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.
New Zealand's privacy laws are fit for 2011. That was the headline of a statement released by academics from the University of Auckland about the Privacy Act 2020. Lawyers at the University of Auckland have emphasised their concern of a lack of coverage that Privacy Act has for individual rights and use of regulatory tools by agencies in the time of the social media age. To talk more about what was meant by their statement and the recommendations that these academics are asking of the government, Andre Fa'aoso spoke to Nikki Chamberlain, Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland.
After a tight race, President Erdoğan and his right-wing nationalist Justice and Development Party (AK Party) have won the second runoff of Türkiye's presidential election.
Erdoğan, who has been in power for 20 years, has been accused of dismantling human rights protections and democracy by cracking down on critics and political opponents.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland Stephen Hoadley about the current political climate in Türkiye.
First, she asked Hoadley about what Erdoğan has been like as a leader.
Then, she asked Hoadley about Erdoğan's relationship with other countries.
Lastly, Hoadley discussed Aotearoa's relationship with Türkiye.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to National’s Dr Shane Reti about their new plan for housing and why the party wants to change the superannuation age.
Manuia le Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa - Happy Sāmoan Language Week.
To understand deeper what Sāmoan Language Week is about, and how University of Auckland students are celebrating, Wire producer Rosetta Stone spoke to the University of Auckland Sāmoan Students Association (UASSA) public relations officer Rina.
Jacoba Matapo is the first ever appointed Pro Vice Chancellor Pacific at AUT, and has specialised in Pacific early childhood and education. Rosetta spoke to Jacoba about preserving Sāmoan culture amongst younger generations and challenges facing Sāmoan language today.
For his final appearance on Dear Science, Dr Joel Rindelaub talked about why fake news is spread and how to spot it, as well as implicit bias and how to better recognise your own biases.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins caught up with National's Dr Shane Reti. They spoke about their new housing growth plan and the National Party’s opposition to keeping the current superannuation age.
Beth Torrance-Hetherington reported on the climate strikes that took place around the country last week.
And for Sāmoan language week, Rosetta Stone interviewed Rina from the University of Auckland’s Sāmoan Students Association, and AUT Pro Vice Chancellor Pacific Jacoba Matapo about celebrating Sāmoan language in culture in Aotearoa.
Last week, climate strikes took place across the country, demanding a reduction in Aotearoa emissions. Beth attended the march in Tāmaki Makaurau, where she caught up with Co-Leader of the Green Party James Shaw and climate activist India Logan-Riley about what needs to be done in order to work towards a climate-sustainable future for Aotearoa.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to ACT MP Karen Chhour about the National Party joining ACT in opposing government policy to increase housing density in major cities and calls to protect mining by big overseas companies on Aotearoa’s conservation land.
Nicholas talked to Anu Kaloti from Migrant Workers Association New Zealand about their petition to grant amnesty to all migrant workers who have overstayed their visa regardless of their country of origin.
And Leilani is the new host of Tomorrow's World — the segment that explores how science affects people and our future on planet Earth. For her first piece, she spoke to Pippa McKelvie-Sebileau, a Doctoral Candidate Population Health at the University of Auckland and Lisa Te Morenga, an Associate Professor in Nutrition and Māori Health about how 7 out of 10 Type 2 diabetes cases globally are related to poor diet, and how Aotearoa fits into that statistic.
It is estimated that Aotearoa currently has 14,000 people residing here who do not have visas or any kind of legal status.
Recent news about ‘Dawn raids’ by police on alleged overstayers has prompted a spotlight to be placed on how we treat our migrant communities.
For our segment Get Action! Nicholas spoke to Anu Kaloti about their petition launched on Action Station calling for the government to grant amnesty and working rights to overstayers currently residing in Aotearoa.
In the USA, gas cooking has entered the culture wars with the way you cook becoming a part of your political identity. Professor John Tookey is a professor at AUT in the school of Future Environments and he discusses the issues around gas cooking, as well as whether we could see a political battle over the way you cook here in Aotearoa. Simon began by asking Professor Tookey what alternatives there are to gas cooking.
Yesterday, nurses on ward 5 at Gisborne hospital walked off the job for an hour to protest their working conditions. Earlier in the week, Te Whatu Ora went to the employment court to try and stop the strike, but failed. Christine Warrander is a nurse on ward 5 at the hospital, and Simon began by asking her how yesterday’s strike went.
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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