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.
Left of centre parties have emerged strong after the election, with the Labour Party commanding an outright majority, the Māori Party returning to Parliament, and unexpected success for the Green Party. Pundits have commented this gives them an unprecedented mandate to make bold changes - changes the Greens and the Māori Party have been pushing for. However, Labour don't need a coalition partner, and have exercised caution in government and on the campaign trail.
Hanna spoke to AAAP Coordinator Brooke Stanley Pao about what changes are needed to alleviate poverty in Aotearoa, and the prospects for welfare reform under different coalition arrangements.
Today on the Wire Jemima speaks to James Ussher, an Associate Professor at the University of Otago and Vaccine Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand expert, about New Zealand’s Covid-19 vaccine strategy.
University of Canterbury political scientist Bronwyn Hayward chats to Jemima about the election results, what options the Labour Party has and the impact of high voter turnout.
Hanna speaks to Auckland Action Against Poverty and the Council of Trade Unions about how each group feels about the election results and what they are hoping to come out of this parliamentary term.
As cases continue to rise, the world is racing to create a viable vaccine to help control the spread of Covid-19. Jemima Huston spoke to University of Otago Associate Professor and Vaccine Alliance Aotearoa expert, James Ussher, about New Zealand's Covid-19 vaccine strategy. They discuss how New Zealand is working with international states to obtain a safe and viable vaccine for public distribution and whether a vaccine alone will stop the spread of coronavirus.
Following the Election on Saturday, Jemima Huston speaks to Univeristy of Canterbury political scientist Bronwyn Hayward about the results. They discuss the options available to the Labour Party when forming the new government, whether Labour's majority win is a sign of the times and how Covid-19 and the change in voting rules impacted voter turnout.
This week Zoë Larsen Cumming checks in with James Shaw regarding the election results. The talk of the town is whether Labour will still form a coalition government with the Greens, despite being able to govern alone. They chat about that as well as the Green Party's ambitions for the next three years.
Thailand has been seeing an onslaught of protests as young demonstrators take to the streets urging monarchy reform and the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Aneeka brings us a report outline how these protests arose, picked up momentum and what is currently happening between authorities and demonstrators.
Zoë plays her interview from the Green Party's election night party with Chlöe Swarbrick as the Auckland Central results were coming in.
Zoë has her weekly chat with Green Party co-leader James Shaw and they have a post-election night debrief, chatting about the possibility of a coalition with Labour.
Aneeka Moheed brings a report on the evolving protests in Thailand.
Finally, Zoë interview Forest & Bird chief executive Kevin Hague regarding a new report stating that hundreds of areas of native habitat are being deliberately and unlawfully harmed around the country with near impunity.
Forest and Bird have released a report indicating that hundreds of areas of native habitat are being deliberately and unlawfully harmed around the country with near impunity. To find out more, Zoë chats to Forest and Bird chief executive, Kevin Hague.
Ollie speaks with the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation's chief executive Letitia Harding on the state of our homes and what needs to be done moving forward.
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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