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.
bFM's Joel Thomas talks to Auckland Writers Festival Director Anne O'Brien about the festival lineup, diversity in literature, and the need to actively search for stories that put you in unfamiliar positions.
Jacinda Ardern joins Jogai for a chat this week in place of a fog-bound Andrew Little. Listen to the full podcast here we discuss the new Labour-Greens fiscal framework announced this week.
This week, Jogai and Jess catch up with Health Minister Nicky Wagner to learn more about the government's legislation of e-cigarettes, and Jacinda chats to Jogai about the new Budget Responsibility Rules announced this week. bFM reporter Ambrose O'Meagher speaks to Russel Norman about the upcoming Greenpeace protest of the Amazon Warrior, and Joel Thomas chats to Sandra Grey of the Tertiary Education Union to find out more about the ever-increasing government pressures put on tertiary staff. Jason Leopold is also back for a final State of the States with our news and editorial assistant, Pearl Little. All this and more on the Thursday Wire - check out the full podcast here.
A recent survey on the Tertiary Education Union (TEU) members has found that 63% of academics are feeling more pressured to pass students over the past decade, as well as 66% of university staff feeling that there is more pressure to admit students that do not adequately meet pre-requisites. bFM reporter Joel Thomas speaks to Sandra Grey from the TEU about this issue, beginning by asking what it is that's putting pressure on staff and academics.
Jason Leopold and Pearl speak for the last time today - touching on Trump's Obama era repeals, net privacy changes and links between Trump staff and Russia. Jason has been corresponding for bFM for 10 years now, and this is his final installment of State of the States. Thanks for everything, Jason.
In the wake of today’s sweeping executive order by US President Donald Trump to reverse efforts to address climate change and instead protect the oil, gas and coal industries, Greenpeace New Zealand is preparing to go and confront his agenda at sea. Oil giants Chevron and Statoil are currently using the world’s biggest seismic ship, the 125-metre long Amazon Warrior, to search for oil off the Wairarapa Coast. Greenpeace New Zealand Executive Director Dr Russel Norman says Greenpeace will head out to sea for protest in the coming weeks. bFM reporter Ambrose O’Meagher speaks to Russel to find ouot more.
Yesterday the government announced the legalisation of nicotine e-cigarettes and e-liquid with appropriate controls. The announcement has received a mostly positive response, with many believing that the change is a huge step towards helping kiwis quit smoking, and attaining the ultimate goal of a smoke-free NZ by 2025. Producer Jess Smith speaks to Health Minister Nicky Wagner to find out more about what the new law involves, and what it means for New Zealand.
New information has emerged that suggests the NZ Defence Force made factual inaccuracies in their rebuttal to Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson’s new book, Hit & Run. The lawyers representing villagers from Khak Khuday Dad and Naik, who were allegedly attacked by the SAS in a 2010 raid, say the village the NZDF claims the raid took place in actually doesn’t even exist. Ximena speaks to one of the lawyers, Deborah Manning, for further detail about this new information.
Replace cows with cannabis. These are the recent comments made by esteemed entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson, on his most recent visit to New Zealand. He suggests if marijuana were to be legalised, dairy farmers could replace sections of their land designated for cows, over to industrial growing of cannabis.Adam Jacobson explores these issues in a recent report.
This weekend, the Auckland International Cultural Festival will be returning for its 18th year. The free event is happening from 10am-5pm at the Mt Roskill Memorial Park, and will offer the public a diverse range of cultural and culinary experiences. Ximena speaks to event organiser Cara Cantrell about what Aucklanders can expect from this weekend’s festival.
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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