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 TÄmaki Makaurau and elsewhere in independent-thinking bFM style. Monday-Thursday 12-1pm on 95bFM.
Joe speaks to Dr Marilyn Giroux, senior marketing lecturer of Business and Economics at the University of Auckland about Sportswashing and its relation to the FIFA Women's World Cup.
There are 38 organisations who are issuing a public call for Auckland Transport to urgently deliver the long overdue inner west cycle lanes and street improvements. Six of those are schools that want safer street for their students, there is the Grey lynn residents association, there are several businesses from ponsonby and K road that support the improvements and there are advocacy groups.
The WaitematÄ Safer Routes (also known as the Grey Lynn and Westmere improvements) is the project that hangs in the balance. It has been paused and this spawned criticism from the community who urge to continue the Grey Lynn and Westmere improvements.
The WaitematÄ Safer Routes are a vital link between the adjoining projects. Dropping the middle project would mean network benefits were lost, and the schools and communities of the inner west would be left disconnected.
There are 56 letters in support of Grey Lynn and Westmere improvements, while there are 6 letters opposing the improvements.
Daniel spoke with Mike Lee about his thoughts on the inner west cycle lanes and street improvements.
A question that sparks curiousity and contradiction is, are we in the midst of a wellbeing pandemic? The question may seem curious, even contradictory. Researchers say that if we look around us, the concept is everywhere and spreading in the media, in government institutions and transnational organisations, in schools, in workplaces, and in the marketplace
Joe spoke to Steven Jackson, Professor of Sport Policy and Politics at the University of Otago to get some insight on this matter.
Joe looks into why we chase wellbeing and how it may be unhealthy for us. He speaks to Steven Jackson, Professor of Sport Policy and Politics at the University of Otago on the matter. Joe also looks into sportswashing in relation to the Womens FIFA World Cup, he speaks to Dr Marilyn Giroux, senior marketing lecturer in Business and Economics at the University of Auckland on the matter.
Daniel brings us City Counselling with Mike Lee, they speak about inner west cycle lanes and street improvements. He also speaks to Philosophy Professor Robert Sparrow from Monash University about the ethics of our relationship with robots.
Tuvaâa spoke with defence minister Andrew Little for 2023, where they talked about the continued impact of the cyclone and the government's response
Liam had a chat with Catherine Healey from the New Zealand Sex Workers Collective and Jan Logie from the Green Party of Aotearoa about the recent Calendar Girls rights protests in Poneke.
They also spoke to UoA professor Robert MacCulloch about the Official Cash Rate Hike,
Hanna spoke to Dr Kevin Trenberth about the government's plan to tax methane emissions
And lastly Liam spoke to Cameron Adams for Eurovision, nearly one year on from the day Russia's invasion of Ukraine began.
The impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle have continued to be a major priority for the New Zealand Government, as they are likely to continue to be for the foreseeable future.
Recent photographs and examinations have revealed just how bad the extent of the damage has been, with areas in the west coast of Auckland and east coast of the North Island drastically affected.
The government's plan is slowly being solidified and outlined, as discussed by defence minister Andrew Little in his chat with Tuvaâa Clifton this morning.
150 countries recently signed the Global Methane Pledge, promising the most effective course for reducing emissions and keepimg warming below 1.5°C. However, experts are calling this claim into question. This is particularly so in Aotearoa, whose largely agricultural methane emissions differ from that of other countries.
Hanna spoke to Dr Kevin Trenberth, Distinguished Scholar at Colorado's National Centre for Atmospheric Research and Honorary Affiliate at the University of Auckland. They talked about why biogenic methane cannot be treated like fossil methane, nor methane like carbon dioxide, and whether current climate policy is up to scratch.
Dancers at the Calender Girls Club in PĆneke Wellington protested their unjust firing in the capital last week.
After a 2023 contract change, a joint letter saw a group of the workers call for better rights and pay as independent contractors, allowing them to receive clear income records and 60%
This led to them being fired via a facebook post, invigorating conversations about sex worker rights in Aotearoa over all.
Fired Up Stilettos, the group behind the protest, provided 95bFM with the following statement:
âWe want industry wide changes for all dancers across New Zealand. We want all adult entertainment venues to be compelled to cease all practices which violate our independent contractor status. Remove all fines and bonds from our contracts.
We also require a limit on what these venues can take from our earnings as contractors. We believe that progress in our industry for workers rights is lagging behind severely because of the structural, social, and political stigma that has been attached to our occupation in the past.
Club owners in New Zealand use this stigma to their advantage, and are able to exploit our workers because we have not had any support. We need public and political support to be able to stop this from happening. Getting fired for standing up for yourself or your rights is systemic to our industry. Our mission is to end this cycle of rights violations, coercion and exploitation. It has to end.â
To learn more about the wider issues of sex worker rights in New Zealand, Liam spoke to Catherine Healey from the New Zealand Sex Workers Collective.
Present at the protests was Greens spokesperson for women and list MP, Jan Logie.
Logie will be speaking to fired up stilettos next month, discussing their demands and how they want to be supported politically.
Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr announced yet another official cash rate hike yesterday, by fifty basis points to four point seven five percent.
The reserve bank claims they arenât yet sure what the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle will be on the wider economy, continuing to predict the OCR will peak at five point five percent.
The aim to control inflation will likely see borrowers suffer, as discussed by UoA Economics Professor Robert MacCulloch.
From Dec 27 to Jan 18, all train lines across TÄmaki 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 TÄmaki is being continually monitored, with exposure sites being updated daily on info.health.nz. The public are encouraged to track whether theyâve 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, Australiaâs 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 Governmentâs new RMA reforms and a potential social media ban in New Zealand.
But first they discussed the latest report on Auckland homelessness.
The Parliamentâs 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 âpretty much everythingâ 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 Committeeâs 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, âBlock the Banâ held a protest against the governmentâs decision to ban new prescriptions of puberty blockers for young people with gender dysphoria.
The United Nationsâ 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 MÄori 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 Zealandâs 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 TÄmkaki on Monday night.
Earlier this week there were also multiple critical incidents that occurred simultaneously across Aucklandâs 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 Governmentâs questionable decision-making.. The biggest headline was that the coalition had chosen to reject all three of the climate change commissionâs recommendations to strengthen New Zealandâs emissions targets.
Along with this, the United Nations released a new report, where theyâve warned that New Zealand is at serious risk of weakening MÄori 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 Governmentâs 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 NHSâs Cass Review.
Wire Producer Flo spoke to activist Lauren Craig about the effects of the legislation, her petition âReverse the decision to deny transgender and takatÄpui young people access to puberty blockersâ 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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