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.
In a dramatic shift at the United Nations oceans conference in Lisbon this week, a series of Pacific Governments have formed an alliance to oppose deep sea mining in international waters but Greenpeace says the continued silence from the New Zealand Government on the issue is deafening.
To standing ovations, a series of Pacific nations including Fiji and Samoa joined an alliance opposing deep sea mining announced by Palau on Monday. Adding to the momentum, the following day, Tuvalu, Tonga, and Guam announced their support for a halt to deep sea mining and France is now also calling for a legal and robust framework to ban deep sea mining in the high seas. But to date, the New Zealand Government has not formed a position on the issue.
Joe spoke to James Hita, part of the Deep Seabed and Mining Campaign at Greenpeace Aotearoa on the matter.
Plastic Free July has rolled around again and we’ll all be hearing about reducing plastic use in our daily lives. Much of the messaging is targeted toward young people through school and youth-focused messaging. However, within our sustainability efforts, we must also look at how we can conduct real change and look at the worst plastic producers around the globe, as well as how New Zealand can improve their efforts.
Joe spoke to Sara Tolbert, Associate Professor of Science and Environmental Education at the University of Canterbury, on the matter
The Sale and Supply of Alcohol Harm Minimisation Amendment Bill, introduced by Green Party Drug Reform Spokesperson Chlöe Swarbrick, seeks to overhaul the state of alcohol awareness and advertising in New Zealand. The bill will also allow local councils to control policies that affect their communities.
Trishil spoke with Chlöe Swarbrick and Alcohol Healthwatch Executive Director Dr Nicki Jackson about the provisions of the bill, including the establishment of Local Alcohol Policies and restrictions of Sponsorships and Advertising.
On this week’s regular segment in collaboration with OurActionStation, we’re discussing the pay gap and disparity between women and ethnic communities. Nina Santos, Delivery Manager of MindThatGap, spoke with Trishil today about the petiton, and their push to gain governmental support and instituite a mandatory pay registry
Joe speaks to Sara Tolbert, Associate Professor of Science and Environmental Education at the University of Canterbury, about Plastic Free July. He also talks James Hita from Greenpeace about New Zealand’s silence surrounding deep sea mining.
Trishil speaks to Nina Santos from MindTheGap for regular segment with OurActionStation. They talk about their mission to ensure that the pay gap is closed for women and ethnic communities. Trishil also speaks to the Green Party's Drug Reform Spokesperson Chloe Swarbrick and Dr Nicki Jackson from Alcohol HealthWatch about the Alcohol Harm Minimisation Bill.
Another stacked and varied show on this Fridays Wire! Today:
Liam spoke with councillor Richard Hills about the positive new report on Kauri Dieback in the Waitakere Ranges on City Counselling.
They also had a chat with UoAs Stephen Hoadley about the new NZ EU trade deal.
Frances spoke to Sarah McFadden, the GM of Kelmarna Gardens in Ponsonby about regenerative local food systems.
Liam also spoke with Liam Mcllvanney from UoO on Scottish independence.
And finally Alejandra Perotti from the University of Reading on the possible extinction of tiny mites that have sex on your face as a part of our newest segment, Strangest Things!
Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, has proposed a referendum date for Scots to vote on their independence from the United Kingdom - the 19th of October, 2023.
However despite UK PM Boris Johnson saying now is not the time, Sturgeon says they will run the referendum regardless by having her party run on the sole issue of independence.
The last referendum vote on this issue took place in 2014, but commentators have pointed out the major shift in the UK landscape since due to Brexit.
To learn more, Liam spoke to the University of Otago’s Liam Mcllvanney ,first asking why some Scots are pushing for independence and what's getting in their way.
Our weekly chat with the health minister Andrew Little is back! Tuva’a Clifton speaks to Little about the new investment into harm reduction for gambling, as well as free flu jabs being expanded to children and people with mental health issues, and how the flu is straining our hospitals.
Emilia Sullivan speaks to the University of Auckland team who won an award for their system to help med students report bullying and unprofessional behaviour on clinical placements.
She'll also be chatting to Jo Cribb from MindTheGap about their calls for the government to act more urgently to close gender and ethnic pay gaps in New Zealand.
And she also chats with with Dr. Maria Armoudian from the University of Auckland about yesterday’s surprise January 6th hearing into the insurrection at the U.S Capitol.
The hearings into the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol are set to resume in mid-July, however yesterday the committee reconvened for an unplanned, surprise hearing.
Emilia Sullivan spoke to Dr. Maria Armoudian, a senior politics lecturer at the University of Auckland.
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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