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.
Ilena talked to the National Party spokesperson for social development, Luise Upston, about the government rejecting advice to fund Whānau Ora to have a strategic role in the vaccination rollout for Maori and Pasifika. They spoke about what Whānau Ora do, how the vaccination figures for Maori and Pasifika are looking like as we enter the group four vaccination phase, and the efficacy of the approach that the government has had so far in engaging these communities.
Today, Ilena spoke to Professor Howard Fallowfield, from all the way over at Flinders University in Adelaide. They talked about research that he has co-led that looks into creating a sustainable wastewater recycling program that can harvest material to use in biofuels, a renewable fuel alternative to fossil fuels.
They spoke about the advantages of this method of harvesting material for biofuel, and whether the findings of this research could be extrapolated to places like NZ and bigger cities to help reach carbon neutral targets.
Ilena spoke to Councillor Pippa Coom for an update on Auckland Council’s Covid-19 response as we look forward to another two weeks of lockdown. We also discussed the flooding that happened earlier this week in parts of Auckland due to a period of intense rain and storms, and how emergency services responded to those affected under level 4 restrictions. She also mentioned resources available on the Council website for those looking to stay healthy physically and mentally during lockdown, as well as getting rid of Auckland library overdue fines.
The Level Four Lockdown has had a huge impact on Auckland's central city businesses - they have lost an estimated 45 million dollars in consumer revenue alone, according to business association Heart of the City. Conor speaks to the association's chief executive Viv Beck on what can the government do to support businesses during this time.
Climate change is not going away anytime soon, as outlined by the recent IPCC report. The 1.5 degrees celsius warming target is to supposed to be met by 2030, which in the scale of climate change, is just around the corner. What actions can New Zealand take to meet this target? Conor speaks to University of Auckland's Professor David Noone, looking at what New Zealand can do for the future of climate change. This interview is leading on from discussions from last week with Dr. Sara Mikaloff-Fletcher, which can be found here.
Justin and Health Minister Andrew Little talked about the government's Covid-19 response, Parliament sitting despite being under alerts level 3 and 4, backlogging surgeries under lockdown, and vaccinations for healthcare workers and the Māori and Pasifika communities.
Would you get tested for a fatal disease that you have a fifty percent of inheriting from your parents?
It is a decision that journalist (and bFM's former news director) Lillian Hanly has to make.
The disease in question is Huntington's Disease, a genetic neurodegenerative condition that passes on from an affected parent. The probability for their children inheriting the disease is fifty percent and it does not skip generations.
The condition affects part of the brain from working properly over time, impacting movement, behaviour, and cognition. It will become harder to walk, talk, reason, and swallow for those who have the condition, and it is incurable.
Lillian is now facing the question in her new documentary Fifty Percent as her grandfather, the New Zealand artist Pat Hanly, and her biological mother all have the disease.
On their weekly chat, Justin Wong and Health Minister Andrew Little talked about Parliament sitting under high alert levels, surgery backlogs, and vaccinations.
Auckland businesses say they need more government support to stay afloat during the lockdown - Producer Conor Head-McCarthy talked to Heart of the City's Viv Beck.
Justin also chatted with journalist Lillian Hanly about about the inherited neurodegenerative condition Huntingdon's Disease.
Conor spoke to the University of Auckland's David Noone on New Zealand's potential actions on climate change.
This week on the Wednesday Wire, Zazi Hewlett and Frances Wright continue to produce remotely from home as Auckland remains in Level 4 Lockdown, with Jemima hosting the show and bringing us the news.
The show starts off with Frances having her regular segment Dear Science with Allan Blackman. This week Frances and Allan celebrate the life of Ernest Rutherford the week after what would have been his 150th birthday; discuss why Pluto is no longer considered a planet; and talk about the discovery of the world’s northernmost island.
Frances then speaks with both Deputy Controller for Auckland Emergency Management, Rachel Kelleher, and NIWA Meteorologist, Ben Noll, about the flooding in West Auckland.
Zazi talks to the Professor of Philosophy at the University of Denver in the United States, Thomas Nail, about the benefits walking has on the brain, and whether walking while learning could actually help students.
Finally Zazi has her regular catch-up with ACT's Brooke van Velden, this week talking about ACT refusing to have Parliament sit virtually and Butchers being closed during lockdown.
On Dear Science this week Frances Wright talked with AUT Professor Allan Blackman, celebrating the life of Ernest Rutherford the week after what would have been his 150th birthday, discussing why Pluto is no longer considered a planet and the unlikely discovery of the world’s northernmost island.
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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