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.
Last Monday Wire, Jessica Hopkins talked about the The Harmful Digital Communications Amendment Bill, which would make it illegal to post an intimate visual recording online without consent.
The Justice Committees recently called for submissions, particularly from young people to hear their thoughts on the bill.
Jessica interviewed Louisa Wall, the MP in charge of the bill, about why hearing from young people is important, and her thoughts on the current state of consent education in Aotearoa.
Felix reports on the recent stories of police staff misusing the National Intelligence Application, and just how extensive the information they can access is.
Mark Lockhart, a Landscape Architect and board member of the Tree Council, recently launched a petition to save a century-old pōhutukawa tree in Mount Eden.
Lockhart says the mature tree is at risk of being felled due to the Auckland Council leaving it off the protected Tree Schedule. The Environment Court has now granted an Interim Enforcement Order.
Lockhart, who is also involved with Mana Rakau, who rose from the Canal Road, Avondale protest, believes that some form of tree protection should be reinstated to protect what is left of our urban ngahere in Tamaki Makaurau.
Last Sunday, thousands of New Zealanders gathered to commemorate the anniversary of New Zealand and Australian troops landing at Gallipoli. Anzac Day is one of the biggest events and ceremonies in Aotearoa, but recently it has been criticised for overshadowing arguably more significant historical events.
Noah Ferguson-Dudding spoke to historian Vincent O'Malley who has argued that the New Zealand Wars of the 19th century had a more profound effect on the country, but are overlooked as they are harder for Pākehā to come to terms with.
Many New Zealanders are still in favour of Anzac Day, however. Noah also spoke to National President of the RSA, BJ Clark, who believes Anzac Day remains an important day to commemorate and honour those who have fought for New Zealand over the past 100 years.
The Glass Packaging Forum have spoken out against the Container Return Scheme regarding glass and believe they have a better solution. Ayana spoke with Chief Exectutive of The Packaging Forum New, Rob Langford, about what's wrong with the scheme, the research behind their reasoning, and their response to backlash they've recieved.
This week's show with Ayana and Noah is jam packed! (CRS pun)
Firstly Noah scores an interview with noted historian Vincent O'Malley and discusses ANZAC day and argues that New Zealand Wars had a more profound impact on our country. Noah backs up this interview with another perspective from National President of the RSA, BJ Clark who believes ANZAC day remains an important day to commemorate.
Secondly Noah talks to National MP Christopher Luxon on our regular segment about ANZAC day, local government, and NZ China relations.
Next, Ayana manages to talk to the Glass Packaging Forum about the Container Return Scheme (CRS) and their opposition to it regarding glass recycling.
Finally, Ayana kicks off a new regular segment with Auckland Council by talking to Waitākere Councillor Shane Henderson about budgets, local council reviews and pesty parrots!
International Desk reports on the resignation of Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Forster. Justin is joined by Thomas Copeland, the head of the Scoop news programme at Queen's University Belfast student radio station Queen's Radio, and Conor Knell about its latest developments.
Neighbourhood Watch reports on two more Aboriginal deaths across New South Wales and Victoria, a 'bizzare' public-funded video that teaches consent using milkshakes, and two people arrested for stealing a Big Bird costume in Adelaide.
International Desk reports on the resignation of Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Forster.
Green MP Ricardo Menéndez March spoke on the party's immigration policy that calls for a general amnesty for visa overstayers.
Neighbourhood Watch reports on Aboriginal deaths in custody, a publicly-funded video that uses milkshakes to teach consent, and Big Bird costume thefts.
Otago University's Sign Up Club is the biggest club on campus and they spoke to Justin what they actually do.
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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