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.
Tokelau’s latest government is at odds with New Zealand’s administration of the country. Mack speaks to constitutional adviser Tony Angelo and Labour's spokesperson for Pacific Island Affairs, Su'a William Sio about the latest developments.
A New York Times investigation has revealed Uber to be evading the law in cities where its unlicensed. Mack speaks to Auckland University Associate Professor Scott Optican about the legal case it would make in New Zealand.
Check out the full podcast for this week's Tuesday show, which includes an investigation into New Zealand's reprimand of Tokelau, a look at political developments across the world, an interview with a law professor on what Uber's law dodging means in a New Zealand context, a report on covering Māori politics in election year, and more.
Prime Minister Bill English's surprise announcement that National will drop a key policy of the last election drew criticism from across party lines. English claimed increasing life expectancy means, by 2040, retirement at 65 is an luxury New Zealand can no longer afford. bfm producer Ben Goldson speaks to NZ SuperFund's Chief Investment Officer to gain a better understanding of how it all works.
Heavy rain last week caused flooding across Auckland, as well as a build-up in sediment at the Ardmore Water Treatment Plant. This led to call by Watercare for Aucklanders to cut back by 20 litres a day or else face untreated water in the grid. Producer Ben Goldson speaks to Watercare Chief Executive Raveem Jaduram.
This past Saturday was the official opening of Taranaki Retreat. This service is Taranaki’s first suicide prevention refuge. bFM reporter Amanda Jane Robinson spoke to one of the retreat's founders, Jamie Allen, about the opening.
International Relations professor Robert Kelly's BBC interview about South Korea was interrupted when his two small children showed up. His wife rushed in and ushered the children out of the room. However, many people and some media outlets assumed that Professor Kelly's wife, Jung-a Kim, was the nanny. The assumption has sparked a wider discussion about interracial couples and media representation of Asian women. bFM reporter Amanda Jane Robinson spoke to author MiMi Aye, who tweeted about some of these assumptions and is part of an interracial family.
95bFM reporter Amanda Jane Robinson and producer Ben Goldson look at the aftermath of this weekend's wild weather and the New Zealand SuperFund. We have our weekly chat with the Green Party, this week talking to co-leader James Shaw about abortion law reform and the possibility of shortening prison sentences if people in prison pass literacy tests. We also bring back our long-lost Pacific news segment, Southern Cross. We also look at the opening of new suicide prevention support refuge, Taranaki Retreat. And finally, we look at the racial bias behind assumptions in a viral BBC video.
A group of students organising a protest against rape culture received online threats of violence forcing them to change their protest location. The protests follow an incident involving facebook comments from students about having sex with drunk and unconscious girls. The protests are focused on the broader issue of normalisation of rape culture in New Zealand, and will take place on Monday where the students will march through Civic Square in Wellington. 95bFM reporter, Tess Barnett, spoke to Korowai Tumanako clinician, Russell Smith, who helped start a high school programme that teaches sex and consent, about the situation.
Poetry Collective ‘Waxed Poetic Revival’ is holding a music and poetry show this Saturday night. The show is called ‘LIGHT’, 95bFM host, Amanda, spoke to poet and co-founder of ‘Waxed Poetic Revival’, Mohamed Hassan, about what’s in store.
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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