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.
Within Aotearoa, racism is very much a societal problem that exists regardless of the situation. One particular area of uttermost importance is education, due to the impact it has on the young minds of this country. Recently the teaching council has spoken about what they are doing to change and remove racism from education, allowing for a better education for our children. To understand more about the process, James talks to the chief executive of the teaching council, Lesley Hoskin, and started off by asking about whether this is a recent issue or something which is only just being addressed.
There has been a lot going on this week, and the Friday wire had it all.
The show starts off with an interview with Richard Hills as part of city councilling, where Oscar asks about weed management.
Next up is an interview with Allison Vaughn from the SPCA about the impact of fireworks on animals across the country
James also talks to the chief executive of the teaching council, Lesley Hoskin, about training surrounding racism in the classroom and how it impacts students.
Finally we finish off with the week that was with Ollie, where we talk about the New Zealand and US elections among other big news.
In the midst of the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election, Justin provides an update on how results are looking for candidates, former Vice-President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump. Aneeka speaks to Maria Armoudian, politics lecturer at the University of Auckland, about how everything is looking, what this illustrates about American voters and what could happen should Trump refuse to accept a potential Biden victory. Aneeka then speaks to Associate Professor Stephen Hoadley, a politics and international relations academic from the University of Auckland, about how the race is currently looking and what a victory for either candidate could mean for America's foreign policy and New Zealand's relationship with the States.
Justin and the new Health Minister Andrew Little discussed about the new Cabinet, the cannabis referendum, his priorities for the health portfolio, and should there be more transparency in the historical operations of the SIS.
Justin talked to the new Health Minister Andrew Little about the new Cabinet, the cannabis referendum, the Minister's new health portfolio, and transparency surrounding historic SIS operations.
On a special edition of the States of the States, Justin and Aneeka discussed the US presidential election, which former Vice President Joe Biden is leading incumbent President Donald Trump in the electoral college.
Aneeka spoke to Dr Maria Armoudian of the University of Auckland to talk about how the election reflects the state of America, and what's next if President Trump refuses to accept the result.
Aneeka also talked to Auckland Uni's Associate Professor Stephen Hoadley on the result's effects on American foregin policy and relationship with New Zealand.
Bronwyn speaks to spoke to Act Deputy Leader Brooke Van Velden about the preliminary results of the End of Life Choice referendum. They then speak about Act's recent call to abolish the Human Rights Commission calling it a “hard-left organisation masquerading as a government department”. The Act party cites policies such as a living wage, raising benefits, an extra public holiday and hate speech laws as examples of the Commission’s left-leaning tendencies. Bronwyn asks Brooke whether the opposition is really to the Commission itself, or just the politicisation of the role.
You can listen to last week's interview where producer Jessica Hopkins asked Chief Human Rights Commissioner, Paul Hunt to respond to the Act party’s claim, here.
A lot of people are very stressed about the United States Election. The bright side is that you're not alone, the downside is that a lot of people are very stressed about the United States Election. Felix talks about it.
This week on the Wire, Dear Science's Marcus Jones talks about gravitational waves, the unlikelihood of schools being breeding grounds for COVID-19, and the surprisingly squishy suface of comets. Felix has a report on the effects of the US Election on mental health. And Bronwyn speaks to deputy leader of the Act party - Brooke Van Velden about the result of the End of Life Choice referendum, and the party's call to abolish the Human Rights Commission.
Today on the Tuesday Wire, Jemima speaks to Tania Sawicki Mead from Just Speak about the preliminary cannabis referendum results and what the next government must do to reform our drug laws.
Jemima chats live to new Green MP, Dr Elizabeth Kerekere, who talks about what she will bring to parliament.
Rainbow Youth Executive Director, Frances Arns talks about the announcement yesterday that the 2023 Census will include sex at birth, gender identity and sexual orientation questions.
Elizabeth Hague from the Department of Conservation speaks to Jemima about a new citizen scientist app that helps with the tracking of blockages in freshwater fish passageways.
Finally, Aska Burge from the New Zealand Blood Service explains the change in criteria for plasma donation and how people can get involved.
This election Dr Elizabeth Kerekere has entered parliament as one of the Green Party’s 10 MP’s. Dr Kerekere is a Maori, LGBTQ+ activist and scholar and she speaks to Jemima Huston about what she will bring to parliament, the goals she has this term and her thoughts on the Labour / Greens Cooperation Agreement.
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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