Listen back to features and interviews from 95bFM's daily news and current affairs show. Joel Armstrong, Castor Chacko, Oto Sequeira, and Caeden Tipler focus on the issues of Tāmaki Makaurau and elsewhere in independent-thinking bFM style. Monday-Thursday 12-1pm on 95bFM.
Content warning: this story deals with discussions of eating disorders
Recently, RNZ published an article about a young person who passed away in 2023 in emergency accommodation due to his battle with his eating disorder.
However, the article has faced backlash for its portrayal of the young person.
Despite the young person in question; Alex, who identified as trans, the article, at his parents request, referred to him by his deadname and did not use his preferred pronouns. The article mixed in non-gender specific pronouns and the name ‘V,’ depending on an individual's relationship to Alex that was not his parents.
News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to the President of the Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa’s Jennifer Shields, about RNZ’s coverage and how this may impact trans rangatahi in the country.
The coverage of this story has also raised the question of what responsible coverage should look like, for a story like this.
According to RNZ’s Rainbow Communities Reporting and Content Guidelines, as Alex could not communicate his wishes, RNZ opted to cover the story the way they did through his parents.
Joel also spoke to the Academic Advisor to Journalism at AUT, Greg Treadwell, about the coverage of this story, and if he believes the coverage is adequate.
LGBTQIA+ organisations to contact for support and resources:
OUTLine Aotearoa: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm) for specialist, 24/7, confidential, mental health support, that also provides specialist counselling for LGBTQIA+ individuals and whānau.
Oto spoke with Maryam, an Iranian New Zealander in Iran at the moment, talking to us about the missile strikes between Israel and Iran from her perspective
He spoke to Stephen Hoadley, a retired associate professor from the University of Auckland talking about the Israeli Iranian conflict from a broader angle
For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez-March, Oto spoke with him about the government's consideration to change sick leave payments, the directive to Health NZ to give private hospitals outsourcing contracts for elective surgeries and David Seymour's review into ECE funding.
And he spoke to Te Kahuratai Moko-Painting A professional teaching fellow at the centre for Pūtaiao at the University of Auckland, about why some Iwi celebrate Puanga instead of Matariki.
News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to the Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa’s Jennifer Shields and AUT’s Greg Treadwell, regarding a story on RNZ which many have raised concerns about over the lack of usage of an individual's preferred name and gender identity, due to the individual having passed away and not being able to communicate his wishes.
For Dear Science, our expert, Professor Allan Blackman, chats with us about characterising liquid carbon, Antarctic base cleanup, and plants making their pesticides.
In our weekly catchup with the National Party’s Tom Rutherford, Wire host Castor asked about new investment in tourism marketing and New Zealand’s recent sanctions on two Israeli ministers.
They also spoke to professional teaching fellow at the University of Auckland, Simon Schofield, about the proposed sick leave changes and how they could disproportionately affect women.
Producer Faith spoke to Emeritus Law Professor Jane Kelsey from the University of Auckland about ACT’s regulatory standards bill, and whether the party should progress with it, after it failed three times.
She also spoke to Layba Zubair from Aotearoa Free From Stalking about the gaps in the anti-stalking bill.
The Act Party has unsuccessfully tried to pass legislation for the regulatory standards bill three times.
Producer Faith spoke to Emeritus law Professor Jane Kelsey from the University of Auckland about why she believes they should not progress a fourth time round.
The government has discussed potential changes to how sick leave is allocated, scaling sick leave days with the number of hours a person works. While this wouldn’t affect the days available to full-time workers, it could see part-time workers with reduced access to sick leave. This has raised some concerns around disproportionate outcomes for women and students, two groups that tend to be employed in more part-time roles.
Wire host Castor spoke to professional teaching fellow at the University of Auckland, Simon Schofield, about the proposed sick leave changes and how they could disproportionately affect some demographics.
Although the anti-stalking legislation has been praised as a step forward for women in NZ, activists have deemed the bill “the bare minimum,” and believe that some grey areas haven’t been addressed.
Producer Faith spoke to community worker Layba Zubair from Aotearoa Free From Stalking about why she believes that the bill needs to be modified to be more victim-focused, and that police need to be better-equipped to deal with cases of stalking.
On Friday last week, the consultation process for the proposed new English curriculum for intermediate and high school students ended.
The proposed English curriculum will result in senior high school students learning Shakespeare and 19th-century texts, and spelling and keyboard lessons for younger students.
However, concerns have been raised that the proposed curriculum is ‘Eurocentric,’ does not engage with Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and lacks Māori and Pacific text.
News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to Claudia Rozas — a lecturer in Critical Studies at the University of Auckland, about why elements of te ao Māori should be incorporated into the English curriculum and the importance of Māori and Pacific text being engaged with.
The government has reduced staff and funding at the National Geohazards Monitoring Centre by 25%
This comes despite the siesmic activity expierenced throughout the country and the rising frequency of natural disasters, not only in New Zealand but around the world.
The Wire producer Samantha sat down with PSA organizer Claire Nickson to discuss the implications of this move and its affects in the public.
Princess Lātūfuipeka Tukuʻaho of Tonga has called for legal personhood for whales, some of the most intelligent animals we share the Earth with.
This would not be the first time that governments have recognised personhood for non human things, New Zealand having done so with a mountain, Taranaki Mounga, and the Whanganui river.
