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.
Iceland has just started to drill the world's deepest geothermal well into the heart of a volcano at the depth of around 5 kilometres. This is all in the pursuit of more renewable geothermal energy, which contributes to around 26% of Iceland's energy production. New Zealand scientists have been involved in the research and development of the project. 95bFM reporter Dylan Kelly speaks to Greg Bignall from GNS Science about the likelihood of these scientists bringing their findings back to New Zealand and using them to extract further geothermal energy here.
Check out the full podcast for this week's Wednesday show, which includes a look at the Tāmaki Regeneration Company's perspective on Niki's eviction, the government's 50 cent increase to the minimum wage, Dear Science with AUT's Allan Blackman, and more.
Last week an unusual gathering of scientists and hackers met at the University of Pennsylvania. This was not the first time such a group had met and they were tasked with retrieving and preserving climate data from government web pages before the Donald Trump administration tore it all down. Their predictive action was not in vain, either, after the inauguration the new Whitehouse.gov website reflects notable absences. Dr. Bethany Wiggin is director of the program in Environmental Humanities at the university and has been heavily involved in this activism meets data recovery. bFM Reporter Mackenzie Smith spoke to her and began by asking what led to this action.
In our weekly chat with the Māori Party, Te Ururoa Flavell shares his Rātana Pa visit, PM Bill English's new reo and the potential of a Māori-Mana alliance.
Prime Minister Bill English has suggested that the TPPA should go ahead without the US. bFM reporter Momoko spoke with Professor Jane Kelsey who thinks that this would impact negatively on New Zealand as a whole, and Business NZ Chief Executive Kirk Hope, who thinks moving forward with the TPPA Deal is New Zealand’s most viable option to prevent isolation from the world’s trading markets.
Amanda Robinson is a bFM reporter and supporter of Glen Innes woman Niki's fight to prevent her eviction from her home of 30 years. Amanda was at the demonstration held today outside Niki's home and speaks to Mack Smith on the developing events.
A long serving former Labour MP with a short stint as Leader of the Opposition, David Shearer is now in a different form of politics: solving the South Sudanese crisis. Mack Smith filed this report.
Check out the full podcast for this week's Tuesday show, which includes a chat with Māori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell, a look at the potential for a new TPPA, a live chat with bFM contributor Amanda Robinson who was supporting the protest against the eviction of a Glen Innis woman, a look at what former Labour MP David Shearer is doing in South Sudan, and more.
There’s concern at the amount of untreated sewage being washed into Auckland’s harbours. A Herald investigation revealed one million cubic litres of human and animal effluent is flowing into the ocean every year - the equivalent of 400 olympic swimming pools. It’s happening every time more than five millimetres of rain falls in the city, due to our stormwater drains being combined with our sewage drains. While the infrastructure was a great advancement when it replaced open air sewers in the early 1900’s… today it doesn’t quite stack up.Ten of Auckland’s beaches are now so polluted people are unable to swim. 95bFM producer Hannah Ross spoke to Auckland Mayor Phil Goff about the issue, while producer John-Michael Swannix spoke to, Gemma Tolich Allen, a wastewater biologist and scientific advisor for the Manukau Harbour Restoration Society, who has worked in this area for thirty years, and Dr Lokesh Padhye who is a wastewater engineer at the University of Auckland.
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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