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.
We start off with a conversation with ACT’s Brooke van Velden about the housing crisis and how to boost housing supply.
Stella then speaks with Angela Maynard from the Tenants Protection Association about the human rights commission’s call for an independent housing authority and rental WOFs
This is followed by Stella chatting with Georgia Pigot, an environmental social scientist from the university of auckland about the third round of funding for the Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry Fund
Alex then speaks with Associate Professor Kevin Simon of the University of Auckland about microplastic pollution in freshwater.
And then with Steven Trewick of Massey University about his research into six new Weta species in the alpine region of the south island.
Finally, Stella speaks with ben Birks Ang, deputy director of the NZ drug foundation, about recent police wastewater statistics showing increases in methamphetamine.
Tinder and Spotify are two popular apps that rely on AI algorithms to recommend matches and music based on their users’ preferences, but exactly how do these algorithms work and how are they using our data in the process? NZ legal and music experts combed through the privacy policies and terms of use of these apps to see if they provided any detail, but found that the wording was somewhat ambiguous. They also found possible legal and ethical issues within the privacy policies. Joe spoke to co-author of the study, Fabio Morreale from the School of Music at the University of Auckland, on the matter.
On this weeks Tuesday Wire, Joe is filling in for your usual host Christina who is away sick.
Our regular segment, Dear Science, is presented by Aneeka today. She’ll be looking at a recent Solar Eclipse on Mars, College Football and brain injuries, and finally why does Oreo Cream stick to one side of the cookie. She also talks to Dr. Shane Reti about inflation and the labour shortage
Joe talks to Gloria Fraser about mental health support experiences for LGBTQ youth. Joe also talks to Fabio Morreale about the Privacy Policy and Ethical issues surrounding Tinder and Spotify
Finally, Christina will be talking to Dr. Peter Saxton from the University of Auckland about an upcoming study aiming to make blood donation for LGBTQ men less discriminatory.
That's us for the Tuesday Wire! We wish Christina a speedy recovery!
With Christina away sick, Dear Science is presented by Aneeka this week. We're joined by Professor Allan Blackman from AUT, where we'll be looking at a recent Solar Eclipse on Mars, College Football and brain injuries, and why Oreo Cream sticks to only one side of the cookie.
Last week a new study released detailed gaps in mental health services for rainbow youth. Researchers at Victoria University of Wellington surveyed more than 950 people aged 14 to 24 in “the first study of mental health support experiences among rainbow rangatahi in Aotearoa New Zealand.” Joe spoke to Clinical Psychologist Gloria Fraser, who co-authored the study, on the matter.
Today the Minister for Māori Development the Honorable Willie Jackson released feedback from the first phase of targeted engagement with Māori on developing a plan to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in New Zealand.
Aneeka speaks to Hon Jackson about this and what has happened between our commitment to implementing it in 2010 and now.
Welcome back to another Friday Wire! Casper is off this week so Aneeka is filling in.
Today on the show:
Liam speaks to Aucklnad City Councillor Pippa Coom about safety in the city centre as well as the retun of their events and tourism industries on City Counselling.
Aneeka spoke to the Honorable Willie Jackson about developing a plan to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in New Zealand.
Liam also spoke to Martin Berka from Massey University about the rising cost of living.
Aneeka also spoke to Peter Reynolds the Chief Executive Officer of the New Zealand Disability Support Network.
Liam had a chat to Patrick Moyanhan from Computer Recycling Ltd about how we can eliminate e-waste.
And finally Aneeka also spoke to Dr Duane Peltzer, Chief Scientist of BioHeritage National Science Challenge about a newly-launched government plan to safeguard New Zealand's native plants and wildlife.
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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