Listen back to features and interviews from 95bFM's daily news & current affairs show, The Wire. Your hosts Jemima Huston, Mary-Margaret Slack, Lillian Hanly, Lachlan Balfour and Laura Kvigstad focus on the issues of Tāmaki Makaurau and elsewhere, in independent-thinking bFM style. Weekdays 12-1pm on 95bFM.
The conversation around phosphate imported from the disputed area of the Western Sahara continues. After having spoken to one of the two companies who are the last two companies in the western world that continue to trade with Morocco (listen here to Ballance Agri-Nutrients who were the only company that agreed to a phone interview - Lillian is continuing to source information from Ravensdown), Lillian was intent on understanding the legal implications of this.
Kamal Fadel, who is based in Australia, is a spokesperson for Polisario Front - Western Sahara’s independence movement. Kamal had stated last week the group was looking into legal action against the companies in New Zealand. Lillian reached out to Kamal over Twitter to see if she could speak with him about this and it turned out he was in New Zealand for the next couple of days. Kamal had actually been part of organising Tecber’s talking tour, who we heard from for Part I of this series, and they had taken the rare opportunity of having someone from the Western Sahara visiting New Zealand to meet with government officials and attend conferences. When Lillian contacted Kamal, he was speaking at an event for the NZ Institute of International Affairs the following day. Lillian went along to the talk last minute and managed to introduce herself there - Kamal then agreed to come into the bFM studios for a discussion. They ended up discussing the legality of Morocco's invasion and continued occupation, the rights that exist for non-self-governing territories, and why there are plenty of good reasons for the NZ companies to stop being involved in the trading of 'stolen goods'. First up, Lillian asked what Polisario Front is.
"CSBP also completed design work and started fabrication of a regenerative thermal oxidiser that will broaden supply options for the superphosphate manufacturing operation at Kwinana and help reduce dependence on phosphate rock from Western Sahara." Pg. 47
"The two other Australian importers of phosphate from Western Sahara, Wesfarmers (through its subsidiary CSBP) and Impact Fertilisers, divested from the region in 2009 and 2012, respectively."
"Nauruans’ experiences of a resource curse from mining phosphate stands, as a case study of retarded development. Nauru was much adulated in the press in the early 20th century as an example of a small island that became wealthy through mining. The high grade phosphate that covered four fifths of the island was considered by outsiders as a very lucrative resource that had to be mined, particularly as fertilizer to enhance the pastures of Australia and New Zealand. The development of Nauru has been misinterpreted by attributions of wealth to Nauruans when most of the profits from mining accrued to the mining agencies. Sales of phosphate yielded far greater development to Australian agriculture than to Nauruan owners of the resource. Meanwhile the small island surface of Nauru underwent gradual destruction of its interior retarding any developments, economic or humanitarian."
Mitchell talks to Forest & Bird NZ's chief executive Kevin Hague about a marine report discussing four priority issues the government needs to focus on.
How we handle our waste is becoming increasingly important, and our current waste system is not equipped to effectively recycle all the packaging we find on the shelves of our supermarkets. In light of this, Niamh Peren started the petition Thumbs Up New Zealand calling for the government to introduce new, simple and compulsory labelling on all food and drink packaging indicating whether the packaging is recyclable in New Zealand and made from recycled material. To find out more Olivia spoke to Niamh and began by asking to give a brief rundown on what she is calling for.
E whai ake nei, coming up on the show today we have…
On Green Desk Mitchell talks to Forest & Bird NZ Kevin Hague about a marine report discussing four priority issues the government needs to focus on.
Olivia talks to Interim Retirement Commissioner. Peter Cordtz from the Commission for Financial Capability about a new scheme to help retirees make their money last throughout retirement
Olivia also talks to Niamh Peren from Thumbs Up New Zealand about her petition to simplify labelling on packaging.
And finally Oscar talks to Mikee Santos, from First Union, about the re-opening of the parent visa category.
95bFM's Oscar Perress talks to Mikee Santos of First Union about the Reopening of the Parent Visa Category, what it means and what effect it will have on migrants and employers.
