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.
On Today's Wire, Ximena speaks with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Matthew Savoca on how fish are eating plastic ocean garbage, because it smells like food. We speak with Labour Deputy Leader Kelvin Davis on mental health support policy for Canterbury’s youth. State of the States is back, this week speaking with Nick Sawhney our regular correspondent from WNYU on the white nationalist conflict in Charlottesville, and an update on what’s happening in Guam, and Ben has a report on Media and the history of US/Russia Relations
Throughout recent years many people have switched from tobacco smoking to electronic cigarettes, or vapes, claiming that it is both far healthier and cheaper than regular tobacco.
Whilst there are many proponents,there are some that strongly oppose vaping. Last month the Whanganui Council signed off on its new smoke-free policy that now restricts vaping in some public areas, citing health risks such as oral cancer and tobacco gateway effects.
Producer Reuben McLaren interviews population health Professor Chris Bullen and Whanganui Mayor Hamish McDouall and asks them about vaping health effects and what they made of the new vaping ban.
Today on the show, Ximena, Will & Reuben explore the debate around vaping, and whether or not it should be banned from public spaces. AUT’s Allan Blackman joins the team to chat about the first official transatlantic telegram that was sent on this day in 1858, as well as new research that has discovered a pigment used in analysing the legitimacy of historic artwork may have been incorrectly identified up until now. NZ First’s Tracey Martin also comes onto the show to chat about the extension of Government’s learning support pilot in schools.
On today's show, we take a look at the controversy over AUSA members voting on whether an anti-abortion and anti-euthanasia group should be disaffiliated from the university.
An Australian constitutional law professor rates the chances of Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce staying in office, after he was revealed to be a New Zealand dual citizen.
A social work expert explains the comparisons drawn between the controversial youth camp on Great Barrier Island and National’s proposed camp.
We also speak to Māori Party co-leader Marama Fox and Lilly Peacock's back with the Green Desk.
Finally, we speak to documentary-maker Briar March about her new short film about a group of elderly who come together to make their own coffins.
A member of Auckland University Students’ Association has put up a question as to whether anti-abortion and anti-euthanasia group ProLife Auckland should be disaffiliated from AUSA. The question also asks whether all groups with similiar ideology should be disallowed from seeking affiliation. A discussion is being held on the issue tomorrow, and a referendum is planned to take place next week. ProLife Auckland say the question is biased and next week's planned vote represents a threat to free speech.
We spoke to both AUSA President, Will Matthews, and the Co-president of ProLife Auckland, Jelena Middleton, about the situation.
Briar March is a documentary-maker and her latest project is a short musical about a group of elderly who make their own coffins. She joined India in studio to chat about The Coffin Club which you can watch on the Loading Docs website.
Australian-New Zealand dual citizenship has caused another stir in Canberra after Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce was revealed to be a New Zealand citizen yesterday.
Under Australian constitution, anyone with dual citizenship cannot stand for federal election.
Joyce says the legal advice he’s received suggests he won’t be disqualified by Australia’s constitution and points out his father moved to Australia in 1947, a year before dual citizenship was created.
Reporter Mack Smith spoke to Anne Twomey, a Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Sydney Law School and asked her whether Barnaby Joyce was really in the clear.
With reports coming out from from the Auckland City Council that areas of the Waitakere Ranges could be closed down due to Kauri dieback. To find out more, we sit down with Dr. Cate Macinnis, a plant ecologist from the University of Auckland to talk about the Kauri dieback happening in the Waitakere ranges.
This month marks 30 years of Te Reo Māori being an official language of New Zealand. To celebrate this milestone, reporter Sam Smith spoke to one of the language’s biggest proponents Dame Iritana Tawhiwhirangi.
National’s latest policy proposal ooks to crack down on young offenders by sending them to military styled boot camps to train alongside soldiers. 95bFM reporter Sam Smith spoke to Katie Bruce, director of youth justice advocacy group Just speak about her views on National’s ‘boot camp’ policy.
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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