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.
Noah talks to National MP Christopher Luxon about international trade and the He Puapua report.
Ayana delves deep into the challenges around activism with Associate Professor of Sociology at Otago, Marcelle Dawson, and gets the insider scoop on why the March Against Sexual Violence didn't go ahead with Lily Chen. Lourdes Vano also speaks up about the challenges she faced in the School Strike 4 Climate group in 2019.
Councillor Shane Henderson speaks to Ayana on our regular segment with Auckland Council about streets for people, Maungawhau by-election, local council review and if council would consider a wage freeze.
Finally Noah spoke to Education Minister Chris Hipkins about pay equity for ECE and Kindergarden teachers.
Canterbury environementalist are protesting today in front of Envrionment Canterbury's offices to protest the agency's decision to grant a ten year extension to an environmental consent of a highly controversial irrigation scheme. The spokesperson of one of the groups, Aotearoa Water Action, spoke to Justin.
A new report by the Otago University in Wellington discovered that five per cent of houses in New Zealand are lacking basic amenities including drinkable tap water, electricity or a toilet. The report's lead author Helen Vickers is a Research Fellow at Otago University in Wellington's He Kāinga Oranga programme. She spoke to Justin about the report.
The government said it is planning to reduce merchant service fees for small businesses, which is a fee that banks charge for every transaction made on contactless debit and credit cards.
Auckland-based energy company Lodestone is planning to build five solar farms across the North Island and generate enough power for 55,000 households while conducting dairy farming on the side. The company's Director for Development Daniel Cunningham spoke to reporter James Tapp.
This week James and Brooke talk about a range of topics, starting off with the new laws to be introduced under Labour ot combat gangs.
The new laws allow for guns to be seized if they owner is high risk, which cuts through paper work. An act is also be revised to allow more seizures of gang owned assets.
James also touches on Brooke's motion in parliament which was revised, as the use of the word 'genocide' was vetoed.
Their chat finishes up on unionism, and ACT"s opposition to compulsory unionism.
With a week left for those living in the Maungawhau division to vote in their by election, James talks to two of the candidates in the running for the seat (Bernadette Power did not reply).
James covers a range of topics woth Will McKenzie, the candidate for Communities and Residents, as well as Jose Fowler, who is running as an independent.
While the basics of understanding candidates is covered, James also touches on some issues specific to the Maungawhau division.
On dear science this week James, Aneeka and Allan about Chernobyl, Dorothy Hodgkin and laser beams!
James has his weekly catch-up with the ACT party’s Brooke Van Velden, where they talk about her motion last week, unionism and new laws from the government around cracking down on gangs
Aneeka talks to Fiona Patten from the Reason Party in Australia about Victorian drug laws and the drug symposium for ‘What’s the Buzz’
James talks to Will McKenzie, one of the candidates for the Eden Albert by election in studio to talk about why he is the best candidate, as well as a small interview with Jose Fowler, who is also running for the seat as an independent candidate
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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