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.
In June this year, the Royal Museum of Central Africa in Brussels will reopen after five years closed for renovation. The re opening marks a shift away from historic colonial era white supremacist exhibits and towards a fairer, more accurate representation of Africa. Conor Knell dives into the history behind the museum and explores the new changes being made
Producer Jenn Tamati speaks to directer of WEiRdO, Jane Yonge, about the satirical musical theatre story that explores the effects of colonisation, as well as racial identity in modern day Aotearoa.
Following on from last weeks piece about plastic bags, Producer Leonard Powell chats to Brigitte Sistig from The Grey Lynn 2030 Trust about their upcoming Trash to Trade competition. Sistig explains what the Trust is about and how it got started, and gives all of the interesting information about the competiton that takes place on April the 29th.
Late on Friday, the US, UK and France launched an airstrike in Syria, following a suspected chemical attack in the town of Douma. There has been praise for Trump following these airstrikes, and he tweeted about how proud he is of this action. With midterms coming up in November, Mary-Margaret Slack asked Professor Stephen Hoadley how much of the move is meaningful, and how much of the move is connected to the Administration’s image in the media.
Reuben McLaren speaks with Green party co-leader James Shaw. They chat about the government’s move to end oil exploration permits and the recent attacks on Syria.
We also have The Southern Cross with David Robie where we’ll get a run down on alleged Chinese plans to build a military base in Vanuatu, Nauru abolishing the right to appeal in court and the economic burden of diabetes in Fiji.
Lucy Austin speaks to intelligence and defense policy analyst Paul Buchanan about the recent US-led airstrikes in syria.
Mary-Margaret Slack follows up on Lucy’s interview with University of Auckland's Professor Stephen Hoadley, focussing on the role that Donald Trump plays in the Syrian airstrikes.
Over the weekend the US, Uk and France launched an air strike in Syria in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack in the town of Douma.
The attack targeted three facilities that researched, stored and produced chemical weapons. There were no reported casulties but the attack is said to have set the chemical weapons programme back years.
Trump declared it a sucess tweeting "Mission Acomplished" while Theresa May claimed there was "no practical alternative."
Lucy Austin spoke with indeligence and defence analyst Paul Buchanan about the recent event and its consequences.
News director Lillian Hanly talks to Urs Signer who lives in Parihaka, and is a member of climate justice Taranaki.Signer talks about the impacts of removing new permits for offshore drilling and the ongoing impacts of onshore drilling
Debbie Abbas of Palestine Solidarity NZ, explains to Kelly what the current conditions for many Palestinians trapped along the Gaza Strip are like. Debbie calls upon the government for more acknowledgement and action toward the human oppression.
The Golden Dawn Tavern of Power was an Auckland music venue that many listeners would be familiar with. It has had hundreds if not thousands of local and international acts through its doors, surprising Ponsonby crowds with established, unknown, and unusual acts. Before the bar closed last month, veteran sound engineer Bob Frisbee made it his task to produce and direct a concert documentary recording every single act that performed since the start of the year. 95bFM reporter and camera operator on the doco, Joel Thomas spoke to Bob about the documentary and its significance in Auckland music.
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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