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.
Zoë Larsen Cumming chats to Hannah Clerk and Cinta Damerell, two fifths of the new multidisciplinary project We Too which aims to uplift and support survivors of sexual harm in Aotearoa's creative industries.
Sam speaks with prison abolitionist Emilie Rakete of People Against Prisons Aotearoa about matters concerning policing in Aotearoa from the enforcement of lockdown to the trials of armed police squads.
Louis chats with Cameron Barbour about the lifeline given by the government to small business owners unable to make payments on their commercial leases due to impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Following the National Party's call for a full reinstatement of 90 Day Trial Periods in employment law, Jemima speaks to National Party workplace relations spokesperson, Dan Bidois, and E Tū Senior National Industrial Officer, Paul Tolich, about the issue.
Sam talks to People Against Prisons Aotearoa's Emilie Rākete about a number of issues around policing in Aotearoa, including a discussion on a potential bias in the enforcement of the Level 4 lockdown restrictions.
Louis speaks to New Zealand Council of Retail Property chairperson Campbell Barbour about the government's lifeline for businesses with commercial leases.
We play another segment of Lillian's investigation into whiteness and white fragility in Aotearoa. Dr Rose Black, a community psychologist, comments on MP Judith Collins' statement that she is sick of being demonised for her ethnicity.
The National Party's workplace relations and safety spokesperson Dan Bidios has made a call that 90 Day Trials should be fully reinstated to give employers more confidence in hiring following the economic fall out of Covid-19. Jemima speaks to Dan Bidois and E Tū Union's National Industrial Officer, Paul Tolich, about 90 Day Trials and whether a full reinstatement of the scheme is in the best interests of the employer and the employee.
With crews for Avatar 2 arriving in New Zealand earlier this week, it’s worth looking back at the government’s complicated relationship with Hollywood and the bill that’s currently going through parliament. Felix Walton gave a little bit of a rundown.
On the 25th May George Floyd was murdered by a police officer in America. Another in a long line of police murders in which Black people are systematically targeted - demonized, you could say, since deliberate racist and genocidal actions deemed an entire nation as less than human.
Two days later here in Aotearoa, MP Judith Collins said she was 'sick of being demonised for her ethnicity'.
What does it actually mean to be demonised for your ethnicity? And how are white supremacy, white privilege, white violence and white fragility at play here?
Lillian Hanly takes us through some of these issues.
We have Dear Science with Allan Blackman today, talking about the ozone layer, hydroxychloroquine and cicada wings.
Felix brings us a report on the workers bill going through parliament right now that will make some changes in the screen industry.
Lillian goes through some conversations around whiteness and white supremacy , following on from the murder of George Floyd, and then also looking at own backyard here in Aotearoa.
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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