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.
This week is Intersex awareness week, and tomorrow is Intersex awareness day in Aotearoa.
News and Editorial Director spoke to Communications and Community Manager for Intersex Aotearoa, Jelly O'Shea, about what it can mean to be Intersex and what they are doing to celebrate and raise awareness about variations in sex characteristics.
She started off their interview, asking O'Shea, about the origins of Intersex awareness week.
The Ram Raid Offending and Related Measures Amendment Bill is currently being passed through Government. The bill will separately criminalise ram raids, and offer harsher punishments on youth offenders.
Josh talked to Lisa McLaren, someone who opposes this bill, to discuss its flaws.
The Labour Party's Fair Pay Legislation was passed with the intention of creating industry standards for employee's pay and working conditions.
The National Party has campaigned on repealling the legislation.
Following the preliminary results, it seems likely that the bill could be scrapped.
Nicholas spoke to the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions President Richard Wagstaff about the potential ramifications of scrapping Fair Pay Agreements.
Yesterday, the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza was bombed, killing at least 500 Palestinians.
The health ministry in Gaza says the attack was the result of an Israeli air raid. Israel has attributed the explosion to a misfired rocket launched by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), which PIJ has denied.
A statement issued by the World Health organisation pointed out that there have been over 50 attacks on hospitals in Gaza since 7 October. Al Jazeera has also reported that the Israeli military has issued evacuation orders for 22 hospitals. A senior health official in Gaza told Al Jazeera that Israel had fired two artillery shells as a warning at the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital days before the bombing.
Palestinian New Zealander and advocate Tameem Al Shaltouni is among those calling on the New Zealand government to condemn the Israeli government's genocide of Palestinians.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Al Shaltouni about the bombing of al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, Israel’s genocide of Palestinains, and false information that has been spread by Israel during the Israel-Hamas war.
She started off the interview asking Al Shaltouni about the impact of the attack on al-Ahli Baptist Hospital.
For City Counselling, News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Shane Henderson about Te Hononga Akoranga, COMET, an organisation addressing education disparities in local communities, becoming an independent from the Auckland Council.
They also discussed a new local initiative, recycled fabric billboards in Henderson-Massey.
They started off their interview discussing why Te Hono-nga Ako-ranga, COMET, is separating from the council.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Palestinian New Zealander Tameem Al Shaltouni about the bombing of the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza.
For City Counselling, she spoke to Shane Henderson about Te Hononga Akoranga, COMET, an organisation addressing education disparities in local communities, becoming an independent organisation from the Auckland Council and recycled fabric billboards in Henderson-Massey.
She interviewed 350 Aotearoa campaigner, Adam Currie, about their protest at Parliament this week calling on the incoming government to prioritise the climate in coalition negotiations.
And she also spoke to Oxfam Climate Justice Lead, Nick Henry, and Stand Up Co-Convenor, Justine Sachs, about their calls for the incoming government when it comes to the climate and workers rights.
Ash spoke to CEO of Global Women, Agnes Naera, about the impact of menopause on employees.
Yesterday, protestors led by climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa took to Parliament to call on the incoming government to prioritise climate solutions that will cut emissions and address the cost of living in coalition negotiations.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to 350 campaigner, Adam Currie, and asked him about the purpose of their protest.
She also spoke to Oxfam Climate Justice Lead, Nick Henry, about what they would like to see from the incoming government when it comes to climate action.
And she spoke to Co-Convenor of Stand Up, an affiliation of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions representing workers under 35, Justine Sachs, about how the climate relates to workers rights.
Research undertaken by the Consumer Advocacy Council has found that adding a “Best Plan” notice to power bills could save Kiwis millions of dollars a year. Some countries, like Australia, have already implemented this.
To find out more Arno spoke to Consumer Advocacy Council chair Deborah Hart. Arno started our interview by asking what a Best Plan notice is and what it would entail.
Breast cancer affects thousands of Kiwis, particularly women, every year. This year, the NZ Breast Cancer Foundation raised funds to purchase a new campervan, which they painted pink and dubbed Pinkie.
This campervan travels to more remote regions of the country with two nurses on board, helping to screen those for cancer and raise awareness of the importance of early detection.
To find out more, Arno spoke to NZ Breast Cancer Foundation chief Ah-Leen Rayner. Arno started our interview by asking what the NZ Breast Cancer Foundation does.
Our traditional model of the universe has always said that planets are formed with an accompanying solar system. That is, most stars have their own planets, and most planets have their own stars. However scientists have suggested that starless planets may exist.
Now, a new telescope has taken images to prove that this is indeed the case. The James Webb Space Telescope has captured not one, but two planets orbiting each other, far away from the gravity of a sun.
To find out more about this and what it means for us, Arno spoke to Dr Nick Rattenbury, a senior professor at the University of Auckland and the former president of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand.
Arno started off our interview by asking how these planets formed.
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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