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.
The Ministry of Health has released a proposal on an action plan to achieve Smokefree by 2025, suggesting policies including licensing certain retailers and gradually lifting the smoking legal age. Action on Smoke and Health's (ASH) Director Deborah Hart spoke to Justin Wong.
Aaaaaaahhhhh another week of Dear Science! Thisweek James and Aneeka discuss the AstraVeneca COVID-19 vaccine & probability, changing the laws of physics and Yuri Gagarin going into orbit 60 years ago.
Huzzah! James and Aneeka are back for another week with another interesting show.
As always, Wednesday starts of with Dear Science, this time with Allan Blackman. James and Aneeka talk with him about statistics, physics and Yuri Gagarin.
Aneeka brings us the third installment of 'What's the Buzz' where she talks to Kali Mercier from the NZ drug foundation about roadside drug testing.
The show finishes off with James' weekly chat with Brooke van Velden, this week they talk about anti-terrorism legislation and grassroot organisations being using for political agendas.
In the third installment of, 'What's the Buzz?' with the New Zealand Drug Foundation, Aneeka speaks to Kali Mercier, The Drug Foundation's manager for policy and advocacy. They discuss the roadside drug tests that the government is planning on implementing shortly as well as an open letter penned to parliament advocating for drug's to be treated as a health issue as opposed to a criminal one.
A report published today by AUT's New Zealand Work Research Institute looks into the effects local policies have on reducing problem gambling. Lyric spoke with Dr. Christopher Erwin, one of the authors of the study, about the Gambling Act 2003, effects of gambling on individuals, and the three main policy responses to problem gambling, among other issues.
Today on the Tuesday Wire, Lyric Waiwiri-Smith speaks with Dr Christopher Erwin about a study he co-published on the effects of local policies on problem gambling.
Jemima Huston looks into National MP Todd Muller’s sunscreen standards bill which has passed its first reading. Jemima talks to President of the NZ Dermatological Society Dr Louise Reiche about the importance of skin protection and how sunscreen prevents skin damage and skin cancer. She also speaks to Jon Duffy, CEO of Consumer NZ, about whether the members bill could effectively control sunscreen standards in NZ.
Finally, Jemima chats to AUT Asssoicate Professor Katherine Ravenswood about her study into the work environment of support and care workers.
Last week the Sunscreen (Product Safety Standard) Bill, introduced by National MP Todd Muller, passed its first reading in Parliament. The bill would require that all sunscreens sold in New Zealand meet the current standards and provide the level of SPF it says on the bottle. News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston speaks to President of the NZ Dermatological Society, Dr Louise Reiche, about the importance of skin protection and how sunscreen works to prevent skin damage and cancer. She also talks to Jon Duffy, CEO of Consumer NZ, about whether the Sunscreen (Product Safety Standard) Bill could effectively control sunscreen standards in New Zealand.
AUT Business School has released a report on their study into the work experiences of those working is support and care services such as nurses, mental health workers and residential aged care workers. News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston spoke Dr Katherine Ravenswood, an AUT Associate Professor and author of the study, about their findings.
Felix speaks to Green Party Co-Leader James Shaw about a non-discrimination bill for diability assistance animals, the Ministry of Justice’s Māori Victimization Report, and then lastly we talked about last friday’s School Strike for Climate march.
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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