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 breaking news, Bernie Sanders has dropped out of the US presidential race. Lillian Hanly recaps his campaign.
But, with the democratic primary being muted compared to the pandemic, a movement beyond Bernie Sanders appears to be happening.
With the number of strikes rapidly growing across the United States, COVID-19 is turning out to be an unprecedented labour crisis.
Rachel Simpson speaks to Dr Paul Taillon, a senior history lecturer at the University of Auckland. He specialises in working people and the labour movement in the United States and has written on gender, race and unionism in the States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They speak about the increase in worker solidarity despite push back from corporates and the government, how grassroots strikes are organised despite social distancing regulations, and whether a general strike may be imminent.
On Dear Science with Allan Blackman we discuss the age of whale sharks, Belgian beer going off and the Covid19 5G conspiracy theory.
We have our regular Epidemic Response Committee notes, written by Israa Zafiri, and today the Committee is hearing from industries that have been hit hard by the pandemic and the consequential lockdown
Producer Corey Fuimaono follows up on his story about Salient FM shutting down, this week interviewing co-editors Kirsty Frame and Rachel Trow.
Lillian spoke to Fenix Humanitarian Legal Aid executive director Amanda Munoz De Toro about what is happening in the refugee camp of Moria on the Greek Island of Lesvos with the impending possibility of a Covid19 outbreak inside the camp.
Producer Corey Fuimaono follows up on his story about Salient FM shutting down, this week interviewing co-editors Kirsty Frame and Rachel Trow. As more drama unraveled, serious questions must now be asked of their owner and principal funder.
Justin talks to Trade Minister David Parker about how Covid-19 could affect New Zealand's food export industry and free trade agreement negotiations with other countries.
United States President Donald Trump claimed quinine and hydroxycholoroquine are effective in combating Covid-19. Producer Ollie Joblin reports on some advice from actual Doctor's as to whether that is the case.
This week on City Counselling, Oscar Perress talks to Cr Richard Hills, the Councillor for the North Shore Ward + the chair of the environment and climate change committee. Together they talked about the restructure of council and his roles in response to Covid 19, Waste management and Shovel ready infrastructure. A huge thank you to the team at Auckland council, namely Conor Lavery and Richard Hills, and to Louis Laws for all his technical support.
Producer Ollie Joblin reports whether quinine and hydroxycholoroquine are effective in combating Covid-19, as claimed by United States President Donald Trump.
We have today’s notes from the Epidemic Response Committee
Bronnie speaks to Debbie Ngarewa-Packer of Ngāti Ruanui and Kevin Hague from Forest and Bird about the court of appeal decision to quash the consent granted to mine iron sands off the Taranaki coast
Justin talks to Trade Minister David Parker about the future for New Zealand’s exports and trade post Covid-19 on International Desk.
Oscar Perress talked to Auckland councillor Richard Hills about what’s happening at our local council for City Counselling
A little update on what stores can actually operate at this time.
Sherry talks with Green Party co-leader James Shaw on economic support for businesses and a green recovery plan after COVID19.
Zoë Larsen Cumming interviews the Chief Legal Advisor to the New Zealand Human Rights Commission about the implications of the Covid19 restrictions on those in government provided detention.
James Tapp goes over the first three epidemic response committee meetings, looking at the key points which are regularly getting discussed and put under the lens by MPs
Southern Cross segment as is on as usual with Sri Krishnamurthi on COVID19 response in the Pacific, the closure of Bauer media, and Cyclone Henry affecting the Soloman Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji.
Finally, Lillian spoke with a journalist from Māori TV who has been communicating through social media personally, not through his role as a reporter, to his community the key information about Covid19 at this time. They touch on how much is too much news consumption and how to look after our wellbeing at this time.
The New Zealand Human Rights Commission has called upon the Government to respect the rights of those being held in detention in its response to Covid-19. People detained by the authorities have a heightened risk of infection due to living in close proximity to one another and because of their limited capacity to take precautionary measures. Zoë Larsen Cumming spoke to the Chief Legal advisor at the Human Rights Commission Janet Anderson-Bidois about implications of the new restrictions on those already in detention, and how their human dignity can be respected and maintained.
The Arts in Aotearoa are suffering at the moment, which should really come as no surprise. For many artists & live performers alike, they’re going to be out of a job, which is rough when your paycheck comes week to week and gig to gig ...
Producer Louis Laws spoke to Scott Blanks & Tim Batt about the effects that the Covid-19 lockdown has had on the Comedy Industry so far ...
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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