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.
On today's Monday Wire Charlie spoke with Yurko Galdun, Chairman of the Ukrainian Association of New Zealand Northern Regions, about the peaceful protest against Russia's military action that happened in Auckland. As Omicron raises staff shortage concerns in the health sector, Bindi Norwell, CEO of ProCare, discussed their ‘Mission Possible’ initiative with Charlie. Green MP Chloë Swarbrick also spoke with Charlie about an open-letter to improve cultural infrastructure.
Sam spoke with Marcelle Dawson, sociology professor at Otago University about the anti-mandate protests happening in Welington. As many students went back to university today, once again online, Sam spoke with two post graduate students about wanting a partial refund on fees.
Host Jessica Hopkins speaks to Save the Children's Child Rights Advocacy and Research Director, Jacqui Southey about the Government's progress in reducing child poverty.
She also has her regular chat with Auckland Councillor, Pippa Coom.
Producer Liam Hansen spoke with Investigative Journalist Nicky Hager about the Chief Ombudsman’s latest inquiry into his allegations of the New Zealand Defence Force misinforming the Chief about Operation Burnham.
Today on my regular catch up with Auckland Councillor Pippa Coom we discussed the Women4Climate Mentorship Programme that is coming to Tāmaki Makaurau this year.
The programme taking place in several C40 cities globally aims to contribute to the emergence of the next generation of climate leaders by sharing knowledge and experience.
Jessica Hopkins spoke to Pippa about who is eligible, and clarified the programmes' inclusion of non-binary and gender queer people.
The latest Stats NZ data shows a downward trend in all nine child poverty measures in Aotearoa.
However, Save The Children says we still have a long way to go to ensure all tamariki in Aotearoa are able to thrive.
Jessica Hopkins spoke to Advocacy and Research Director Jacqui Southey, who says that more attention needs to be given to lifting the incomes of our lowest-income families.
They started the interview discussing Jacqui’s response to the Government's announcement that 66,500 children have been lifted out of poverty since 2018.
Today on the Thursday Wire, Joe Wickins speaks to Tracy Morison, the President of ALRANZ Abortion Rights Aotearoa, about the government's plan for a funded national abortion telehealth service.
Alex Wierzbicki is producing the show for the first time! He explores how a move to Phase 3 of the Omicron response could impact hospitality workers and business owners. He interviews Jamie Freedman, President of the Auckland Branch of Hospitality New Zealand, and John Crocker, the National Secretary of Unite Union, about this and the wider impact of Omicron on the hospitality sector.
Today on the Wednesday Wire, Christina Huang hosts for the first time!
Jemima Huston has her weekly chat with the ACT Party's Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden. They talk about teachers being considered essential workers, and international students entering the country.
Christina looks into the recent developments in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis. She speaks to Associate Professor Jim Headley from the University of Otago about the political background of the crisis. She also talks to Professor Robert Ayson from Victoria University about Aotearoa's role in de-escalating the situation.
Aneeka speaks to Dr Robert Smith from the university of Otago about the current marine heatwave, and its implications for iwi, a sustainable seafood industry, and research efforts.
And finally, Christina speaks to Dr Alice Mills, a Criminology professor from the University of Auckland, about intimate partner homicide statistics and domestic violence in Australia and New Zealand.
As Aotearoa experiences a record breaking heatwave, scientists involved in the 'Moana Project' have recently launched a marine heatwave forecast system for the country. The Moana project is funded by the Ministry of Business and Employment and is currently providing short range forecasts for up to 7 days of where and when marine heatwaves are likely to occur, for selected coastal sites around New Zealand. Aneeka speaks to Dr. Robert Smith, a lecturer in physical oceanography for the department of Marine Science at the University of Otago and an oceanographer for the Moana Project, about this heatwave and what it means for the country's marine ecosystems.
Christina looks into the recent developments in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis. She speaks to Associate Professor Jim Headley from the University of Otago about the political background of the crisis. She also talks to Professor Robert Ayson from Victoria University about Aotearoa's role in de-escalating the situation.
Christina Huang speaks to Dr Alice Mills, a Criminology professor from the University of Auckland, about perpetrators of intimate partner homicide, and the wider context of domestic violence in Australia and New Zealand.
Today on the Tuesday Wire, Jemima Huston speaks to Manukau Ward Councillor Efeso Collins about running for Auckland Mayor in this year's local elections and his campaign policy to make public transport free in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Emily Bell investigates what it is like to rent a house in New Zealand as a univeristy student. She speaks to three students from across the country, Green Party renting spokesperson Chlöe Swarbrick, and a spokesperson from Renters United about this ongoing issue.
Finally, Jemima chats to University of Auckland Associate Professor Kerry Gibson to discuss the impact of social media on youth mental health.
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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