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.
Researchers at the University of Auckland have been using augmented realities to recreate the first contact between Māori and Pakeha. The project is focused on using such new technologies to support and improve intercultural relationships.
One of the researchers, Mairi Gunn, joined Louis to talk about using augmented reality and the outcomes that they were expecting.
According to the United Nations, millions of people in Southern Madagascar are on the verge of extreme food insecurity. This comes as changing weather patterns have left the region without rain for almost four years.
Louis talked with the World Food Program's Shelley Thakral about the famine, the role of climate change, and what action needs to be taken.
The Chinese government has recently made numerous policy reforms that support Xi Jinping's goal of Common Prosperity. The reforms suggest a return to socialist policies, including regulation on for-profit education, online gaming, and internet companies.
Louis spoke to Victoria University of Wellington's Jason Young about the reforms and what impacts they might have.
The Western Australian government is re-drafting its heritage protection laws, after mining company Rio Tinto destroyed a FORTY SIX THOUSAND year old sacred site.
However, under these new proposed laws, the Western Australia Government still retains the final decision in heritage disputes.
A group of Aboriginal Australians including Nyungar human rights lawyer and academic, Dr Hannah McGlade have made a formal request for the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to review the draft Cultural Heritage Bill.
Jessica Hopkins spoke to McGlade, who says the proposed legislation is insufficient protection of the right to culture, which prohibits states from destroying significant Indigenous cultural heritage.
Today on The Wire, Jessica Hopkins hears from Nyungar human rights lawyer and academic, Dr Hannah McGlade about Heritage protection laws in Western Australia.
Louis Macalister bring you three pieces this week. First, he interviews Mairi Gunn from the University of Auckland about a project using augmented realities to recreate the first contact between Maori and Pakeha. Then Jason Young from the University of Victoria about China's recent domestic policies. Lastly, Shelly Thakral from World Food Program about famine in Madagascar.
A new study has found cannabidiol gels may help children with a severe form of epilepsy. Noah Ferguson-Dudding spoke to one of the authors of the study, Professor Lynette Sadlier from the University of Otago, about the findings.
Ilena spoke to Professor Bruce Robertson, from the Zoology department at the University of Otago, about the first ever study to genomically sequence kākāpō. The study was conducted with researchers from Sweden and New Zealand. Researchers looked at how the inbreeding of kākāpō on the small Stewart Island has, over a long time, been surprisingly positive in reducing harmful mutations. Bruce talks about what these findings mean for continuing efforts to sustain the population of the severely endangered kākāpō.
This week, Ilena spoke with Councillor Shane Henderson about what he calls the ‘week from hell’ for West Auckland. The week started with extensive flooding and ended with a terror attack at the LynnMall Countdown, all while the region was in level 4 lockdown. He gives some updates on where flooding emergency and support efforts are at now, and how West Aucklanders are coping.
On another note, Ilena and Shane also talked about bin tags and how a proposal to streamline Auckland’s rubbish service might look like.
Another locked-down show, with Jemima in studio and Noah and Ilena at home.
Noah spoke to Christopher Luxon about the National Party, Professor Lynette Sadlier about CBD gels for kids with epilepsy, and Professor Nikki Turner about booster vaccines for Covid-19.
Ilena then chatted about kākāpō with Professor Bruce Robertson, and caught up with Councillor Shane Henderson about the recent flooding in West Auckland.
Various governments around the world are reportedly preparing to provide citizens with booster shots to their vaccines against Covid-19. Noah Ferguson-Dudding spoke to Professor Nikki Turner, Director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre which advises the New Zealand government on vaccinations. They discussed what boosters do, why they may be useful, and whether they are ethical given the struggles many other countries are currently having with Covid-19.
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 
