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.
By the end of Term 2 2021, the government will have rolled out free period products to all schools across the country on an opt-in basis. These products will be disposable. The government will consider how sustainable products such as menstrual cups and period underwear can be incorporated into the scheme as it develops over time. News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston questions what the enviornmental impact of all of the disposable period products used in the roll out. She speaks with Sarah Pritchard, Sector Project Manager at WasteMINZ, about how periods can be managed more sustainably and whether the government roll out provides an opportunity to introduce a new generation of people with periods to reusable sanitary products.
What’s the Buzz? - our weekly catch up with the New Zealand Drug Foundation - makes a new home on the Tuesday Wire. Aneeka Moheed talks to Brin and Jai from Students for Sensible Drug Policy about the organisation and their goals for drug advocacy in Aotearoa.
Felix interviews Green co-leader James Shaw about his thoughts on Israel's invasion of Palestine, recent bans on fossil fuel and weapons investments within KiwiSaver, and Chloe Swarbrick's report on student accommodation.
30,000 members of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation have voted to strike in response to the first District Health Board pay increase offer they received last month. The organization says the decision to strike is a last resort.
A mediation is scheduled for the next few days, and the organisation is calling for a counter offer, that reflects a living wage.
Jessica Hopkins spoke to Geraldine Kirkwood, a Charge Nurse, and David Wait, from the New Zealand Nurses Organisation about staffing, pay and other issues for nurses.
Felix turns a journalistic eye to the world's most mysterious stories. This week, he investigates The Dancing Plague of 1518, an event that got a whole town on their feet... before they couldn't get back down.
Robert Bartholomew from UoA's Psychology Department joins him on his very serious, totally real investigation.
The Government has stated they want to start a national conversation about changes needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector.
The Ministry of Transport recently released a report, outlining potential policies to move the transport sector to net zero by 2050.
Jessica Hopkins talked to Dr Doug Wilson, senior lecturer in transportation engineering at the University of Auckland about his research which focuses on reducing emissions from private vehicles.
This week Minister for Education and Public Service, Chris Hipkins, announced Early Childhood Centre teachers would receive a wage increase to match kindergarten teachers. Noah Ferguson-Dudding spoke to Hipkins about the announcement, as well as the goverment's recent move to freeze many public sector wages.
Ayana explores the challenges of activism with Associate Professor of Sociology at Otago University, Marcelle Dawson.
Last month the March Against Sexual Violence failed to go ahead several times, Ayana finds out the story behind it with one of the organisers Lily Chen.
And Lourdes Vano speaks out about her experience and challenges within School Strike 4 Climate in 2019.
Waitākere Councillor Shane Henderson speaks to Ayana about streets for people and the Queen Street upgrade, the Maungawhau by-election, what he thinks should happen with local government review, and if Auckland Council will consider following in the Governments footsteps with a wage freeze.
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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