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.
Auckland’s MOTAT has recently opened a new science exhibition called Mighty Small Mighty Bright. bFM reporter Isla Christensen went to check out the new exhibition and talk to exhibition curator Todd Dixon about the display of future technologies.
Olivia spoke to Child Poverty Action Group economic spokesperson Susan St John about the shortcomings of the budget in terms of supporting low income families and began by asking if she thinks the budget has done enough for children in poverty.
Tama Waipara is the festival director of the inaugural Tairāwhiti Arts Festival. His background is in music, and he came to work at the Auckland Arts Festival as programme manager for Māori and Pacific programs and then eventually senior programmer. Now he wants to bring an Arts Festival to the East Coast. He grew up in Opotiki, so this opportunity is to build a festival from the ground up in a place he calls home. Lillian Hanly speaks to Tama about the festival and starts by talking about creating the kaupapa for the festival, which Tama said was the first step.
Last week Lillian was invited to her first iftar dinner by the owners of the Turkish cafe in Grey Lynn she visits weekly, Coffee & Durum. Hassan and Darya opened the cafe in 2016 and have since hosted public iftar dinners three years running. This year, after the terror attacks in Christchurch, there was an added layer of connection. Lillian talks to some of the other regulars who attended the dinner and explores the open-hearted kaupapa through which Hassan and Darya run the cafe.
Dear Science with AUT’s Marcus Jones talks about CRISPR baby life expectancies, multiple conclusions reached from one data set, and the UK being coal free for the past 16 days!
Ramadan came to an end this week and Lillian went to her first iftar dinner last week at her local cafe, we hear a report from her on the owners of the cafe and the customers who have been generously welcomed into the space.
Tama Waipara is the festival director for the new Tairāwhiti Arts Festival, Lillian speaks to him about the kaupapa behind it.
Amid the coldest part of every year, in the early hours of the morning, Ngā mata a te ariki Tawhirimātea, or Matariki for short, rises in the east, with a gleam rivalled only by the Sun which follows close behind. Matariki is the Māori name for a group of seven stars known as the Pleiades star cluster. Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira explores its significance to Maori, why it is celebrated, and the impact it has on the nation.
The full length podcast of the Tuesday Wire for the 4th of Pipiri June. Today, we had the privilige of talking to The Kaipātiki Project, listen in to find out more. At the Green Desk, we introduce a topic for the coming weeks, of the media framing of the climate crisis. We have a passage on Matariki and Board Games does indeed return.
The government’s budget for 2019 was announced yesterday afternoon by minister of finance Grant Robertson, who delivered the publication. The focus seems to be on vulnerable communities, Kiwi’s well-being, among other priorities, with a trajectory towards social issues such as mental health, addiction, and poverty in the budgets financial forecast. While this is good to see in many ways, it can’t be said that everyone will be happy about these economic decisions. Now for someone with a very low understanding of economics, Louis had the pleasure of speaking with Shamubeel Eaqub; an experienced independent economist & commentator, who made economics very easy for Louis. Here he is, breaking down the budget.
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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