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.
Three-storied houses could be more common in Auckland under a new housing policy supported by both Labour and National.
The new policy, which was announced earlier this week, enables people to build up to three homes of three storeys on most sites without any need for resource consent, starting August twenty twenty three.
Analysis from consultants PWC told the government these changes would add between 48,200 and 105,500 new dwellings over the next five to eight years.
Professor John Tookey is a professor in construction management in AUT, and he said while the new policy is a significant step forward the devil is in the details.
Newshub is proposing to slash the radio reporter role after ending an arrangement with Mediaworks.
Currently Newshub’s parent company, Discovery, is supplying Mediaworks radio stations including Magic Talk with radio news, but this will end in December.
Mediaworks stations will also not be simulcasting Newshub’s The Am Show.
Instead, the company will be creating its own newsroom to produce radio news, and a new radio breakfast show.
Justin spoke to AUT’s Head of Journalism Greg Treadwell about the move.
Students at years 11-13 who live in alert level 3 areas will be able to return to classrooms next Tuesday after the Labour Day weekend.
Education and Covid-19 response minister Chris Hipkins said yesterday that all students will need to wear a mask and keep record of their whereabouts, while staff need to produce a negative test before they return.
Dr Jin Russell is a Developmental pediatrician and said reopening schools for young people is good for their mental health, but schools need good ventilation to stop Covid-19 from spreading.
Students at years 11-13 who live in alert level 3 areas will be able to return to classrooms next Tuesday after the Labour Day weekend.
Education and Covid-19 response minister Chris Hipkins said yesterday that all students will need to wear a mask and keep record of their whereabouts, while staff need to produce a negative test before they return.
NCEA and New Zealand scholarship exams would also continue nationwide but students who cannot attend the exams would receive an Unexpected Event Grade.
But the Post Primary Teachers’ Association said it is dismayed and angry at the decision.
Its Tāmaki Makaurau regional chair Michael Cabral-Tarry spoke to Justin Wong.
On their weekly chat, Justin and Health Minister Andrew Little talked about low Māori vaccination rates at Taranaki and Tairāwhiti, dedicated MIQ spots for health workers, and his thoughts on National's reopening plan.
Justin also talked to Developmental Paediatrician Dr Jin Rusell and Michael Cabral-Tarry, the Tāmaki Makaurau regional chair of the Post Primary Teachers’ Association on schools reopening next week.
He also chatted with AUT's head of journalism Greg Treadwell on Newshub's proposal to make radio reporters reduntant.
Justin also spoke to AUT Construction Management Professor John Tookey on the recent policy that scraps limits on housing density.
Justin spoke to Health Minister Andrew Little on low Māori vaccination rates at Taranaki and Tairāwhiti, dedicated MIQ spots for health workers, and his thoughts on National's reopening plan.
This week on the Wednesday Wire, Zazi Hewlett hosts the show and Frances Wright produces remotely from her home in Wellington!
The show kicks off with Frances speaking with Social scientist and The Workshop co-director, Dr Jess Berentson-Shaw, about having hard vaccine conversations with family and friends.
Zazi then speaks to Associate Minister of Housing, Peeni Henare, about iwi-led housing solutions and the programme Whai Kāinga, Whai Oranga.
Frances has her regular segment Dear Science with AUT Professor Marcus Jones. They speak on COVID Super-Immunity; talk about revealing solar system origins on Jupiter; and discuss learning via screen versus on paper.
Finally, Zazi has her regular catch-up with ACT's Brooke van Velden. They talk about three things: the new housing density rules, Aotearoa’s inflation being at its highest in over a decade, and also the fact that pregnant women and their partners do not currently get priority for MIQ spaces.
Today, applications open for the programme Whai Kāinga, Whai Oranga, a $730 million dollar Māori Housing Supply and infrastructure investment that will provide support for Māori to determine their own housing solutions, across the entire housing continuum, and deliver affordable rentals. The $730m fund combines investment from Budget 2021 ($380M), and the Māori Infrastructure Fund ($350m), the largest investment seen in Māori Housing.
Zazi spoke to Associate Minister of Housing, Hon Peeni Henare, about this fund in more detail, to hear more about what he has to say about Whai Kāinga, Whai Oranga, and why it is an important programme.
This week on Dear Science, Frances was joined by AUT Professor Marcus Jones where they spoke about the pandemic puzzle of COVID ‘super-immunity’, the first mission to asteroids near Jupiter that might reveal solar system origins, and the question of whether we learn better reading from a screen or from paper.
As promised, here is the link to the asteroid animation for any of you curious listeners out there... science rocks!
This week Zazi and Brooke talk about three things: the new housing density rules, Aotearoa’s inflation being at its highest in over a decade, and also the fact that pregnant women and their partners do not currently get priority for MIQ spaces.
First off, the two talk about the new Resources Management Amendment Bill that the Government and National Party announced yesterday. Zazi asks Brooke about David Seymour's "hollow stunt" comment, ACT being a supposedly "libertarian party", and the Party's alternative solution to address Aotearoa's housing affordability problem.
Next, Zazi and Brooke talk about Aotearoa’s inflation being at its highest in over a decade. Brooke shares her concerns, where she thinks our economy will be in the next 7-12 months, and what projects she believes were not worth the Government spending billions of dollars on.
And finally, Zazi asks Brooke about pregnant women and their partners not currently getting priority for MIQ spaces. Brooke talks about pregnant couples she has spoken to, about their experience with MIQ, and whether the support for women during this latest COVID-19 outbreak has been enough.
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
95bFM 
