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.
Doctor Carisa Showden, of University of Auckland’s sociology department, is the editor of a new book on youth activism entitled Fierce Hope. The book has six segments from various youth-led activism organisations ranging in topic from climate change to indigenous rights. In the book young leaders of activism groups, loosely identified as those 18-29, are given the space to write about their journeys in the world of activism.
Arno started by asking for an overview of the topics contained within the book.
Several important conferences concerning trade deals between New Zealand and other countries, particularly Australia, are coming up this month and in July. Economic trade agreements are to be discussed and debated, and this is of major importance to New Zealand, a country that relies both on import and export to have a functioning economy.
Arno spoke to Professor Jennifer Curtin, director of the Public Policy Institute at the University of Auckland, to find out more about trade agreements. Arno started by asking what outcomes or information Professor Curtin hoped to see from the upcoming Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School event.
Two firefighters lost their lives when the house they were called to was brought down by a landslide on Monday night, due to Cyclone Gabriel. However, this is not the first time a fatal landslide has occured. A mother and her teenage daughter died and two houses were destroyed during two huge landslides in Muriwai in 1965. Experts say that the sand and soil was probably already damaged due to the past landslides.
Joe spoke to Associate Professor Martin Brook from the University of Auckland on the matter.
Last Tuesday we celebrated romantic love. But what is romantic love actually? Daniel spoke with Anthony Milligan from Kings College London about one image of romantic love: The idea of finding a soulmate.
Robert Bartholomew is a sociologist specialised in social panics. He predicted already after the first shooting down of a ‘chinese spy balloon’ there would be a wave of UFO sightings in the US. Daniel spoke with him about the history and psychology of such UFO scares and outbreaks of UFO sightings.
Joe looks at the Muriwai landslide following Cyclone Gabrielle and how the landscape that the houses were built on was eroded by a landslide in 1965. He spoke to Associate Professor Martin Brook, from the University of Auckland on this matter. Joe also speaks to Claire Breen, a Professor of Law at the University of Waikato about the latest report into the rights of children in Aotearoa from the UN.
Daniel dives into the psychology and history of social panics about UFO’s with Robert Bartholomew. He also speaks to Anthony Milligan from King's College in London about love and soulmates.
Joe speaks to Rebecca Dunlop from the University of Queensland about Humpback Whales switching from singing to fighting to win over the ladies.
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has recently published its sixth review into how Aotearoa New Zealand is implementing its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989.
Joe spoke to Claire Breen Professor of Law at the University of Waikato on this matter.
As whale numbers recovered from near extinction, humpback whales off Australia's east coast may have shifted their mating tactics from singing to fighting with other males, in order to win over the ladies. The study looked at data collected between 1997 and 2015, a period in which the population increased from around 3,700 to 27,000 whales.
Joe spoke to Rebecca Dunlop from the University of Queensland on the subject.
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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