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.
Justin talks to Associate Professor Phillipa Malpas about the moral issues from the research by He Jiankui, who claimed that he had created the first human genetically edited babies that are HIV resistant.
Justin sums up the reaction towards British Prime Minister Theresa May's decision to delay the House of Commons vote on the Brext agreement, as well as the contents of the deal and potential outcomes from the vote.
Nearly 18,000 people have signed a petition urging parliament to legislate the prohibition of the private sale of fireworks. Green MP Gareth Hughes is backing the protest, so Mary-Margaret spoke to him about what the rule changes would look like.
Mary-Margaret speaks to Green MP Gareth Hughes about a petition signed by 18,000 calling for a prohibition on private fireworks sales.
Justin speaks to Auckland University Associate Professor Phillipa Malpas about gene edited babies in China.
Justin also reports on big developments in the UK Parliament in relation to Brexit.
And finally, on Greendesk, Ella talks to James Griffin from the Sustainable Business Network about their recent report looking into removing plastic from our packaging system.
Worry Week this week is about ethical journalism and one of those hot phrases you’d be fortunate to come across if ever took a paper in news media is agenda setting. Agenda Setting is essentially a news agency setting up a framework for what stories we cover and what is outside of scope. At Bfm we have an agenda setting and that is why you don’t hear about the Kardasian and live up to date scores of the Ashes series. Agenda setting has been blamed for bias media with prime examples being in America such FOX News with agenda favouring Republicans whilst others outlets such as The Huffington Post favouring Democrats but I wanted to have a yarn about agenda setting in our own backyard. So I did just that, I had a yarn that spiraled out of topic with AUT’s senior lecturer Greg Treadwell, firstly asking does New Zealand have a problem with bias media.
This week on the Monday Wire Jemima speaks to Green Party MP Chlöe Swarbrick for our segment with the Greens about the party's mental health investigation, the third reading of the Medicinal Cannabis Government Bill and Tomorrow's Schools. Ella reports for Under the Weather about flash flooding in Iraq, drought in Afghanistan and the loss of ice volume in the New Zealand southern alps. Worry Week this week is ethical journalism and broadcasting standards. Jemima speaks to Dr Gavin Ellis, former Editor-in-Chief of the New Zealand Herald, about whether the coverage of the Jami-Lee Ross case was ethical journalisma and Damian talks to AUT senior lecturer Greg Treadwell about agenda setting and media bias in the New Zealand context.
First, Te Roopu Nahinara, National Party Member Amy Adams, speaks with us on the National Party walking out of paliament, the landcorp tax submissions to the tax working group and the allegations of harrasment in Maggie Barry's office.
Then, Grace speaks with Doctor Barbara Grant, associate professor at the University of Auckland about political and academic freedom in relation to the Anne-Marie Brady case.
Following that, Therapeutic Care Worker, Jordan Henare on the Maori representation of Santa at the Nelson Santa Parade.
Then, Chris Widdup from the Outlook for Someday about opportunities in sustainability filmmaking.
And finally, we close off wire worry week with a report on New Zealand’s nuclear free history.
Grace speaks with Doctor Barbara Grant, Associate Professor at the University of Auckland about political and academic freedom in wake of the Anne-Marie Brady case.
Lillian talks with co-director of Outlook for Someday, Chris Widdop, about The Outlook for Someday sustainability film challenge for young people under the age of 24. Someday Stories is separate to the young filmmaker competition, for people aged between 24 and 29. Lillian Hanly was a Someday Story filmmaker during 2018.
This week saw controversy sparked out of the Nelson Santa Parade when a Non-Traditional Santa was represented this year.
This year’s Santa wore a red korowai, held a taiaha and was Maori.
People from Nelson having a variety of opinions, some said that Santa has always been a jolly white man in a red suit and it was distressing for children to be confronted with this representation. The comment section around these stories left space for many to leave racist remarks resulting in the comment sections being disabled for a stuff article on the topic. The Nelson Deputy mayor Paul Matheson also remarked that he found the commentary on the matter to be “ quite sick”.
Nelson Council’s decision for this year’s Santa also received a great deal of support for leaning into multiculturalism, and giving the space for Maori representation in what is typically an eurocentric image.
Therapeutic Care Worker, Jordan Henare who works with children and youth in New Zealand joined Laura Kvigstad to discuss what the it meant to see Maori representation in an image that is dominated by European ideals.
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 
