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.
After a new report from the science media centre mentions that after reviewing the evidence around puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria, the Ministry of Health is taking a more precautionary approach.
Producer Yesenia spoke to paediatric endocrinologist and Professor at the University of Auckland Paul Hofman about the multidisciplinary approach the ministry of health is wanting to approach with Puberty Blockers and the changes coming for those seeking gender affirming care.
A report from the annual New Zealand health survey data for 2023-2024 showed that the proportion of children from homes where food ran out sometimes or often has increased by nearly six percentage points in one year. That’s 21.3 percent to 27 percent.
However, the food insecurity dives into areas of wellbeing like growth, wellbeing and immunity should these childrens not get all the nutrients they need in their meals.
Producer Yesenia spoke to Māori health researcher and spokesperson for the Health Coalition Aotearoa Doctor Christina McKerchar, about the harms that Maori and pasifika children have due to food insecurity, where linking information can be found for school performance and what communities can do to diminish food insecurity in Aotearoa.
Global Innovator, Matt Hart, joins us in the studio to discuss setting boundaries and how to navigate this.
For our weekly catch up with Te Pāti Māori, News and Editorial Director, and Monday Wire Host, Joel, speaks to Mariameno Kapa-Kingi about hīkoi mō te tiriti reaching Parliament, the Treaty Principles Bill passing it’s first reading, and the haka in the house in protest of this.
For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party's Simon Court, Joel also speaks to Simon about the hīkoi mō te tiriti at Parliament.
Producer Yesenia speaks to Māori health researcher and spokesperson for Health Coalition Aoteaora, Christina Mckerchar, on the harms of food insecurity on Māori and Pasifika children and what those harms will impact them.
Yesenia also speaks to Paediatric Endocrinologist and Professor at the University of Auckland, Paul Hofman, on the Ministry of Health's precautions regarding puberty blockers, and what the multidisciplinary approach would provide.
And finally, Joel speaks to the Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships at MOTAT, Katie Bundle, about MOTAT’s adopt a tram initiative.
For our weekly chat with Global Innovator, Matt Hart, Producer Yesenia speaks to Matt about effectively putting up boundaries and how to navigate this.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden speaks to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about hīkoi mō te Tiriti and the successful third reading of the Restoring Samoan Citizenship bill.
For State of the States this week they speak to Andre Fa’aoso from the Yale Daily News about United States commitments on free trade and climate at the APEC forum, a shift in policy on Ukraine, and recent Trump cabinet appointments.
They speak to Kanak youth activist Viro Xulue about a new United Nations report calling the French response to pro-independence protestors “alarming.”
And, with Tuesday Wire Host Castor, they caught up with protestors at the final leg of hīkoi mō te Tiriti in Te Whanganui-a-tara.
For City Counselling this week, Sofia speaks to Councillor Julie Fairey about Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown’s Draft Mayoral Proposal for Auckland Council’s Annual Plan for the year 2025-26 as well as a new space for homeless support in Auckland’s city centre
She also speaks to renowned Māori activist, Tāme Iti, about hīkoi mō te Tiriti and the support for its kaupapa.
Earlier this week, the nine-day trek that was Hīkoi mō te Tiriti made it to its final destination, the grounds of Parliament.
The hīkoi was in response to a myriad of policies from the National, ACT, and NZ First coalition government regarding Māori and te Tiriti o Waitangi, including the ACT Party’s highly controversial Treaty Principles Bill, and sought to highlight how te Tiriti unites Aotearoa through kotahitanga.
Producer Sofia spoke to renowned Māori activist and artist, Tāme Iti, about the overall energy on the hīkoi, the support for its kaupapa, and the message he thinks it sent to the coalition.
Wire Hosts Caeden and Castor were at the hīkoi in Te Whanganui-a-Tara on Tuesday. They spoke to Tangata Whenua, Tangata Moana, and Tangata Tiriti about why they were there, also asking protestors if they had a message for ACT leader David Seymour, who brought the Bill to Parliament.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum occured last week with the United States in attendance. The 21 nations discussed issues of free trade and climate change impact in the region.
The United States has also shifted their foreign policy on Ukraine, allowing the use of their missiles in Russia.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has received scrutiny for unconventional cabinet picks over the past week. The most controversial of these is Attorney-General nominee Matt Gaetz, who is under investigation by the House ethics committee for drug use, misuse of campaign funds, and allegations of sexual misconduct.
Wire Host Caeden speaks to Andre Fa'oso from the Yale Daily News about all of these topics for State of the States.
Last Thursday the first reading of the ACT party’s controversial “Treaty Principles Bill” took place in Parliament. Members of the opposition joined in the hīkoi in response to the bill and were there to greet protestors at Parēmata.
And yesterday was the third and final reading of the Citizenship Western Samoa Amendment Bill. The bill restores the citizenship of 3480 Samoan elders.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about both of these topics.
For their regular catch-up, Oto spoke to the Green Party’s Ricardo Menéndez March about the arrival of hīkoi mō te tiriti on parliament grounds, as well as the government’s plan to introduce visitors fees to conservation areas.
He spoke to Margaret Mutu, a professor of Māori studies at the University of Auckland, for a follow up conversation about the hīkoi with a focus on Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
For this week’s Get Action! He spoke to Charlotte Melser representing the Concerned Communities of Taranaki and Manawatu, to discuss a petition of theirs opposing the granting of any seabed mining consents to Trans Tasman Resource Limited.
And he spoke to Emeritus Professor of Law - Jane Kelsey, to discuss the impacts of Donald Trump’s tariff proposal on the economy of New Zealand.
Producer Yesenia spoke to Director of Organising at E Tū - Savage, about the unions calls to the ministry of health to improve the Work and Safety Act of 2015 in wake of the 10-year annviersary of the Pike River mine disaster which killed 29 miners.
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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