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.
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.
Aneeka speaks 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.
Aneeka speaks to Peter Reynolds the Chief Executive Officer of the New Zealand Disability Support Network about a report released by the Disability Commissioner which states that our disabled community was severely disadvantaged by the country's COVID response.
Recent studies surrounding hidden patterns in seismic signals could help forecast eruptions and prevent loss of life on volcanoes, according to research from the University of Canterbury which spurred from the tragic Whakaari White Island eruption.
Joe spoke to David Dempsey, a Senior Lecturer in Civil and Natural Resources from the University of Canterbury, who worked closely with the research team and is a co-author of the study.
Our regular interview with Labour’s Andrew Little is back.
Emilia Sullivan spoke to the Health Minister about the pay equity settlement that the New Zealand Nurses Association has recently decided to seek legal advice against, as well as the government’s plan to increase the nurse workforce with recruitment campaigns amid a surge in nurse burnout.
On this weeks Thursday Wire, Emilia speaks to Health Minister Andrew Little about the nurses pay equity settlement and nurse recruitment efforts.
She also speaks to Dr Nic Rawlence from the University of Otago about his latest study that allows for a non-destructive extraction of ancient DNA from small fossils.
Alex speaks to the University of Auckland’s Dr. Alys Longley about her new collaborative art piece which was created across media during the pandemic.
Joe speaks to Teanau Tuiono, Green Party spokesperson for Pacific Peoples, about the security and future of students in West Papua.
He also speaks to David Dempsey, a Senior Lecturer from the University of Canterbury, about AI technology being used to detect seismic activity before volcanic eruptions. That's us for the Thursday Wire!
New research out of the University of Otago has created a groundbreaking new technique that allows for the extraction of DNA from ancient fossils and artifacts without damage.
After lots of trial and error, Otago Master of Science student Lachie Scarsbrook and his supervisor Dr. Nic Rawlence from the Otago Paleogenetics lab were able to find a technique that extracts data in a completely non-destructive way.
To discuss what this discovery means for tracing New Zealand’s ecological history, Emilia Sullivan spoke to Dr. Nic Rawlence.
Dr. Alys Longley has been working with a group of Chilean artists across the pandemic on a collaborative art project that combines thinking across the southern axis to illustrate how we think about art as an essential service in times of crisis and political repression.
Producer Alex spoke to Dr. Alys Longley from the University of Auckland about this project.
After weeks of advocacy from Green MPs, Immigration New Zealand has assured that West Papuan students whose scholarships were suddenly cancelled by the Indonesian Government will not be deported to West Papua.
Joe spoke to Teanau Tuiono, Green Party spokesperson for Pacific Peoples, on the matter. He began by giving some detail on the situation with West Papuan students studying in New Zealand at the moment.
In light of crime increases in Auckland’s CBD, Stella talks to James Oleson, Associate Professor of Criminology at the University of Auckland about the ways we measure, perceive and respond to crime, and what the literature says about police presence as a deterrent for criminal behaviour. They also respond to calls from mayoral candidates to re-establish a police office in downtown Auckland.
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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