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.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced plans to make the teaching of New Zealand history compulsory in schools this morning. Ardern says this will "reset a national framework so all learners and ākonga are aware of key aspects of New Zealand history and how they have influenced and shaped the nation.”
Deb spoke to Education Minister Chris Hipkins about the planned changes, who started by explaining how New Zealand history is currently approached in schools.
Justin discussed with Justice Minister Andrew Little on recent government announcements on making New Zealand history compulsory at schools and new mental health initiatives, as well as abortion law reform and National leader Simon Bridges' recent trip to China.
Deb talked to Educational Minister Chris Hipkins in more detail on making New Zealand history a compulsory subject at schools.
International Desk gave an update on Hong Kong and Justin talked to two high school students who organized class boycotts.
And on Neighbourhood Watch, Australian correspondent Zoe covered the federal government's decision to drug test welfare recipients and a protest in front of Victoria's state parliament in Melbourne against a new highway for destroying aboriginal land.
Justin gave an update on the protests in Hong Kong. While Chief Execuetive Carrie Lam has officialy retracted the bill that sparked protests, which proposed an amendment to the law allowing extraditions to China, protests demanding more democratic rights and autonomy are still ongoing.
Justin also talked to Jason and Tiffany (not real names), two Hong Kong high school students who organized class boycotts as part of the protests.
Sherry Zhang and Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira provided the English voices for the two students.
Tensions in South Africa reached a fever pitch, after just under a week of looting and violence across the nation, which has rapidly become a pressure cooker for xenophobic angst and anxiety. Tuwhenuaroa explores some of the reasons behind what motivated these attacks.
Tuwhenuaroa gives a brief history of Te Reo in New Zealand, then discusses with Lillian what Te Wiki O Te Reo Maori means in a modern context, and what the future may hold.
On Dear Science with AUT’s Marcus Jones we talk about dumping nuclear water in the Pacific, biological age reversal and 5000 year old people.
Tuwhenuaroa looks into the xenophobic riots happening in South Africa at the moment, speaking with the High Commissioner of South Africa to NZ, Vuyiswa Tulelo.
Lillian speaks with co-founder and editor of Delayed Gratification, the slow journalism magazine, Rob Orchard.
And finally, Tu brings us a little report on Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori which we discuss - is it time to take the next step?
Delayed Gratification is a quartely magazine that deals with news after it happened - it's the 'slow journalism' magazine. So what is Slow Journalism? How does that work? What is the point even? Lillian Hanly speaks to co-founder of the magazine Rob Orchard about the magazine, why it is necessary and what obstacles proper journalism is facing today. In particular, fake news, the political economy of journalism, the internet and the importance of accurate, critical and well researched reporting on politics.
For Community Garden, Oscar talks to Richard Orjis from the art and community collective Wilde Projects about colonisation, queer communities and rediscovering Albert Park.
Next, Olivia talks to National party finance spokesperson Paul Goldsmith live about his response to the newly released Growing New Zealand’s Capital Markets 2029 report.
For Green Desk, Mitch speaks to Endangered Species Foundation’s Stu Muir and Kelly Tarlton’s Emma Ferguson ahead of Conservation Week about the work they’re doing.
And finally Oscar talks to Kaicycle about community composting, building resilience and what Kaicycle is all about.
Olivia Holdsworth talks to National party finance spokesperson Paul Goldsmith about his response to the newly released Growing New Zealand’s Capital Markets 2029 report.
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.
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.
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.
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
With the rise of fast fashion outlets like Shein and Temu alongside the wider mainstream options available that contribute substantial amounts of clothing waste to landfill, experts are calling for an urgent response on a governance, business, and individual level.
Wire Host Sara spoke to Mindful Fashion Chief Executive Jacinta Fitzgerald about the problem, and the industry response to sustainability, as well as University of Auckland Marketing Professor Mike Lee about the importance of ethical consumption.for individuals.
First, is the interview with Fitzgerald, where she begins by talking about the organisation Mindful Fashion.
Following this, Sara spoke to Marketing Professor Mike Lee about the research he has undertaken around consumerism.
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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