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.
Auckland University is proposing to close the specialist artistic libraries, as well as the libraries on the Epsom and Tamaki campuses. Students are outraged at this, particularly at the lack of consultation with students on the plans. Reilly Hodson talks to Rachel Ashby about the student response and the action that comes next.
Do you know what shop you bought your clothes from? Yes. But do you know where the materials for the shop were sourced? Probably not. Kelly talks to Claire Hart from Tearfund Aotearoa about the recently released ethical fashion report. Find out what your clothes are really made of: www.tearfund.org.nz
Today Newsroom reported that the New Zealand Family Court has made frequent inappropriate comments about domestic violence victims. For example, a judge concluded that a victim was a "successful school teacher" and "a robust and resilient person" and therefore "did not have an ongoing need for protection". This was after the victim had suffered whiplash from being bodyslammed by her former partner. In response to this report, Jemima spoke with Dr Henry Kha who is a family law lecturer in the Faculty of Law at UoA. They talked about how domestic violence is responded to in the law, why victim-blaming comments made by the Family Court matter and how these negative patterns will change. If you're ever in need of help for a domesic violence issue, please call Womens Refuge at 0800 733 843 or HELP at (09) 623 1700.
First up, News Director Lilian Hanly spoke to Chris Widdup, the Project Manager for Connected Media, running the Outlook for Someday sustainability film project. Neutral corner returns as we look at the Syrian crisis. Andrew Little joins Lachlan for their regular chat, this week discussing the delayed Waikeria decision, the government’s response to western strikes on syria and the Whakatōhea report. Jemima speak with Dr Henry Kha about domestic violence in the court system. Finally this day in history returns as Ben takes us through the resignation of Fidel Castro as first secretary of the cuban communist party in 2011.
This Day in History takes us back to 2011, for the resignation of an octogenarian Fidel Castro as First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party, having occupied the role for around half a century, despite earlier stepping down as President in 2008.
In a follow-up to last week, Neutral Corner examines the contrasting coverage given to US-led strikes in Syria by CNN and PressTV, with a cold open by Alex Jones.
Current Friday Wire Producer Will Parsonson fills in for Lillian today, and the team talks science (as usual) with AUT's Allan Blackman. We touch on nazi warships using chemestry to hide, eating plastic and we wish Albert Einstein a great death-day.
Producer Lisa Boudet speaks to Liv Young, the creater of MENTAL, an online platform where New Zealanders are invited to share their experience of mental health issues.
Lillian has her weekly chat with NZ First's Tracey Martin, and they touch on oil drilling and teachers titles.
And producer Ben Webber finds out more about campylobacter with Otago University research Professor Michael Baker. What is it? How to get rid of it? How not to be contaminated by faeces when handling chicken? All the answers to the questions you never thought you'd ask.
New Zealand chicken is making people sick, according to Otago University researchers, who are calling for safety labels.
The study shows that Aotearoa has one of the highest rate of campylobacteriosis, and that is due to consumers not being aware of the prevalence of the contaminating bacteria in 60 to 90 percent of raw chicken.
95bFM producer Ben Webber asks one of the authors of the research, Otago University research Professor Michael Baker, what this bacteria is, and how to avoid contamination.
Ollin Perez Raynaud of Feminists of Colour, a University of Auckland based club, speaks with Lillian Hanly about the upcoming panel The Power of Powerlessness.
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 
