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.
The four day work week rhetoric has popped up with Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern saying a shift to this structure of work may help the economy… Professor of Human Resource Management, Jarrod Haar and 'achitect of the four day work week' Andrew Barnes join Laura Kvigstad to discuss how four day work weeks function.
After that, Sam Denne speaks with Advocate for Hospitality Worker's Rights, Chloe Anne King on how hospitality as an industry has had to shift with the pandemic and some of the issues in terms of worker exploitation that are more apparent at this time.
Finally, the National Party was amongst their caucus meeting to decide whether there would be a change of leadership. Former Politician, Peter Dunne, and Associate Professor in Politics, Grant Duncan joined Laura to discuss the leadership challenges for the National Party and what this could mean for our political landscape with an election on the horizon.
The four day work week rhetoric has popped up with Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern saying a shift to this structure of work may help the economy… Professor of Human Resource Management, Jarrod Haar and 'achitect of the four day work week' Andrew Barnes join Laura Kvigstad to discuss how four day work weeks function.
The National Party was amongst their caucus meeting to decide whether there would be a change of leadership at the time of this Wire. Former Politician, Peter Dunne, and Associate Professor in Politics, Grant Duncan joined Laura Kvigstad to discuss the leadership challenges for the National Party and what this could mean for our political landscape with an election on the horizon
Felix brings us a report on the National party following their poll result from yesterday and the impact this could have on Simon Bridges, who seems to be having a pretty rough day.
On Dear Science with Allan Blackman we talk about how moisture damages paintings, how the North magnetic pole is moving, and how runny liquid actually is.
Lillian speaks with Child Poverty Action Group about research released this morning regarding how difficult it is to get out of entrenched poverty.
Felix brings us a report on the National party following their poll result from yesterday and the impact this could have on leader Simon Bridges
And we are finally returning to the Blood Phosphate investigation to get yet another perspective on the matter. This time we hear from the Fertiliser Council.
Lillian Hanly is looking into the importing of what has been called 'blood phospate' from Western Sahara, occupied by Morocco. There have been five parts broadcast already, this is the sixth. So, to recap a little:
Around 170,000 Saharawi people were forced out of their own land when Morocco invaded in 1975, today they live as refugees separated by a constructed wall and littered with mines. Western Sahara is rich in resources, and it is understood Morocco is taking advantage of this. One particular resource that is being mined without the consent of the Saharawi people is phosphate. Two of the three remaining companies in the world to buy this disputed phosphate from Morocco are NZ companies. Australia, Canada, America - all have pulled out of this trade in the hope that the referendum, called for in 1991, can take place. So the Saharawi people can choose their independece. in Part IIII we hear from two different people in Aotearoa with solutions as to how we could use less phosphate - and therefore not rely on a trade that extracts the resource from a country where human rights abuses are taking place.
Anders Crofoot is the Chair of New Zealand’s Fertiliser Council. This Council oversees the quality of fertiliser, making sure the products farmers are buying are legit in terms of what they say they are. The Council was established after the government reduced regulation on this issue during the 80s. Lillian reached out to Anders wanting to get a perspective from farmers in relation to the phosphate issue she has been looking into regarding the Western Sahara. Lillian's key question is around whether we can move away from relying so much on phosphate generally, but also specifically from the Western Sahara. This is first and foremost due to the human rights concerns related but also due to the fact that phosphate is a finite resource. So what actually happens when it all runs out? How do we continue farming if we rely so much on this? Anders takes us through what the Fertiliser Council does and why phosphate is needed in the soil - but also on how we might not need to use so much.
Continuing last week’s talk with Councillor Richard Hills, Lillian rounded out the conversation with a brief discussion of active transport and its short and long term potential for transforming Tāmaki Makaurau. You can catch the rest of that conversation, where they discussed recycling and our very real water crisis, here:
Justin talked to Education Minister Chris Hipkins about the Budget's support for tertiary students, with the government announcing a $20m student hardship fund for those who were impacted by Covid-19.
The Newshub-Reid Research poll on the 18th May showed Labour on 56.5 percent, meaning it could have 72 seats in parliament. National's support however went into freefall, with them dropping to only 30.6 percent. Justin talked to Auckland University's Lara Greaves to discuss why Labour has this big lead and what could happen in the September election.
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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