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.
This week on the show, host Jessica Hopkins spoke to Drowning Prevention Auckland's Chief Executive Nicola Keen-Biggelaar about the dangers of waterfalls.
She also interviewed Commissioner Mark Campbell of the Salvation Army about their aid work in Tonga.
Our regular City Counselling segment is returning for the New Year. Today Jessica spoke to Auckland Councillor Shane Henderson about Auckland Transport’s reduced services and his plans for increasing transport choices for West Auckland residents
And our new Producer Liam spoke to Otago University Immunologist Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu about the preparations our Government and schools are making in case of an Omicron outbreak in Aotearoa.
Auckland Transport's reduced services affected many returning to work this summer, and there have been calls for public transport schedules to return to normal.
Jessica Hopkins spoke to Auckland Counciller Shane Henderson about plans to increase transport options for West Auckland in 2022. But we started off our interview by catching up with Shane on what he got up to over the New Years break.
Joe speaks to the Chief Executive of Autism New Zealand, Dane Dougan, about a new online tool called Vaximate. Vaximate supports autistic people navigate the vaccination process.
International Desk reports on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson facing severe pressure on his leadership as more Conservative MPs are supporting a no-confidence motion after it was revealed he attended lockdown-breaching parties.
Producer Joe Wickins talked to Otago University's Professor Michael Baker on New Zealand's next steps on the pandemic and preparing for an Omicron outbreak.
He also talked Dane Dougan from Autism New Zealand about Vaximate, an online tool to help autistic people with the vaccinatioin process.
International reports on embattled British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Justin spoke to Red Cross's Vivienne Euini on the situation in Tonga and the organisation's aid campaign.
He also spoke to Professer Jennifer Curtin of the University of Auckland for some political commentary on the week's biggest stories.
Joe speaks to Professor Michael Baker from the University of Otago ahead of Cabinet's announcment today regarding the traffic light system in Northland, as well as whether or not we need to retool the guidelines in order to help protect us from the Omicron variant.
Justin spoke to the New Zealand Red Cross' Acting General Manager International Vivienne Euini about the latest situation in Tonga and the service the organisation is helping to provide.
Justin talked to Professor Jennifer Curtin of the University of Auckland on policy lessons from Australia on handling Omicron, Tonga, and the traffic light system.
This week on the Wednesday Wire, we start with Dear Science with Allan Blackman who joins us live in the studio for our first show of the year. Today Christina Huang asks Allan about the link between cataracts and dementia, the nutritional value of huhu bugs, and a clue on mars that could hint at past life on the planet.
Jemima Huston interviews ACT Party Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden about her party’s goals for 2022, the inevitable Omicron outbreak in New Zealand and the Tonga volcanic eruption and tsunami disaster.
Christina talks to Dr Xaviour Walker from the University of Otago about the disaster in Tonga and the subsequent health impacts that will affect the Tongan people.
Christina wraps up the show with a conversation with Associate Professor Leah Watkins about a recent study of marketing, where researchers found kids are exposed to one brand almost every minute.
As it's 95bFM's first week back for the year, News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston speaks to Brooke van Velden about her party's goals for 2022. They also discuss the inevitable Omicron outbreak in Aoteroa and the volcanic eruption and tsunami disaster in Tonga.
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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