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.
Te Hiringa Mahara, the Mental Health and Well-being Commission released a report earlier this month about Pasifika’s mental health and well-being both during and in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report highlights inequities Pasifika experienced during the pandemic and reflects on united Pasifika communities in the name of remaining resilient in adverse circumstances. In the report, there are key points that emphasise systemic inequities in regard to mental health support for Pasifika. The commission's findings reinforce the strong values-based relationships Pasifika have with others. Although the underlying call for more mental health and well-being support for the Pasifika community remains.
To talk more about the report, its findings, and what recommendations can be made for targeted support and reform Andre Fa'aoso spoke to Karen Orsborn, Chief Executive of the Mental Health and Well-being Commission.
Andrea Braakhuis is a registered dietitian and associate professor of nutrition at the University of Auckland. Arno caught up with her to find out more about Jenny Craig closing, the latest dieting trends, and to find out what works and what a healthy person looks like.
Listen in to find out more about what you can do to be more healthy, and whether weight loss is necessary to achieve this.
Arno started the interview by asking to find out a bit more about the weight loss industry.
Last week Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to thirty-seven charges related to the handling and possession of classified US documents at his Florida estate in Mar-a-Lago.
Trump is also facing trials in New York, Georgia, and Virginia in relation to fraud, election interference and an inquiry into the role he played in the January 6th insurrection. To talk more about Trump’s legal woes, Andre Fa'aoso spoke to Scott Optican, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland.
Emilia has our weekly catch-up with Green Party co-leader James Shaw, this week they’re chatting about the proposed reforms to the emissions trading scheme.
On the Green Desk, Jack Marshall talks to Paul Naske, CEO of Rua Bioscience about their medical marijuana farming operations on the East Coast and how it is bringing jobs to the local economy in the aftermath of the cyclone.
Andre Fa’aoso speaks to Scott Optican, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland about Donald Trump’s federal and state legal woes in the lead-up to the 2024 Presidential election.
Andre also spoke to Karen Orsborn, Chief Executive of Te Hiringa Mahara, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission about a report released earlier this month detailing Pacific well-being in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Hannah speaks to Te Pati Māori’s Takutai Kemp about bilingual road signs and the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle land categorisation in Hawke's Bay on Petane Marae whanau.
Arno speaks with dietitian and University of Auckland professor Andrea Braakhuis about Jenny Craig shutting down and the wider implications for dieting and healthy eating overall.
Last week, secondary school teacher strikes resumed after the Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) voted to decline a pay offer from the Ministry of Education. Bargaining continues amongst PPTA and the Ministry of Education, as many parents and students alike have joined in on protests in hopes to return to the classroom.
Camilla Highfield is the Deputy Dean for the University of Auckland Faculty of Education and Social Work. Wire producer Rosetta spoke with Camilla about where she thinks the strikes are going, why they're important, and what change our teachers need to feel more supported.
This week for her weekly catchup with Dr Shane Reti, Milly speaks to him about National's new policy surrounding being tougher on gang members, she also covers the world-class methanphetamine recovery programme Te Ara Oranga, and finally she touches on the use of memes in political social media.
Recently Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures has released a discussion paper on social cohesion in Aotearoa. This week on the Tuesday Wire, Beth spoke to Hema Sridhar about how technology is influencing social cohesion in New Zealand.
Welcome to the Tuesday Wire! This week on the show:
On Dear Science, Allan Blackman joins to talk dead flies, space brain and the size of the earth.
Milly has her weekly catch up with Dr Shane Reti where they talk about National’s proposed tougher consequences for gang members, Te Ara Oranga and the use of memes by political parties.
Milly also speaks to Aphiphany Forward-Taua from Just Speak on National’s crackdown on crime.
Beth speaks to Hema Sridhar, Strategic Advisor for Technological Futures at Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures, about social cohesion in Aotearoa.
And Rosetta speaks to Camilla Highfield, Deputy Dean at the University of Auckland Faculty of Education and Social Work, about the secondary school teachers strikes.
ACT Party Leader David Seymour made a comment comparing Palestine's right to defend itself against Israel with China's treatment of Uyghurs, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
For our regular catch-up witht the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins asked Court about these comments, and why ACT has taken a stance against the Palestinian community.
We Back our Kaiako is a new student-led group which has formed to support the teacher strikes. They’re based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara and will be protesting outside Parliament on Wednesday to show their support of the Post Primary Teachers Association.
Caeden had a kōrero with their spokesperson Kay about why they’ve organised this protest and what their demands are. More info can be found on their instagram @backourkaiako
From Dec 27 to Jan 18, all train lines across Tāmaki will be shutting down for summer maintenance, a closure which is expected to be the last of its kind ahead of the opening of the City Rail Link.
The current measles outbreak in Tāmaki is being continually monitored, with exposure sites being updated daily on info.health.nz. The public are encouraged to track whether they’ve been in possible contact with the virus, and get up to date on any vaccinations to limit possibilities of transmission.
Auckland Council are supporting arts initiatives across the summer months, with Music in the Park kicking off in early January, and Movies in the Park following in February.
Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about these topics, and also asked for comment following the attack by two gunmen at Bondi Beach earlier this week.
Yesterday, the latest six-monthly survey of housing support providers under the National Homelessness Data Project, or NHDP, showed that homelessness in Auckland has more than doubled in the year to September. The report also found that 14 of the 21 agencies interviewed reported an increase in homelessness.
As well as this, Australia’s ban on social media for children under 16 has taken effect. And according to an interim report into social media harm, a social media ban for children in New Zealand is worth exploring further.
And last week the Government announced the replacement of the Resource Management Act, or RMA. The coalition said its replacement will slash red tape and supercharge growth.
For our weekly catchup with the Green Party, Wednesday Wire Host Max spoke to MP Ricardo Menendez March about the Government’s new RMA reforms and a potential social media ban in New Zealand.
But first they discussed the latest report on Auckland homelessness.
The Parliament’s Workforce and Education Committee has released an interim report on an inquiry into the harm young New Zealanders face online. The government has recently announced an overhaul of the Resource Management Act and introduced two new bills in its place, the Natural Environment Bill and the Planning Bill.
For our weekly catch-up with the National Party, Producer Vihan spoke to MP Carl Bates, who is also the Deputy Chairperson of the Workforce and Education Committee, about the new findings of the interim report, the new Natural Environment Bill, and the Fast Track Approval Amendments Bill.
The government has announced the overhaul of the Resource Management Act (RMA), which will be replaced by two different bills, the Planning Bill and the Natural Environment Bill. The RMA is set to be fully replaced by 2029.
The RMA, which has been in effect for 34 years, is polarising across the political spectrum.
In announcing the reforms, RMA Reform Minister, Chris Bishop, says that “pretty much everything” will be quicker and less costly under the new regime.
For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to MP Simon Court about this overhaul of the RMA.
They also discussed The Education and Workforce Committee’s interim report on the harms young people experience online, with a majority recommending a ban on social media for under-16-year-olds.
But first, they discussed the overhaul of the RMA.
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
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
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