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.
Sherry Zhang talks to Green Party co-leader James Shaw on Coronavirus travel restrictions and election access fund bill
Southern Cross with the latest pacific news brought by contributing editor Sri Krishnamurthi and joined by AUT communications master student Laurens Ikinia on the effect of coronavirus on pacific, west papuan students in NZ, right wing extreminism groups and starfish eating coral.
Producer James Tapp talks to University of Auckland research dietitian Andrea Braakhuis on the recent organics bill.
This week National's Denise Lee joins Laura Kvigstad to discuss Simon Bridges plans to cut the red tape, deregulating industries in order to stimulate the economy. Then they chat about the pay equity amendment bill and why it's stalled on it's second reading. Finally, they chat about National advocating for coalition government to stall the minimum wage increase set to begin on April 1st, 2020.
Then, Sam Denne speaks to Chloe Ann King, an advocate for hospitality workers and a research assistant at AUT.
Next, Laura speak with Amnesty International’s Policy and Advocacy Manager, Annaliese Johnston about the upcoming review by the United Nations into the Rights of Children in Aotearoa.
Finally, Louis Laws speaks to Samuel Vye from Environment Conversation Technologies about predator-control drones.
New Zealand is coming up on it’s five year review by the United Nations where they will be looking at the rights of children in Aotearoa.
New Zealand is one of 196 countries that signed on to the childrens convention, where they agreed to make strides towards ensuring the rights of Children in New Zealand.
The Children’s Convention recognises the special protections that children should have access to. Right to education, play, arbitrary detention, and life are all concepts covered in this.
Amnesty International sees this as an opportunity for self reflection and growth, and have submitted recommendations to the United Nations in what they would like to see analised in the upcoming report.
Policy and Advocacy Manager Annaliese Johnston joined Laura Kvigstad to discuss what kind of recommendations Amnesty International has made…
Chloe Ann King… That’s a name which strikes fear in the hearts of law bending hospitality employers across Tamaki Makaukrau. They are an advocate for hospitality workers that have experienced exploitation and harassment. They are part of a campaign that offers legal aid and representation to workers during disputes with employers and are now a research assistant for a project at AUT. Sam spoke to themabout the project and the work that they’ve been doing over the past decade.
When it comes to conservation, new advancements in tools & technology could make the difference in restoring nature, so that indigenous species can thrive.
Just recently, The Department of Conservation announced they are investing nearly eight-hundred-thousand dollars to test a new predator-control drone and take another step towards a predator-free Aotearoa.
Drones are a new technology and have the potential to be a game-changer when it comes to conservation efforts, and the Kiwi startup behind this is Environment Conservation Technologies.
based in the Bay of Plenty, they’re developing automated technologies & providing professional services using drones, both locally & internationally.
Louis got in touch with Samuel Vye, co-founder of the start-up E.C.T., who is also in charge of managing the project.
Rachel speaks to Andrea Black, policy director and economist for the Council of Trade Unions, about how the government is and should be dealing with the economic impacts of Covid-19 on working people. The interview talks about issues with gig economy workers with no sick leave provisions, the recommendations in the Welfare Expert Advisory Group report involving benefit provisions, and whether New Zealand's social welfare systems are robust enough to survive the outbreak.
Mary-Margaret has her weekly catch up with Andrew Little and aks him all about what went wrong during the Second Parliamentary reading of the abortion bill; Rachel talks to Andrea Black about the impact of coronavirus on the gig economy; we learn about governmental response to the virus and have a conversation about consistently funding robust health systems with Radio Adelaide’s Zoe Kounadis in Neighbourhood Watch; and Mary-Margaret learns about American voting trends with commentator Tracey Barnett who recaps and analyses the primaries 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
95bFM 
