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.
A new archaeological dig in Australia’s north has discovered artefacts which show Aboriginal people inhabited the continent for thousands of years more than previously thought.
A team of archaeologists and local Aboriginal community members have excavated evidence that places people in Australia at least 65,000 years ago, pushing back the timing by about 5,000 to 18,000 years.
Reporter Mack Smith spoke to Queensland University Associate Professor Chris Clarkson, one of the lead authors behind the research.
One in 20 New Zealand high school students attempt suicide each year. A study conducted by the University of Auckland surveyed 9000 NZ high school students and revealed 4.5 percent of students had attempted suicide and 70 percent of these have made multiple attempts.
To find out more about these numbers, producer Lucy Austin spoke with a co-author of the study Associate Professor and paediatrician Simon Denny.
Starling is an online journal which aims to give writers aged under 25 a platform to have their work published and possibly noticed by editors and festival directors hunting for fresh talent.
India Essuah spoke to Starling's founder, poet Louise Wallace, about how they select work and how Starling has helped young authors find wider success.
Ahead of International Tiger Day on Saturday, the World Wildlife Fund is raising awareness for tiger conservation worldwide.
A United Nations report from last year shows tiger species have faced a 97 percent decline in population over the past century and some subspecies have already gone extinct due to animal poaching and trafficking.
Reporter Jack Marshall spoke to WWF Cambodia’s Rohit Singh, who is part of the WWF Tigers Alive Initiative there.
On today's Wire, producer Lucy Austin looks at a University of Auckland study that shows 4.5 percent of high school students have attempted suicide.
Reporter Mack Smith speaks to Professor Chris Clarkson about new excavations which place Aboriginal people in Australia between 5,000 and 18,000 years earlier than previously thought.
On the Green Desk reporter Jack Marshall speaks to World Wildlife Fund about the fight for tiger conservation, ahead of International Tiger Day.
Māori Party co-leader Marama Fox says the Government is failing to address the issue of homelessness.
Poet Louise Wallace also joins us to discuss the new issue of Starling Magazine which is out today, showcasing the work of talented young authors.
Following from his hit book from 1972 The Half Gallon Quarter Acre Pavlova Paradise, Austin Mitchell returns to the book shelves with his new book Revenge of the Rich. Here, Mitchell observes the rise, fall and consequences of Neoliberalism in New Zealand and Britain.
This Monday on The Wire, we talk to the authors of two new books: Tears of Rangi by Anne Salmond and Revenge of the Rich by Austin Mitchell. We also have our weekly chat with AUT Pacific Media Centre's Kendall Hutt and talk to Metiria Turei from the Green Party aboout regulations for skilled migrant workers and #IAmMetiria.
Renowned anthropologist Dame Anne Salmond’s new book, Tears of Rangi, is a philosophical and historical exploration of interactions and colliding worlds. Beginning with an inquiry into the early period of encounters between Māori and Europeans in New Zealand, she then investigates such clashes and exchanges in key areas of contemporary life – waterways, land, the sea and people. Our world is defined by maps and calendars – making it seem that this is the nature of reality itself. But in New Zealand, concepts of whakapapa and hau, complex networks and reciprocal exchange, may point to new ways of understanding interactions between peoples, and between people and the natural world. Reporter Pearl Little speaks to Dame Salmond about the book.
Producer Kelly Enright talked to the Deputy Leader of The Opportunities Party, Geoff Simmons, on his career movements and political aspirations. They also chatted about the Opportunities Party's policies, and which coalitions those would thrive in.
The use of medical records can be vitally important to researchers in the field. As we move towards digitised record keeping, health records and genetic information are increasingly being stored electronically. Joel spoke to Dr. Jon Cornwell from the Victoria University of Wellington about the digitisation of records, and the ethical and legal barriers surrounding their use.
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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