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.
Welcome to Wire with your host Zoë Larsen Cumming and Aneeka Moheed. This week 95bFM's election coverage theme is Human Issues. With that in mind, on the show we have:
Zoë's weekly chat with the Green Party co-leader James Shaw on the the minor parties leader's debate, a possible Minister For Mental Health, the wealth tax, violence against women and children and his final thoughts before the election this Saturday!
Then, Zoë interviews Dr. Debbie Hager from the school of population health and the University of Auckland who is speaking on behalf on the Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children about New Zealand's violence against women record.
Then, Aneeka brings a report on period poverty in New Zealand and interviews Dr Terry Flemming, one of the researchers in a Youth19 survey that collected data around Period Poverty in schools, and Miranda Hitchings, the co-founder of DignityNZ.
Finally, Zoë interviews Green MP Golriz Gharaman on how to call out countries commiting human rights abuses without exacerbating xenophobia in New Zealand.
Period Poverty is generally considered to be the inability to access period products due to financial barriers. One average, Kiwis who menstruate are looking at spending nearly $16,000 on period products in their lifetime. Issues regarding accessibility are exacerbated by period stigma stifling women's ability to reach out for support and hindering advocacy efforts. Aneeka speak to Dr. Terry Fleming, one of the researchers in a Youth19 survey that collected data around Period Poverty in schools and she also speak to Miranda Hitchings, co-founder of DignityNZ, an organisation dedicated towards tackling and advocating for Period Poverty.
Last week womens groups in Aotearoa New Zealand reported to a UN watchdog that they were frustrated and disappointed how New Zealand has failed to make any meaningful progress on our widespread and enduring violence against women problem. To find out more, Zoë Larsen Cumming interview the School of Population Health at the University of Auckland's Dr. Debbie Hager, who spoke on behalf of the Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic harm, call Shine on 0508 744 633 (Auckland based).
New Zealand relies heavily on China for trade, but currently there have been nearly 400 detention camps built for Uighur Muslims and reports of abuses of Human Rights. Zoë talks to Green MP, Golriz Gharaman, about how we in New Zealand can effectively call out Human Rights Abuses in other countries without exacerbating xenophobia here in Aotearoa.
We were lucky enough to be joined by the University of Canterbury's Alessandro Palermo to discuss building resilience into our built form ahead of potential earthquakes and the impending climate crisis. Tune in to find out more!
Auckland Central electorate candidates Helen White (Labour), Chlöe Swarbrick (Green), and Emma Mellow (National) joins host Justin Wong and producer James Tapp to talk about local issues.
On this week's wire, Dear Science's Marcus Jones talks about the recently announced nobel prizes for medicine and physics.
Under election coverage for foreign affairs, Bronnie speaks to NZ First’s Rob Gore about the party's policies regarding the rural visa, removing the right to vote for permanent residents and defence funding.
She follows this up with an interview with Professor Andrew Geddis about permanent resident voting rights.
Lastly, Producer Felix Walton brings us a report on the effect of the international student drought on universities as businesses.
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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