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.
This article spoke about walking: how it affects our brains, and whether it could actually help students in school - to remember better, to think more creatively and help build more positive relationships between both students and teachers.
Given that New Zealand has gone back into lockdown we, as a result, are going on a lot more walks. Zazi wanted to speak to Thomas about this research to see if walking should continue to remain part of our daily lives, past the lockdown climate, as well as be incorporated into our education systems.
Zazi began by asking Thomas what the connection is between walking and thinking.
Earlier in the week West Tamaki experienced floods that caused road closures, extensive damage to many properties, and forced some residents to evacuate their homes. NIWA recorded the second wettest day on record for the area with rainfall of 201mm in just 14 hours and a staggering 149 percent of August’s normal monthly rainfall in just one day. On the Wire this Wednesday Frances Wright spoke briefly with Rachel Kelleher, Deputy Controller for Auckland Emergency Management about what the response has been like so far and what it will look like going forward and also to meteorologist Ben Noll from NIWA about the science behind the floods.
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.
Throughout the pandemic, there have been reports that zoo animals have been missing the public while zoos have been closed due to lockdown restrictions. News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston speaks to two representatives from New Zealand’s zoos about how the Level 4 lockdown has impacted their work and their animals. Jemima interviews Nathan Hawke, the Marketing, Public Relations and Visitor Services Manager for Christchurch’s Orana Wildlife Park, and Harmony Neil, the Team Leader for Primates at Wellington Zoo, about this.
Today on the Wire, Joe Wickins speaks to the founder of Pet Refuge, Julie Chapman, about the work the shelter does, how pets are impacted by domestic violence, and how COVID-19 has affected the shelter's operations.
Trishil Dayha brings us a piece on burnout. He speaks to two experts about what burnout means and how to deal with it.
Jemima Huston talks to Nathan Hawke from Christchurch’s Orana Wildlife Park, and Harmony Neale from Wellington Zoo about how lockdown is impacting the animals in New Zealand’s wildlife parks.
Finally, Isla and Stella bring you the latest episode of Tomorrow’s World. Today they investigate the common misconceptions about how human memory operates.
Cases of burnout have increased over the pandemic, with an estimated 210 million individuals across the globe being affected. Understanding of the effects of burnout can be seen on a case-by-case basis as it presents differently between various individuals. Burnout is a relatively new concept when understanding mental health, therefore most of the conversation surrounded the lived experience behind the phenomenon.
Trishil spoke to two different therapists to gain a rich understanding of the matter and to build a wider perspective into the state that affects us all. Trishil first spoke to Kristal O'Neill from Kristal Rose Counselling about how burnout manifests itself and affects different individuals, especially those predisposed to stress and anxiety. Trishil then carried the conversation on with Mo Nathan from Renew Your Mind.
This week Stella and Isla give each other a wake-up call on how bad their memory recall can actually be. Investigating common misconceptions about how human memory operates, brain structures responsible for this, and evidence that says humans overestimate their ability to remember, Tomorrow's World reminds us all to use the COVID tracer app.
According to the latest estimate, there are only 54 māui dolphins remaining. Only found on the North Island's west coast, māui dolphins are threatened by fishing pressures, like trawling and gill nets, and diseases, like toxoplasmosis.
Louis talked to University of Otago's Liz Slooten and Sea Shepherd's Michael Lawry about the species' current status, the major threats, and what needs to be done to save them.
Mandy Hager recently released her new book about Aotearoa's history of protest. Titled "Protest! Shaping Aotearoa", it delves into important social justice, human rights, and environmental movements that have shaped the country today.
Louis spoke to author Mandy Hager about the book and how we can learn from previous protest movements.
There are nine days left for people to make submissions to the Justice Select Committee to have their say on the proposed legislation to ban harmful conversion therapy practices.
Conversion therapy has been discredited by the National Health Service (NHS) and the World Psychiatric Association.
At the time of our interview, Shaneel Lal, co-founder of Conversion Therapy Action Group said that there were more submissions against banning conversion therapy than for. This includes submissions from trans exclusionary radical feminist (TERF) groups.
Jessica spoke to Shaneel Lal about why it is important for allies, parents and the LGBTQIATakatāpui+ community to make a submission.
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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