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.
Check out the full podcast for this week's Tuesday show, where we speak to Forest and Bird Chief Executive Kevin Hague about coal mining in the South Island, the University of Auckland's Dr Kirsten Zemke about cultural discrimination at the Grammys, as well as taking a look at the latest developments in North Korea and Palestine, and more.
The Human Rights Commission is calling for an inquiry into abuse in state welfare institutions. 95bFM reporter Michael Garelja spoke to a social justice advocate who's signed the letter, Kim Workman, about the HRC's open letter.
Last week, 650 pilot whales stranded at Farewell Spit in Golden Bay. Rochelle Constatine, senior lecturer at the University of Auckland's school of biological sciences, speaks to 95bFM about the science behind mass strandings and the logistical nightmare behind re-floating.
This week on the Monday show, George and Jogai look into calls for an inquiry into abuse at the hands of the state, and James Shaw joins us to add his two cents to that, as well as the Greens' domestic violence bill. We hear about the science of mass pilot whale strandings, as well as a report from a No Pride in Prisons rally and an interview with a Muslim-Kiwi woman who experienced a horrific example of racial abuse in Huntly.
Over the weekend, a Kiwi-Muslim woman bore the brunt of a violent, verbal attack by a woman in Huntly. In a video uploaded by victim Mehpara Khan, the attacker can be seen hurling racially-charged insults at the aforementioned. 95bFM reporter Jogai Bhatt spoke to Mehpara to learn more.
Over the weekend, prison abolitionist group No Pride in Prisons held a march at Mt Eden Corrections Facility, to protest the prison population reaching 10,000. The group outlined their demands regarding the Bail Amendment Act of 2013 and the proposed expansion of Waikeria prison. 95bFM reporter Jogai Bhatt went along to the march to learn more.
Go By Bike Day was held this week, on Wednsday 8th. Its an event used to promte cycling as an alternative form of transport around Auckland.Bfm Reporter Adam Jacobson spoke to Bike Auckland Spokesperson, Jessica Rose on the hisotry and purpose of the day, the currently running Auckland Cycle Challange and her views upon Auckland growing cycle infrastucture.
Auckland's transport infrasture is ever changing, with new projects on the rise monthly. Bfm Reporter Adam Jacobson spoke with Transport Blog editor Matt Lowrie on the updating of cycle infrasture across the city, what future plans there may be for cycle ways, how the 2017 elections will affect the direction of current transport plans and finally where funding will be coming from post-2018.
A new taskforce has been set up by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to watch Trump’s administration. The new Americas taskforce is made up of seven people and will operation 24/7 to keep up to date with any new policy put in place by the US government. This comes after a the Ministry was reprimanded by the New Zealand government over a delay finding out how Trump’s immigration ban would effect some New Zealanders. bFM reporter Amanda Jane Robinson speaks to University of Auckland Associate Professor Stephen Hoadley about this taskforce.
Brodie Lancaster in a writer and the editor of Filmme Fatales, a zine about women and cinema. After 4 years of the zine, Brodie decided that the recent 8th issue would be the last. bFM reporter Amanda Jane Robinson spoke to Brodie about the zine, women in film, and the state of film criticism
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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