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.
Christoper Luxon, the National MP for Botany, had his maiden speech in Parliament this week. He spoke about his career as Air New Zealand's CEO, his goals for the National Party, and the role of his faith in his personal life. Noah Ferguson-Dudding spoke about the speech with Luxon as part of his weekly catch-up with the MP.
On Friday 12th April, students across Wellington will strike from school to protest inaction against climate change. Noah Ferguson-Dudding spoke to one of the leaders of the strike, Izzy Cook from Hutt Valley High School, about the goals for the strike.
On Tuesday, a 400 metre long cargo ship become stuck in Egypt's Suez Canal, blocking all other ships from getting through. The Canal is a crucial route for global trade and the blockage may have significant implications for the global economy. Noah Ferguson-Dudding spoke to Dr Murat Üngör, a professor in economics from the University of Otago about the significance of the crisis.
Today on the Friday Wire, Noah Ferguson-Dudding talks with National Party MP Christopher Luxon, for his regular catch up with the National Party. They discuss faith in politics and social policies at a government level versus a business level.
Jemima Huston speaks to Labour MP Ginny Andersen about her Bereavement Leave for Miscarriage bill, which passed it’s third reading in parliament yesterday.
Noah catches up with School Strike for Climate New Zealand and speaks to Izzy Cook about their next strike in Wellington.
Finally, Noah talks to Murat Üngör about the cargo ship blocking the Suez canal in Egypt.
Justin spoke to Health and Pike River Re-entry Minister Andrew Little about the government's health reforms and his comments around going further into the Pike River Mine.
Justin spoke to Associate Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall and Local Government New Zealand president Stuart Crosby about the government's decision to strip local authorities of their water fluoridation powers and give them to the Director-General of Health.
Justin spoke to Bike Auckland's Chair Barb Cuthbert on the Skypath project being all but cancelled after the New Zealand Transport Agency said there are structural problems.
Justin spoke to Associate Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall and Local Government NZ president Stuart Crosby about the government's decision to shift local council's water fluoridation powers to the Director-General of Health.
On their weekly chat, Justin chatted with Health and Pike River re-entry Minister Andrew Little about the government's health reforms and his comments on entering further into the Pike River Mine.
He also talked to Bike Auckland's Barb Cuthbert about Skypath at the Auckland Harbour Bridge, which is next to being cancelled.
Following the announcement of the government's new housing plan, concerns have been raised regarded the little attention paid to accessibility issues in regard to housing for the disabled. Aneeka talks to Paula Tesoriero, the disability rights commissioner, about housing barriers faced by the disabled community and steps the government must take to remedy this.
This week James and Aneeka put together a jam packed show for you, with Dear Science, Brooke van Velden and more.
On Dear Science, James, Aneeka and Marcus discuss COVID-19, finding new species, and a NASA helicopter on Mars.
James chats to Brooke van Velden about the newest housing reform and the impending trans-tasman bubble.
Aneeka talks to Paula Tesoriero, the disability rights commissioner about the lack of accessible housing in the government’s new housing plan.
James talks to Jessica Desmond, the oceans campaigner for Greenpeace about the report put out by the Prime Ministers Chief Science Advisor on fisheries and the ocean.
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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