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The State Sector Act 1988 is set to be repealed and replaced with the new Public Service Act. On Monday State Services Minister Chris Hipkins announced that current law is now unable to support the operation of modern public services. The new Act will provide public services with more flexibility, allow for greater cooperation between agencies and establish principles for an apolitical service. Supporters of the Bill include the Public Service Association, as Union members throughout the public sector have been contributing feedback on certain issues leading up to its introduction. PSA National Secretary Glenn Barclay emphasized the importance of recognising that public servants should have the same rights as the average citizen. William Boyd spoke with Mr Barclay about the introduction and implications of the new bill. Will started off by asking him what new changes are being presented.
Dear Science is back for another week, this week we are chatting about Moons, Carbon and Wind with Marcus Jones from AUT
Producer Will talks with PSA Union about a Bill Introduced by government yesterday that seeks to replace the State Sector Act 1988 with the Public Service Act
We have a piece from 95bFM reporter Rachel Simpson, who spoke with Karen Fletcher, Health & Safety Organiser of the Rail & Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) on lack of access to toilets for women in trades
Felix speaks with IHC New Zealand regarding recent reports of severe lack of funding for people living with disabilities
And finaly Harry recaps the weeks news surrounding NZ first, In lieu of our weekly chat with Fletcher Tabuteau.
A recent briefing by the New Zealand Disability Support Network highlighted a $574 million annual shortfall in funding to the disability sector. They also estimaste that 15,000 people with disabilities are missing out on services entirely. Felix Walton spoke with Trish Grant from IHC New Zealand about how this shortfall affects the families of people with intellectual disabilities.
Community Housing Aotearoa is an incorporated society made up of the non-profit community housing providers across Aotearoa. There are more than 90 providers across the country working locally to deliver housing solutions for families who face affordability challenges, from homelessness to providing pathways into homeownership. Oscar Peress spoke to the Deputy Chief Executive Chris Glaudell of the organisation to find out more about what they do that sets them apart from government. Oscar started by asking what a not-for-profit housing provider is.
Protests sprung up last week on Owairaka maunga as the Tupuna Maunga Authority began to carry out their integrated management plan which has been in place since 2016. The plan includes the restoration of native fauna on the maunga, as well as many other initiatives to protect the 14 maunga in Tāmaki Makaurau including for example stopping private vehicles from reaching the summit of Maungawhau. The plan for the maunga also includes the felling of exotic trees which a number of people have raised issue with. Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira spoke with Paul Majurey, Chair of the Tupuna Maunga Authority to find out more.
Just a clarification for people who might not know what the Tupuna Maunga Authority is:
"The Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority (Maunga Authority) is the statutory authority established under the Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau Collective Redress Act to co-govern the Tūpuna Maunga.
The Maunga Authority is comprised of equal representatives from Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau and Auckland Council, together with Crown (non-voting) representation."
This morning it was announced the government is in talks with Auckland Council about loaning money so that Council could buy the land back from Fletcher. Listen here for a little recap as well as statements from Mayor Phil Goff's office and the Finance Minister Grant Robertson who is overseeing the discussions.
Male infertility is a serious issue in Australia and Aotearoa and there is currently no medical solution besides ‘getting healthy’ to solve it. It is an issue that isn’t discussed enough throughout society and is responsible for 50% of infertility in couples. This week on Green Desk Mitch speaks to Ateronon founder Sam Hunter about the Tomato Pill. Sam has been on a mission to create the first ever naturally occurring male fertility pill which was based off the information and statistics about the benefits of the mediterrenean diet. He has since developed the tomato pill which has enhanced the bioavailability of the lycopene in tomatoes to increase grade A sperm in men by up to nearly 50%. To begin, Mitch asks Sam what gives the tomato the ability to help with male infertility.
First up on the show we have a little mention of the announcement this morning that the government may loan money to the Auckland Council to help buy back Ihumātao from Fletcher.
We have Tuwhenuaroa speaking to Tupuna Maunga Authority Chair Paul Majurey about the removal of exotic trees on Owairaka maunga.
We have Oscar speaking to Chris Glaudel, Deputy Chief Executive for Community Housing Aotearoa.
We have Green Desk as usual and Mitchell speaks to Sam Hunter about the Tomato Pill - a male fertility pill.
And finally Dhannun speaks with Cathy from the Māori Mindfulness group about wellbeing through Māori values.
The Disability Support Network has released its briefing paper in preparation for the 2020 budget and has identified worrying shortfalls in funding. They estimate there is a gap in funding of at least 514 million dollars to provide care and support to those who are entitled to it. The report also shed light on the large number of people missing out on services, with up to 15,000 people and their families not having access to disability supports . lachlan spoke with Dr Garth Bennie, Chief Executive of the Disability Support Network, about the briefing paper.
The 2018 showed that the percentage of people not born in New Zealand was 27.4%, an increase from 25.2% in Census 2013. The biggest increase in ethnic group is the Asian population.The Superdiversity Institute for Law, Policy and Business released a report on the cultural and language barriers the Chinese community experience through the litigation process in senior courts, difficulties matching interpreters with clients and discrimination felt by Asian lawyers.
Sherry spoke to Lawyer and Author of the report, Mai Chen, on her findings and recommendations to address this issue. She begins by asking Mai on the background to the report.
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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