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.
This week Sherry Zhang talks to Youth Coordinator of the Auckland Women's centre on the Abortion law reform rally Our Bodies Our Choice. They speak on reproductive rights, intersectional feminism and the rally's kaupapa of trans-inclusivity.
Next Sherry speaks to Theatre Lecturer and critic Dr James Wenley, on his show Dr Drama Makes a Show exploring themes of performance, masculinity, whiteness and Pākehā privilege. We speak about what it means to be a supportive ally and white maile fragility.
Then, Louis Laws speaks to spokesperson of State Housing Action Network, Michael Sharpe, on the goverments action plan to combate homelessness in Aotearoa.
Finally, Lillian Hanly speaks to spokesperson & assistant researcher for Nga Wai a Te Tui, Jacqueline paul, who is in hui with UN’s Special Rapporteur, Leilani Farha, on experiences and challenges for Māori in achieving adequate housing.
Youth coordinator of Auckland Women's Centre Gabriella Brayne speaks on the Our body Our choice rally, reproductive rights, intersectional feminisms and the rally’s kaupapa of trans-inclusivity. Gabriella also speak on recommendations made by the select committee, and limitations in regards to access to emergency contraception.
Sherry catches up with Dr James Wenley, a Drama lecturer and theatre critic on performance, masculinity, whiteness and Pākehā privilege. We speak about what it means to be a supportive ally, white male fragility, and accessibility to art.
According to James “ as uncomfortable questions thrown up around the 250th anniversary of Captain Cook’s arrival and non-Māori protestors at Ōwairaka claiming mana whenua status, Pākehā seem to be going through a renewed identity crisis.
Sherry begins by asking James what he means by calling it a post dramatic metatheatrical lecture performance solo,
Last Friday the UN’s Special Rapporteur, Leilani Farha, met with a group of Māori leaders in this sector, who have diverse housing needs and aspirations, with a specific focus on sharing critical insights, experiences and challenges for Māori in achieving adequate housing.
The UN Special Rapporteur is an independent expert appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council to examine and report on a country, situation or a specific human rights issue. Leilani Farha is visiting New Zealand for nine days from the 10th until the 19th of February to assess developments in housing in Aotearoa, as well as challenges and gaps in the protection and promotion of the right to adequate housing.
Our news director Lillian Hanley got in touch with Jacqueline paul, a spokesperson & assistant researcher for Nga Wai a Te Tui, who are in hui with Leilani...
Just under a week ago, the government announced an action plan to combat homelessness in Aotearoa. The plan - to pledged three hundred million dollars to provide an additional one thousand transitional housing units.
In the accompanying press release, it was explained that the Government was already carrying out “a public housing plan on a scale that has not been seen in New Zealand for 40 years”.
However, the announcement did not come without its criticisms & one of the issues that people found disappointing was no further funding for state housing, making this claim not credible.
So I got in touch with Michael Sharp, a barrister based in Mount Maunganui & member of the State Housing Action Network, a network of organisations interested in state housing provisions around Aotearoa.
They believe the action plan fails to provide for increases in the state housing stock, which are essential for addressing the homelessness crisis. We start by addressing the recent announcement…
Justin spoke with Green Party co-leader James Shaw about the emissions trading scheme, the government’s homeless housing package and public broadcasting.
James Tapp talked to Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere of Otago University about the Bob Jones defamation case.
Rachel Simpson talked to Auckland Action Against Poverty’s Ricardo Menendez March about the government’s homeless housing package.
Chris McCardle spoke with Auckland Councillor Alf Filipaina about a new shelter for homeless women at the City Mission.
Justin also talked to Paul Tolich of E tu about New Zealand First’s admission that it took photographs of two journalists
Justin discussed with E Tu's Senior National Industrial Officer Paul Tolich about New Zealand First leader Winston Peters' admission that the party was responsible for the photographs of journalists Guyon Espiner and Matt Shand, who are investigating the New Zealand First Foundation, and former party president Lester Gray.
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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