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.
Felix talks to Green Party co-leader James Shaw about the recently postponed Dawn Raids apology, last week's Wellington COVID-19 case, and criticism of police detaining children within adult cells.
Roger Brooking is a drug counsellor and activist with a focus on providing avenues for rehabilitation for people charged with drug-related offenses. I spoke with him about his feelings on the prison system’s current handling of drug users, and what he believes the future should be.
Felix turns a journalistic eye to the world's most mysterious stories. This week, he enters the world of fantasy to discover the truth behind modern sightings of Elves and Trolls.
We catch up with James Shaw to talk about the Dawn Raids apology, last week's Wellington COVID-19 case, and issues with police detaining children in adult cells.
Jess Hopkins interviews Theresa Gattung about her new role as Chair of Women's Empowerment at the University of Auckland.
On Stranger Than Fact, Felix looks into claims about Elves and Trolls.
Jess then spoke to Dr Alys Clark about a virtual placenta that will help with early detection of at-risk pregnancies.
Felix then spoke to Roger Brooking about drug courts and issues with addiction treatment in prisons.
Lastly, Jess spoke to Lynley Hargreaves from Forest and Bird about a new petition to stop new coal mines in NZ.
Wellington's recent move into Level 2 came as a shock to many New Zealanders accustomed to regular, lockdown-free life. However, epidemiologist and government-advisor Professor Michael Baker was not surprised by the Covid case, aware that it is one of the risks of the cross-Tasman bubble.
Noah Ferguson-Dudding spoke to Baker about the recent lockdown and New Zealand's approach to face masks and contact tracing. They also discussed why it is so concerning the new case may be of the delta varient, but how vaccines will protect New Zealanders from the various types of the virus.
Vaping has been around for many years now. However, it is only in recent years that it has become ubiquitous among children and teenagers.
Zazi spoke to Life Education Trust chief executive, John O’Connell, about vaping in schools and the general impact it has on the younger demographic. Noah then talked to Shayne Nahu about the Cancer Society's stance on vaping laws.
On Friday's wire, Noah spoke to Professor Michael Baker about the recent Covid-19 case in Wellington, and New Zealand's vaccine rollout.
Noah also spoke to National MP Christopher Luxon for their weekly interview. They discussed the new Covid caes, and Luxon's dispute with Michael Wood in Parliament.
Jemima helped out too, and spoke to Pippa Coom, council representative for the Waitematā and Gulf ward. They discussed the central government's revitalisation project for the Hauraki Gulf, Karangahape Road enhancements and Matariki celebrations.
Zazi spoke to John O'Connell from Life Education Trust about the increase in vaping in primary and intermediate schools. Noah also spoke to the Cancer Society's Shayne Nahu to discuss the science and research around the effects of vaping compared to smoking.
Neighbourhood Watch reports on Barnaby Joyce returning to his former position as Deputy Prime Minister after elected leader of the National Party, and the Australian government rejecting a UNESCO report saying it had not done enough to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
Following last weeks tornado in Papatoetoe, the Auckland Council and New Zealand Government have each donated $100,000 to provide immediate relief for the local community. The combined $200,000 is expected to help with emergency housing, food and electricity, and family or personal crises, among other costs.
Manukau Ward Councillor Alf Filipaina joined producer Louis to chat about the tornado's impacts and how funding might help the local community.
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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