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.
Public Health Professor Peter Crampton of Otago University's Kōhatu, the Centre for Hauora Māori, spoke to Justin on his thoughts on the new Māori Health Authority.
This week James and Brooke discuss 3 topics across the board, going from the health authority to hate speech.
Their chat starts off with the latest Labour governement announcement, that DHB's will be removed and a new system will be put in place. James asks about ACT's opinions on it and some of the details released so far.
James and Brooke also discuss Ihumātao and the fact the auditor general said the purchase were unlawful.
This week finishes of with James question Brooke on ACT's free speech position, as well as a donation made to the ACT party by someone who has taken part in hate speech online.
This week in studio, James and Aneeka are joined by Louis, as well as Marcus Jones for 'Dear Science'
On 'Dear Science' this week, Marcus chats abou the Mars helicopter, T-Rex populations and monkey-human embryos.
Aneeka talks to Sarah Helm from the NZ Drug Foundation for 'What's the Buzz', where they discuss Shrooms and a warning about synthetic cannabanoids in the lower north island.
James has his week talk with Brooke van Velden, where they discuss health reforms, Ihumātao and hate speech.
In the fourth installment of, 'What's the Buzz?' with the New Zealand Drug Foundation, Aneeka speaks to executive director of the Drug Foundation, Sarah Helm. They speak about a recent alert sent out regarding dangerous synthetic cannabinoids in the lower North Island and Magic Mushrooms as we head into what is commonly known as 'shroom season'.
Ahead of Andrew Little's major health sector announcement tomorrow, Lyric looks at the issues of inequality in our nation's health sector that are leaving Māori with drastically worse health outcomes than non-Māori. She spoke to Green Party MP Dr. Elizabeth Kerekere about the possibility of a new independent Māori Health Authority, the unique health issues affecting Māori, and pre-colonial health practices, among other topics.
Today on the Tuesday Wire, Lyric Waiwiri-Smith talks to Dr. Elizabeth Kerekere of the Green Party about the need for an independent Māori Health Authority.
Jemima Huston looked into the Government’s $100 million plus deal with tech giant Amazon. Jemima speaks to National Party spokesperson for economic development Todd McClay, New Zealand film producer John Barnett and Green Party spokesperson on economic development Chlöe Swarbrick. We touch on their thoughts on the deal, the impact a state relationship with Amazon will have on employment in Aotearoa's film and TV industry, as well as the potential problems that could arise between Amazon’s reputation for treating worker poorly and New Zealand’s Hobbit Law which has left all those working in the film industry as independent contractors without the same protections of employees or rights to unionise.
The New Zealand Government has made a deal with global tech giant Amazon to the sum of $100 million plus NZD for the production of . The deal extends to an ongoing relationship where a senior team from Amazon will look at further opportunities available in Aotearoa.
News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston looks into the deal and some of the different perspectives on it. She speaks to National Party spokesperson for economic development Todd McClay, New Zealand film producer John Barnett and Green Party spokesperson on economic development Chlöe Swarbrick. They go over their individual positions on the deal, the impact it could have on employment in New Zealand's film and television industry, and the problems that could arise between Amazon’s reputation for treating workers poorly and New Zealand’s Hobbit Law which has left all those working in the film industry as independent contractors without the same protections of employees or rights to unionise.
The Amazon deal has brought up a number of different economic and moral issues for those working in film and television, politicians, economists and New Zealanders more generally. Will a state relationship with Amazon provide more opportunities for New Zealanders or could the millions of dollars this deal involves be better used elsewhere in a Covid-19 world?
Felix spoke to Green Party Co-leader James Shaw about proposed changes to the social welfare system, his thoughts on the $100m subsidy given to Amazon by the NZ government, and the Green Party's relationship with unions.
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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