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.
This week on OurActionStation, Spike speaks to Hayden Eastmond-Mein from the New Zealand Drug Foundation about their petition calling for cannabis decriminalisation and pardoning in Aotearoa.
Following the 27th annual UN Climate Change conference, known as COP27, landmark reparations known as Loss and Damage funds have been set up in order to allow wealthy countries to help poorer countries deal with the effects of climate change.
Arno spoke to Distinguished Professor Steven Ratuva of the University of Canterbury about the outcomes of COP27, including how New Zealand is helping to fight the effects of climate change on less developed countries.
To start off, Ratuva spoke about the purpose of the conference.
Joe covers the Tertiary Education Union rally which occurred outside the University of Auckland on Monday. He speaks to members of the Union on the matter.
Joe also speaks to Greenpeace’s plastics campaigner Juressa Lee about their renewed calls for a strong global plastics treaty. We’ve also got a report on Greenpeace activists who met The Hidden Gem, a deep sea mining drill ship, as it came into port in Mexico after conducting test mining in the Pacific.
David spoke to Auckland Counsellor Mike Lee for our regular segment, City Counselling. He also spoke to Hanna Habibi from the Iranian solidarity group and to Morgane Merien from the Christchurch Museum about Bug of the Year.
Tertiary Education Union members at Waipapa Taumata Rau The University of Auckland will begin a ban on entering and releasing student marks from 7 pm tonight until 7 pm on Friday November 18th.
Organiser Adam Craigie says the strike is a result of continuing frustration and anger from members over what they sey is an inadequate pay offer.
Currently, the University's best offer is contingent on removing important conditions such as retirement leave and does not match rising inflation.
Joe spoke to members of the Union during their rally about what their message to the University and students is.
The Hidden Gem, commissioned by Canadian miner The Metals Company, has just returned from eight weeks of test mining in the Clarion Clipperton Zone between México and Hawaii. One of the biggest vessels of its type in the world, the ship planned to mine 3,600 tonnes of polymetallic nodules from the seafloor in a trial that could pave the way for full scale commercial mining.
Greenpeace México activists met The Hidden Gem in kayaks holding ‘Stop Deep Sea Mining’ banners while Greenpeace Aotearoa campaigner James Hita delivered a message to the captain of the Hidden Gem via radio
Greenpeace Aotearoa has renewed calls for the government to advocate for a strong, legally-binding global plastics treaty as world governments meet at the first Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting (INC1) in Uruguay this month. A petition for a plastics treaty that centres justice launched earlier this year by Greenpeace Aotearoa ahead of the United Nations Environment Assembly 5.2 and has already gathered over 29,000 signatures.
Joe spoke to Greenpeace’s plastics campaigner Juressa Lee on the matter.
Issues of Problem Gambling have been plaguing Timaru, however the areas district council have largely allowed their laws to remain the same.
Minor changes have taken place, particularly in letting new venues for gambling operate at a limit of seven pokie machines, but the Problem Gambling Foundation say this is far from enough.
The region's district councillor claims that the funds from gambling is important due to the amount it funds local community groups.
To learn more, Liam spoke to Andree Froude from the Problem Gambling Foundation about the issues.
Protests in Iran began two months ago after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini who was detained by so-called morality police for allegedly breaking strict hijab rules.
This week a court in Iran has issued the first death sentence to a person arrested for taking part in the protests against the country's government which began two months ago.
Human rights groups have warned Iranian authorities may be planning mass executions.
A University of Auckland PHD student who is from Iran is calling on Aotearoa, and its Universities to do more to condemn the human rights abuses in Iran.
We started off our interview addressing allegations regarding a University of Auckland staff member, sharing their support of the Iranian regime online.
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
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.
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
The government has recently rejected all of the Climate Change Commission’s recommendations regarding strengthening the country’s methane targets recommendations.
The commission’s recommendations include strengthening the county’s 2050 methane emission targets, continuing lowering emissions after 2050, and that international shipping and aviation, which represents 9% of the county’s total emissions, should be included within targets.
Despite the commission saying that there would be upfront costs, many of the changes would result in cost savings over time, however, the government rejected this claim.
For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to MP Simon Court about the government rejecting these recommendations.
Tāmaki Makaurau’s council budget is among those impacted by the proposal of a rates cap, considering Tāmaki’s average 5.8% annual rates increase across the 25/26 financial year.
Youth homelessness is a growing concern as discussions continue around “move on” orders for those without housing in Auckland’s CBD.
And the Skycity Convention Centre is set to open in 2026, with high hopes for what it may bring for Tāmaki Makaurau after its prolonged development.
Producer Jasmine Gray spoke to Counsellor Fairey about these topics.
95bFM 
