Listen back to features and interviews from 95bFM's daily news and current affairs show. Joel Armstrong, Castor Chacko, Oto Sequeira, and Caeden Tipler focus on the issues of Tāmaki Makaurau and elsewhere in independent-thinking bFM style. Monday-Thursday 12-1pm on 95bFM.
Three-storied houses could be more common in Auckland under a new housing policy supported by both Labour and National.
The new policy, which was announced earlier this week, enables people to build up to three homes of three storeys on most sites without any need for resource consent, starting August twenty twenty three.
Analysis from consultants PWC told the government these changes would add between 48,200 and 105,500 new dwellings over the next five to eight years.
Professor John Tookey is a professor in construction management in AUT, and he said while the new policy is a significant step forward the devil is in the details.
Justin spoke to Health Minister Andrew Little on low Māori vaccination rates at Taranaki and Tairāwhiti, dedicated MIQ spots for health workers, and his thoughts on National's reopening plan.
On their weekly chat, Justin and Health Minister Andrew Little talked about low Māori vaccination rates at Taranaki and Tairāwhiti, dedicated MIQ spots for health workers, and his thoughts on National's reopening plan.
Justin also talked to Developmental Paediatrician Dr Jin Rusell and Michael Cabral-Tarry, the Tāmaki Makaurau regional chair of the Post Primary Teachers’ Association on schools reopening next week.
He also chatted with AUT's head of journalism Greg Treadwell on Newshub's proposal to make radio reporters reduntant.
Justin also spoke to AUT Construction Management Professor John Tookey on the recent policy that scraps limits on housing density.
Students at years 11-13 who live in alert level 3 areas will be able to return to classrooms next Tuesday after the Labour Day weekend.
Education and Covid-19 response minister Chris Hipkins said yesterday that all students will need to wear a mask and keep record of their whereabouts, while staff need to produce a negative test before they return.
NCEA and New Zealand scholarship exams would also continue nationwide but students who cannot attend the exams would receive an Unexpected Event Grade.
But the Post Primary Teachers’ Association said it is dismayed and angry at the decision.
Its Tāmaki Makaurau regional chair Michael Cabral-Tarry spoke to Justin Wong.
Newshub is proposing to slash the radio reporter role after ending an arrangement with Mediaworks.
Currently Newshub’s parent company, Discovery, is supplying Mediaworks radio stations including Magic Talk with radio news, but this will end in December.
Mediaworks stations will also not be simulcasting Newshub’s The Am Show.
Instead, the company will be creating its own newsroom to produce radio news, and a new radio breakfast show.
Justin spoke to AUT’s Head of Journalism Greg Treadwell about the move.
Students at years 11-13 who live in alert level 3 areas will be able to return to classrooms next Tuesday after the Labour Day weekend.
Education and Covid-19 response minister Chris Hipkins said yesterday that all students will need to wear a mask and keep record of their whereabouts, while staff need to produce a negative test before they return.
Dr Jin Russell is a Developmental pediatrician and said reopening schools for young people is good for their mental health, but schools need good ventilation to stop Covid-19 from spreading.
This week on Dear Science, Frances was joined by AUT Professor Marcus Jones where they spoke about the pandemic puzzle of COVID ‘super-immunity’, the first mission to asteroids near Jupiter that might reveal solar system origins, and the question of whether we learn better reading from a screen or from paper.
As promised, here is the link to the asteroid animation for any of you curious listeners out there... science rocks!
Today, applications open for the programme Whai Kāinga, Whai Oranga, a $730 million dollar Māori Housing Supply and infrastructure investment that will provide support for Māori to determine their own housing solutions, across the entire housing continuum, and deliver affordable rentals. The $730m fund combines investment from Budget 2021 ($380M), and the Māori Infrastructure Fund ($350m), the largest investment seen in Māori Housing.
Zazi spoke to Associate Minister of Housing, Hon Peeni Henare, about this fund in more detail, to hear more about what he has to say about Whai Kāinga, Whai Oranga, and why it is an important programme.
This week on the Wednesday Wire, Zazi Hewlett hosts the show and Frances Wright produces remotely from her home in Wellington!
The show kicks off with Frances speaking with Social scientist and The Workshop co-director, Dr Jess Berentson-Shaw, about having hard vaccine conversations with family and friends.
Zazi then speaks to Associate Minister of Housing, Peeni Henare, about iwi-led housing solutions and the programme Whai Kāinga, Whai Oranga.