Last week Police Commissioner Mike Bush announced a trial of special patrol vehicles carrying armed officers. The ‘armed response teams’ will be made up of members of the armed offenders squad and run for six months in three regions: Canterbury, Manukau, and Waikato. Some groups are wary of the announcement, saying there is no need for such a unit in New Zealand and it will only lead to unnecessary deaths. Lachlan spoke with Emmy Rakete from PAPA about the announcement.
600 psychologists will be voting next week on a new offer to settle negotiations. This is the third month of partial strikes, with DHB psychologists not taking new clients nor working overtime. Sherry spoke to DHB psychologist Chris Murray on the strikes and union demands, the workplace crisis with low retention rate/burnout and the lack of respect given to psychologsts in comparison to other medical professionals. Sherry begins by asking Chris why DHB psychologists are striking.
This week on the Monday Wire, Lachlan speaks with Emmy Rakete from People Against Prisons Aotearoa about the trial of armed police units across New Zealand. Jemima talks to Richard Wagstaff from Council of Trade Unions about the government's discussion paper on fair pay agreements. Sherry speaks with DHB psychologist Chris Murray about upcoming strike action. Southern Cross is back with the latest in Pacific news. Jemima wraps it up with the regular segment with Green Party co-leader James Shaw about legalising drug testing for festivals and the most recent environment update report.
Last week the Governmen released a discussion paper, "Designing a Fair Pay Agreements System", about what a proposed law on Fair Pay Agreements could include. Jemima spoke to New Zealand Council of Trade Unions President, Richard Wagstaff, about the paper and what it might mean for New Zealand workers.
Mitchell talks to Forest & Bird NZ's chief executive Kevin Hague about a marine report discussing four priority issues the government needs to focus on.
How important is historical memory in politics? What can we learn about how our memories of the past are manipulated to change current and future politics? What can we learn from “memory entrepreneurs” in places like the former Yugoslavia? How did they try to change understandings about the past to influence the future? Doug Becker speaks with Jelena Subotic, Brent Steele, and Brent Sasley about the importance of memory in political settings.
This week on the Southern Cross, Pacific Media Watch contributing editor Michael Andrew talks to the Wire team about Papua New Guinea police issuing a warrant for their former Prime Minister's arrest, the University of the South Pacific investigation, Professor David Robie's research in Iran, and a film about a great waka builder and sailor.
This week Jemima spoke to Green Party co-leader James Shaw about the political discussions around legalising drug testing at festivals and events. They also discuss the recent environmental update report "Our Marine Environment".
Denise Lee joins Laura Kvigstad for their weekly chat. This week they discuss the Terrorism Suppression Bill and the National Party's controversial amendments to the bill that were rejected quickly by government. After that, they touch on Simon Bridges questions being slashed by Speak of The House, Trevor Mallard. This follows the National Party's refusal to remove ads that have been deemed misleading to the public. The Labour Party has also been argued this has breached the 1993 Electoral Act's section 3A, as parties are not permitted to use parliamentary video for election advertisements. Laura and Denise finish up by discussing the recent case of a repeat drunk driving offender being granted residency. The National Party expressed concerns around the decision however it was National MP Michael Woodhouse who granted the individual protected person status back in 2012. Denise says a repeat offender shouldn't have been granted residency as the individual poses a threat to the public's safety.
Justice Minister Andrew Little is back for his weekly chat with host Stewart Sowman-Lund. This week: Polling might spell bad news for Labour. What does the Minister make of it all? And why are the Greens planning to vote against new counter terrorism legislation.
Maungawhau is recognised as one of the most well-preserved pre-historic fortifications of its type in the world. Features of the original pā survive, including historic pā tūāpapa (terraces) and rua (pits) around the crater area, but the inadequate track is damaging them.
A new boardwalk is planned for the crater rim at the tihi (summit) of Maungawhau which will help protect its Tūpuna Maunga status.
Oscar Perress talked to Paul Majurey, Chair of the Tūpuna Maunga Authority, and started by asking Majurey to explain the project.
On September 10, 2019, Donald Trump fired his national security advisor John Bolton. Bolton
insisted he resigned. Trump says he doesn’t need a real national security advisor because he is his
own advisor. Given this, what is the future of US foreign policy under Donald Trump? What are the
practical implications of this position? What are the implications of this for foreign policy challenges
the US faces? Doug Becker speaks with Jeffrey Fields, Robert Williams, Peter F. Trumbore, and
Nicholas Rostow.
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