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.
Fake American Accent is a monthly poetry reading brought to you by Thursday Girls, a dream team collaboration between performance artist and acclaimed poet Vanessa Crofskey alongside writer and filmmaker, Amanda Jane Robinson. Wire host Jogai Bhatt speaks to Vanessa, ahead of their first event at the Basement.
As Cyclone cook approaches NZ, many institutions have had to close down for the day, and a number of warnings put out. Wire host Jogai Bhatt speaks to Lisa Murray from Metservice for a quick update.
Six teams will compete in a military challenge to retrieve a flag from the highest point of the sky tower to raise funds for the RSA’s annual poppy appeal. New Zealand’s defence personnel and emergency response services will go head to head in the challenge, taking place on April 20th. Wire producer Jess Smith reports.
This week, Jogai and Jess catch up with Lisa Murray from Metservice to get an update on the weather that's quite literally taking the country by storm, and Jogai chats to performance artist and acclaimed poet Vanessa Crofskey to learn more about her new poetry reading venture, Fake American Accent. Producer Jess also has a report on the RSA's new fundraising campaign challenge, and bFM reporter Natasha Ahmed speaks to Otago University's Corinda Taylor, about the concerns plaguing our mental health system. Andrew Little is also back for our weekly chat, this time live from a visit to Edgecumbe. All this and more on the Thursday Wire - check out the full podcast here.
The Green Party said yesterday that the Government’s weak strategy for cleaning up fresh water won’t undo years of abuse, unless we change our farming model and take a hard long look at how we develop land in this country. bFM reporter Ambrose O’Meagher spoke to Green MP Catherine Delahunty about this issue, earlier yesterday morning.
This week, Ximena & Adam hear about some exciting new developments being forged by groups in New Zealand: Generation Zero's new Zero Carbon Act, Greater Auckland's Congestion Free Network 2 proposal & new research coming out of the University of Otago that looks at growing human teeth. Allan Blackman pops in for a morbid episode Dear Science, where he fleshes out the nutritional benefits of cannibalism (or more correctly, the lack of them), as well as discussing the history and uses of chemical weapons. We also hear from the curator of an upcoming series of talks at AUT called Critical Conversations, which examine the different ways algorithms and code shape our everyday lives.
Auckland's transport woes are notorious, from blocked motorways, to never-on-time public transport. But with the release of an updated transit plan, these frustrations may have an end in sight. Proposed by Greater Auckland (formally Transport Blog), the Congestion Free Network 2 aims to reshape the entirety of Aucklands public transport network into a functional, cohesive unit. Adam Jacobson speaks with Greater Auckland Editor, Matt Lowrie, to find out how exactly the CFN 2 plans to implement this.
As climate change is becoming ever more of a concern around the planet, advocacy groups are getting into action. Here in New Zealand, a proposal has been released which aims to see New Zealand carbon free by 2050. Generation Zero has unveiled their Zero Carbon Act, which outlines certain milestones and pathways, which the government should undertake to achieve this target. Adam Jacobson speaks to Generation Zero spokesperson Lisa Mclaren about what the Zero Carbon Act entails and the specific actions proposed.
Researchers from the University of Otago are well on their way to developing new biomaterials that will help grow new teeth. The research offers huge potential for people with dental health problems, and has just received an explorer grant from the Health Research Council. Ximena caught up with researchers Azam Ali and Karl Lyons to talk about the biomaterials, how they work & why this research is so significant.
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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