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.
As of 11.59pm on Tuesday, Waikato moved into Alert Level 2 of Covid-19 restrictions. With this shift, schools and hospitality venues are now able to open their doors after six weeks in lockdown. Christina spoke to Waikato District Deputy Mayor Aksel Bech and Hamilton Central Business Association General Manager Vanessa Williams about their newfound freedoms and what it means for local businesses.
This week on the Wednesday Wire, the show kicks off with our new producer Christina having her regular segment Dear Science with AUT Professor Marcus Jones. They talk about a new Pfizer antiviral to fight Covid-19; touch on the recent Glasgow Climate Pact; as well as discuss how nonsense words can make us think of specific shapes.
Zazi then has her regular talk with ACT Party’s Deputy Leader, Brooke van Velden, where they speak about the APEC Leaders Summit that recently took place, as well as the 1 News Colmar Brunton poll.
After that, Zazi talks to Professor Karin Stockin, Dr. Olga Pantos and Dr. Gabriel Machovsky about their recent research discussing how microplastics have been found in New Zealand marine mammals for the first time.
And finally, Christina chats to Waikato District Deputy Mayor, Aksel Bech, and Vanessa Williams from the Hamilton Central Business Association, about Waikato’s shift to Alert Level 2.
Massey University recently published an article titled Microplastics revealed in New Zealand marine mammals for the first time, where scientists found microplactsics in all of the New Zealand dolphins they examined. The international team led by Massey University and the Institute of Environmental Science and Research, also known as ESR, discovered that all common dolphins examined post-mortem during 2019 and 2020 had ingested microplastics.
Zazi spoke with the study’s first author, Professor Karen Stockin, the ESR lead Dr. Olga Pantos as well as co-author Dr. Gabriel Machovsky, about their recent dolphin study. The three researchers talk about microplastics, what they are, how they affect wildlife and human health, as well as explain in more detail what specific things surprised them when conducting their research.
This week Zazi and Brooke talk about the APEC Leaders Summit that recently took place, as well as the 1 News Colmar Brunton poll.
First off, the two talk about the virtual Summit that took place on the 11th and 12th of November. Brooke shares if she thinks Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern did a good job with hosting this year, what she thinks of the Aotearoa Action Plan that was endorsed, as well as if she thinks climate change issues are one of the biggest economic challenges facing the world today.
Then, Zazi speaks to Brooke about the 1 News Colmar Brunton Poll results that came out this week. Zazi asks how Brooke feels about these results, what she thinks of David Seymour being above Judith Collins in the preferred Prime Minister poll, as well as if she thinks COVID-19 impacted the National Party's results.
News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston last spoke to Auckland Women's Refuge on Friday August 20. At this stage Aotearoa had been in lockdown for three days. Now, Auckland has been in lockdown for 91 days and a lot has changed. Jemima wanted to catch up with Auckland Women’s Refuge to see how operations have changed for them and whether the organisation feels it has been supported to carry out its work in the community. She speaks to Chairperson Tauafu Havili about how the refuge has been coping in lockdown.
If you are seeking support or are feeling unsafe in your bubble please call the Auckland Women's Refuge Office 09 378 7635 or call the national Women's Refuge 24/7 Crisis Line 0800 REFUGE (733 843).
If you want to donate to Auckland Women's Refuge head to www.awrefuge.org.nz or call their office number to organise a time to donate essential food items. You can also head to the national Women's Refuge website to Gift A Safe Night.
Today on the Tuesday Wire, Emily Bell brings us her first piece where she speaks to Police Minister Poto Williams about the government's new firearms unit.
Jemima Huston interviews Deborah Hart, the Chair of Holocaust Centre NZ, about some of the comparisons that have been made by anti-vaccination protestors between the Holocaust and the government’s Covid restrictions here in New Zealand.
Jemima catches up with Auckland Women’s Refuge Chairperson Tauafu Havili to see how the refuge has been coping in lockdown.
Finally, Jemima speaks to Oxfam Aotearoa about the Covid support New Zealand has provided to Papua New Guinea.
Over the weekend, Associate Foreign Minister Aupito Williams announced that a medical and logistics team had been sent from New Zealand to Papua New Guinea to assist with the Covid-19 crisis there. Oxfam Aotearoa says this is a good start but argues that New Zealand can do more to support Papua New Guinea. News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston speaks to Oxfam Aotearoa's Communications and Advocacy Director Dr Jo Spratt about how Covid-19 has impacted PNG, how New Zealand is stacking up as a good neighbour to PNG on an international scale and whether New Zealand has the means to support other nations during the economically devestating pandemic.
The Holocaust Centre of New Zealand is calling for anti-lockdown protestors to stop misuing the Holocaust and the Star of David. At anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination rallies New Zealand’s Covid-19 restrictions and vaccination mandates have been compared to the Holocaust by protestors. News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston interviews the Chair of the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand Deborah Hart about why this comparison is insensitive and wrong. They discuss how the inclusion of Holocaust related terms in anti-lockdown protests have impacted New Zealand's Jewish community and why the right to protest does not give you the right to appropriate the industrialised genocide of six million Jews.
With the world focussing on COP26 discussions of climate change and pollution are rife. Ten days on from Guy Fawkes Day, Charlie speaks with Dr Joel Rindelaub from the University of Auckland to find out how much air pollution is created through fireworks. Dr Rindelaub discusses the biggest culprits for pollution in the fireworks market, and how these products can be affecting the whole communities health.
Last week, Daniel Ortega won his fourth consecutive election for Nicaragua's presidency. However, the election was marred by controversy, as eighty percent of eligible voters abstained, while seven of Ortega's opponents were arrested before voting began.
Louis spoke to the University of California, Santa Barbara's Kai Thaler about the election, Nicaragua's slide towards dictatorship, and what action he was expecting pro-democracy, western powers to take.
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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