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.
This week on Dear Science Frances Wright talks with AUT professor Marcus Jones about and IPCC report that says human influence on global warming is 'unequivocal', an analysis which reveals that strange turns of phrase may indicate foul play in science, and the explanation of a mysterious dimming of the bright star Betelgeuse.
On Monday, midwives across New Zealand began their rolling eight-hour strikes around the country following failed negotiations over pay increases last week. The midwives' union refused to put the DHB's latest offer to members, saying it was worse than the two previous offers already rejected by its members.
On the Wire this Wednesday, Frances Wright spoke with Jill Ovens who is the co-leader for MERAS, the midwives union. They spoke about the DHB’s offer, the shortage of midwives across the country, and the lack of awareness about midwifery as a career option in high schools. She also spoke briefly with Mallory Fraser, a student midwife who was on shift working at the hospital that morning. We spoke about what it’s like at the hospital, and about being a student heading into the midwifery profession.
Host Jemima Huston takes over the Monday Wire for Jessica Hopkins and Louis Macalister who produced the show from home.
This week on the show, Jessica talks to Conversion Therapy Action group's Shaneel Lal about how people can have a say on the proposed legislation to ban harmful conversion therapy practices.
She also speaks with Dr Paula O’Kane from Otago Business School on how employers can best support their employees during lockdown.
Louis interviews Author Mandy Hager about her new book, Aotearoa's History of Protest.
He also speaks to The University of Otago’s Professor Elisabeth Slooten and Sea Shepherd's Michael Lawry about critically endangered Maui and Hectors Dolphins.
And finally, Louis talked to Dr Kyle Clem from Victoria University of Wellington about how a blob of warm water off the east coast of Aotearoa is causing drought in South America.
Today on the Wednesday Wire, we start with Dear Science with Allan Blackman. This week Christina Huang and Allan discuss scientists collecting samples from an asteroid, the first photos taken from a brand new telescope, (including a selfie!), and the link between personality traits and the music we listen to.
Christina speaks with Auckland Pride Executive Director Max Tweedie as well as Dr Elizabeth Kerekere from the Green Party about the passing of the Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill in Parliament last night.
Aneeka Moheed speaks to Colin Hurst from Federation Farmers about the last few weeks of rain and cyclone over the weekend causing widespread damage to crops across the country and what that means for the supply chain
Jemima Huston talks to ACT Party Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden about the Conversion Therapy Ban Bill passing last night and the anti-mandate protests taking place in Wellington.
After almost three years of drafting and consultation, the new history curriculum for school students has been released. On the Wire this week, Alex speaks with Pauline Cleaver, the Associate Deputy Secretary of Cirriculum, Pathways & Progress from the Ministry of Education to talk about the curriculum, who was involved in its drafting and what the main goals of the curriculum are.
the insurance company IAG has carried out a survey in Aotearoa investigating attitudes towards living in areas affected by climate change. Stella spoke to Dr Niki Harré about the psychological bases for these changes.
A new project doing novel work in Aotearoa aims to document experiences of the LGBTQ+ pasifika community in healthcare settings. Stella spoke to a research assistant on the project, Allyssa Verner-Pula all about the work. If you're keen to fill out the survey, find more info here: www.manalagi.org
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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