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 our regular City Counselling segment, Jessica Hopkins spoke to Auckland Councillor Pippa Coom about the year ahead for the Council.
They discussed the local elections happening this year, the Government's light rail announcement, and how our recent move to Red has affected Auckland residents.
She also asked Pippa about the controversy surrounding a proposal to put Auckland regional parks into the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.
A tree-planting project by the Rotary Trees Trust that has been mowed down by the Upper Harbour Local Board in December for being in the wrong place could be replanted at a different area within the park. The Trust's chair Russ Ballard spoke to Justin Wong.
Ruth McManus from the University of Canterbury has been exploring how we can better the environment when we put our loved ones to rest. Joe speaks to Ruth on the matter
Last week, researchers from the University of Auckland Psychology department released a study looking at prenatal determinants of depressive symptoms during childhood. Joe speaks to one of the researchers, Karen Waldie about the study and the importance of mental and physical health for prenatal women, as well as how it impacts their children.
Today on the Wednesday Wire, Christina Huang brings us Dear Science with Allan Blackman. They chat about the surprising magnitude of the Tonga eruption, a generational link between smoking and body fat, and a 150 year old maths problem that might have finally been solved!
Jemima Huston speaks to ACT Party Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden about the government’s new mask regulations under the red setting and the upcoming news about rapid antigen testing for Covid-19.
Christina talks to Dr Arindam Basu about rapid antigen testing and Aotearoa’s Omicron response.
Finally, Christina speaks to Carlos Calderon from Oxfam Aotearoa about their work with a Kiwi company to turn seawater into drinking water in Tonga.
The Tongan volcanic eruption was a significant disaster that has left many Tongans without safe drinking water. Now, desalination units from 2014 are getting back into action, with Oxfam and Open Oceans working together to purify salty water and make it drinkable. I spoke to Carlos Calderon from Oxfam Aotearoa about these desalination units as well as the overall recovery effort in Tonga.
Yesterday the government announced that face masks worn in the red setting must be medical, surgical or three-layer cloth masks rather than scarves, t-shirts or other face coverings. They are also expected to announce the next two phases of their Omicron response, including incorporating rapid antigen tests (RATs) more into New Zealand's testing strategy.
News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston speaks to ACT Party Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden about the government's latest change to mask mandates under the red setting and bringing in the more regular use of RATs.
Today on the Wire, Emily Bell speaks to Doctor Amanda Kvalsvig, an epidemiologist at the University of Otago campus in Wellington, about the debate about N95 masks and how important they are.
The move to the red setting has posed a serious hit to the music and arts industry, with all events over 100 people being cancelled and many artists losing out on work. Jemima Huston interviews event directors John Minty from Splore, Matthew Davis from The Others Way and Dan Hesson from Freqs Out East about their cancellation and postponement decisions. Jemima also speaks to musician and artist Jazmine-Mary about the letter they have written to the Prime Minister asking for support for artists and performers who have lost their jobs in the face of the red setting.
Finally, Emily talks to Manager of the South Island Kōkako Trust Inger Perkins about the search for the South Island Kōkako bird and how the public can get involved.
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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