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.
Councils across Aotearoa have been removing mangroves for various reasons including for aesthetics, beach access, and reduced muddiness.
However, mangroves actually reduce muddiness on their own, as well as supporting local ecosystems and minimising flood risk.
Producer Castor spoke to University of Auckland Professor of Environment, Giovanni Coco, about the removal of mangroves and how this can harm New Zealand’s wetlands and estuaries.
For our regular catch-up with the Labour Party, Caeden spoke to Deputy Leader, Carmel Sepuloni, about the 2023 Pacific Islands Forum.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Epidemiologist, Professor Michael Baker, about his concerns that Aotearoa is entering a ‘fifth wave’ of Covid-19.
Producer Beth spoke to Counsellor for Waitakere, Shane Henderson, about the Council’s consultation on government direction and improvement to Tāmaki Makaurau’s freshwater and community involvement in freshwater management
She spoke to Professor of Law at the University of Auckland Claire Charters about the relationship between co-governance, te Tiriti o Waitangi and human rights in Aotearoa New Zealand, and how our co-governance arrangement could better reflect te Tiriti and the rights of indigenous peoples
She also spoke to Volunteer at the Better NZ Trust Rob Birnie about national support for the Clean Car Discount and the National Party’s plan to scrap the policy
Producer Castor spoke to Professor of Environment at the University of Auckland, Giovanni Coco, about the removal of mangroves across Aotearoa and its negative consequences for the environment.
In the past year, New Zealanders have purchased a record number of pure electric vehicles at over 24,000, along with 88,000 hybrids, according to the Ministry of Transport. The new government has stated their intentions to scrap the Clean Car Discount along with the Ute Tax from December 31st.
Beth spoke with Volunteer at Better NZ Trust Rob Birnie about national support for the Clean Car Discount, and began asking him if he thought the Clean Car Discount had influenced people’s decision to purchase a pure electric vehicle or hybrid.
Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission recently released a fact sheet explaining the connection between human rights, te Tiriti o Waitangi and co-governance.
Professor of Law at the University of Auckland Claire Charters says that ‘the fact sheet helps to unpack co-governance arrangements in Aotearoa New Zealand and how they are consistent with a modern, liberal democracy.’
Beth spoke with Professor Charters about the relationship between co-governance, te Tiriti o Waitangi and human rights in Aotearoa New Zealand, and how our co-governance arrangement could better reflect te Tiriti and the rights of indigenous peoples. She began by asking about the importance of co-governance.
For our weekly catch up with the Green Party Rawan spoke with Green MP Ricardo Menendez March.
They spoke about the Greens record election results and what this will mean moving forward.
They also spoke about the Waiheke ferry services and the party’s campaign for subsidised transport especially with the new ferry service Island direct launching this week.
Rawan then asked about the Green Party’s support of Palestine and their involvement with recent Pro-Palestine marches.
Activists continue to work towards achieving climate justice. Many have emphasised that climate change is not just an environmental issue, but also a social and economic issue that affects every part of our lives.
For Get Action! This week, our segment where we talk to people campaigning for different causes, Olivia spoke to ActionStation's Climate Justice Campaigner, Pania Rei, about the importance of indigenous perspectives in achieving climate justice, and about her work in this area.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, is a disease that affects hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders. The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation New Zealand has released a patient handbook, which includes information about patient conditions, and recommendations for COPD treatments and managements.
Olivia spoke to Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ’s Education and Development Manager, Joanna Turner, about what COPD is, and steps people can take to prevent and mitigate it.
Antony Lowenstein is a Jewish-Australian Journalist and Author who has reported on Palestine for many years and at the beginning of this year published a book titled the Palestine Laboratory.
The book looked at how Israel has been, for many years, testing military and surveillance equipment on Palestinians.
Rawan spoke to him months ago about the book and today they discussed the current Israel and Palestine conflict.
Rawan started off by asking him about his time living in occupied Palestine from 2016 to 2020 and what Palestine was like before October 7th.
They then discussed the content of his book and the way it links to the United States’ support of Israel.
They then talked about Western mainstream media coverage of the issue as well as his view on pro-Palestine marches as someone who is part of the jewish community.
Yesterday was World diabetes day, a day to raise awareness about diabetes and battle some of the stigma around the disease.
This morning Rawan spoke with Dr Anna Serlachius, senior lecturer of Psychological Medicine at the University of Auckland, about a new research project looking at stigma and discrimination amongst those with diabetes.
Rawan asked her about the importance of world diabetes day, what her research found about diabetes stigma and what we and the health system can do to make it easier for those with diabetes.
Host Rawan spoke to Green Party MP, Ricardo Menendez March, about election results, Waiheke ferry services, and their attendance at pro Palestine marches.
She also spoke with author and journalist, Antony Loewenstein, about Palestine before the current war and Israel’s connections with the west.
And she chatted to Senior Lecturer in Psychological Medicine at the University of Auckland, Dr Anna Serlachius, about discrimination against diabetes patients.
Producer Olivia spoke to ActionStation’s climate spokesperson, Pania Rei (Ngāti Toa Rangatira), about climate justice and the importance of including indigenous perspectives.
She also spoke to Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ Education and Development Manager, Joanna Turner, about Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
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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