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.
The Intergenerational Climate Ambassadors have published an open letter on Action Station calling on MPs to implement a climate resilient Cyclone Gabrielle recovery.
The letter highlights the need for participatory democracy, listening to indigenous voices, and land use planning as key ways to address the climate crisis.
For Get Action! this week, Caeden Tipler interviewed Sophie Handford, councillor, activist, and ambassador for the Intergenerational Climate Ambassadors, on why she helped write the open letter.
On Saturday 15 April, nationwide rallies were held to raise awareness about the nursing shortage and urge politicians to help secure better working conditions.
It was the first time the New Zealand Nurses Organisation had called on all of its 57,000 members to rally at once.
Nicholas spoke to Organization spokesperson Kerri Nuku about the rallies, their five fixes for the nursing crisis, and how the public can support Nurses.
A report from the Child Poverty Action Group has found measures to address child poverty are leaving behind Māori, Pasifika, and disabled children as well as children of solo parents.
The report signalled that despite some progress, child poverty rates in Aotearoa mean we are still failing to uphold the legal rights of the child under the articles of the UN convention.
Caeden spoke to Colleen Brown, disability spokesperson for the Child Poverty Action Group about the report and what it means for Aotearoa.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins talked to ACT’s Karen Chhour about Three Waters and the government’s decision to keep the mandatory seven-day COVID-19 isolation period.
Hanna Thompson spoke to Te Pāti Māori’s Takutai Kemp about the Three Waters rebrand and Green MP Marama Davidson not contesting Tāmaki Makaurau.
Caeden Tipler spoke to Colleen Brown about the findings from the new Child Poverty Action Group report.
And on Get Action! Caeden Tipler spoke to Sophie Handford about Climate Resilience Recovery for the regular Get Action! Segment
Nicholas spoke to New Zealand Nurses Organisation spokesperson Kerri Nuku about the nationwide rallies which took place on Saturday and the organisation's five fixes for the nursing shortage.
Chris Hipkins has today announced an overhaul of Three Waters. It has been a contentious piece of legislation due to certain aspects of what it entails. What is not contentious is how bad water infrastructure in Aotearoa New Zealand is. Simon spoke with research fellow at Otago University Marnie Prickett about Three Waters and the need for better water infrastructure. I also spoke with Marnie about the recent report from the ministry of environment that stated just 2% of large lakes in Aotearoa New Zealand were in “good or very good” health. Marnie began by highlighting why our waters are so polluted.
Growing up in New Zealand recently released their latest findings in their longitudinal study on material hardship in Aotearoa New Zealand. Simon spoke with researcher Molly Grant about the findings and also about what needs to be done to alleviate material hardship for young people in Aotearoa New Zealand. Molly began by explaining what the research looked into.
On Monday, Cabinet announced it would not be removing the COVID-19 self-isolation requirement of seven days.
This is hoped to continue to contribute to New Zealand having one of the lowest COVID-19 mortality rates in the developed world.
Arno spoke to Dr Emily Harvey, a researcher from the University of Auckland who created scientific models to see what would happen if the requirement was removed or not closely followed by most people.
Arno started off by asking what the scope of the research conducted was.
Next, Arno spoke about COVID-19 self-isolation requirements with epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker.
Arno started by asking what his opinion was on the potential removal of self-isolation requirements from law.
Arno Cronje spoke to University of Auckland Researcher Dr Emily Harvey and University of Otago Professor Michael Baker on Cabinet's decision to retain self-isolation requirements for COVID-19.
And communications meteorologist at MetService, Andrew James, on the recent tornado in Auckland
Alex Bonham interviewed Dennis Maga, the General Secretary of First Union, about the challenges of recruiting bus drivers.
And climate scientist Kevin Trenberth how carbon credits work.
And on The Green Desk, Jack Marshall talked to Department of Conservation Ranger Jamie McAulay about their research into Aotearoa’s weasel pest control problem.
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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