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.
Despite Menopause being a natural hormone change in women's bodies, women don't often feel comfortable discussing the changes they experience and often feel stigmatised.
Trishil Dahya spoke to Isis McKay from Women's Health Action about the stigmas surrouding menopause.
Last Thursday, the Budget for 2022 was released. This years budget comes ahead of what could be a significant overhaul of the research, science, and innovation sector of science in the coming years. Joe spoke to Professor Nicola Gaston, from the Department of Physics at the University of Auckland, about what this year's budget means for the Science and Research Community
The first recorded case of Monkeypox to spread from Africa was detected in the UK on May 17th. Since then, the virus has travelled across 12 countries affecting 146 people.
As the virus gets closer to New Zealand, Trishil Dahya spoke to Dr Arindam Basu from the Universtiy of Canterbury about the virus, and it's disease profile
Anthony Albanese has assumed leadership of Australia, ending 10 years of Liberal Party rule in the country. The fallout has left Outgoing Prime Minister Scott Morrison conceding defeat and stepping down from the Liberal Party.
Trishil Dahya spoke to Dr Jennifer Curtin from the University of Auckland about the election results, the next three years for the nation, and trans-tasman relations.
On the show today we have a budget special, chatting about several different aspects of the spending and what different people think.
Casper talked to Auckland City Councillor Pippa Coom about the extension of the fares subsidy scheme.
Liam spoke to ACT Party leader and Finance spokesperson David Seymour, as well as The Green Parties Julie Anne Genter about the cost of living package and what their parties think of the budget as a whole.
Casper also spoke to Bronwyn Hayward from the University of Canterbury on how the budget is addressing climate.
He also chatted to Cherie Taylor-Patel, the President of the NZ Principals’ Federation, on changes to the school funding system.
One of the most highlighted aspects of the 2022 budget is the Cost Of Living Package, allowing those making less than seventy grand per year to receive three hundred and fifty dollars over the span of three months.
The check will not go ahead for those under eighteen, nor anyone who is already receiving the Winter Energy Payment.
As well as speaking to ACT Party Leader David Seymour, Liam spoke with the Green Parties Finance spokesperson Julie Anne Genter about their thoughts on the budget, and how they think some of it could’ve been spent differently.
He first asked her how much she thinks the payment will alleviate the cost of living crisis.
$300 million was allocated in the new budget under education spending towards replacing the school decile system with a new Equity Index The decile system currently governs how much government funding is given to each school based on a socio-economic evaluation of the area the school resides in.
Casper spoke to the President of the New Zealand Principals’ Association, Cherie Taylor-Patel, about the issues with the decile system, how it will be replaced, and the effect of the education budget overall.
Last week Casper spoke with Bronwyn Hayward, a professor in the political science department at the University of Canterbury and a member of the IPCC intergovernmental panel on climate change about how the 2022 budget could address climate change.
Since the budget was released, to update their discussion, Casper and Bronwyn had another chat about the government’s efforts to compat climate change through their allocation of funds.
This weekend, Australians will be heading to the polls to have their say as to who should be their prime minister. The two big players are the Liberal-National Coalition with Scott Morrison at the helm and Anthony Albanese with the Australian Labor Party.
Emilia Sullivan spoke to Professor Jennifer Curtin from the University of Auckland about what we should expect from this year's election.
Last week, the govt announced that its family and sexual violence prevention strategy would be getting a $115m boost as part of this years budget. Joe spoke to Carrie Leonetti from the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland and got her thoughts on the matter.
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
95bFM 
