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 Zoë Larsen Cumming gets the Green Party co-leader to explain what happened with the controversial $11.7 million government funding of an elite private school, The Green School, in Taranaki and what can be done to amend the decision. They also touch on some new community conservation projects as announced by MP for Conservation, Eugenie Sage.
First up, we hear from Ross Bell of the New Zealand Drug Foundation, about how the election date change could affect the cannabis referendum
Producer Ollie Joblin joins us over the phone for another instalment of The Week That Was
And in City Counselling, Mary-Margaret speaks to Auckland Councillor Pippa Coom, about Level 3, and how it impacts council proceedings, as well as climate change committee meetings
Mary-Margaret caught up with the Drug Foundation’s Ross Bell, who actually announced his resignation this morning. Ross discussed whether or not the electoral commission’s campaigning has been sufficient at informing voters about the choice they will make at the referendum.
In City Counselling this week, Mary-Margaret caught up with Pippa Coom. They discussed several different issues, from Level 3 and the role that council plays, how council has responded internally to COVID, and if Auckland Transport should be taking this time to roll out better cycling infrastructure.
Justin talked to Justice Minister Andrew Little about border testing, the Children's Commissioner's proposal to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility, and changes to financial and campaigning restrictions on the referendums.
Justin caught up with Zoe and chatted about coronavirus in Australia, indigenous people blocking a coal mine in Queensland, and South Australia as a dumping ground for international nuclear waste.
International Desk reports on a coup in the Western African nation of Mali, as a faction of the military known as the National Commitee for the Salvation of People (CNSP) outsed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta.
James reports on the private Green School in Taranaki recieving more than 10 million dollars in government funding.
Justin caught up with Justice Minister Andrew Little and talked about border testing, raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility, and restrictions surrounding referendum campaigns.
On Neighbourhood Watch, Zoe updates Justin on what's happening in Australia on the terms of coronavirus, and indigenous people in Queesland blocking access to a coal mine.
International Desk reports on a coup d'etat in Mali.
Yesterday afternoon we saw Associate Finance Minister James Shaw announce as part of the COVID-19 recovery fund, 11.7 million dollars going towards The Green School, a privately owned school in Taranaki, which focuses on providing schooling without exams and a focus on the environment. This is the second of its kind in the world, with the first one in Bali. Since the funding announcement, there has been backlash as there is need across the country for new buildings, repairs and renovations of schools, with anger that it went to a private school with fees reaching $43,000 for international students. There has also been criticism of Shaw as this goes against Greens policy, which states a complete movement away from private schooling. To understand the situation better, producer James Tapp talked to Chris Edwards, the CEO of The Green School, and Paul Gouter, the national secretary for NZEI Te Riu Roa.
Opening a new business in the midst of a pandemic might sound like a bad idea - unless you're in the bicycle business, which has seen ridership boom throughout the lockdowns.
T. White's is an independent, secondhand bike shop on Symonds Street specialising in repairing pre-loved bikes. And next week, after over a decade in the business they are opening a second shop in New Lynn.
Over the past decades, small owner-operator stores have closed down as 'big box' stores took over. Somehow, T. White's thrived. Producer Jack Marshall chats with Anae Brown from the shop about how the bicycle journey started.
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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