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.
Climate change has been the hot topic that’s been on everyone’s minds and tongues. Theater maker Amber Liberté takes this discussion to the stage. “Our Modern Earth (Is a F*cking Mess)” is a piece of theatre and dance that indulges in the discourse of climate change through the eons that have passed by. The play goes through a visual transformative journey through the use of organic material (like leaves and branches) to more man-made or mechanical material (like plastic). With supporting entities like Generation Zero, the play attempts to make its audience members question the rapid nature of climate change.
This production will unfortunately not go ahead due to COVID-19, but will later be adapted into a film.
Mary-Margaret has her weekly catch up with Radio Adelaide’s Zoe Kounadis and learns about how it feels to be on the ground in Australia where COVID is present but there’s been little government response; she also chats with Labour’s Andrew Little once again, who recaps the legalisation of abortion that passed last night, as well as the government’s COVID package announcement this week; Rachel reports on the first case of human trafficking and slavery to reach conviction in New Zealand; and Nirvana brings us her interview with choreographer Amber Liberte whose Basement show about climate change is about to begin.
Covid-19 is on everyone's mind, but it is also important to remember that the climate crisis has not gone away. Izzy spoke with Dewy Sacayan from the youth-led climate action group Generation Zero about similarities between Covid-19 and the Climate Crisis and how there is an opportunity to act on transitioning to a low-carbon economy. She began by asking Dewy why Generation Zero thinks the government should be taking climate action alongside their action on Covid-19 and what it should look like.
Felix Walton reports on the government’s recession-preparedness package which was announced yesterday, he spoke with Shamubeel Eaqub about why this package is especially significant.
On Dear Science with AUT’s Marcus Jones we are talking about a sharp drop in coronavirus cases in South Korea, magic methyl and how nuclear war could alter the world’s climate.
Felix spoke with Shamubeel Eaqub about the government's new stimulus package and whether this is enough.
Sticking on this government announcement, Lillian speaks to AAAP’s Ricardo Menendez March for a perspective on the increase to benefits.
And Izzy Holdsworth joins us today and speaks to Generation Zero’s Dewy Sacayan about parallel combat against Covid-19 and climate change.
Hanna Thompson spoke to Ben Rosamund, a union organiser, researcher, and community activist with Organise Aotearoa, who wrote an article on solidarity in the time of coronavirus. They spoke about the need for a strong collective response to the pandemic, through community organising, and a government response that strengthens public institutions like healthcare and welfare, and that takes care of our most vulnerable.
A couple of weeks ago the Greens party put forward a new bill surrounding Organic farming in New Zealand as well as imports and exports. The bill outlines plans to get stricter on what is defined as Organic, however there is no overarching consensus on what is defined as organic internationally. James started off by talking to Andrea Braakhuis, an academic research dietitian from the Auckland University. While Andrea has a large amount of knowledge on Organics, James hopes to talk to other professionals about farming practices and sustainability marketing to completely unpack this bill. James started off by asking Andrea what defines a product as Organic.
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
95bFM 
