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.
Joe speaks to Sir Ray Avery about his work with Papakura Marae surrounding a family violence support and prevention programme. He also be speaking to Nathan Joe, the Creative Director at Auckland Pride about their loss of funding.
Spike will be talking to Ellie Hooper from Greenpeace about the latest Marine Environment report and what it means for our oceans. Spike also speaks to Dr Tom Logan about urban density and the idea of the 15 minute city.
Finally, we've got Tomorrow's World! Stella chats to Dr Kim Handley, a microbiologist from the University of Auckland, about Macroscopic Microbes.\
Multiple sub variants of the Covid-19 Omicron variant have recently made their way into Aotearoa, seeing new territory for the country having to deal with multiple sub variants at once.
In the final Covid-19 media response, the Head of the Public Health Agency Andrew Old has made it clear to New Zealanders that the pandemic isn’t over.
Covid cases are currently on the uptick, with Poneke Wellington leading the pack in having case numbers doubling over last weeks amount.
To learn more about the next few months of the pandemic, Liam spoke to Michael Plank from the University of Canterbury about the new wave.
Liam had their regular chat with city councillor Shane Henderson, chatting about his re-election to the Waitakere Ward seat, the local elections and his goals for this term of council.
We also have a report from David Liwei Shi, covering last week's tertiary education union strike.
They’ve also spoken to Caroline Mareko from NZCTU about the pacific pay gap inquiry and what needs to change about wealth inequality in Aotearoa.
We also have a kōrero with the green parties Ricardo Menedez March, on the government's re-opening of the migrant worker and parent visas, and some of the issues they’ve identified within it.
And lastly Liam spoke to Michael Plank from the University of Canterbury about the risk of new Covid-19 Subvariants.
A pair of resident visas that have been closed for some time have recently been re-opened.
Immigration minister Michael Wood announced the Skilled Migrant Category, and the Parent Category visas would be re-opened, allowing people to become residents through their careers or through their children.
However, various groups have criticised the conditions of entrance, including the Green Party who’ve raised concerns about class inequality becoming a part of the system,
Liam spoke to their immigration spokesperson, Ricardo Menedez March, about the current system and what can change.
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions and the Human Rights Commission have recently made recommendations to the government on how to minimise the pacific pay gap.
This came due to a report into the systemic gap seen between pakeha men and minority groups.
The groups have called for urgent pay transparency, as well as changes to the living wage and implementing protective measures.
To learn more Liam spoke to NZCTU’s Caroline Mareko about what they’re calling for and why it’s important.
Today is World Sight Day! Stella speaks to Dan Buckingham, CEO and Tamara Gussy, Audio Describer from Able, a media accessibility trust, about how they're celebrating.
This week on the show, today is World Sight day! Stella speaks to Dan Buckingham, CEO and Tamara Gussy, audio describer, from Able, a media accessibility trust about what they’re doing to celebrate. Tuva’a has his weekly catch up with Andrew Little. The Green Desk is covered by Joel, who interviews Emily Ward, a masters student from the University of Canterbury about making public transport more accessible. Stella speaks to Rob Major, a project lead on work that sets out a roadmap for ensuring Aotearoa’s seaweed industry is ready to boom.Stella has a chat to Shanan Halbert, MP for the Northcote electorate about resources in the community in response to crime.
Today on The Green Desk, Joel Armstrong speaks to University of Canterbury Master of Urban Resilience and Renewal student Emily Ward about barriers preventing people from cycling, walking, or taking public transport like the bus or the train.
Stella speaks to Shanan Halbert, MP for Northcote, about the moves to increase police on the beat, and other strategies to mitigate crime in the Northcote electorate.
Aotearoa’s seaweed sector has had a comprehensive industry plan released recently. Stella speaks to Rob Major, a project lead involved with the roadmap to help guide the development of the industry.
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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