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.
Today on the Tuesday Wire, Jemima Huston speaks to Leah Abrams from NESA - No One Ever Stands Alone, a charity promoting sober and drug free driving about the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill before select committee.
Bronwyn Wilde speaks to Peter Raimondo, a civil engineer specialising in building science and construction, about how to keep our buildings, and their inhabitants, healthy.
Lyric Waiwiri-Smith talks Katy Armstrong, an organiser of the #ReuniteFamiliesNZ protest aiming to reunite Kiwi families separated by Covid-19 being held outside Parliament today.
Finally, Jemima chats to Chief Executive of Retail NZ Greg Harford about the issues surrounding restricted trading on Easter Sunday.
Currently, the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill is before select committee. The Bill aims to address driving under the influence of impairing drugs. Thresholds would be put in place that would determine whether a person would receive a criminal conviction or an infringement and a fine depending on the level of drug impairment.
News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston speaks to Leah Abrams from NESA - No One Ever Stands Alone, a charity promoting sober and drug free driving, about the Bill. They discuss why addressing drug driving is important and the issues with increasing the powers of the police.
Easter Sunday is a restricted trading day. This means that individual councils can decide whether retailers in their area open on Easter Sunday. Retail NZ believes it should be the responsibility of the business owner to decide whether to open on this day or not. News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston talks to Retail NZ Chief Executive Greg Harford about the impact restricted trading days have on retail businesses.
As we head into the winter months you might be thinking about how you can keep your home warm and comfortable. Peter Raimondo is a civil engineer from Toronto specialising in building science and construction. 95bFM Producer Bronwyn Wilde sat down with Peter to talk about about how to keep our buildings, and their inhabitants, healthy.
Peter moved to New Zealand two years ago and is working for Oculus Architectural Engineering. Recently, he started two podcasts: the "20 Degrees Podcast" about building science, and the shorter, more accessible "GabLearns" which can be found on Spotify, or on the Oculus website.
Welcome to the Friday Wire with Zoë and Noah! This week in true level 3 style, the Wire was kindly covered by Sarah. Zoë and Noah produced some great pieces from their humble abodes.
First, Zoë speaks to the New Zealand Human Rights Commission's Race Relations Commissioner, Meng Foon, on COVID-specific racism in Aotearoa and abroad.
Noah speaks to National MP Christopher Luxon about what it’s like to be a new MP, his role as spokesperson for iwi development, and his hopes for the National Party and his own career.
Then, Zoë brings a piece on endometriosis awareness, speaking to the chief executive of Endometriosis New Zealand, Deborah Bush, and fourth year medical student Madi Randall, who is living with endometriosis.
Finally, Zoë interviews the director of the 2021 Auckland Fringe Festival, Borni Te Rongopai Tukiwaho, about how the festival is doing due to the latest COVID-19 level three lockdown in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Justin spoke to Health and security agencies Minister Andrew Little about COVID-19 vaccines, euthanasia training for doctors, and a review on the security agencies' powers.
On their weekly chat, Justin spoke to Health and security agencies Minister Andrew Little about COVID-19 vaccines, euthanasia, and expanding security agencies' powers.
Justin then discussed with Transport Minister Michael Wood about the Auckland Light Rail project.
Neighbourhood Watch reports on the federal Cabinet reshuffle, more sexual misconduct allegations in Parliament, and changes to the JobSeeker benefit.
Justin spoke to Employers and Manufacturers Association's Alan McDonald and Auckland Action Against Poverty's Brooke Stanley Pao about the minimum wage increases today.
Justin spoke to Transport Minister Michael Wood about Auckland's Light Rail project, which has been restarted yesterday with a six-month Establishment Unit to present a business case.
Justin talked to Employers and Manufactueres Association's Head of Advocacy and Strategy Alan McDonald and Auckland Action Against Poverty co-ordinator Brooke Stanely Pao about the minimum wage. It raised by $1.10 to $20 per hour on April 1.
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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