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.
We Back our Kaiako is a new student-led group which has formed to support the teacher strikes. They’re based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara and will be protesting outside Parliament on Wednesday to show their support of the Post Primary Teachers Association.
Caeden had a kōrero with their spokesperson Kay about why they’ve organised this protest and what their demands are. More info can be found on their instagram @backourkaiako
ACT Party Leader David Seymour has accused RNZ of “propaganda” and “Palestinian-friendly” framing.
These comments came after pro-kremlin edits were found in RNZ’s coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Palestinian New Zealander and descendant of Palestinian refugees Tameem Shaltoni. Shaltoni firstly provided some background into Israel's unlawful occupation of the West Bank. He also shared why Seymour's comments are concerning and his message to western media and political figures.
She also heard from John Minto from the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa about his criticism of New Zealand and other western media's coverage of Israel's treatment of Palestine.
Spike speaks to Lisa Woods, Campaigns Director at Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand, about the new Inspectorate report into Corrections' use of prisoner separation and solitary confinement, along with its impacts and repercussions.
Last week Simon spoke with Professor John Townend on the science of the Alpine Fault, and the probability of a large earthquake in the next 50 years. The AF8 roadshow is touring around the South Island to help communities prepare for a large earthquake. Alice Lake-Hammond is the programme manager of the roadshow. Simon began by asking Alice what the purpose of the AF8 roadshow is.
- Andrew Little about the new defence deal with Fiji
- Lisa Woods from Amnesty NZ about a new report into Corrections' use of prisoner separation and solitary confinement
- and a report on City Impact's "Christian Summit" event held this week, serving as a meeting point for far-right and evangelical groups going into October's election, featuring activists Byron C Clark and Hannah Blake
Simon speaks to:
- Councillor Shane Henderson for City Counselling about the budget agreement reached last week, and the sale of airport shares and rates rises
- Alice Lake-Hammond about the AF8 roadshow in the South Island raising awareness about a potential Alpine Fault earthquake
- and Senior Lecturer Bill McKay about the ongoing revitalisation of Queen St
Anyone who has visited Queen street lately will have noticed the sea of roadworks as Auckland Transport seeks to transform the street to being more pedestrian and cycle friendly. Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in architecture and planning at Auckland University. Simon spoke to him about how Queen Street can become a vibrant and user friendly space. Simon began by asking Bill whether the recent changes have worked.
This Tuesday, City Impact Church held what they dubbed a "Christian summit" on the "state of the nation", where multiple far-right groups and figures met to give speeches and push for a coordinated electoral campaign ahead of October's election. 95bFM obtained a recording of the event, and along with outlining what was discussed, Spike speaks to activists Byron C Clark and Hannah Blake about the state of the conservative/Christian extremist movements in Aotearoa, and what the meeting means for the far-right moving forward.
Currently out for consultation is Auckland's Future Development Strategy which sets out how the city should grow. Alex Bonham spoke to Councillor Angela Dalton, the Deputy Chair of the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee about how the proposed compact city strategy will reduce carbon emissions, shift development away from good soils and areas vulnerable to inundation, align investment on infrastructure, transport and housing so as to be most cost-effective and make the city more walkable, cyclable and vibrant at the same time. Anyone can give feedback at https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/future-development-strategy until 4th July.
To try minimise levels of youth vaping, the government has announced new regulations last week. These restrictions include regulating vape flavour descriptions, areas where vape stores can be constructed, and also regulating disposable vapes.
To learn more about what these policy changes might do to help curb youth vaping, and uncover what more needs to be done, Andre Fa’aoso spoke to Janet Hoek, Senior Professor at the University of Otago, Wellington and co-director of ASPIRE25.
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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