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.
A report has said the way reading is taught in New Zealand needs to fundamentally change. The report from the New Zealand Initiative found that one in five of New Zealand’s 15-year-olds do not have the reading competency to enter the workforce, further their education, or productively participate in society according to the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Joe speaks to Roger Partridge from NZ Initiative on the matter.
International Desk reports on the aftermath of unrest in the Solomon Islands, as New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea deployed peacekeepers.
Justin spoke to Griffith University's Dr Tess Newton Cain about the situation.
On their weekly chat, Justin and Health Minister Andrew Little talked about the traffic light system and the Government's plan for the Omicron variant.
International Desk reports on the unrest in the Solomon Islands.
Justin also talked to Professer Graham Le Gros of the Malaghan Institute on the pediatric Pfizer vaccine.
Producer Joe Wilkins spoke to NZEI's Liam Rutherford on funding for learning support.
He also talked to the New Zealand Initiative's Roger Partridge on changing the way to teach children reading, and the New Zealand Hostel Association chair Brett Duncan on the future of backpacker hostels in New Zealand
The government said children aged five to eleven could soon be eligible for a pediatric version of the Pfizer vaccine before the end of next month, pending Medsafe approval.
Professor Graham Le Gros is an immunologist and the Programme Director of Vaccine Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand and he told Justin it is important for vulnerable young children to get the jab.
With the International Day for People with Disabilities being tomorrow, NZEI’s campaign surrounding the underfunding of the learning support sector comes timely. Joe speaks to Liam Rutherford, Chair of NZEI on the matter.
Joe speaks to the Chair of the New Zealand Hostel Association and Board of BYATA Member, Brett Duncan, on the situation we see with hostels in New Zealand and the governments reactivation package. The government has introduced a reactivation for Auckland this summer but is that enough for backpacker hostels?
This week Zazi and Brooke talk about the Christopher Luxon being elected the new National Party Leader and the new Omicron coronavirus variant.
In the first half, the two talk about the announcement yesterday that Christopher Luxon has been elected the new National Party Leader, alongside Nicola Willis as Deputy Leader. Zazi asks Brooke what the feeling around parliament was after the announcement, if Brooke believes Christopher Luxon is experienced enough for this role and whether she believes this new leadership will result in more National Party voters.
In the second half, Zazi speaks to Brooke about the new coronavirus variant. Brooke shares how concerned she is about the new variant for Aotearoa, and talks about vaccine access in both developed and developing countries.
Today, the Anti-Vivisection Society put out a press release talking about the transparency around the University of Otago’s animal experimentation. The Anti-Vivisection Society has been investigating the University of Otago to expose them for their cruel and unethical experiments that have been conducted on animals.
Zazi spoke to the Executive Director of the New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society, Tara Jackson. They spoke about the investigation in more detail, what proof NZAVS has on unethical experiments being conducted at the University of Otago and how this investigation could help change the way scientists and researchers treat animals.
Zazi then reads a written statement sent to her from the University of Otago media and communications team, which responds to the allegations the NZAVS are making.
Yesterday, it was announced that Christopher Luxon, MP for Botany, is the new Leader of the National Party and Nicola Willis, List MP, is the Deputy Leader. This latest leadership vote came after Judith Collins was ousted from her position last week by a vote of no confidence from the National Party caucus.
For 95bFM listeners, Luxon taking the top position may have been a little surprising. On November 12 2021, as part of our weekly interview with the National Party on the Friday Wire, Luxon was asked whether he wanted to be the National Party leader in the future. Luxon answered, laughing, "No. I'm very focused on doing what I'm doing... I'm one of those people that do it day by day, job by job, and that's what I'm trying to do". A mere 17 days later, Luxon is elected the new leader of the Party.
National has been looking for a refreshed leadership team for some time now. Will Luxon's very short term in parliament and CEO background, alongside Willis' long-term history with National and more liberal point of view be what the Party needs to revitalise their policies and bring voters back?
News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston interviews Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland Jennifer Lees Marshment about the new National Party leadership team. Jennifer explains who Luxon is and what her thoughts are on the “liberal” pairing of Luxon and Willis.
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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