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.
This week on the Greendesk, Jack Marshall has a chat with Dr. S. Hollis Woodard, Assistant Professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of California, about new research into bumble bees.
This week on the International Desk, Conor interviews Bangkok based former bFM-er Ethan McAuley about the cave rescue in Northern Thailand. Ethan outlines developments so far as well as the general feeling amongst the Thai public
The Kaipara Community Association was formed recently as a form of protest against Tegel’s proposal to build the country’s largest chicken farm on a flood plain site in Northland. Jon Walker is a member, so Mary-Margaret spoke to him about the grounds on which his association is against the proposal.
It would be hard to deny that sexual harassment is not prevalent in the music industry but the nature and extent of harassment has not be measured or gauged properly. Producer Damian Rowe spoke to researcher and founder of the Zebra Collective, Jeff Crabtree wants to conduct survey and interview based research into harassment in the Australian and New Zealand music industry. You can learn more about this through the link below
Te Roroa Trust have warned that the increasing pig population in Waipoua forest is having an effect on Kauri dieback. Producer Damian Rowe spoke to Dr Rebekah Strinemann from Forest and Bird about the increasing pig population having an effect on kauri dieback and how the population can be controlled
Damian talks to Jeff Crabtree about harassment in the music industry.
Reuben has a chat to Jeni Cartwright from the Child Poverty Action Group about the expansion of the government run survey of child poverty.
Damain speaks to Dr Rebekah Sternman from Forest and Bird about the explosion of the pig population and what it means for Kauri dieback.
Reuben also speaks to Dr. Ann Hood from Refugees as Survivors New Zealand (RASNZ) about the discrimination and racism refugees sometimes experience when settling in New Zealand.
Child Poverty Action Group is commending the announcement by Minister of Statistics James Shaw that New Zealand's most extensive survey of child poverty will start this month.
The previous surveys received criticism due to their small sample sizes, particularly for Maori and Pasifika households and sole parent beneficiaries. The new survey will collect data from around 20 thousand households, which is around 17 thousand more than previous surveys.
Reuben McLaren spoke to Child Poverty Action Group's Jeni Cartwright to find out more.
Reuben McLaren speaks to Dr. Ann Hood, Chief Executive of Refugees as Survivors New Zealand, an organisation providing mental health services to refugees.
They discuss the racist experiences some refugees suffer when moving to New Zealand, which comes after a young refugee family left their home in Auckland due to alledged verbal abuse and physical threats by neighbours.
Forest and Bird are concerned that The Minister for Primary Industries - the government agency in charge of biosecurity - is promoting pest weed species as part of its Billion Trees programme, including one species that is illegal to sell or propagate and others that ratepayers are spending millions trying to eradicate. They say the list could cost taxpayers millions more - and undo countless hours of volunteer work that have been dedicated to trying to get rid of these weeds, such as the Japanese Spindle Tree
Kevin Hackwell is the Chief Conservation Advisor for Forest and Bird. Stewart spoke with him and wanted to know how serious is the problem and how on earth was this even allowed to happen in the first place?
Since the government announced details of applicant eligibility for a KiwiBuild home, concerns have been voiced over how fair and effective the allocation process is. Income caps apply to applicants at $120,000 for a single person or $180,000 for a couple. Who is allocated a home to buy will be decided randomly through a ballot draw. Jennifer-Rose Tamati spoke to Claire Szabó, Chief Executive of Habitat for Humanity New Zealand, on the matter.
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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