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.
Today on the Wire, Emily Bell speaks to University of Auckland Māori Studies Professor Margaret Mutu about the significance of Waitangi Day.
Jemima Huston talks to Professor Michael Plank about why Australia has opened its borders to all fully vaccinated travellers, when New Zealand has decided to reopen gradually with a five-step process.
Emily interviews the CEO of the Bus and Coaches Association NZ Ben McFadgen about how the pandemic has impacted the bus and coach industry.
Jemima catches up with with promoter rep and freelance tour manager Sarin Moddel about her feelings on the government's $121 million covid relief funding announcement for the arts and culture sector.
Finally, Jemima speaks to Dr Roshini Peiris-John, Associate Professor at the School of Population Health in Auckland, about her study into the Youth19 health survey and the finding that young Asian people who experience discrimination and racism are more likely to forgo healthcare.
Over the weekend Australia announced that it would be opening its borders to all fully vaccinated tourists from February 21st. This is quite different from New Zealand’s five step gradual reopening plan that will take place over the next few months.
News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston talks to Professor Michael Plank from the University of Canterbury about the difference in New Zealand and Australia's border reopening strategies, and how Australia's border reopening to all vaccinated people will impact Aotearoa.
For the last few weeks, News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston has been following the calls made by people working in the arts and culture sector for more consistent and reliable government support to get people through the red setting. Last week, the government announced that $121 million of Covid relief funding for the sector had been made available and Jemima spoke to Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni about this. The Minister said that workers should be able to take comfort in the fact that the funding announced for Arts and Culture in 2020 had not yet been spent and that the government is taking any calls for help seriously.
This week Jemima wanted to know what the industry reaction to the latest funding announcement has been. She caught up with promoter representative and freelance tour manager Sarin Moddle to ask what her thoughts were on the $121 million fund. Sarin says she has had mixed feelings about the fund but has settled on a belief that the government has simply "tinkered around the edges of what was already there" and have not made funding avenues that fit the purpose of providing direct financial support to industry workers.
Sarin spoke with Jemima last week about what little help there is out there for people working in the arts, music and events industry. To listen to that podcast and find more coverage on this issue, click here.
This week on the show, host Jessica Hopkins spoke to Jason from Otago’s The Penguin Place about the support they are receiving from the Government's Jobs for Nature funding.
Auckland Councillor Shane Henderson is back for his regular chat with Jessica. They talked all things public transport from light rail to Shane's call for Auckland Transport for an update on Northwestern bus improvements and his recent discovery that there are USB ports on buses.
Producer Liam Hansen spoke to Doctor Dion O’Neale from the Auckland of University about the shortening of the booster gaps and the Government's plan for reopening the borders. He also talked to University of Otago Research Fellow Nick Bowden and Autism New Zealand Chief Executive Dane Dougan about a recent study debunking some misconceptions about how Autistic people are treated in the criminal justice system.
This week has seen a couple of major announcements from the government regarding their response to Covid-19 and the Omicron variant.
Firstly, the gap between the second vaccine and the booster shot has been shortened from a four month gap to just three, and the steps for Aotearoa to open up its borders have been laid out.
Liam spoke to Doctor Dion O’Neale, a Principal Investigator, for Te Pūnaha Matatini and a senior physics lecturer at the University of Auckland about these decisions.
New Zealand has several misconceptions surrounding Autistic people and their lives, especially when it comes to the Criminal Justice System.
A recent University of Otago study looked into the misconceptions with the support of Autism New Zealand. First, Liam spoke to Nick Bowden, an Otago Uni Research Fellow about the study and it’s findings.
Liam then spoke to Autism New Zealande chief executive Dane Dougan, who helped support the study, on the social implications we could see in the future.
The government has unveiled plans for an unemployment insurance, which would see people who were laid off or lost their jobs having as much as eighty percent of their former income for up to seven months.
While it is supported by Business New Zealand and the Council of Trade Unions, welfare advocates have questioned that it would drive inequality.
Associate Professor Mike O'Brien is the Child Poverty Action Group's social security spokesperson, and Richard Wagstaff is the President of the Council of Trade Unions. They spoke to Justin Wong.
Joe speaks to the CEO of Changing Minds and Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission board member Taimi Allan about the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill and the inequities within our health system.
At least two groups of Afghan nationals who have visas for New Zealand are still stuck in Afghanistan after the Ministry of Foregin Affairs and Trade refuse to provide them with critical safe travel assistance.
Sue Moroney is the chief executive for Community Law Centres o Aotearoa, who is acting on behalf of the Afghans. She spoke to Justin Wong.
Animal Rights Activists form The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses are opposing the holding of the Taranaki Cup, due to the sports' complications surrounding horse health and wellbeing. Joe speaks to Elin Arbez from The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses on the impact of horse racing and their protest against the holding of the Taranaki Cup.
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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