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 Friday Wire, Jessica speaks to Auckland University Medical Students' Association Rainbow Communities Representative Josh McCormack about medical school interviews now including LGBTQI+ competency questions.
She also speaks to Dr Andrew Chen a Research Fellow of Koi Tū – Centre for Informed Futures, at the University of Auckland about vaccine passes, and Adam Currie from Generation Zero about decarbonising our transport system in Aotearoa.
Producer Ilena speaks to Glenis Philip-Barbara, Assistant Maori Children’s Commissioner, on the findings of the Tō Tātou Kura Atawhai; Our Kind of Schools project.
She also speaks to Chloe Swarbrick on the Green party’s call for the government to expand the drug harm reduction programme Te Ara Oranga nationwide.
Finally she has her regular spot with Councillor Shane Henderson, where they talk about the Enabling Housing Supply Bill and Te Whau pathway.
This Wire, Ilena talked to Chlöe Swarbrick from the Green party about the drug harm reduction programme Te Ara Oranga.
The Green party is calling on the Government to roll out the programme nationwide as it has been successful in the far North areas that it has been implemented.
They also talked about the announcement of this funding and expansion coming alongside the initial review of ‘police discretion’ Misuse of Drugs Act changes.
Ilena spoke to Glenis Philip-Barbara, Assistant Maori Children’s Commissioner, on the Tō Tātou Kura Atawhai; Our Kind of Schools project.
The project is a collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the Office of the Children’s Commissioner to gain insight from kura and schools with low levels of bullying.
Glenis explains about what this project entailed, and the key insights, which she hopes will inspire other schools and kura to create welcoming and inclusive environments for their students and whānau.
This week, Ilena talked to Councillor Shane Henderson about Auckland Council’s and his own perspective on the Enabling Housing Supply Bill, which encourages intensification in single house zones in Auckland.
They also talked about the proposed Te Whau pathway, which will be open to public consultation from this Monday through to the 20th of December.
International Desk reports on the growing migrant crisis at the border between Belarus and Poland, which comes in the wake of the European Union placing sanctions on Belarus and Minsk saying they would retaliate.
Justin spoke to University senior lectuerer Dr Jennifer Mathers on the geopolitics of the crisis, and the University of Warsaw's Professor Renata Mieńkowska-Norkiene on the side of local politics.
Justin spoke to Health and Pike River re-entry Minister Andrew Little on the traffic light system which New Zealand will move into after November 29, the human remains discovered inside the Pike River Mine, and parliamentary security from antivax threats.
On their weekly chat, Justin talked to Health and Pike River re-entry Minister Andrew Little on the traffic light system, human remains discovered at Pike River Mine, and parliamentary security.
International Desk reports on the migrant crisis between Belarus and Poland.
Producer Joe Wickins spoke to Patient Voice Aotearoa's Fiona Tolich on PHARMAC's wishlist for funding.
He also talked to World Vision's Rebekah Armstrong on the need for a Modern Slavery Act.
Justin spoke to Warsaw University's Professor Renata Mieńkowska-Norkiene on how Polish politics reacts to the migrant crisis at its border with Belarus, and how could this influence relations between Poland and the European Union.
Today, World Vision New Zealand is set to present a strong Modern Slavery Act to the Petition Committee. This comes following a petition which garnered thirty seven thousand signatures and support from over one hundred businesses. Joe speaks to Rebekah Armstrong, the Head of Advocacy and Justice for World Vision New Zealand about the Act and why transparency on the issue of Modern Slavery is so important.
Earlier today, the International Comparison of Modern Medicines published a report looking at the public funding of modern medicine in 20 OECD countries. The report showed that New Zealand was in desperate need of access to modern medicine. Patient Voices Aotearoa has long been campaigning for a double and triple in funding for access to modern medicine. The organisation presented their petition to parliament in May 2021, which called for immediate funding. Joe talks to Fiona Tolich from Patient Voice Aotearoa about this need for funding and why it’s so crucial amidst the current COVID environment.
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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