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.
Noah speaks to Christopher Luxon about local government; Professor Gaven Martin about math in NZ schools; and Emeritus Professor Warren Tate about 'Long Covid' and chronic fatigue.
Ilena speaks to outgoing Childrens' Commissioner Andrew Becroft about the youth justice system, and Auckland Councillor Pippa Coom about tomorrow's Super Saturday vaccine event.
Environmental groups and unions have said the government’s discussion document on New Zealand’s plan to become net zero by twenty fifty focuses too much on cutting transport emissions and instead letting agriculture and energy emissions off the hook.
The draft plan to make New Zealand net zero by 2050 includes measures to cut down car travelling and boost the number of EVs.
First Union has criticised the plan, saying its energy emission reductions relied too much on closing the Marsden Point oil refinery and it only outsources emissions overseas. Jared Abbott is the union’s secretary for transport, logistics and manufacturing and he spoke to Justin Wong.
Environmental groups and unions have said the government’s discussion document on New Zealand’s plan to become net zero by twenty fifty focuses too much on cutting transport emissions and instead letting agriculture and energy emissions off the hook.
The draft plan to make New Zealand net zero by 2050 includes measures to cut down car travelling and boost the number of EVs.
Forest and Bird said the government hasn’t acted like there is a climate emergency and the plan did not mention much on energy emissions or a nature-based approach. Justin spoke to their Strategic advisor Geoff Keey.
Environmental groups and unions have said the government’s discussion document on New Zealand’s plan to become net zero by twenty fifty focuses too much on cutting transport emissions and instead letting agriculture and energy emissions off the hook.
The draft plan to make New Zealand net zero by 2050 includes measures to cut down car travelling and boost the number of EVs.
Greenpeace campaigner Christine Rose said the plan is not stepping up action on climate change and instead it is “hot air and utter bullshit”. She spoke to Justin Wong.
Justin spoke to Health Minister Andrew Little about the End of Life Choice Act, medicinal cannabis, and ICU capacity as Covid-19 cases grow.
International Desk reports on the latest on cross-strait relations between China and Taiwan.
Justin spoke with Greenpeace campaigner Christine Rose, Forest & Bird Strategic Advisor Geoff Keey, and First Union secretary for transport, logistics and manufacturing Jared Abbott on their thoughts of the Government's draft emissions reduction plan.
International Desk reports on the latest cross-strait relations between Taiwan and China, after a record number of Chinese fighter planes entered Taiwan's air defence zone. Justin spoke to Canterbury University's Professor Alex Tan on what the latest developments mean for the region.
Justin spoke to Health Minister Andrew Little about how ICU could cope with a Covid-19 surge, the grace period that exempts medicinal cannabis products from new safety standards ending, and the End of Life Choice Act, which could come into force on November 7.
Recently, Ngā Aho Whakaari, the national representative body for Māori on screen, announced their disappointment that the Māori screen sector has been left out of Covid relief funding. The Māori screen sector sits under two government bodies, Te Māngai Pāho and the Ministry of Broadcasting. However, the Ministry of Culture and Heritage's Screen Production Recovery Fund has only been extended to NZ Film Commission and NZ On Air funded projects. This has left Te Māngai Pāho projects without the support to get through the uncertain times caused by lockdown. News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston speaks to Anahera Higgins, the Chair of Ngā Aho Whakaari, about this discrepancy in funding and how it might be resolved.
This week, Zazi speaks to Brooke about the vaccine mandate for teachers and most healthcare workers, as well as the Government signing an advanced purchase agreement for the new Covid-19 treatment pill Molnupiravir.
In the first half, Zazi asks Brooke about whether she believes the vaccine mandate will increase vaccination numbers, whether this mandate will result in workers leaving their place of employment, and whether the tertiary education sector should be included in the madate.
In the second half, Zazi and Brooke talk about ACT's support for the new Covid-19 treatment pill Molnupiravir, the significance of New Zealand being one of the first countries in the world to sign this advanced purchase, as well as the efficiency of Medsafe.
Last week, ACC launched their Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative; an intiative that is investing $44.9 million dollars, over four years, to establish a fit-for-purpose sexual violence primary prevention system. Of this $44.9 million, $11.7 million is being purposed for Kaupapa Māori approaches.
This morning Zazi spoke to Emma Powell, ACC’s Chief Customer Officer, to talk about this ACC launch in more depth, and gain a better understanding as to how it will help prevent sexual violence.
Zazi began by asking Emma to explain the initiative in more detail.
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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