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.
More than 200 homes have been red-stickered, and at least 5000 have been damaged after the devastating deluge across Tāmaki Makaurau and the upper North Island.
Experts are warning that health hazards such as mould and contamination could be waiting for residents returning to their flood damaged homes.
News & Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Senior Lecturer at the Massey University School of Built Environment, Dr Mikael Boulic, who says Auckland’s current conditions are the “worst case scenario” for mould to grow.
We started off our interview discussing what steps people should take when cleaning up their wet property.
- This week on Dear Science, Spike and Milly sit down with Allan Blackman to dive deep into the scary world of lost radioactive substances, cancer smelling ants that can be trained in just 10 minutes, and the mass extinction that was discovered all by using mercury.
- Milly speaks to Phillip Duncan from WeatherWatch about the meteorological conditions that created this weekends wild weather. Additionally, Milly asks about how to better manage and predict weather extremes as they become more common due to climate change.
- Spike delivers a report detailing the timeline of flooding in Auckland, when and where it occurred, and how exactly organisations failed to act in the face of major flooding across the city.
- Milly speaks with Dr Lucy Telfar Barnard from the University of Otago department of Public Health regarding flood clean up and advise on how to stay safe in the wake of floods in Auckland. Dr Barnard also speaks on the importance of dry and healthy homes.
Spike delivers a report detailing the timeline of flooding in Auckland, when and where it occurred, and how exactly organisations failed to act in the face of major flooding across the city.
This week on the Tuesday Wire, Milly speaks with Dr Lucy Telfar Barnard from the University of Otago department of Public Health regarding flood clean up and advise on how to stay safe in the wake of floods in Auckland. Dr Barnard also speaks on the importance of dry and healthy homes.
This week on the Tuesday Wire Milly speaks to Phillip Duncan from WeatherWatch about the meteorological conditions that created this weekends wild weather. Additionally, Milly asks about how to better manage and predict weather extremes as they become more common due to climate change.
University of Canterbury Astronomer Professor John Hearnshaw is calling for national legislation to limit light pollution.
He proposed a national law that would set new controls on outdoor lighting, such as 10pm curfews for illuminated advertising signs, limits on what street lights could emit, and reductions in blue light across cities and towns.
David spoke to Richard Easther from the University of Auckland about what would happen if New Zealand started to regulate light pollution.
David brings us City Counselling with Mike Lee as they talk about Auckland Transport problems, and trying to create a marine reserve on Waiheke Island. He also spoke to Alexander Gillespie about Western nations donating tanks to the Ukrainian war effort, as well as Richard Easther from the University of Auckland about light pollution.
Joe looks at the New Zealand Government failing to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility. He speaks to Lisa Woods, the Campaigns Director for Amnesty International Aotearoa.
Daniel speaks to Shark Researcher Dr Samantha Sherman, a post-doctoral research fellow at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver about sharks that depend on coral reefs being driven to extinction. Daniel also chats with Chris Button about how we can improve water safety.
How to improve watersafety education so the recent spate of drownings doesnt happen again? Daniel spoke with Chris Button about this question. We should only swim at lifeguarded beaches during patrol hours and we should learn how to float.
While fish and chip shop customers in South Australia are eating threatened and endangered shark species labelled as “flake”, sharks are facing the risk of being extinct. As a 2020 study concluded sharks were “functionally extinct” on 20% of the world’s coral reefs. A new study building on this research from the journal Nature Communications shows that now 2 in 3 of the worlds sharks are being driven to extinction. The cause is clear and simple: overfishing. What will be the effects on the ocean ecosystem? What consequenses will this have for humans? And why do sharks have such a bad image?
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.
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.
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.
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
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 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
With the rise of fast fashion outlets like Shein and Temu alongside the wider mainstream options available that contribute substantial amounts of clothing waste to landfill, experts are calling for an urgent response on a governance, business, and individual level.
Wire Host Sara spoke to Mindful Fashion Chief Executive Jacinta Fitzgerald about the problem, and the industry response to sustainability, as well as University of Auckland Marketing Professor Mike Lee about the importance of ethical consumption.for individuals.
First, is the interview with Fitzgerald, where she begins by talking about the organisation Mindful Fashion.
Following this, Sara spoke to Marketing Professor Mike Lee about the research he has undertaken around consumerism.
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