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.
To accompany their apology for the Dawn Raids, the Government has comitted $2.1 million in scholarships for Pacific people.
Hon Aupito Willlaim Sio says the Tulī Takes Flight scholarships acknowledge the importance of education for Pacific families and highlight the need to grow and support Pacific education.
Today, Ilena talked to Cr. Shane Henderson about the new IPCC report and how the findings translate into Auckland's climate change mitigation and adaptations strategies. He also outlined what's been happening of late in Henderson with the joint Council, Auckland Transport and NZ Transport Agency 'Henderson Streets For People' project.
Epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker spoke to Noah Ferguson-Dudding about the government's latest announcements around Covid-19. They discussed how New Zealand can open up to the rest of the world, while still pursuing an elimination strategy, as well as the potential risks of varients.
A new study from the University of Otago will investigate the long term effects of elite sport on athletes in the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and Paralympics. Noah Ferguson-Dudding spoke to Dr Xaviour Walker, who is leading the study, about what he hopes to find.
Noah also spoke to Dr David Gerrard, a former Olympic swimmer who is also involved in the study, about how the wellbeing of elite athletes has changed over time.
Today's show: Christopher Luxon on party unity; Professor Michael Baker on Covid-19 variants; Abortion Rights Aotearoa and Family Planning on protections for abortion seekers in NZ; Dr Xaviour Walker and Professor David Gerrard on the wellbeing of elite athletes; Councillor Shane Henderson on Auckland Council's environmental action; and James Renwick on the IPCC report on climate change.
Ilena interviewed James Renwick, head of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences at Victoria University and co-author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Sixth Assessment Report that was released in the last few days and paints a horrifying picture of the state of the global climate emergency.
James spelled out the most important take-aways from the lengthy report and what role New Zealand has to play in all of this.
Ilena spoke with Terry Bellamak, president of ALRANZ Abortion Rights Aotearoa, and Jackie Edmond, the Chief Executive of Family Planning, on the new bill that has passed in Western Australia that grants 'safe access zones' around abortion providers. Those seeking abortions would not be harrassed by anti-abortion protestors within a 150 metre radius of any clinic. This brings Western Australia up to speed with the legislation in place in the rest of Australia- but New Zealand still does not provide any kind of protection for those visiting these centres.
Ilena discusses with Terry and Jackie the current bill being proposed to the government that looks to change this, and how it falls short in some areas, as well as what they would like to see changed to ensure more equitable and protected access to abortion.
Pet Refuge is the first dedicated centre to house pets who are victims of domestic violence and has opened this week. The centre is located in Rural Auckland with up to 75 spots for animals suffering from this abuse. Conor spoke to the founder of Pet Refuge Julie Chapman today about the situation for animals suffering, the relationship it has with domestic violence, and the new centre.
New Zealand's revamped Covid-19 strategy would include an accelerated vaccination rollout, a new individual risk-based border, and self-isolation at home for vaccinated travellers instead of two weeks at MIQ.
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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