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.
It's pretty much the biggest news story of this Holiday season. A petition has been launched to try and restore the winking eye and beckoning finger of the giant Santa above Farmers on Queen Street. A few years ago, the giant Santa had it's identity threatened when his massive winking eye and subtle winking finger were forcefully removed. Thankfully, Hayden Donnell from the Spinoff has hopes that Santa will wink another wink.
Stewart Sowman-Lund had a chat with Hayden... and things got pretty weird.
This week on the Monday Wire, Jemima speaks to co-leader of the Green Party, James Shaw, about his recent trip to Scott Base in Antarctica. Ella reports for Under the Weather about extreme flash flooding and record cold temperatures. Damian speaks to Danni Wilkinson from Socialist Aotearoa about the diverse reactions to the Pride Board's ban on uniformed police at Pride Parade. Stewart talks to the Spinoff's Hayden Donnell about his petition to get Queen Street's santa restored to it's original glory with its winking eye and beckoning finger.
First, Te Roopu Nahinara, National Party Member Amy Adams speaks with Laura Kvigstad about the lack of participation in the Labour Parties, tertiary fees free scheme. Then they speak on National's written question submission, which is double that of labour when National was first elected into government. Next she tells us about her thoughts on the proposal for internet voting. Finally, she gives us a hot take on feminism.
After that, Grace Watson speaks with AUSA’s welfare vice-president, Luke Kibblewhite, about how well the fees free initiative is affecting students and the barriers that young adults face accessing tertiary education.
Following that, Radio Adelaide’s, Samantha Smith catches us up on all the latest Australian news in Neighbourhood Watch. She tells Laura about the rhetoric around terrorism that has sparked in Australia following the arrest of three alleged terrorists and Prime Minister, Scott Morissons recent inflamatory remarks. Then they speak on migration in Australia and Morisson's recent emphasis on reducing permanent migration in order to combat congestion.
And finally, Auckland Universities Associate Professor, Katherine Smits, discusses what it means to be a feminist linking into some of the challenge aspects surrounding feminist rehtoric. It all gets capped off with Poll Position. Find out what the bFM listeners think about the question: Are you a feminist?
Radio Adelaide’s, Samantha Smith catches us up on all the latest Australian news in Neighbourhood Watch. She tells Laura Kvigstad about the rhetoric around terrorism that has sparked in Australia following the arrest of three alleged terrorists and Prime Minister, Scott Morissons recent inflamatory remarks around the muslim community. Then they speak on migration in Australia and Morisson's recent emphasis on reducing permanent migration in order to combat congestion. Finally, they talk about an Australian convicted drug smuggler, who has served her sentence in Indonesia and the media coverage surround her return to Australia.
Grace speaks with Luke Kibblewhite, welfare vice-president of the Auckland University Student's Association, about how effective the first year of fees free education has been for students.
95bFM Reporter Oscar Perress talks to Activists Emmy Rākete and Betty Sio about the commercialisation of the Auckland Pride Parade, the place of the New Zealand Police Force in the Parade and what and who Pride is actually about and for.
Rights Now! is an educational tool from the office of the Children’s Commissioner to encourage children to know their rights and have their voice heard.The resource aims to provide “more opportunities for meaningful participation as the more they have, the more confident children and young people feel to express their views – they bring different perspectives, fresh ideas, and genuine concern for the future." Lachlan spoke with Sarah Morris, a senior adviser for the Strategy, Rights & Advice team in the Office of the Children’s Commissioner about Rights Now!
Harry speaks to Pania Newton, lead protester from Save Our Unique Landscape following protests at the Fletcher Building AGM about the situation Fletcher finds itself in now, as they plan to go ahead with development of the Māori archaeological site Ihumatao in Māngere.
On the show today, Dear Science discusses the deadliest scientist, why you really did not want to be alive in year 536 and wombats’ cube poos.
For our weekly chat with the New Zealand First party, Lillian talks to Deputy Leader Fletcher Tabuteau.
Harry speaks with Pania Newton, lead protester from Save Our Unique Landscape about the protests at Fletcher Building’s AGM, regarding plans to build 480 homes at Ihumatao, the ancestral Maori archeological site in Mangere.
And Lisa looks into the use of algorithms by government agencies to identify patterns and at risk population and discuss the ethical issues of its use with Dr Emily Keddell, a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at Otago University.
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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