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.
New Zealand has signed a partnership to work with California on acccelerating their climate goals as a means to reach net zero carbon by 2050. This announcement comes off the back of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's visit to the United States.
The Partnership will guide our transport policies, with the aim to have 30% of vehicles on the road running electric by 2035.
Trishil opened the piece by speaking to Climate Change Minister James Shaw about the partnership, the individual policies attached to them, and our trajectory for hitting our major climate goals as a result of the partnership. Trishil then spoke to Philosophy and Politics Professor Lisa Ellis from the University of Otago on the matter.
An international study has shown that some animals have managed to adapt and evolve faster than previously thought.
The New Zealand Hihi bird, which was researched by Dr Anne Santure as a part of the wider study, is an anomaly among the animals in the study, being a threatened specials with a 'low capacity to adapt' according to the Department of Conservation.
Trishil spoke to Dr Anne Santure, co-author of the study about the study parameters and the hihi bird.
In the wake of the recent tragedy that occured in Texas, a horrific school schooting which cost 21 lives, a discussion around gun regulation has resurfaced in the United States.
Casper spoke to Maria Armoudian from the Univeristy of Auckland about the state of gun control debate in the United States, a country that experiences disproportionately high levels of gun violence especially in schools, and what barriers may exist to regulation.
Casper talked to Auckland city councillor Shane Henderson about investment in cycling infrastructure, as well as the public consultation closing on Auckland housing intensification.
He also spoke to Meng Foon, the Race Relations Comissioner about new rights-based guidelines for school uniforms.
Liam had a chat with the Green Parties Golriz Gharaman about her electoral reform bill and moving the voting age to sixteen, as well as political psychology professor Danny Osborne to discuss how the proposed changes could affect voters.
Casper also talked to Maria Armoudian from the University of Auckland about barriers to regulating guns in the United States.
And finally Liam spoke to Wattie Watson from the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union about the strike action firefighters have voted for and the issues that the industry has been dealing with for the past few years.
The Human Rights Comission released a new set of guidelines for school uniforms and how they can be more culturally inclusive, as well as adhere to Te Tiriti.
The rights-based guidelines include specific recognition of Taonga Māori symbols such as tā moko and pounamu.
Casper spoke with Meng Foon, the Race Relations Comissioner, about the guidelines, what’s in them and what kinds of impacts they might have on schools that choose to adopt them. Casper first asked what the new guidelines entail and what their purpose is.
The Green Parties Electoral (Strengthening Democracy) Amendment Bill has recently been drawn, allowing topics of electoral reform in Aotearoa to be brought to the surface.
The most talked-about part of the bill right now is the lowering of the voting age to sixteen, which would see New Zealand join countries like Scotland, Austria, Argentina, and Brazil amongst others.
Other aspects of the bill include enabling voters of Māori descent to change roll type at any time, implementing donation transparency and implementing the 2012 MMP Review recommendations.
To learn more, Liam spoke to the Greens spokesperson for electoral reform, Golriz Gharaman.
As this bill aims to vastly widen the eligibility to vote, many may question how people such as minors and prisoners could vote and change how our country works.
Thus, Liam also spoke to Danny Osborne, a political psychology professor from Otago University about how these groups may approach voting and how we could change our electoral system for the better.
The Government has today confirmed key details of the nationwide, rollout of cameras on commercial fishing vessels. Up to 300 inshore fishing vessels will be fitted with this technology by the end of 2024, providing independent, accurate information about fishing activity and better evidence for decision-making.
Joe spoke to Hon David Parker, the Minister for Ocean and Fisheries on the matter.
Joe speaks to Will Matthews, an organiser from the Public Service Association about the DHB’s Offer and ERA’s Recommendations that were released to Allied Health Workers this week. He’ll also be speaking to the Honourable David Parker, the Minister for Ocean and Fisheries about the nationwide rollout of cameras on commercial fishing vessels
Emilia speaks to Massey University’s Sally Casswell about Digital Alcohol Marketing crossing borders. She’ll also be speaking to Aeron Davis from Victoria University about the Partygate scandal in UK Politics after the official inquiry was released overnight.
Overnight, civil servant Sue Gray released her long-awaited report into a series of parties held in the prime minister's office while the UK was in covid lockdowns.
While the report is impartial and doesn’t make any specific recommendations as to the repercussions Prime Minister Boris Johnson should face, it found that these events “should not have been allowed to happen”, and now the question has been passed to the Conservative Party to assess whether Johnson should remain in his post.
Emilia Sullivan spoke to Aeron Davis, professor of political communication at Victoria University of Wellington about the inquiry.
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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