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.
With public submissions having closed on the Electoral (Registration of Sentenced Prisoners) Amendment Bill, the Justice Select Committee is now hearing oral submissions. The bill received over 2,500 submissions, and the committee have already heard over 10 hours of the public voicing their opinions over Zoom. This report features a few of the arguments being put forward by the various submitters, as compiled by Bronwyn Wilde.
You can watch the full livestreams yourself on the Justice Committee Facebook page. Or, for more context, listen to the report Bronwyn previously did on the Bill:
Massive Theatre Company, are known for their physical devised theatre performances and free accessible workshops, especially for youth. Sherry Zhang sat in one of the zoom workshops of the Massive Nui Ensemble, which is Massive's training pathway for emerging artists. Sherry spoke to Director of Massive Theatre Compnay, Sam Scott to understand how the theatre community is adapting, and how to keep educating and supporting young people in theatre during rāhui.
Many industries have been placed under pressure, with the Pork industry being a focus. Over the past few weeks, questions have been raised by animal rights groups about the welfare of pigs as the industry deals with a surplus and an inability to process and sell fast enough. To understand the situation, James talks to New Zealand-based PETA spokesperson, Laura Weyman-Jones, David Baines, chief executive of NZ Pork, SAFE NZ’s Campaigns Manager, Marianne Macdonald as well as their CEO, Debra Ashton.
The mental health of New Zealanders has been put under strain during Rāhui and the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent survey conducted by YouthLine has shown that the mental health New Zealand youth has been highly affected in the past months. Zoë Larsen Cumming interviewed Youthline CEO Shae Ronald to discuss the results, and the other implications on New Zealand Youth during the covid 19 crisis.
If you, or someone you know, needs to talk Youthline, they can be contacted via their free help line on 0800 376 633, or you can text 234 or email at talk@youthline.co.nz.
Mental Health First Aid is a system designed to support people struggling with their mental health. Amongst Covid 19, many people have been experiencing distress and experts have pointed to PTSD as a mental illness we could see spike in correlation with this pandemic. CoLiberate is an organisation that helps workplaces design plans to look after employees' mental health and is looking to do more work in community outreach as many people may find themselves unemployed in the coming year. Cofounder, Sarah Tuck joined me to explain what exactly mental health first aid looks like.
The government released the final draft bill on cannabis that the public will be voting on in the upcoming referendum. Laura Kvigstad fills you in on the updates and what kind of changes are in this bill.
In another segment of Poll Position, we ask the bFM listeners: Has your mental health been impacted by Covid 19? We get a range of perspectives from anxiety over what the future holds to some who have found lockdown to be a reprieve from the noise of daily life...
As always, a reminder that if you've experienced a negative fluctuation in your mental health at this time, that's entirely normal and valid. What's important for all of us at this time is to find the support we need whether that is reaching out to lifeline or your network of loved ones, please take steps to look after yourselves.
Andrew Little tells us about what Level 3 looks like for him, as well as announcements by the government this week about commercial property tenants, and border closures. Mary-Margaret speaks to Zoe Kounadis for Neighbourhood Watch, and they discuss rhetoric by the Australian government that China should be reprimanded for COVID-19, as well as stockpiling of essential medicines by Clive Parker. We hear today's Epidemic Response Committee notes, in which we heard from the Women’s Refuge and the City Mission as well as Police Commissioner Andrew Foster. Mary-Margaret brings a quick summary of the most recent cretaceous period discovery. Finally, we hear the final part of the discussion between Oscar Perress and Samuel Miller McDonald on national emergencies and changing systems.
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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