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.
This week with the Green Party co-leader James Shaw, Zoë Larsen Cumming speaks to James on the scrapped Resource Management Act, Waiheke Island’s housing crisis, the huge support for Spokesperson for rainbow communities Dr Elizabeth Kerekere’s Ban Conversion therapy petition, and the vaccine roll out which commenced over the weekend.
Amnesty International has expressed grave concerns over issues in Aotearoa's prison system following Judge McNaughton's thundering assessment of Corrections' treatment of Mihi Bassett, an inmate at Auckland Women's Prison. Bassett is currently on trial for arson charges but the trial has brought to light the inhumane treatment Bassett, as well as other inmates, suffer within the prison. Aneeka speaks to Meg de Ronde, Executive Director at Amnesty International New Zealand, about this particular case, Amnesty International's concerns and systemic issues in New Zealand prisons.
New data in the United States shows that about 12 to 16 percent of patients who receive the Moderna of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine experience slight swelling of lymph nodes. While harmless, these symptoms can often be mistaken as a sign of Breast Cancer. To clear up anything that women getting the vaccine may find confusing, Zoë Larsen Cumming spoke to the Director of the Breast Institute New Zealand and Medical Advisor to the Breast Cancer Foundation Dr Monica Saini.
Managed isolation facilities in Aotearoa are severely understaffed.
This has led to overworked nurses and staff, who say they are also facing pay inequities and unfair stigma from the public.
Jess interviewed Glenda Alexander, the Associate Manager of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation about these issues, and started the interview, discussing why MIQ facilities are understaffed.
Today on the LAST Wire with Zoë, Aneeka and Jess all together!
Zoë Larsen Cumming speaks to the Green Party co-leader James Shaw on the scrapped Resource Management Act, Waiheke Island’s housing crisis, the huge support for Spokesperson for rainbow communities Dr Elizabeth Kerekere’s Ban Conversion therapy petition, and the vaccine roll out which commenced over the weekend.
Jess Hopkins interviews Glenda Alexander, the Associate Manager of the NZ Nurses Association about overworked staff at MIQ facilities.
Zoë Larsen Cumming speaks to the Director of the Breast Institute New Zealand and Medical Advisor to the Breast Cancer Foundation Dr Monica Saini about a rare and harmless side effect of the COVID19 vaccine that mimics symptoms of breast cancer.
Aneeka speaks to Meg de ronde from Amnesty International about prisons in Aotearoa.
Lastly, Jess talks to Dr Karolina Stasiak, a senior lecturer in psychological medicine at the University of Auckland about the Aroha chat bot.
The Government’s COVID-19 mental health package has funded a range of youth-focused mental wellbeing tools and resources in Aotearoa.
One of the projects funded is Aroha, a chatbot designed to help people cope with stress caused by the pandemic.
Jess talked to Dr Karolina Stasiak, a senior lecturer in psychological medicine at the University of Auckland about Aroha, and why it is important to provide young people and rangatahi with positive coping strategies.
Lyric speaks to Jacqueline Beggs, from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Auckland about invasive wasp species, and the EPA's decision to introduce new organisms to combat them.
Over the past few days, developments have occuring in thr relation to the Australian government asking Facebbok and Google to pay for news. Instead if a paying, Facebook has removed news outlets among others from their platform. To understand the situation, James talks to AUT lecturer, Richard Pamatatau about what has happened so far and what danger it poses.
Yesterday the lauch of The Agenda zine was supposed to go ahead, instead a level 3 lockdown postponed it. The Agenda has been launched as part of pride month and inlcudes a range of pieces talking about and celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community as well as a butt load of art. To learn more about the zine, James talks to the editors, Sherry Zhang and Lavi Abitbol live on air.
This week james, Jade and Lyric complie a show of news for you, covering a wide range of products from Aotearoa as well as across the ditch.
James talks to AUT lecturer, Richard Pamatatau, about the situation between the Australian government and Facebook regarding news. James also previously talked to Richard about this topic.
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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