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.
Israeli police have blocked this year's annual Palestinian March of Return. The police have denied the organisers a permit, saying there is a shortage of officers to oversee the march. However, Palestinian leaders in Israel see this as yet another effort to silence their resistance. bFM reporter Amanda Jane Robinson took a look at the 1948 Nakba and the history of the March of Return.
Amanda Jane Robinson and producer Ben Goldson bring you The Wire for Monday 10th April. We hear from Professor Paul Moon and National President of the New Zealand Union of Student Associations Jonathan Gee about whether or not free speech is in danger on the University campus. We talk to representatives from the Avondale Business Association and the Salvation Army talking about whether banning beggars from store fronts is an effective solution. We have our weekly chat with the Green Party, this week talking to co-leader Metiria Turei about the initial party list and US air strikes in Syria. As usual we have AUT Pacific Media Centre’s Kendall Hutt talking all about the latest in Pacific news for Southern Cross. We take a look into the history of the Palestinian March of Return. And lastly, we have Trish Grant from the Inclusivity Education Action Group talking about support for student with disabilities.
95bFM reporter Ben Goldson speaks to Avondale Business Association chairman Duncan MacDonald and Salvation Army Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit’s Lieutenant Colonel Ian Hutson about whether business owners should be able to banning beggars from store fronts.
Check out the full show from Friday 7th of April where Tess speak to Deborah Mackenzie from The Backbone Collective about a report that outlines domestic violence and NZ family court. We have our weekly chat with National MP, Jami-Lee Ross talking about the data collection for the Ministry of Social Development and the Typhoid cases in NZ. We had Radio Adelaide’s Nicole Wedding for all the latest in Australian news. We had the owner of the wine cellar, Rohan Evans, talking about gentrification and it’s affects on alternative musicians and venue owners within central Auckland. We also had the New Zealand Fire Service Station Officer, Chris Kennedy about their new virtual reality experience. And we had have WWF campaigner, David Tong discussing dolphin safe fishing methods and Maui dolphin protection.
The Backbone Collective released a report on the experiences of domestic violence victims within family court, Tess Barnett speaks to the Collective’s Deborah Mackenzie about this.
Joel Thomas, talked to Rohan Evans the owner of Wine Cellar, a K-Road bar and music venue, about how the gentrification of K-road and Auckland as a whole has affected the alternative music scene, and how last week's forced closure of the Kings Arms due to noise control puts the position of venue owners in a state of uncertainty.
A recent WWF opinion poll found 75% of respondents think the government should financially assist fishers to transition to dolphin-safe fishing methods in Maui dolphin habitat off the western coast of the north island. bFM’s Harry Willis spoke to WWF campaigner David Tong in this report.
Last year the New Zealand Fire Service attended over 5,200 structure fires, and within these there were 18 avoidable deaths caused by residential fires. New Zealand Fire Service launched a world-first initiative on Tuesday – a 360 degree and virtual reality (VR) experience – Escape My House. For the first time ever, the public can experience a real house fire first-hand and, along the way, learn why they need an escape plan. In this project, the public can experience online a house fire first-hand, using all real video footage from an actual house burning down. bFM reporter Jess Smith spoke to New Zealand Fire Service Station Officer and current Training Officer, Chris Kennedy, to learn more about the project.
Today on the show, Ximena & Joel chat about some university-related happenings - namely a new report from the NZUSA that found students are struggling to keep up with rising housing costs, as well as a recent UoA med student protest calling for the University to no longer invest in fossil fuel companies. They also have their weekly catch-up with Labour leader Andrew Little, and chat to some pretty cool ladies doing some pretty cool things - poet/ activist Refeef Ziadah and director of Emotional Creature, Forrest Denize. Today's show was very much a collective effort - thanks heaps to Pearl, Amanda, Tash, Katie & Tess for all doing your bit in helping putting this show on air - you guys are all pretty bloody great.
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.
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