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.
Justin spoke to Justice Minister Andrew Little about parliament's working culture, the situation on managed isolation, the progress on treaty settlement with Te Whakatotea iwi, and guidelines on advertising for the upcoming referendums.
On Neighbourhood Watch, Justin and Zoe discussed about updates in welfare in Australia, new federal environmental laws, and a campagin on raising the age of criminal responsibility.
Justin caught up with Justice Minister Andrew Little and discussed on parliament's work culture, situation on managed isolation, treaty settlement process with Te Whakatotea iwi, and advertising on referendums.
James spoke to Assistant Privacy Commisioner Liz McPhersen on a survey finding out what New Zealanders want from privacy law.
On Neighbourhood Watch, Justin spoke to Zoe on federal environment law, updates to Covid-19-related welfare, and a campaign to raise the age of criminal responsibility.
In the final part of a series on the new privacy law to come into effect on December 1st this year, producer James Tapp talks to Liz MacPherson, the assistant privacy commissioner. Last week we heard from Gehan Gunasekara, a privacy law expert, about what is being added to the privacy law, while this week we are talking about how New Zealanders perceive our laws. In a survey released just after the new privacy act was passed, it showed TWO THIRDS of New Zealanders wanted more privacy regulation among a number of other statistics which James discusses with MacPherson. James starts off by asking about what New Zealanders want in terms of privacy law.
Jessica Hopkins spoke with the International Students Association PR Officer Ryan Wei about the impacts our border rules are having on international students.
Last week National Party Leader Judith Collins announced a Transport Package for the Upper North Island. It would include building a four-lane expressway from Whangarei to Tauranga, completing Auckland’s Rapid Transit network and building a second crossing across the Waitemataa Harbour. It is projected to cost $17 of the 31 billion dollars the party would allocate to transport projects in the next decade if elected.
Labour’s Finance Spokesperson Grant Robertson was quick to attack the proposal, saying the costing is either inaccurate, or completely lacking for some projects. Yesterday on the Wire, Jemima spoke to Julie Anne Genter from the Green Party about the issue, who also echoed some of these concerns.
Today Bronwyn spoke to National's Transport and Infrastructure Spokesman Chris Bishop to get his thoughts on these comments, as well as a better understanding of what the proposal entails.
On the Wire today, Bronwyn takes over from Lillian as host of the Wednesday Wire, joined by producer Felix in studio.
Dear Science's Marcus Jones talks the mystery of our expanding universe, “human challenge” trials for COVID-19, and universities in the United States returning to in-person study, despite the health risks.
Jessica Hopkins speaks to Ryan Wei from NZISA about concerns about the impacts our border rules are having on international student.
NZ First’s Tracey Martin talks about some of the policies announced at the party’s campaign launch over the weekend, as well as why the party wants the passing of the Sexual Violence Legislation Bill to be delayed.
Bronwyn also speaks to National MP Chris Bishop to get his response to the criticisms surrounding the party’s Upper North Island Transport Package.
Trigger warning: this piece discusses sexual harassment and assault extensively.
As reports of ex-MP Andrew Falloon's sexaully explicit messages to a teenager surface concurrently with new developments in the allegations against MP Jami-Lee Ross, Hanna investigates the scope of New Zealand's sexual harassment problem in the political sphere. She also interviewed Lisa Lawrence, President for National Council of Women of New Zealand, on why sexual harassment is so pervasive in politics, and on the wider context that informs it.
Last week the government revealed its Auckland transport infrastructure plan, which will create 800 jobs through a $182 million dollar investment. Jemima Huston spoke to Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter about the announcement and how it compares to the National Party's proposed transport policy.
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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