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.
The government is considering changes to the rules surrounding who can ride bikes on the sidewalk and e-scooters in the bike lane. Currently e-scooters are not allowed in the bike line, despite many riders using it, and bikes can only be ridden on the sidewalk by young children.
The government is planning to change this, allowing e-scooters in the bike line legally, and raising the age cap for bike riding on the sidewalk.
Producer Samantha spoke to Tim Jones, President of Living Streets Aotearoa regarding these proposed changes and their implications.
With Psilocybin set to be more available for those with treatment-resistant depression comes the question of accessibility.
Currently only one specialist will be able to provide psilocybin to patients, with concerns over how much the treatment will cost.
News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to Suresh Muthukumaraswamy, a Professor in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Auckland, about psilocybin, and what should be expected with allowing psilocybin to treat treatment-resistant depression.
Last Saturday, over 2,000 protests took place across all 50 American States against President Donald Trump.
The protests coincided with Trump’s birthday and the 250th anniversary of the US Army, and they served as a direct response to the military parade in Washington, DC.
The organisers of the protests say they aimed to reject “authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and the militarisation of our democracy.”
Wire Host Caeden spoke to Jeremy Pressman, Professor of Political Science at the University of Connecticut about the protests and the backlash towards them from the Trump administration.
Concrete is one of the world’s most polluting materials, accounting for between 5 and 8 percent of global CO2 emissions.
For the past several years, University of Auckland Engineering Faculty, Dr Enrique Del Ray Castillo has been researching and developing an alternative which could decrease the environmental impact of concrete by reducing the amount of cement required in its production.
Using a blend of volcanic ash – or pumice – and kaimoana shells, both of which are natural, local and more sustainable materials, Castillo has explored how traditional Roman engineering and mātauranga Māori could work together to make a material that’s built to last
This Friday, the Matariki stars will be observed in the Northeastern skies, marking the beginning of the Māori new year and Maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar.
However, earlier this year, the Puanga star rose in the Western skies, which some Iwi, especially those in Te Tai Tokerau, look to to mark the beginning of the Maramataka.
With this year’s theme for Matariki being Matariki mā Puanga: Celebrating Together, Oto spoke to Te Kahuratai Moko-Painting, a professional teaching fellow at Te Pūtahi o Pūtaiao - the centre for Pūtaiao at the University of Auckland, about why some Iwi look to Puanga instead of Matariki.
Oto spoke with Maryam, an Iranian New Zealander in Iran at the moment, talking to us about the missile strikes between Israel and Iran from her perspective
He spoke to Stephen Hoadley, a retired associate professor from the University of Auckland talking about the Israeli Iranian conflict from a broader angle
For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party’s Ricardo Menendez-March, Oto spoke with him about the government's consideration to change sick leave payments, the directive to Health NZ to give private hospitals outsourcing contracts for elective surgeries and David Seymour's review into ECE funding.
And he spoke to Te Kahuratai Moko-Painting A professional teaching fellow at the centre for Pūtaiao at the University of Auckland, about why some Iwi celebrate Puanga instead of Matariki.
News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to the Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa’s Jennifer Shields and AUT’s Greg Treadwell, regarding a story on RNZ which many have raised concerns about over the lack of usage of an individual's preferred name and gender identity, due to the individual having passed away and not being able to communicate his wishes.
Content warning: this story deals with discussions of eating disorders
Recently, RNZ published an article about a young person who passed away in 2023 in emergency accommodation due to his battle with his eating disorder.
However, the article has faced backlash for its portrayal of the young person.
Despite the young person in question; Alex, who identified as trans, the article, at his parents request, referred to him by his deadname and did not use his preferred pronouns. The article mixed in non-gender specific pronouns and the name ‘V,’ depending on an individual's relationship to Alex that was not his parents.
News and Editorial Director, Joel, spoke to the President of the Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa’s Jennifer Shields, about RNZ’s coverage and how this may impact trans rangatahi in the country.
The coverage of this story has also raised the question of what responsible coverage should look like, for a story like this.
According to RNZ’s Rainbow Communities Reporting and Content Guidelines, as Alex could not communicate his wishes, RNZ opted to cover the story the way they did through his parents.
Joel also spoke to the Academic Advisor to Journalism at AUT, Greg Treadwell, about the coverage of this story, and if he believes the coverage is adequate.
LGBTQIA+ organisations to contact for support and resources:
OUTLine Aotearoa: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm) for specialist, 24/7, confidential, mental health support, that also provides specialist counselling for LGBTQIA+ individuals and whānau.
Admist the ongoing rounds of missile strikes being traded between Israel and Iran, Oto spoke to Professor Stephen Hoadley, a retired Associate Professor of International Relations at the University of Auckland who gave us a wider contextual understanding of the situation.
He’s also stressed that his views are his own and not related to any institutions he worked for formerly.
Last friday, Israel launched a series of missile strikes on Iranian soil, aimed at destroying Iran’s nuclear research facilities and assassinating their top generals and scientists.
In response Iran fired a series of their own missile strikes into Israeli territory, striking areas like Tel Aviv and the Israeli port city of Haifa.
Both countries have attacked civilian areas in this round of fighting, with Israel strikes into Iran hitting Iran’s state broadcaster in Tehran as well as the Farabi Hospital in Kermanshah, killing at least 200 people, with Iran’s strikes targeting a number of residential areas in urban Israel similarly.
Oto spoke to an Iranian New Zealander who is currently in Iran, going under the alias of ‘Maryam’ for her safety and security, who talked us about her experiences trying to flee Iran and contacting the New Zealand for assistance.
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
95bFM 
