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 Jemima follows up with her investigation into the commercialisation of social movements. Speaking again to Professor Neal Curtis, she asks what motivates brands to support political movements.
Sam talks to Otago University Professor Yoram Barak about the benefits of social connection for healthy ageing.
Jemima speaks to Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni about the Government announcement to extend and increase rent arrears support.
Sam interviews Professor Elaine Rush about Child Poverty Action Group's research into children experiencing food insecurity in New Zealand household.
Jemima has been looking into the commercialisation of social and political movements and culture in response to the action taken supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. She continues her conversation with University of Auckland Media Professor Neal Curtis to discuss the motivations brands and businesses have in supporting a political movement.
Lobby groups say fast tracking the consent process for eleven shovel ready projects neglects commitments to climate action, and obstructs consultation with iwi & hapu. Economic downturn as a result of COVID-19 lockdown has generated a need for stimulus. The government says infrastructure developments such as these 11 projects will act as stimulus, but commentator Rod Oram explained to Mary-Margaret why this justification is flawed. Mary-Margaret also speaks to Te Ara Whatu's India Logan-Riley about concerns that fast tracking due process will exacerbate breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and Generation Zero's Jen Coatham adds that an opportunity for climate action has been neglected.
As Minister Little is nearing a redress deed with Ngā Iwi o Taranaki, Mary-Margaret asks what the Minister has learnt from listening to Ngā Iwi o Taranaki over the last couple of years. They also discuss the lack of implementation by this government of changes that Māori justice advocates say are essential for fixing a broken justice system.
Lillian Hanly speaks to Tracey Martin about Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
Lobby groups say fast tracking the consent process for eleven shovel ready projects neglects commitments to climate action, and obstructs consultation with iwi & hapu. The government says infrastructure developments such as these 11 projects will act as stimulus during current economic downturn, but commentator Rod Oram explained to Mary-Margaret why this justification is flawed. Mary-Margaret also speaks to Te Ara Whatu's India Logan-Riley about concerns that fast tracking due process will exacerbate breaches of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and Generation Zero's Jen Coatham adds that an opportunity for climate action has been neglected.
And in this week's Neighbourhood Watch Zoe explains the legacy of branch stacking in Australian politics, and the latest comments by Scott Morrison about the history of slavery.
Head of Community Libraries - North & West, Darryl Soljan spoke to Felix about the role of libraries in our communities and what the future may hold for the concept of the "library"
Minister for Children Tracey Martin joins us again and discusses with Lillian her position on parallel governance systems following the announcement of a possible Māori Health Authority. As well as this, a recent report by the Children's Commissioner's office has highlighted again the traumatic process that occurs during the uplifting of a child by Oranga Tamariki, a process that disproportionately affects Māori.
On Dear Science today with Allan Blackman, we revisit the hydroxychloroquine issue yet again! Also, electricity being created from shadows, and there may be 36 civilisations out in space we could contact.
We have NZ First’s Tracey Martin back on the show ongoing and today we speak extensively about systemic racism in crown institutions.
Felix spoke to Auckland’s Head of Community libraries for north and west, Darryl Soljan, about the role of libraries in the community.
Justin Wong talked to Te Whakaruruhau o Nga Reo Irirangi Maori chairperson Peter Lucas Jones about Te Ao Pāpāho, the government's proposals for Maori media reform.
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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