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.
In today’s catch up with Minister Little, Mary-Margaret asks about the meaning of “operational matters” and not being able to comment on them, and what he thinks of our modern national security regime in light of revelations that our Secret Service broke into the Czechoslovakian Embassy in the late 80s.
We hear from the senior news editor of The Spectrum, the University of Buffalo’s a student magazine, about what it feels like to be on the ground as New York cautiously lifts some COVID-19 restrictions.
Zoe Kounadis joins us for Neighbourhood Watch once again and explains several significant cuts this week, including ones to childcare and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Splore’s director John Minty discusses the return of the festival, opportunities for local music while our borders are closed, and cultural shifts we might see in terms of festivals after COVID-19.
Bronwyn Wilde covers for Lillian, speaking to Eugenie Sage about the reopening of bookings for New Zealand's Great Walks over the past few days. Dear Science's Marcus Jones talks about the origins of the COVID-19 virus and mystreious extraterrestrial radio frequencies.
Felix Walton brings us a report about the importance of libraries and their role in the community. News director Jemima Huston speaks to NZ on Air about where the Government funding for arts and music and will go.
And we conclude with a report on yesterday's announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster about the discontinuation of armed police response in Aotearoa.
Never fear, Lillian will be back for next week's show!
With the world returning to something resembling "normal," it feels appropriate to acknowledge a part of our communities that we don't often get to talk about. Felix Walton reports on the ways that libraries are helping people find jobs and access important information.
On the 23rd of March, under alert level 2, the Department of Conservation closed its hut and campsite bookings, and back-country huts closed under alert level three. However the Department has now announced that bookings for the Great Walks will reopen between the 9-11th of June, with the exception of the Milford and Routeburn tracks which are still undergoing storm repairs. Booking for all other DOC huts and campsites will repen on the 25th of June.
Bronwyn spoke to Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage about the reopening, differential pricing for international trampers, and general conservation current events in the wake of COVID-19.
The Government’s budget announcement last month included a $175 million dollar recovery package for New Zealand’s arts and music industries. NZ On Air recieved $7.1 million for their New Music Programmes. Jemima speaks with the Head of Music for New Zealand On Air, David Riddler, about the funding boost and why government support for the music industry is important.
This week on City Counselling, we talk to Cr Pippa Coom about rates, priorities and homelessness. 95bFM's Oscar Perress began by asking about the budget and consultation on the budget.
Just a warning, the next piece will be covering abuse, which may be a sensitive topic for some listeners.
From 15th to the 22nd of June is elder abuse awareness week, with world elder abuse awareness day taking place on the 15th. With most abusers being family members, elder abuse in many situations isn't as reported due to shame or other complications it could create. In the wake of COVID-19, it has been seen how much support has been given to the elderly, with calls to make sure this continues. Starting off with a question about the current statistics surrounding elder abuse in New Zealand, I talked to Hanny Naus, a professional educator for Age Concern, a leading provider in New Zealand when it comes to elder abuse services.
If you feel that you may be a victim of elder abuse or may be witnessing it in your home, family or community, as Hanny said, give their number , 0800 65 2 105, a call to get free and confidential support.
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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