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.
A new study has found young people of ethnic minority backgrounds in Aotearoa are treated worse by police, health services and education providers if they look less white. The study is the largest in this field and backs up a vast amount of anecdotal evidence of prejudice in New Zealand society, and has opened up discussions of how we should address discrimination at an institutional and structural level.
Christina spoke to the study's co-author, Dr Roshini Peiris-John.
On Breakfast this morning, bFM Breakfast farewelled Auckland Mayor Phil Goff as he prepares to retire from politics.
The Wire team revisited his very first interview on bFM with Mikey Havoc all the way back in 2017. Rachel then asked Phil Goff about what he was able to achieve during his tenure.
This week, the Wire with Christina kicked off with a Dear Science Nobel Prize special with Joel Rindelaub.
Christina also spoke to Dr Shane Reti from the National Party for their weekly segment, where they discussed meningitis and a bill to reduce alcohol harm
In the wake of last week’s poll results on whether Aotearoa should become a republic, Christina spoke with the New Zealand Republic campaign chair Lewis Holden.
She also spoke to Dr Roshini Peiris-John about her study on the impacts of skin tone on racial discrimination.
And earlier on Breakfast, the b farewelled Auckland Mayor Phil Goff as he prepares to retire from politics. Jess takes us all the way back to the outgoing mayor's very first bFM Breakfast interview with Mikey Havoc in 2017.
With the Nobel Prizes being handed out this week, Dr Joel Rindelaub dropped into the studio for Dear Science to discuss historic Nobel Prize snubs through the years with a common theme - they were all women. Joel and Christina had a kōrero about Rosalind Franklin, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Chien-Shiung Wu, Lise Meitner and Donna DeEtte Elbert, the work they did in their fields, and the men who took credit for it.
Joe speaks to Chief Executive of the Breast Cancer Foundation Ah-Leen Rayner, about Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and how we can support breast cancer initiatives and spread awareness of early detection.
Joe also speaks to Dr Nic Rawlence, from the Paleogenetics Lab at the University of Otago, about the extinct upokororo and how his research into its ancient DNA can teach us about how we treat our waters here in Aotearoa.
Joe finally speaks to Dr Tom Logan from the University of Canterbury about the work he’s doing with the Christchurch City Council surrounding climate change.
Towns and cities across Aotearoa will be lighting up their landmarks and prominent buildings in pink to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October.
Joe spoke to Ah-Leen Rayner, the Chief Executive of The Breast Foundation, about supporting breast cancer initiatives and spreading awareness of early detection.
A partnership between Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha (University of Canterbury) and Christchurch City Council is leading the world in understanding and adapting to risk from climate change.
The research is developing methodology and guidance for councils to assess their risk. The team of researchers, which includes experts from NIWA, Resilient Organisations, and Urban Intelligence, is working with the Christchurch City Council as it creates its coastal hazards adaptation plan.
Joe speaks with Dr Tom Logan, a Civil Systems Engineering lecturer at the University of Canterbury, on the matter.
In 1923, Te Rangi Hīroa (Sir Peter Buck) documented the last confirmed capture of a special fish – the upokororo or New Zealand grayling. Now, researchers are using using its ancient DNA to finally provide some answers to how it went extinct.
Genetic data provides a new tool in the search for survivors. Environmental DNA in water samples from remote catchments can now be compared routinely to known DNA from the upokororo.
Fish populations are in sharp decline globally. Lessons learned from past extinctions, like that of the upokororo, can help us preserve fish species for future generations. Hopefully we can heed the lessons from the past.
Joe speaks to Dr Nic Rawlence from the Palaeogenetics Lab at the University of Otago on the matter.
A major research project has recently concluded, investigating the urban transformation of Ōutautahi Christchurch.
Made with the support of arts organisation Life in Vacant Spaces, the project has reflected on the arts events and creative spaces that were formed at the outset of the earthquakes.
The research also detailed the positive mental health affects of the installations and events, as well as some positive ecological impacts.
Liam spoke to Massey University research fellow and lead researcher Kelly Dombroski, first asking her to run through the research titled Huritanga: ten years of transformational place-making.
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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