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.
The vaccine mandate deadline for firefighters has been extended by two weeks to allow for more people to get their shots. Those firefighters that remain unvaccinated beyond the deadline may face job losses. According to Wattie Watson, the secretary of the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union, there are about 300 career firefighters that are currently unvaccinated or have not disclosed their vaccination status. Louis spoke to Wattie about the deadline extension and getting firefighters vaccinated.
UPDATE: Since this interview went to air, 95bFM has been informed by Fire and Emergency that 50 career firefighters have not disclosed their vaccination status to the organisation as of Saturday 13 November.
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.
Dr Nikki Renall of Massey University, Taranaki, has been awarded nearly $350,000 to undertake nutritional research involving Māori communities. Within the research, Dr Renall's hopes to connect Māori back to their traditional narratives around kai, and create a treasured space for historical information that can be used to help eating habits of future generations. Dr Renall's speaks with Charlie on the current hopes for the research project, and where Māori focused nutritional research should be taken in the future.
As grocery prices rise during Auckland's lockdown, then need for food packages has risen with it. With the government providing less economic aid to families during the current lockdown than during last years restrictions, Food Banks and Missions are wanting to see more government support to citizens in need. Charlie spoke to Janet McAllister, spokesperson for Child Poverty Action Plan, about what should be offered to those struggling to alleviate mounting pressures off charitable groups.
The government has announced they are revoking the 'Three Strikes Policy' introduced by the National Party in 2010. The policy imposes the maximum punishment on a violent offender after their third offence. While it aimed to keep the worst criminals out of society, it has since been criticised for absurd and disproportionate sentences on offenders. Noah Ferguson-Dudding spoke to Professor Andrew Geddis from the University of Otago about the policy, its potential flaws, and future improvements he would like to see to Aotearoa's criminal justice system.
Noah speaks to Christopher Luxon about his future career goals, Professor Andrew Gaddis about the Three Strikes Policy and Dr Elizabeth Kerekere about Oranga Tamariki.
Ilena also speaks to Councillor Pippa Coom about housing intensification, level 3.2 in Tāmaki Makaurau and electric buses.
This week, Ilena talked to Pippa Coom about the Medium Density Residential Standards and what went down at Auckland Council's meeting about it last week. They also talked about Council services available at Level 3 Step 2 and new electric buses that will be replacing Auckland's diesel buses.
On Tuesday, a study conducted by the Victoria University of Wellington showed how coastal risks could be reduced now instead of waiting for legislation. The report comes timely with the COP26 conference in Glasgow, as world leaders discuss how they can reach global emission reduction targets. Author of the study, Dr Judy Lawrence, says her research analyses the difficulties of planning for the on-going sea level rise under a planning regime which is largely permissive and enables land-uses with very long timeframes. Joe speaks to Dr Judy Lawrence on the matter.
Justin spoke to Health and GCSB Minister Andrew Little about home isolation for Covid community cases, new Covid drugs, and the GCSB's decision to retire the satellite domes at Waihopai station.
On their weekly chat, Justin and Health and GCSB Minister Andrew Little talked about the GCSB retiring the satellite dishes at Waihopai, home isolation for postive Covid community cases, and drugs to treat Covid.
Justin also spoke to Anti-Base Campaign's Murray Horton on retiring the Waihopai satellite dishes.
Producer Joe Wickins spoke to the University of Auckland's Kate Hannah on the spread of misinformation and disinformation since the Delta outbreak.
He also spoke to Judy Lawrence of Victoria University of Wellington on said how local leaders and planners can reduce risks from coastal threats without waiting for law reform.
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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