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.
Yesterday the government committed to overhaul Well Child Tamariki Ora. The health programme screens babies between the ages of zero to five and provides parenting support and advice through the work of Whānau Āwhina Plunket and many other non-governmental organisations. A review has shown that the programme is outdated and is failing to keep up with the challenges facingwhanau today such as poverty, mental health, drug-use, family and housing situations.
News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston speaks to Dr Jin Russell, a Developmental Paediatrician working in Auckland, to provide an experienced view of the problems with Well Child Tamariki Ora.They discuss the history of the programme, the government’s decision to make significant changes to it, and whether the National and ACT Party’s criticism that Labour is enforcing seperatist policies are appropriate when it comes to whanau focused health policy changes in Aotearoa.
95bFM reporter Conor Head-McCarthy also provides comment from Associate Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall about the government's decision to overhaul Well Child Tamariki Ora.
Today is our Best of Semester One 2021 show! The 95bFM News Team works hard to bring you important and interesting news stories every week for our news bulletins and the Wire. As we are a student newsroom, our timetabling runs on a university schedule. So, in celebration of completing semester one, we thought we'd play you some of the best pieces that were created for Wire in Semester One 2021.
Ayana Piper-Healion explored the challenges of activism with Associate Professor of Sociology Marcelle Dawson and March Against Sexual Violence organiser Lily Chen.
James Tapp spoke to ACT Party deputy leader Brooke van Velden about ACT's opposition to the He Puapua and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
This semester Felix Walton created Stranger Than Fact, where he turned a journalistic eye to the world's most mysterious stories. He investigated the Dancing Plague of 1518, an event that got a whole town on their feet... before they couldn't get back down.
News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston talked to New Zealand education experts about whether politics has a place in New Zealand classrooms. This story was in response to Australia’s New South Wales Government condemning a local school whose students created Black Lives Matter and anti-police protest posters.
Noah Ferguson-Dudding asked National MP Christopher Luxon about his fellow MP Paul Goldsmith's remarks about colonisation and Luxon’s own knowledge of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Finally, International Desk reported on Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily closing operations after its chief editor and five media executives were arrested on national security charges. Justin Wong chatted to Hong Kong journalist Stephen Vines about it.
A recent report by First Gas, Fonterra and engineering firm Beca has found that biogas could make up substaintial amounts of New Zealand's gas consumption. The report claims that biofuel could reduce four percent of greenhouse-gas emissions and make up almost three quarters of commercial gas use. Louis Macalister speaks to Jack Timings, Process Engineer in the Industrial Sustainability Team at Beca about the potential for biogas to be used in Aotearoa.
Last week, Immigration New Zealand annoucned that it may begin to cancel visas and refund the individuals who have applied for residency in Aotearoa. The government says there are over 50,000 applicaton's to be processed. Louis Macalister speaks to immigration lawyer Elly Fleming about the decision.
In her book 'The Future is Feminine: Capitalism and the Masculine Disorder' https://www.bloomsbury.com/au/future-is-feminine-9781350149762, Dr Keira Cremin, a Senior Lecturer in the School of Social Sciences at the University of Auckland explains why she believes masculinity has its origins in a psychological disorder.
Jessica Hopkins interviews Cremin about society's issue with femininity, starting of by disucssuing how we define femininity and masculinity, and when this can become problematic.
It was recently announced that both New Zealand and Australia will routinely offer the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at any stage of pregnancy.
Jessica Hopkins talked to Dr Michelle Wise from the University of Auckland about new research that suggests vaccination during pregnancy is safe and beneficial.
Oxfam Aotearoa recently released a new report, The Hunger Virus 2.0, showing a six-fold increase in people suffering "famine-like conditions" since pandemic began
According to Oxfam's statistics, as many as 11 people are likely dying of hunger and malnutrition each minute, passing the current global death rate of COVID-19.
Jessica Hopkins talks to Dr Jo Spratt, about what needs to be done to address rising hunger and malnutrition globally.
Emily Bell talks to Auckland University sociology lecturer Ciara Kremin and economic lecturer Dr. Debasis Bandyopadhyay about the success of the Iceland four day work week trial and whether a shorter work week could be implemented in New Zealand.
A recent report on Covid-19 has shown the high rates of vaccination required for Aotearoa to gain herd immunity against Covid-19. Noah Ferguson-Dudding spoke to one of the authors of the report, Professor Shaun Hendy from the University of Auckland, about how New Zealand is currently faring against Covid and how vaccinations will change that.
They also discussed how other countries such as the UK were doing in their attempt to live with Covid, and whether there are any similarities between the Flu and Covid.
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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