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 a Ministry of Health memo released yesterday that advised for the end of MIQ way back in November 2021, and Auckland Council’s implementation of residential density legislation.
Stella then speaks with James Oleson, Associate Professor of Criminology at the University of Auckland about the crime in the CBD.
Frances then speaks with Cameron Mulgan on Eurovision, giving a general update on the situation in Ukraine, Finland and Sweden swinging towards joining NATO, the UK's refugee response (sending asylum seekers to Rwanda), French election polls (and some scandals) and the Venice Bienalle opening this weekend
Isla and Stella then host an episode of Tomorrow’s World, investigating viral dogs that have been trained to press buttons that speak human words with PhD candidate Dana Keating from the University of Auckland.
I then speak with Flinders University’s Janet Klein on her research into microplastics in South Australian waters.
Finally, I discuss her new, collaborative artpiece with the University of Auckland’s Alys Longley which was created across media during COVID
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.
Micro plastics are an issue of growing concern, having been found in environments around the world while the impact on animal and human health has only just started to be quantified.
A team at Flinders University recently completed a study which found concerning levels of microplastic pollution in mussels in South Australia. Alex spoke with the leader of the research Janet Klein earlier today.
This week on our regular catch up with Dr Shane Reti from the National Party, News and editorial director Aneeka speaks to him about Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern heading off to Asia and the country’s recent move down to the orange traffic light setting.
The government of the Pacific island nation Tuvalu has recently reversed its decision to sponsor a deep sea mining company. This decision has been met with support from environmental activists. On the Tuesday Wire, Christina spoke to James Hita, a Greenpeace seabed mining campaigner, about the impacts of deep sea mining.
The triennial report on the state of the environment in Aotearoa has changed the framework for how it reports its findings. It looks more at mātauranga Māori and exploring the connection between the environment and people. Joe spoke to Professor Amanda Black, Director at Bioprotection Aotearoa and Rutherford Discovery Fellow, as well as Dr. Dan Hikuroa, Senior Lecturer, Te Wānanga o Waipapa, Waipapa Taumata Rau (School of Māori Studies and Pacific Studies, at the University of Auckland on the matter.
Producer Joe Wickins spoke to Professor Amanda Black, Director at Bioprotection Aotearoa and Rutherford Discovery Fellow, as well as Dr. Dan Hikuroa, Senior Lecturer, at the School of Māori Studies and Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland, on the triennial report on the state of the environment in Aotearoa and how it has changed the framework for how it reports its findings.
Christina had her regular catch up with AUT Professor Marcus Jones for Dear Science. This week, they discussed a new thermal battery that could efficiently store renewable energy, the search for Earth 2.0, and how monkeys can sense their own heartbeat.
Christina also spoke to James Hita, a Greenpeace seabed mining campaigner, about the impacts of deep sea mining, and Tuvalu reversing its decision to sponsor a deep sea mining company.
And News and Editorial Director Aneeka Moheed caught up with Dr Shane Reti from the National Party about Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern heading off to Asia and the country’s recent move down to the orange traffic light setting.
In 1988, New Zealand became the first country in the world to introduce a national, government-funded needle exchange programme for people who inject legal and illegal drugs.
New data has shown that the New Zealand Needle Exchange Programme has doubled its return in twenty years and has reduced the need for spending on treatment for HIV, Hepatitis B and C and other injection injuries.
Emilia Sullivan spoke to Jason George, National Harm Reduction Lead at the New Zealand Needle Exchange Programme.
Widowed Syrian women who are fleeing war zones with their children are ending up in “widow camps”, where they face chronic violence, and their children are exploited and abused.
Since the start of the civil war in 2011, nearly 7 million Syrians have been displaced internally, and about 2.8 million are living in an estimated 1,300 camps for internally displaced people in the north-west of the country.
World Vision has released a study titled “Women and Children of Syria's Widow Camps: Hardest to Reach, Most at Risk” which illustrates the physical and psychological violence that these vulnerable people are facing, and the barriers to providing humanitarian aid.
Emilia Sullivan spoke to Grant Bayldon, National Director of World Vision New Zealand about the issue.
Last week, a study released by Sport NZ post the 2020 lockdown, showed participation in weekly physical activity was down almost six percent prior to the pandemic.
Joe spoke to Hamish McEwen, the intelligence manager from Sport NZ, about the study they conducted on this decrease in exercise and possible initiatives that could be implemented in order to encourage kiwis to keep active.
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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