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.
The Panuku Development Board has prioritised 9 areas around Auckland for urban development programmes. One of these, is the carpark on Anzac St in Takapuna. The proposal is to pedestrianise the block and build a large green space for the public to hang out at and walk along towards the beach. However, there is fierce backlash from one group, ‘Save the Carpark’. Auckland Mayor Phil Goff and councillors Richard Hills and Chris Darby were invited by the group to a public presentation in Takapuna on Sunday, however there was little room for them to talk and they were met with a lot of yelling. Mary-Margaret spoke to Richard Hills about the proposal and the backlash it has brought, and started by asking him where the Council’s vision for this area first came from. Submissions for the build close on Friday, so if you visit Panuku.co.nz/Takapuna you can have your say.
This week on the Greendesk, Jack Marshall has a chat with Professor Ralph Sims, Professor of Sustainable Energy, Massey University about how many of our diets are damaging the planet.
Direct Animal Action and Kaipara locals will protest outside Tegel headquarters about the proposal of a new Tegel factory just outside of Dargaville. Producer Damian Rowe spoke to Direct Animal Action’s Dierdre Sims about why they oppose the factory and why they are protesting about.
The government has announced a new funding round for the Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust fund. The Trust distributes up to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars of grants a year to support the awareness of Chinese New Zealanders' history, language and culture and the contributions of early Chinese settlers. bFM reporter Justin Wong spoke with the chairperson of the trust Kai Luey about the history of Chinese NZers, some of the work the trust has done in the past, and would it would like to support in the future. Luey sez the grant will teach New Zealanders about the history of Chinese settlers in New Zealand. Justin started by asking Luey to explain who the first Chinese settlers were.
On the Monday Wire we had co-leader of the Green Party, James Shaw talking about the establishment of the new Māori freshwater forum Te Kāhui Māori Wai. We had our regular live segment Southern Cross with a guest appearance from Mike Treen of Unite Union. Damian Rowe speaks to Direct Animal Action’s Dierdre Sims about the new Tegel factory. Bailley Verry chats to tax advisor Terry Baucher about the new bed tax for Air BnB. And Justin Wong looks into the Poll Tax and raising awareness of the history of Chinese settlers in NZ with Kai Luey, Chairperson of the Poll Tax Heritage Trust.
Auckland Concil has introduced the controversial "Bed Tax" which increases rates of Auckland homeowners renting their homes out online with services like Airbnb. Bailley speaks to tax expert Terry Baucher about how the tax works and what it means for homeowners and tourism.
Is reality show ruining society? Or is it just entertainment. It’s showing no signs of slowing down, with the popularity of shows like the Bachelor and Love Island seemingly on the rise. Kelly Enright had a talk with AUT academic Professor Thomas Owen about the potential downsides to the genre. And to present a balanced argument we invited Jane Yee, the host of The Real Pod, a podcast about reality TV produced by the Spinoff, to chat with Stewart Sowman-Lund about why it’s such good entertainment.
On Wednesday, the Tertiary Education Union held a teach-in event at the University of Auckland about the efforts of the Vice-Chancellor to silence student and staff debate on campus. The event was pre-planned and the space for the event was booked yet the University security still called police to come and sit in on the event. Producer Stewart Sowman-Lund had a talk with Sandra Grey, the National President of the Tertiary Education Union, about the presence of the police.
A recent study has found children are exposed to alcohol advertising on average 4.5 times per day in Aotearoa. The industry self-regulates their advertising, something critics say is ineffective and the government needs to get involved. Lachlan spoke with lead author of the Study Tim Chambers from 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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