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.
Today on the Wire, Lyric Waiwiri-Smith speaks to Minister Aupito William Sio about the importance of Samoan Language Week this week.
In response to the massive flooding event in Canterbury, Jemima Huston talks to Caroline Orchiston from the University of Otago about community resilience to natural disasters and to Dr Judy Lawrence from the Victoria University of Wellington about how climate change has impacted weather events across the country.
This week on What’s the Buzz - our weekly catch up with the New Zealand Drug Foundation - Aneeka Moheed and Executive Director Sarah Helm discuss ritalin and how people use it in Aotearoa.
Finally, Jemima chats to Genevieve Early, who is a student at the Bio-Protection Research Centre, about her research into how an indigenous New Zealand fungus could be a natural solution to non-native, damaging Wilding Pine.
To celebrate this year's Samoan Language Week/Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa Lyric speaks to Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio about this year's theme - "Poupou le lotoifale. Ola manuia le anofale" - and how language can affirm our identity.
Felix turns a journalistic eye to the world's most mysterious stories. This week, he investigates claims of the existence of Giants, and tries to understand the people who have dedicated themselves to proving it.
Felix speaks to Green co-leader James Shaw about climate action in regards to the farming industry, the reduction in police funding, and concerns over the mining industry.
New Zealand has one of the highest youth suicide rates in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Last year in New Zealand 175 young people died by suicide and an estimated 3500 attempted to take their own lives.
Mental health activist, Mike King says the biggest problem with our mental health system is that young people don’t realise how normal their problems are.
I started off our interview by asking King how he thinks we got to the current state we are in.
The Ministry of Education recently shared its consultation document for their new Aotearoa New Zealand’s Histories curriculum. The curriculum has the objective of telling a broad story of New Zealand's history.
Manying Ip, an Emeritus Professor of Asian Studies says the exclusion of diverse groups living in New Zealand from the document is a major oversight.
The Ministry says the document was meant to be a framework for setting the direction of the curriculum, but the Professor argues it is essential for the curriculum to reflect the diversity of all people living in Aotearoa.
“This is an issue too big to be ignored, or left to chance.”
Noah asks the tricky questions of National MP Christopher Luxon in our regular segment. They discuss the NZ/Victoria travel bubble, the vaccine roll out, and the trade war between Australia and New Zealand.
Ayana speaks to the CEO of Ocean Guardian Lindsay Lyon about their electronic shark deterrants as new research has come out supporting the effectiveness. We find out what they are, how they're utilised and how science communication is essention in shark conservation.
Noah the speaks to Paul Goulter, National Secretary for New Zealand Educational Institute Te Riu Roa about a surprise in the budget toward settling underpayments to teachers caused by issues with the Holiday Act.
Finally on our regular segment with Auckland Council, Ayana speaks to Cr Pippa Coom about the release of the $32 billion recovery budget and what the reaction has been and what the long term plan covers.
New research backing the effectiveness of electronic shark deterrents has been published in the Royal Society of Open Science Journal. Ayana spoke to CEO of Ocean Guardian Lindsay Lyon about this technology they produce, what it is and how it works.
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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