Frances has her regular segment Dear Science with AUT Professor Marcus Jones. They speak on COVID Super-Immunity; talk about revealing solar system origins on Jupiter; and discuss learning via screen versus on paper.
Finally, Zazi has her regular catch-up with ACT's Brooke van Velden. They talk about three things: the new housing density rules, Aotearoa’s inflation being at its highest in over a decade, and also the fact that pregnant women and their partners do not currently get priority for MIQ spaces.
This week Zazi and Brooke talk about three things: the new housing density rules, Aotearoa’s inflation being at its highest in over a decade, and also the fact that pregnant women and their partners do not currently get priority for MIQ spaces.
First off, the two talk about the new Resources Management Amendment Bill that the Government and National Party announced yesterday. Zazi asks Brooke about David Seymour's "hollow stunt" comment, ACT being a supposedly "libertarian party", and the Party's alternative solution to address Aotearoa's housing affordability problem.
Next, Zazi and Brooke talk about Aotearoa’s inflation being at its highest in over a decade. Brooke shares her concerns, where she thinks our economy will be in the next 7-12 months, and what projects she believes were not worth the Government spending billions of dollars on.
And finally, Zazi asks Brooke about pregnant women and their partners not currently getting priority for MIQ spaces. Brooke talks about pregnant couples she has spoken to, about their experience with MIQ, and whether the support for women during this latest COVID-19 outbreak has been enough.
The Healthcare exec Brian Thompson was shot dead by a masked assailant last week.
The crime has gained significant controversy and attention online, with many using it to restart the debate on the inequities of the United States healthcare system.
And this week Yale University was the latest college to commit to divesting from weapons manufacturing after a student vote.
For State of the States this week Wire Host Caeden speak to Andre Fa’aoso from the Yale Daily News about both of these topics.
The government as announced their plan for the Cook Strait ferry a year after they scrapped Labour’s plan, including cancelling the ferries the Labour government had ordered.
And a new report from the Ministry of Social Development has revealed nearly a quarter of beneficiaries are not receiving their correct entitlements.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden speaks to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about both of these topics.
For City Counselling this week, producer Sofia caught up with Councillor Shane Henderson about proposed time-of-use charging to solve congestion problems in Tāmaki and Council selling their remaining Auckland Airport shares last week.
The Green party recently released He Ara Anamata - the Green party’s emissions reduction plan.
The document covers more than 10 areas of the economy and energy Sector that a Greens-led government would be looking to adapt to minimise carbon emissions and protect the natural landscapes of Aotearoa.
It also comes 5 months after the government released their own draft emissions plan. Numerous experts pointed out that the government is behind on their own plan’s targets to meet the crucial emissions budget for 2031-2035.
For their weekly catchup, Oto spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez-March to discuss the party’s new emissions reduction plan and how they would address climate and the economy in a greens-led government.
Last election, one of the National Party’s main campaign promises was to be ‘tough on crime’, promising to increase police coverage and penalties for crimes. A target was set to increase the number of police officers by 500 by November 2025, however some police leaders today say this goal is unrealistic.
The government also announced this week some shakeups to insulation standards, which they say should make houses more affordable.
In our weekly catchup with the National Party’s Tom Rutherford, Wire host Castor spoke to him about police staffing targets and new insulation standards.
This week on Dear Science, our expert Doctor Cushla McGoverin chatted with us about what latrines teach us about people, climate variation affecting Chinese dynasties, and invasive species becoming threatened.
Thanks to MOTAT, the museum inspiring the innovators of tomorrow!
Last week it was revealed that two of the ten participants in the government's pilot bootcamp programme were on the run.
The youth were two months into the community rehabilitation phase of the programme, following the three month youth justice residence phase. Both teens were found in the weekend, but had allegedly reoffended, and are now set to come before the court.
For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, who have been heavily advocating for this programme, Producer Evie spoke to Simon Court about this incident.
She also talks to him about proposed changes to employment law which would give employers the power to dismiss workers earning over $180,000 without the employee refuting the decision.
And finally, she talks to him about David Seymour’s incumbent run as Deputy Prime Minister, which is set to begin in May of next year.
For City Counselling this week, Producer Sofia spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about changes to Auckland Transport’s responsibilities, nationwide bus and train fare hikes, and concerns over the opening of the City Rail Link.
For State of the States this week, Wire Host Caeden speaks to Andre Fa'aoso from the Yale Daily News about President Biden's decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden, who was due to be sentenced next week for three felony charges.
They also discuss Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for FBI director, who is the latest in a long list of unorthodox picks for government positions from Trump
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