Producer Samantha spoke with Dr Justin Sobion, Professor of Law at the University of Auckland about the legal and industrial implications of such a move.
For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party’s Simon Court, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to him about ACT local candidates opposing moves to mitigate the climate crisis at a regional level, the ban of Israeli MPs Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for visiting the country, and changes to proposed anti-stalking laws.
Joel also spoke to Claudia Rozas — a lecturer in Critical Studies at the University of Auckland, about the new English curriculum, and the need for Māori and Pacific authors to be engaged with.
Producer Samantha spoke to PSA organiser Claire Nickson about staffing and funding cuts at the National Geohazard Monitoring Centre and its implications for the public.
Samantha also spoke to Justin Sobion, Professor of Law at University of Auckland about the Princess of Tonga calling for whales to be granted legal personhood.
Associate Health Minister, David Seymour, has recently announced changes to Psilocybin and Melatonin availability.
Psilocybin, the compound found in magic mushrooms, will be available for certain patients suffering from poor mental health outcomes. Melatonin, which is used for insomnia and jetlag, is set to be available over the counter.
For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party’s Simon Court, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to him about this move, and the potential accessibility concerns with accessing these medications.
They also discussed taxpayers set to be funding newly-funded cancer medicines for private facilities.
Finally, they discuss opposition parties criticised Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, over a lack of transparency regarding the effectiveness of boot camps for youth offenders, especially as boot camps have received a boost of $30 million, despite the pilot programme still being ongoing.
But first, they discussed Psilocybin and Melatonin.
Housing intensification is a key priority for Auckland Council as Auckland's population is forecast to reach 2.3 million by 2050.
But as planning for growth continues, some Auckland residents have expressed concern about the approval of developments in areas on flood plains or particularly prone to natural disasters.
With Kāinga Ora selling homes as ‘high risk investments’ in areas which were impacted by flooding in recent years, and 15 percent of all granted consents for new builds by Auckland Council being on floodplains, I spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about how the council is taking into account these issues for the coming years.
Last Saturday, over 2,000 protests took place across all 50 American States against President Donald Trump.
The protests coincided with Trump’s birthday and the 250th anniversary of the US Army, and they served as a direct response to the military parade in Washington, DC.
The organisers of the protests say they aimed to reject “authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and the militarisation of our democracy.”
Wire Host Caeden spoke to Jeremy Pressman, Professor of Political Science at the University of Connecticut about the protests and the backlash towards them from the Trump administration.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon recently spoke to media saying that the government would announce reforms to the Holidays Act that would impact sick leave entitlements for part time workers.
Under the suggested changes, sick leave entitlements would be processed under an accrual system, meaning that part-time workers working half the hours of their full-time counterparts may only earn half of their previously entitled sick leave.
In that same week, a directive was recently given to Te Whatu Ora - Health NZ to give private hospitals 10-year outsourcing contracts to perform elective surgeries.
And earlier this week Associate Education David Seymour announced a review of the funding for early childhood education.
For our weekly Catchup with the Green Party, Oto spoke to MP Ricardo Menendez-March about all of these issues.
Last week, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston announced plans to double the tourism value by 2034, with increased funding to support the country in reaching this goal. The funding is primarily targeted at increasing the marketing of New Zealand tourism overseas, which has been met with mixed reactions from tourism operators in Aotearoa, many of whom have been struggling with existing tourist numbers.
Also this past week, the New Zealand government imposed sanctions on two Israeli ministers for ‘inciting extremist violence’ against Palestinians. While the move has received cross-party support, opposition parties such as the Greens and Te Pāti Māori have criticised the government for not taking further action against Israel.
In our weekly catchup with National's Tom Rutherford, Wire host Castor asked about each of these issues, beginning with the new tourism funding.
This week on Dear Science our expert, Professor Allan Blackman, chatted with us about characterising liquid carbon, a New Zealand led cleanup in Antarctica, and plants making their own pesticide.
The ACT Party has recently announced that candidates standing in local elections, if elected, will oppose attempts to mitigate emissions at a local level.
ACT Local Government spokesperson, Cameron Luxton, says council’s should “focus on what they can control,” and not “costly symbolic declarations”.
For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party’s Simon Court, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to him about this move.
We also discussed the government’s sanctions on Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
New Zealand has joined countries such as the UK, Australia, Canada, and Norway, in banning Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich over allegedly “inciting extremist violence" against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and “undermin[ing] peace” for a two-state solution.
Finally, we discussed changes being made to the proposed anti-stalking laws.
But first, we discussed ACT candidates opposing attempts to mitigate emissions at a local level.
Los Angeles is approaching a week of protests against ICE, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
Over 200 protestors have been arrested since the protests began, and restrictions have been placed on protestors, including a curfew.
The White House has sent 2,000 members of the National Guard to the city already, and another 2,000 are expected to be deployed. This is despite California Governor Gavin Newsom attempting to stop their deployment.
For International Desk, I spoke to Andre Fa’aoso from the Yale Daily News about the protests.
New Zealand and key allies have imposed sanctions on two “extremist” Israeli politicians for their role in “inciting violence against Palestinians” in the West Bank.
However, opposition parties, including Labour as well as the Greens and Te Pāti Māori, are calling for further action to be taken against Israel.
It comes after Israel kidnapped 12 pro-Palestine activists on international waters, who were intending to break the aid blockade and reach Gaza.
And earlier this week, the National Business released their annual rich list.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, I spoke to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about these topics.
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