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.
BBC reporter Kate Adie was on duty when the Iranian Embassy siege took place in London in 1980. As the SAS stormed the building to rescue hostages cooped up inside, Adie described the events unfolding in front of her to an audience of millions while crouched behind a car door. Her coverage of the event broke new ground for television reporting, and she went on to report from war zones around the world. Ahead of the New Zealand International Film Festival screenings of 6 Days, a film depicting what went down at the Iranian embassy, Adie came up to the 95bFM studio to have a chat with our news director Ximena about her experiences during the siege and about what she thinks of the state of the media today.
This Friday, Laura talks to Otago Law Lecturer Andrew Geddis and Political Commentator, Grant Duncan on the current situation of Metiria Turei’s admission regarding fraudulent electoral information in 1993.
Next, Kelly talks with National Party MP Jami-Lee Ross about his proposed changes to the Land Transport Amendment Bill on windscreen washers, and get National’s take on the recent leadership change for the Labour Party
Then Neighbourhood Watch with Nicole Wedding from Radio Adelaide, where we talk about the current shortage of climate scientists in Australia, and the extremely high rate of sexual abuse reported in Australian universities. She will also chat to us about the.
Finally Ximena Smith talks to highly esteemed journalist Kate Adie about the exceptionally rare moments in her broadcasting career, and the current state of the media.
Crispr is a gene editing technology that is revolutionising science at an incredibly fast pace.
Some of its most exciting applications are the ability to tweak genes of eggs, sperm or embryos to alter human life - cosmetically, or more importantly to eradicate disease causing genetic mutations that parents can pass on, such as cystic fibrosis, breast or ovarian cancer.. A group of US Scientists at the Oregon Health and Science University have published a report where CRISPR has been used to correct a genetic mutation linked to a heart disorder called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in human embryos. This understandably has a huge range of implications and raises a number of questions of ethics and law. Harry spoke with Dr Jeanne Snelling, research fellow in bioethics and health Law at the University of Otago, on these potential implications and just whether this kind of procedure would succeed or at all be possible in New Zealand.
Harry talks to the Mental Health Foundation's chief executive Shaun Robinson on the launch of their new website aiming to bring awareness and assistance to those affected by suicide bereavement.
This Thursday Harry Speaks to Dr Jeanne Snelling, research fellow in bioethics and health Law at the University of Otago on a recent US study in which scientists used CRISPR a genetic modification tool to edit human embryos, removing mutations linked to heart conditions. Harry also speaks with newly appointed Labour Deputy Leader Kelvin Davis on Labour’s new direction. We have Eva Sherwood, Oracle Account Executive and NZTech Board person on NZ tech’s campaign to bring more women into the tech industry. Ben Speaks to Senior Economist at NZIER, Christina Leung on traffic congestion. Ben also speaks with the CEO of Hāpai Te Hauora, Lance Norman on 'synthetic cannabis'. And Harry speaks to the Mental Health Foundation’s chief executive Shaun Robinson on the launch of their new website to bring awareness and assistance to those affected by suicide bereavement.
It's been a little over 24 hours since it was announced that Jacinda Ardern is the new Labour Party leader, but already she's faced multiple instances of questions from media personalities that have focused around whether she plans on having children. She's hit back saying that it's completely inappropriate to ask such questions in 2017. Ximena speaks to Katherine Ravenswood from AUT’s Gender & Diversity Research Group about the gendered question line and how prevalent it is in women’s experiences in the workplace.
Big data is becoming increasingly more prevalent and contentious in contemporary society - almost anybody can access mass analytics and information data about almost anything put on the internet (if they know where to look). A panel event tomorrow night at AUT is taking a critical look at this phenomenon, intending to discuss the impacts that big data can have on policy making and businesses in the coming years. Producer Will spoke to panel host Rod Oram ahead of tomorrow night.
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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