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.
Producer Jack Marshall spoke with Tara Nair from Monash University in Melbourne about her study into medical ethics, looking at what doctors should do when parents request ‘second best’ treatments for their children.
Producer Leonard Powell had a chat with Tart Bakery owner Phillipa Stephenson about the expansion of her vegan business into St. Kevins Arcade. They talked about her journey from opening up in Grey Lynn five years ago, as well as where she wants to go in the future.
On The Wire today, the show's host Joel Thomas worked with producers Jack, Sam, and Leonard. Producer Jack talked to Tara Nair about her study on ethics in the medical industry, Joel had chat to Green Party number three Julie Anne Genter about an open letter from an environmental supergroup and to get a general coalition talks update, we had AUT pacific media centre's Kendall Hutt who came in with guests from Gadjah Mada University in Indonesia to talk about collaborative research projects with New Zealand, and producer Leonard talked to Tart Bakery’s Owner Phillipa Stephenson about the expansion of her Vegan business. Sam also had a report on the Catalan Referendum.
Kelly chats to Wellington Girls' College principal Julia Davidson about the recent changes to curriculum, where from next year it will be compulsory for Year 9 students to learn Te Reo for 6 months. They chat about the benefits of this change, and how it will be implemented.
Today on Neighbourhood Watch with Nicole Wedding from radio Adelaide, Channel 7 is under public scrutiny after dismissing an employee very shortly after she made sexual assault complaints. Former PM Tony Abbott does not think Macklemore should play 'same love' at the NRL Final as it might "politicise" sport. Finally, a multi-million dollar deradicalisation helpline set up by the Australian government 2 months ago has only recieved 5 phone calls.
The Orangutans at Auckland Zoo are being moved down to Christchurch while Auckland Zoo develops the Southeast Asian section of the zoo. Producer Laura spoke with Auckland Zoo Director, Jonathan Wilcken, exploring how the zoo will be changing through the development. She then spoke with the Zoo’s Primate Team Leader to understand how the primates are being cared for prior to the transition
A decision by the Accident Compensation Corporation to use computer-based risk prediction models has a group of experts at Otago University concerned. 95bFM talks to one of them, Dr James MacLaurin:
Lachlan spoke with John Kerr from the Railways and Maritime Union to discuss the strike by their members on Wednesday and the union's campaign against the removal of train managers.
Our election coverage is over but we’ll still have some post-election analysis for you as well as other news. We speak with Labour Deputy Leader Kelvin Davis on NZ First negotiations and Labour’s Maori Caucus, and dissect Winston Peters’ latest speech to the media. Moving on from the election we’re also discussing the Railway and Maritime Transport Union’s protest yesterday with organiser John Kerr. We’re then talking to Dr James Maclaurin from the University of Otago about ACC’s use of artificial intelligence. Finally State of the States is back where we discuss what’s going on in America this week.
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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