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 Dear Science with Allan we’re talking about water, rats, and diamonds!
Felix spoke to deputy leader of the Act party - Brooke Van Velden about the party’s feelings around the living wage and the three strikes law.
Karanama spoke to Tai Tupou, from the I AM HOPE foundation, about their new children's book ‘TR and Mack the Hopeful Black Dog’, and it’s attempt to change the way we look at and deal with bullying and mental health among our rangatahi
Felix spoke to AAAP Co-ordinator Brooke Stanley Pao about what Labour has and hasn’t done for people in poverty.
Felix also spoke to The Green Party’s Corrections and Human Rights Spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman about human rights abuses in NZ prisons.
Karanama spoke to Tai Tupou, from the I AM HOPE foundation, about their new childrens book titled 'TR and Mack the Hopeful Black Dog' aimed at changing the way we view bullying and mental health in schools
Ayana spoke to New Zealand Initiative Chief Economist Dr Eric Crampton, and National Spokesperson for Economic Development Honerable Todd McClay, on raising the minimum wage as was suggested in the Helen Clark Foundation report released this week.
The New Zealand Law commission has released a new report on the legal system's approach to DNA testing. The report highlighted the current lack of protection for individuals and Māori. Noah discussed the report with Associate Law Professor Debra Wilson from the University of Canterbury.
41 schools from around the country have received funding under the second round of the Government's Sustainability Contestable Fund. The fund aims to help schools reduce emissions and save money. Noah spoke to New Zealand Educational Institute President, Liam Rutherford, about promoting sustainability in schools. He also spoke to Penny O'Brien, Principal of Ladbrookes School, which received funding in the first round of the Sustainability Contestable Fund.
Today on the Tuesday Wire, we have a new producer! Welcome Noah!
Jemima begins by talk to to Kerri Nuku, the Kaiwhakahaere of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, about the experience of working in managed isolation and how it has impacted their lives inside and outside of work.
Noah looks into the Government’s Sustainability Contestable Fund for New Zealand schools. He speaks to NZEI Te Riu Roa President Liam Rutherford and Ladbrooks School Principal Penny O’Brien about the fund.
Minister for Women Jan Tinetti chats to Jemima about how her first few weeks as Minister have been and what we can expect the government’s focus to be when it comes to policy impacting women.
Noah interviews Associate Professor Debra Wilson from the University of Canterbury about the New Zealand Law Commission new report highlighting the need to change laws around DNA testing in the justice system.
And finally, Jemima speaks to Clinical Psychologist Phoebe Poulter about her study into people’s ability to counter negative body images messages when engaging with social media.
Staff shortages are severely impacting the healthcare workers in Auckland’s managed isolation facilities and new employment terms mean that MIQ workers can no longer visit places where vulnerable people might be present. This got News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston thinking about how working in MIQ is impacting the everyday lives of healthcare staff. Jemima speaks to Kerri Nuku, the Kaiwhakahaere of the Nurses Organisation, to give an insight on how MIQ work and staff shortages has affected nurses’ mental health and their lives inside and outside of work.
Every fortnight News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston will speak to Minister for Women Jan Tinetti about topical issues facing women, policy for women in New Zealand and the Minister’s work under her portfolio.
Today Jemima and Jan catch up on the response to the changes made to the Equal Pay Act, how the Minister’s first few weeks have been, what projects the Ministry has planned for the future and finally they touch on Transgender Day of Awareness last Friday.
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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