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.
In our weekly interview with National’s James Meager, producer Castor began with National’s promised ban on wearing gang patches in public. The ban is due to come later this year as part of a bundle of legislation aimed at reducing gang presence in communities.
A similar law was passed by the Whanganui District Council in 2009, which was later reviewed by the High Court and found to be unlawful and in violation of the Bill of Rights.
Castor then briefly discussed Labour’s clean car discount, which was repealed by the National government on the 31st of December last year. Ministry of Transport data shows that registrations of new electric vehicles have decreased from 1 in 4 in 2023 to 1 in 26 in January this year.
Last week, a public servant at the Ministry of Health who leaked an official document was dismissed. The leaked document showed the Associate Minister of Health, Casey Costello, requesting advice on freezing the annual increase in tobacco excise tax.
Health Coalition Aotearoa has released a consultation document advocating options to address and improve transparency in public policy-making and the regulation of lobbying in New Zealand.
Producer Sofia spoke to co-chair of Health Coalition Aotearoa and Professor of Māori Health and Nutrition at Massey University, Lisa Te Morenga, about the coalition government’s plans to repeal the Smoke Free legislation and the current legal requirements for public policy-making transparency in Aotearoa.
For Dear Science this week, Dr Cushla McGoverin chatted with news and editorial director Jessica Hopkins about Northern Patagonian rock art, an inchworm-inspired robot with enhanced transport capabilities, and the FDA approving the first medication to treat severe frostbite.
Producer Castor spoke to National’s James Meager about gang patch legislation and the clean car discount repeal.
And producer Sofia spoke to co-chair of Health Coalition Aotearoa, Lisa Te Morenga, about the repeal of the Smoke-Free legislation and current legal requirements for public policy-making transparency in New Zealand.
Last week, the Auckland War Memorial Museum announced it would be moving from what it calls a "colonial museum" to a Te Tiriti-centric approach.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Valerie Morse from Peace Action Wellington about their response to this move and why it is necessary.
Concerns have been raised about the spread of fake news and propaganda and to justify anti-Palestinian actions.
News and Editorial Director Jesica Hopkins spoke to National Chair Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa John Minto about why unfounded claims are being repeated in the media and by politicians, here in Aotearoa and globally?
In their leadup to the 2023 election, the National party campaigned on increasing assessment in primary schools.
Castor spoke to doctoral student at the University of Auckland, Tom Pearce, about assessment based education, the campaigned policies, and alternative methods to increase learning for students.
Telecom company One NZ, previously Vodafone, was recently acquired by investment management company Infratil, which under the backdrop of unionisation efforts, has started to downsize the company in order to maximise profits. The latest announcement from the CEO includes changes that might result in 10-20% of the workforce being made redundant.
Spike spoke to Unite Union Contact Center organiser Sam Burnside-Woods about unionisation at One NZ, work from home policies, and the ongoing redundancy waves.
E whai ake nei, coming up on the Wire for Rāpare Thursday!
Beth spoke to Counsellor for Waitakere, Shane Henderson, about the impact the government’s recent repeal of Three Waters will have on the Council in terms planning of water services and infrastructure.
Castor spoke to The University of Otago’s Professor Michael Baker about increased measles risk in Aotearoa and possible countermeasures.
Caeden spoke with Acting Chief Commissioner, Dr Karanina Sumeo, about Aotearoa's human rights issues and what the impacts of the Universal Periodic Review could be.
Spike spoke to Unite Union Contact Center organiser Sam Burnside-Woods about unionisation at One NZ, work from home policies and the ongoing redundancy waves.
And Castor spoke with doctoral student at the University of Auckland, Tom Pearce, about assessment based education, the campaigned policies and alternative methods to increase learning for students.
Human rights groups from Aotearoa, such as the Human Rights Commission, have been in Geneva ahead of the Universal Periodic Review of our progress on human rights issues.
Caeden spoke to Acting Chief Commissioner, Dr Karanina Sumeo, about Aotearoa's human rights issues and what the impacts of the review could be.
High vaccination rates from 1969 onwards have prevented measles outbreaks during recent years, but a dropoff in vaccinations has increased risks.
While previously the 95% vaccination rate necessary to prevent outbreak was achieved from around 2014 to 2017, currently vaccination rates sit at around 83%.
Producer Castor spoke to The University of Otago’s Professor Michael Baker about increased measles risk in Aotearoa and possible countermeasures.
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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