedish home and furniture retailer Ikea opened in Sylvia Park a week ago today, drawing huge excitement for many.
Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Councillor Shane Henderson about these topics.
Last week was scrutiny week, where Parliament focuses entirely on holding government agencies and ministers to account, to check-in on how well the Government is performing.
Many of the questions surrounding scrutiny week have been focused on climate change, with many recent reports highlighting the Government’s questionable decision-making.. The biggest headline was that the coalition had chosen to reject all three of the climate change commission’s recommendations to strengthen New Zealand’s emissions targets.
Along with this, the United Nations released a new report, where they’ve warned that New Zealand is at serious risk of weakening Māori rights and entrenching disparities for the indigenous population. In the 14-page report, the UN expressed concerns over multiple government policies affecting Maori, including the disestablishment of the Maori Health Authority, cuts to public funding for Maori services, and minimising the role of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
For our weekly catchup with the Green Party, Wednesday Wire Host Max spoke to MP Ricardo Menendez March about the report released by the United Nations, but first they discussed Scrutiny Week and the Government’s recent climate change decisions.
The government is pausing the new prescriptions of Puberty Blockers to gender diverse and transgender young people from the 19th of December onwards, following a similar move by the UK after the results of the NHS’s Cass Review.
Wire Producer Flo spoke to activist Lauren Craig about the effects of the legislation, her petition “Reverse the decision to deny transgender and takatāpui young people access to puberty blockers” against the changes and the wider political motivation for the policy.
If you'd like to sign this petition, you can find it here
With the rise of fast fashion outlets like Shein and Temu alongside the wider mainstream options available that contribute substantial amounts of clothing waste to landfill, experts are calling for an urgent response on a governance, business, and individual level.
Wire Host Sara spoke to Mindful Fashion Chief Executive Jacinta Fitzgerald about the problem, and the industry response to sustainability, as well as University of Auckland Marketing Professor Mike Lee about the importance of ethical consumption.for individuals.
First, is the interview with Fitzgerald, where she begins by talking about the organisation Mindful Fashion.
Following this, Sara spoke to Marketing Professor Mike Lee about the research he has undertaken around consumerism.
The biannual Scrutiny Week took place in Parliament last week, with meetings across select committees and government departments focussed on scrutinising the outcomes of government work.
These include hearings on ministries like Health, Housing, Environment and Justice.
Wire Host Sara spoke to National MP Carl Bates about Scrutiny Week, firstly by asking him to talk about the meetings he was involved in
The government has recently rejected all of the Climate Change Commission’s recommendations regarding strengthening the country’s methane targets recommendations.
The commission’s recommendations include strengthening the county’s 2050 methane emission targets, continuing lowering emissions after 2050, and that international shipping and aviation, which represents 9% of the county’s total emissions, should be included within targets.
Despite the commission saying that there would be upfront costs, many of the changes would result in cost savings over time, however, the government rejected this claim.
For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to MP Simon Court about the government rejecting these recommendations.
Tāmaki Makaurau’s council budget is among those impacted by the proposal of a rates cap, considering Tāmaki’s average 5.8% annual rates increase across the 25/26 financial year.
Youth homelessness is a growing concern as discussions continue around “move on” orders for those without housing in Auckland’s CBD.
And the Skycity Convention Centre is set to open in 2026, with high hopes for what it may bring for Tāmaki Makaurau after its prolonged development.
Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Counsellor Fairey about these topics.
95bFM 
