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.
First up, The National Party’s, Denise Lee, is back. This week they discuss the loss of three National Party MPs ahead of the 2020 election and the coalitions governments homelessness package and why it has prompted criticism for National's previous moves while in leadership.
Then, Rachel Simpson gives us a report analysing the wellness industry and some of the dangerous claims that are made in order to sell products.
Then, Laura Kvigstad revisits the subject of vaping through the lens of a whanau informed viewpoint emphasising the importance of viewing vaping as a harm reduction tool. I speak with the CEO of Hāpai Te Hauora and acting Kaiwhakahaere of the National Tobacco Control Advocacy Service, Selah Hart.
Finally, Benjamin J Goldson gives us his weekly coverage of America's election in Neutral Corner… this week he’s looking at the New Hampshire primary.
It's time to critique The Goop Lab - celebrity wellness empires are booming by capitalising off preying upon us. By taking real fears of Big Pharma and modern alienation, these companies tell us that the way out is purchasing these absurd, scientifically and morally questionable solutions. For a hefty fee, of course.
This Valentines Day Rachel unites her two passions: feminist scammers and wacky self care products.
Friday Wire is revisiting the subject of vaping through the lens of a whanau informed viewpoint emphasising the importance of viewing vaping as a harm reduction tool.
Laura Kvigstad spoke with the CEO of Hāpai Te Hauora and acting Kaiwhakahaere of the National Tobacco Control Advocacy Service, Selah Hart.
Sam speaks with Bridget Chappell - a Melbourne based audio-activist and artist who explores the ways in which police use sound to influence and control populations. Their work invites people to imagine a future where we organise ourselves differently without police holding a monopoly of violence and power. They are currently adapting audio technology and engineering to build devices which phase cancel police sirens.
Peter Crampton is a Professor at Kōhatu, the Centre for Hauora Māori at the University of Otago. They have recently released the updated Deprivation Index following the latest Census results. This year includes a factor on damp and mouldy housing. Lillian Hanly spoke with Peter about what this means and started by asking what the Deprivation Index actually is.
Following this conversation with Peter Crampton about the Deprivation Index, Lillian wanted to know more about the actual issues in housing and health. She wanted to know whether the old housing stock is to blame, the way we construct our houses or even the typology. She wanted to know what effect damp and mouldy housing actually has on people in their everyday lives. And she wanted to know why this is still a problem. Philippa Howden-Chapman is a professor of public health at the University of Otago in Wellington, she runs a research group He Kainga Oranga on housing and health. Lillian started by asking whether Philippa thought it was good that the damp and mouldy factor had been added to the Deprivation Index.
This morning The Salvation Army released their annual state of the nation report. The report identifies changes in five major areas, being child welfare, work and income, crime and punishment, social hazards, and housing. I spoke with Social Policy Director Lieutenant-Colonel Ian Huston about each of these areas and the changes identified within the report.
On Dear Science with Allan Blackman we cover a Harvard lecturer who was arrested over funding issues, the retraction of a faulty coronavirus paper, and further research on cancer.
Felix brings us an update on the Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report, and spoke to Social Policy Director Lieutenant-Colonel Ian Hutson.
Lillian spoke with Professor Peter Crampton about the Deprivation Index from the University of Otago and how damp and mouldy housing has now been added as a factor.
Following that conversation Lillian also spoke with Philippa Howden-Chapman from the University of Otago about the correlation between the state of our housing and people’s health.
The United Kingdom in 2018 introduced the Soft Drinks Industry Levy colloquially known as ‘the sugar tax’ which places a base rate of tax onto sugary drinks which increases incrementally for each 8 grams per litre of sugar extra found in the drink.
The consumption of sugary drinks in the United Kingdom has decreased by 35% since 2015 which many attribute to the levy.
The New Zealand Dental Association has been closely observing the effects of the levy which they believe is strong evidence for New Zealand to introduce similar legislation - New Zealand suffering from the third highest obesity rate and very high cavity rates.
In this piece I spoke with Dr Rob Beaglehole NZDA spokesperson who is a clinical dentist and the Principal Dental Officer for a regional health board in New Zealand on the UK statistics and why we should introduce similar legislation to the country.
I started off by asking - 'Why New Zealand should have a Sugary Drink Tax'
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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