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.
Every year Consumer NZ tests whether different sunscreen brands live up to their packaging. The latest round of testing has just been released, revealing that five out of ten brands are making inaccurate claims. Noah spoke to CEO of Consumer NZ, Jon Duffy, about the new findings.
News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston caught up with Māori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer to hear about how the transition into parliament had been going for the party. The discuss the call to recognise Te Tiriti o Waitangi in the Parliamentary Oath, how grassroots cultural change within the House can be made and what goals Debbie has for this parliamentary term.
A University of Otago study surveyed just over a thousand people people about food waste. News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston spoke to Industry Representative of the Otago University Food Waste Research Team Francesca Goodman-Smith about the study. They discuss the finding that saving money is a key motivator behind food waste reduction and why food waste campaigns should focus on this.
Diane Hunt presented her petition to amend the Sentencing Act and Parole Act to Parliament last week. Her son, Constable Matthew Hunt, was killed earlier this year, with the incident garnering much media attention. The offender is currently facing charges for murder, attempted murder, and wounding - but Hunt wishes to see the sentence for murdering a police officer raised to a mandatory life sentence without parole.
Community groups advocating for criminal justice reform have voiced opposition to the peititon, believing it will exacerbate issues in Aotearoa's criminal justice system.
Hanna spoke to JustSpeak Director Tania Swicki Mead about the organisation's position against the petition, the consequences of punitive justice policy, and alternative approaches.
This week is Zoë Larsen Cumming's last chat of the year with the Green Party co-leader James Shaw and there's lots to talk about.
Four bills were rushed urgently through parliament last week during its first full week of sitting. These were a new income tax bracket, drug testing at festivals and events, increasing sick leave from five to ten days, and increasing the speed at which the government can change COVID-19 alert levels.
To find out the who, what, when, where, why of these new bills, whakarongo mai!
About two weeks ago, Minister of Finance, Grant Robertson, penned a letter to the Reserve Bank Governor, Adrian Orr, seeking advice on solving Aotearoa's housing crisis. This shows that the government is acknowleging the severity of the housing crisis and Aneeka speaks to Peter Malcolm, spokesperson for 'Closing the Gap; the Income Equality Project' about the crisis and what action we need to start seeing at the governmental level.
Zoë Larsen Cumming has her weekly chat with the Green Party co-leader James Shaw. This week they discuss the four bills rushed through parliament in its first week of sitting last week.
Then Jess Hopkins speaks to Dr Stephen Winter, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations and Social Sciences at the University of Auckland, about monetary redress programmes for survivors of institutionalised abuse, and the Royal Commission's recent redress hearings.
Next Aneeka Moheed speaks to Peter Malcom, spokesperson for ‘closing the gap; the income equality organisation.
Then Jess speaks to the director of Nikko Asset Management, George Carter, about KiwiSaver and investing in disruptive innovation funds.
And finally, Zoë speaks to the general manager of Rotorua Canopy tours, Paul Button, about how his adventure park combines conservation and tourism and the positive flow on effects they’re seeing in neighbouring areas.
A conservation group and adventure park in Rotorua are experiencing the hugely gratifying natural phenomenon of nature returning to the forest after the elimination of pests. To find out more about the work that happens at Rotorua Canopy Tours in the Dansey Road Scenic Reserve, Zoë speaks to general manager, Paul Button. She begins by asking what the current situation is with Aotearoa's biodiversity status.
Last week survivors of institutionalised abuse spoke at the first religion based redress hearings of the Royal Commission. The New Zealand Catholic Church stated that they will learn from their past mistakes and do their part to stop abuse in care.
Jess talked to Dr Stephen Winter about the outcomes he hopes to see from the Royal Commission and his research into monetary redress programmes.
The interview began by discussing the current state of monetary redress programmes and what support is available for survivors of institutionalised abuse in New Zealand.
This week a lot happened on the shores of New Zealand as well as overseas, whic a number of developements to peak your interest.
In Australia, we saw Scott Morrison ask for an apology in relation to a post of a fake image depicting an Australian soldier in a violent act.
In the UK, the first vaccines are arriving, with a priority list being released aloowing those most in need to receive them first.
Nationally, the New Zealand governmrnt has announced a climate emergency decleration, with commitments to make the public sector carbon neutral and backlash from opposition in the mix.
Finally, pill testing at festivals is now allowed for the next 12 months in aneffort to make sure festival goers know what substances they are taking over the summer period.
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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