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.
According to research published on the 6th of December, the accurate percentage of vegetarians in New Zealand is more likely to be two percent than the almost 20 percent previously cited in market research.
According to this study:
93 percent of New Zealand eat red meat;
2.89 percent do not eat red meat, but eat seafood and poultry;
1.4 percent are pescatarians,
and 2 percent are true vegetarians.
In this interview, Lou speaks to Dr Kathryn Bradbury from the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the School of Population Health about the conclusions of this research.
Thousands of protestors took to the motorways December 5th, in protest against the recent policies announced by the new government. ACT Party leader David Seymour critiscised these actions, calling the tuesday events "diverse theatrics".
On our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, Lou spoke to Simon Court about David Seymour's response to the hikoi, and ACT's stance on the policies announced, such as the scrapping of the Māori Health Authority, restoring referendums for Māori wards and minimising Māori language use in public services.
Lou then enquired about ACT renewing their call for the removal of the Human Rights Commission as well as alternative measures proposed to safeguard and promote human rights in New Zealand.
Finally, Lou enquired about ACT's stance towards the climate change issues following Aotearoa's new climate minister participating in COP28, 2023's United Nations Climate Change Conference held at Expo City, Dubai.
On the Wire for Rāpare Thursday, hosted by News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins.
Producer Beth spoke to Professor of Social and Community Health at the University of Auckland, Peter Adams, about the influence of the tobacco industry in Aotearoa.
For City Counselling this week, Beth spoke to counsellor for Manukau, Lotu Fuli, about the Auckland Climate Budget and the review of Auckland Council’s 10 year budget.
Anbd producer Castor, spoke to Oxfam’s climate justice lead, Nick Henry, about a report he authored on New Zealand’s fossil fuel industry.
The new government announced a repeal of Aotearaoa’s Smoke Free legislation and regulation of tobacco products, making international news.
Beth spoke to Professor of Social and Community Health at the University of Auckland Peter Adams about the influence of the tobacco industry on Aotearoa New Zealand and what needs to happen in order to create unbiased policymaking.
Oxfam has published a report on New Zealand’s fossil fuel industry, calling upon the government to immediately end the production of oil and gas.
While New Zealand has made numerous commitments to reducing our climate impact, the new government has announced policies that promote further oil and gas production.
Castor spoke to Oxfam’s climate justice lead and the report’s lead author, Nick Henry, about the report and how the new government’s policies will affect our emissions targets.
With the seven-day humanitarian pause in Gaza having come to an end, many have continued to call for a permanent ceasefire. In Aotearoa New Zealand, there has been continued peaceful action by protestors calling for entities to condemn Israel’s bombings and to stand with Palestine.
For this week’s Get Action! segment, Olivia talked to Senior Lecturer of Law at the University of Auckland, Dylan Asafo, about his open letter calling for universities to stand with Palestine. In this letter, he calls for Vice-Chancellors of the New Zealand Universities to condemn Israel’s attacks.
Despite recent years' initiatives to mitigate child poverty, it remains an important issue that negatively impacts children's development and health. Experts have proposed cost-effective solutions to improve children's neurological, physical, and mental health, emphasising the importance of the first 2000 days of a child’s life to development.
Intergenerational disadvantage and inequity is a key cause of continuing child poverty, with up to 30% of Aotearoa New Zealand’s children lacking their basic needs’ adequate fulfilment.
The Knowledge Hub for Maternal and Child Health at Koi Tū has released a report aimed at the Government to implement these solutions through policy, which parents and guardians can read for their own benefit.
Olivia spoke with the leader of the Knowledge Hub for Maternal and Child Health at Koi Tū, Dr Felicia Low, about the current state of child poverty, and Koi Tū’s report on evidence-based solutions.
The Tuesday Wire team is joined by Dr Alan Blackman, where they discuss a failed superconductivity project, the health positives and negatives associated with alcohol consumption and why going Vegan might just be better for our health.
This week for our weekly catchup with Dr Shane Reti the discussion centred on how policy aimed at Māori will be affected under National’s coalition agreements with Act and NZ First.
During our discussion we touched on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous people and He Puapua, both of which have been scrapped under coalition agreements.
Nicholas also touched on the Act Party’s treaty principles bill, which the National Party has agreed to support to the select committee stage.
To finish our interview I asked Dr Reti to clarify claims made by the Primeminister and senior minister Chris Bishop. During an interview with Q and A Chris Bishop made the claim that under Labour's smokefree 2025 plan, there would only be one tobacco retailer in the entirety of Northland, potentially making that retailer a magnet for crime.
According to the plans laid out by the director general, there would be not one but 35 retailers able to sell tobacco across Northland. I followed this up with a question about potential new vaping regulations.
The interview began with a question about the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous people.
The Tuesday Wire team is joined by Dr Alan Blackman, where they discuss a failed superconductivity project, the health positives and negatives associated with alcohol consumption and why going Vegan might just be better for our health.
Nicholas spoke to Professor Claire Charters, co-author of He Puapua, about the reports' genesis and controversy surrounding He Puapua.
Nicholas catches up with the National Party's Dr Shane Reti about the policy aimed at Māori will be affected under National’s coalition agreements with Act and NZ First. As well as comments made by Chris Bishop about Labour’s smokefree plans.
Nicholas also spoke to to Kerri Nuku, the spokesperson for the New Zealand Nurses' organisation about the needs they want the new Government to adress.
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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