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.
For decades, dairy farming has been damaging New Zealand’s environment, and new legislation aiming to protect our rivers and wetlands is coming into action. However, some groups have been wary of these changes, believing it will negatively impact the industry and its economic contributions. In response, a study was commissioned by Forest & Bird, Greenpeace, and Fish and Game to understand the economic impacts of this new freshwater legislation (if any)! To find out more about the legislation and report, Olivia Holdsworth spoke to Forest & Bird’s Annabeth Cohen and began by asking why we even need freshwater legislation in the first place.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced plans last week to make the teaching of New Zealand history compulsory in schools. Reporter Felix Walton spoke to University of Auckland senior history lecturer Dr Aroha Harris to find out more, and started by asking whether New Zealanders know much about NZ history.
Known to get drunk on berries, fall out of trees, and hang around humans, Kererū have become something of a New Zealand icon. They are also the only bird left in New Zealand that can distribute large seeds, and their disappearance would be a disaster for our native forests.
Rachel Simpson spoke to Victoria University biological science lecturer Stephen Hartley about the Great Kererū Count, the largest citizen science project in New Zealand.
For Green Desk Mitchel Fuller and Sherry Zhang talk to Hexacycle’s founder Neil Birrell about how maggots can close the loop on our existing and linear waste cycles.
Next, Olivia Holdsworth talk to Forest & Bird’s Annabeth Cohen about the new freshwater legislation and its impact on the environment and agriculture industry alike.
After that, Jack Marshall talks to Gisborne Councillor Amber Dunn about housing on our beaches and coastal erosion.
Then, Felix Walton talks to University of Auckland history lecturer Dr Aroha Harris about Labour’s announcement to make the teaching of New Zealand history compulsory in schools.
And finally Rachel Simpson talks to Victoria University’s biology lecturer Stephen Hartley about The Great Kererū Count, and the impact citizen science projects can have on our environment.
For Green Desk, Mitch Fuller and Sherry Zhang talk to Hexacycle’s founder Neil Birrell about how maggots can close the loop on our existing and linear waste cycles and how insects might be part of the future of animal and human consumption.
Vaping is on the rise, with many people turning to them to help quit smoking cigarettes. While many still contain nicotine, they do not contain many of the harmful chemicals found in cigarettes that can often lead to death. A New Zealand study has found that those who use nicotine e-cigarettes in conjunction with other nicotine supplements such as patches have a higher chance of quitting than those who don’t. Lachlan spoke with the study’s lead researcher Dr Natalie Walker about the results.
Sherry spoke to Human Rights watch reporter for Indonesia Andreas Harsono on the rise of political islam. Theyalso speak on discrimination between minority religions, LGBTQ community, the ethnic Chinese and the 2019 Indonesian elections, one of the largest democratic processes.
This week on the Monday Wire, Sherry interviews Cotton On workers on strike over the living wage in Auckland. Jemima speaks to Green Party co-leader James Shaw about the government's progress on the climate crisis and compulsory Aotearoa history in schools. Southern Cross is back with the latest in Pacific news. Lachlan talks to Dr Natalie Walker about vaping as a way to quit smoking. Finally, Sherry speaks to Human Rights Watch reporter Andreas Harsono about the rise of political Islam in Indonesia.
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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