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.
Clinical psychologist Phoebe Pounter has lead a study which looks into how young women can view media with an engaged and critical eye to protect their body image. News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston was interested to speak to Phoebe about whether protecting your body image is as easy as simply approaching media with a critical eye. Phoebe goes on to explain her study and what tools people can use to avoid negative thinking when engaging with media platforms.
This week in her weekly chat with the Green Party co-leader James Shaw, Zoë Larsen Cumming asks him about the Greens' renewed commitment to push for meaningful change for Aotearoa's transgender and non-binary community, a recent petition on deep sea conservation, and the ongoing housing crisis to which Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson has attributed a "wicked divide" between haves and have-nots in Aotearoa.
Zoë has her weekly chat with the Green Party co-leader James Shaw on the Greens' commitment to push for meaningful progress for Aotearoa's trans and non binary whanau, a deep sea conservation petition, and the housing crisis (again).
Then, Aneeka talks to Glenis Philip-Barbara, the assistant Māori Commissioner, on a proposed by Māori, for Māori approach to the care and protection for pēpi Māori.
Next, Jess speaks to an expert on the intersection of technology and society, Matt Bartlett, about what factors have contributed to the increase in misleading political advertising online and whether New Zealand has an adequate system to combat misinformation.
After that, Aneeka speaks to Green MP and spokesperson for defence Golriz Gharaman on Australia's alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.
Finally, Zoë interviews For the Love of the Bees' Sarah Smuts-Kennedy on the effect of the bee decline on climate change and local approaches to helping out our little bees.
Andrew Becroft, Children's Commissioner, is officially recommending a total transformation of the current care and protection system for pēpi Māori after decades of calls for change to the system. Aneeka speak to Glenis Philip-Barbara, assistant Māori Commissioner, about issues facing pēpi Māori in state care and what changes we need to start seeing.
The Advertising Standards Authority recently ruled that an advertisement posted by the National Party claiming a retired couple would have to pay $140 a week in taxes under the Green Party's proposed wealth tax was untrue.
The Authority recieved 101 complaints of misleading political advertising this year, compared to just 16 during the 2017 election.
Jess talked to Matt Bartlett, an expert on the intersection of technology and society about what factors contributed to this increase and whether New Zealand has an adequate system to combat political misinformation online.
A report has been released by Australia's Defence Force Chief, Angus Campbell, saying there is information to substantiate 23 war crimes carried out in Afghanistan by Australian troops. The Green Party here in New Zealand has condemned these alleged crimes and Aneeka speaks to Golriz Ghahraman, the party's spokesperson for Defence about this incident and what needs to be done.
Zoë Larsen Cumming interviewed Sarah Smuts-Kennedy from the local city-bee collaboration team For the Love of Bees on the effect of the bee decline on climate change and local approaches to helping our little bees. She began by asking her what For the Love of Bees is all about.
New Zealand Post Grads stuck in India protested against strict Border Restrictions earlier this week. 95bFm producer Jade Lewis talked to Auckland Uni international student Varsha Ravi about having to stay in New Zealand over the summer, and immigration lawyer Katy Armstrong about Post Grad students stuck outside of New Zealand trying to get back in.
Earlier this week Willow-Jean prime and Rino Tirikatene were made the co chairs of the Labour Māori caucus, which is the largest Māori caucus the party has ever had. With a range of areas and issues to deal with in relation to Māori, Prime and Tirikatene hold importance. To hear more about these roles, James talked to Willow-Jean Prime about her position and started by asking what it entails.
Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of the Pike River disaster. Lyric spoke with Anna Osbourne, wife of Milton Osbourne and spokesperson for the Pike River family reference group 'Stand With Pike', about the group's work and the anniversary. Lyric also spoke with Richard Wagstaff from the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions about improving safety for work environments.
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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