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.
This week, we look into the Opportunities Party’s New Cannabis Policy. We have our weekly live chat with the Green Party, this week talking to co-leader James Shaw about parental leave and the new Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement. We speak to AUT Pacific Media Centre’s Kendall Hutt live for all the latest in Pacific News for Southern Cross. And we have our first installment of Fuck Off Fascism Week, looking at the historical roots and contemporary form of fascism. All of this on the full podcast right here.
It’s Fuck Off Fascism week on the The Wire. Every day this week we’ll be talking to academics, activists and other insightful voices about the concept of fascism and its return to the global political conversation. Producer Ben Goldson looks at the ideology of fascism, its historical roots, and what constitutes fascism today.
This week, Tess and Joel chat to a research scientist from the Global Penguin Society from the University of Otago, Thomas Mattern about the looming extinction of the Yellow-Eyed Penguin, we have our weekly chat with National MP, Jami-Lee Ross, about the new housing plan and the TPP. 95bFM news director, Ximena Smith, speaks to one of the authors from the Auckland Writers Festival, Roxane Gay about her books and writing styles. We have our usual weekly feature, Neighbourhood watch for all the latest in Australian news with Radio Adelaide's Nicole Wedding and a piece by 95bFM reporter, Ambrose, who talks to Quentin Abraham about poverty and it's relationship to mental wellbeing in children. All of this on the full podcast right here.
We speak to Thomas Mattern, a research scientist with the Global Penguin Society from the University of Otago who talks about the latest report on climate change and the threat of extinction to the yellow eyed penguin. The report outlines the factors contributing to the endangered species. It say the due to a number of human and climate factors, the Yellow Eyed Penguin will be extinct by 2060. We speak to Thomas about the report here.
95bFM reporter, Ambrose, speaks to Quentin Abraham, the president of the New Zealand Psychological society about a report by the Child Poverty Action Group and the New Zealand Psychological Society who have been long been concerned with the impact of poverty on children’s health. The combined effects of inadequate family incomes, high living costs and poor housing conditions can lead to serious and prolonged physical illness. 95bFM reporter, Ambrose speaks to Quentin about a report released by these two organisations outlining the impacts.
The Auckland Writers Festival has kicked off, with some very exciting national and international writers scheduled to speak over the coming days. One of the major international speakers is author of 'Bad Feminist' and 'Difficult Women', Roxane Gay. We caught up with her ahead of her talk this Sunday.
If you’re interested in heading along to see Roxane’s talk on Sunday 21 May at 10.30am at the Aotea Centre, get yourself some tickets from here.
In 2008 Auckland University’s Department of Computer Science initiated an annual series of lectures intended to describe ongoing research in Computer Science to a wider public, called the Gibbons series. This year the lectures look to a step towards the singularity, artificial intelligence and its impact.The third lecture in the series takes place tonight at the University of Auckland Owen G Glenn Building at 6pm, with guest lecturer Marcus Frean from the University of Victoria. Wire producer Harry Willis spoke with Frean about what he will be talking about this evening, the wonders of Deep Learning algorithms, and possible implications for the Science.
Last month, the Ministry of Immigration changed their policy regarding skilled migrant workers and visa allocations to those workers. In the changes, there has been introduced a maximum visa allocation of three years to migrants who do not fulfil the “skilled worker” category, earning New Zealand’s median income of approximately $49,000. Wire producer Harry Willis spoke with Marisa Bedois, CEO of the New Zealand restaurant association on the impact these changes will have on the hospitality industry in New Zealand, and how important migrant workers are in New Zealand. Harry began first by asking her to explain, in more detail, the changes in the immigration policy.
Los Angeles based writer, art critic, and author of the highly acclaimed novel I Love Dick joins bFM reporter Amanda Jane Robinson for a lively Skype session, ahead of her talk at the Auckland Writers Festival this weekend.
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
95bFM 
