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.
Yesterday on Valentine’s Day there were protests and renewed calls in the media about dating impacting the amount people can receive in benefits. For our weekly catch-up with Labour Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni, Caeden asks about these renewed calls to review this status quo.
They also ask about the situation in Tāmaki Makaurau just over a year since the Auckland Anniversary weekend flooding.
The National Party has scrapped the Regional Fuel Tax and Mayor Wayne Brown has ordered that all work by Auckland Transport on projects funded by the tax is to be stopped.
Beth spoke to Counsellor for Manukau, Lotu Fuli, about Wayne Brown’s decision, and to what extent these projects were integral to the future of the city.
The Supreme Court found that Northland iwi leader Mike Smith (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu) has the right to sue seven big polluters in Aotearoa New Zealand, including Fonterra, Genesis Energy and Z Energy for their role in contributing to climate change. The ruling also denies these companies from attempting to strike out the case, and it will now continue to trial.
Beth spoke to Head of Campaigns for Greenpeace Aotearoa, Amanda Larssen, about this win, and its significance for our climate.
For our regular catch-up with the Green Party, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to co-leader, James Shaw, about the government’s plans to increase benefit sanctions and Israel’s ground invasion of Rafah.
She talked to Local Government New Zealand President and Selwyn District Council Mayor, Sam Broughton, about the government re-introducing referendums on Māori wards.
And she spoke to Medical Oncologist, Dr George Laking, about an initiative taking cancer services into marae and other community settings.
News teamer Faith spoke to Tertiary Education Union organiser, Drew Mayhem, about union members at Yoobee College of Creative Innovation striking yesterday.
Producer Olivia spoke to musician Jason Parker about the relationship between pop music and queerness in Aotearoa, and his event, the “Little Gay In”.
And for Get Action! this week, she spoke to Fairer Future spokesperson, Vanessa Cole, about our welfare system’s restrictive relationship regulations.
For our weekly catch-up, News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to Green Party Co-Leader James Shaw about the government’s plans to increase benefit sanctions and decrease the rate at which benefits increase annually.
They also discussed Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters meeting with Israel's Ambassador to New Zealand.
Yesterday union members at Yoobee College of Creative Innovation campuses across the motu went on strike for four and a half hours after failed collective agreement negotiations that have been going on since September 2022.
News teamer Faith spoke to Tertiary Education Union organiser, Drew Mayhem, about why their members took strike action.
Our welfare system has regulations surrounding relationships, which can greatly impact the amount of welfare entitlement they receive. A person's benefits can be greatly reduced if they are in a relationship, which includes casual dating.
Many have criticised these regulations, saying it prevents people from entering relationships due to fears of losing their benefits, and risks trapping people in unsafe relationships due to forced financial dependence. Olivia spoke to Fairer Future spokesperson, and ActionStation campaigner, Vanessa Cole, about the issues with these regulations, and the action the government should take.
Queer musicians have a unique relationship with pop music, especially here in Aotearoa, where the queer pop music scene is thriving.
Musician Jason Parker, who has just released his first EP, "How To Be Lonely", is producing the "Little Gay In" , a live showcase to celebrate queer music and build the community. Olivia talked to Jason about his personal experience with pop music, the history of queer pop music, and the importance of queer music events.
The coalition government plans to make Māori wards go through a referendum process.
Previously, Māori wards could be overturned with a referendum - but this rule did not apply to any other wards.
News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, spoke to Local Government New Zealand President and Selwyn District Council Mayor, Sam Broughton, about their opposition to this.
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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