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.
Following the preliminary cannabis referendum results announced last Friday, Jemima Huston speaks to Tania Sawicki Mead, the Director of JustSpeak about the future of drug reform in Aotearoa. They discuss what the next steps need to be to decriminalise cannabis in New Zealand if the results do not flip at the end of the week and why it is important for the new government to continue to focus on drug reform.
JustSpeak is a youth-powered movement for transformational change of criminal justice towards a fair, just and flourishing Aotearoa.
A new app helps to track the blockages in Aotearoa's waterways that prevent native fish from completing their life cycles. Jemima Huston speaks to Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai Fresh Water Manager Elizabeth Heeg about the issues surrounding the assessment of passageways of freshwater fish and how the public can get involved by using the app.
The 2023 Census will include questions regarding sex at birth, gender identity and sexual orientation. Jemima Huston spoke to Frances Arns, who is the Executive Director of RainbowYOUTH, about this announcement and what the change will mean for rainbow communities.
There has been a signifiant increase in the need for plasma donations in New Zealand. Jemima Huston talks to the National Manager of Marketing and Communications for NZ Blood Service Asuka Burge about the recent changes that have been made to the criteria for plasma donation, which opens the opportunity up to many more New Zealanders.
Today on the Wire, Zoë is joined by producer Karanama Ruru for a great hour.
First up, Zoë interviews director of Auckland Action Against Poverty Brooke Stanley Pao regarding poverty in Aotearoa and what the new Labour government should do now they can govern more or less how they see fit.
Then, Karanama interviews the managing director for the volunteer-based drug testing organisation Know Your Stuff, Wendy Allison, about pill testing.
Finally, Zoë brings a piece on mental health for returning New Zealands in isolation and also the workers at the facilities. She interviews returning New Zealander Lana Petrovic and project manager at mental health organisation Changing Minds, Fiona Clapham Howard.
Zoë Larsen Cumming interviews Auckland Action Against Poverty director Brooke Stanley Pao on what AAAP would like to see from the new Labour government in their response to poverty in New Zealand now they can govern with a majority.
This week results from the commission of financial capability released a survey, which looked at the financial knowledge of New Zealanders. The results showed a number areas where improvement is needed, particularly the knowledge gap between men and women, with women answering half the number of questions correctly. To understand more, James talked to the retirement commissioner, Jane Wrightson, and started off by asking about the aim of the survey.
Early this year as part of the government's Covid recovery, there was the introduction of legislation which fast tracks projects in the effort to create jobs. There are a number of projects being considered, with the first one having been accepted. This project is a reservoir in Kaikohe, located in Northland, which struggled with the drought at the start of this year. To understand more about the fast tracking legislation and what impact it is having, James talked to environment minister David Parker, and started off by asking what this legislation is about.
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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