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 New Zealand Bar Association came out supporting the semi-automatic firearm ban. Council member of the association Josh McBride says what is needed now is immediate changes to the underlying legislation to ensure that all military specification assault rifles are prohibited, irrespective of their configuration or aesthetics. Josh has prepared a discussion paper and submission to the Government on behalf of the bar association saying assault rifles have no legitimate civilian use. Josh believes they should never have been allowed in to NZ. He believes previous legislation and regulations failed to adequately restrict the importation and sale of these types of rifles and ammunition, ones which are characterised by the use of intermediate cartridges to reduce recoil and enable rapid firing. Gautami Sithambaram spoke with Josh to find out more and started by asking how these semi-automatic weapons came to be in NZ in the first place.
On Dear Science today with AUT’s Allan Blackman novel gene mutations, massive settlements in misconduct cases and how to get rid of mosquitoes.
Lillian Hanly speaks with Amro Mohamed, a solicitor as well as a volunteer with the Human Rights Foundation on certain projects regarding Muslim communities and government agencies.
Sherry Zhang talks to producer & co-director Julie Zhu and co-director Nahyeon Lee on their new short, The Myth of the Model Minority, and the representation of Asian New Zealanders in the media.
Amro Mohamed is a solicitor and volunteers for the Human Rights Foundation. Together they worked on a project regarding relationships between Muslim communities and government agencies. Lillian Hanly spoke with him following the Islamophobic terror attacks in Christchurch.
Since the attacks the Human Rights Foundation has created a website where any instances of islamophobic discrimination can be recorded and reported, just head to the website reportislamophobia.nz, as well as this the 1737 helpline is still available for anyone needing support.
Sherry Zhang speaks to directors, Julie Zhu and Nahyeon Lee, of the short film Myth of the Model Minority. Firstly, Julie discusses the representation of Asian New Zealanders, and the direction she hopes conversations around migrants and diaspora communities shift to. Then, Nahyeon dicusses the token minority, assimilation and Dominion road as a safe space for ethnic minorities.
The full show podcast of the Wire for Tuesday Rātū the 2nd of 2019.
Owen Gill returns to talk about his book, Turning Point, this week focussing on the financing of Auckland's future.
At the Green Desk, we talk to Environmental Scientist Sophia Olo Whaanga about coastal urupa which are being destroyed and submerged in the face of climate change.
Board Games returns, this week discussing meetings and how the public can get involved.
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At the International desk, we discuss the elections of Ukraine and the popularity of charismatic leaders.
Harry fills in The Wire today for Jemima who is celebrating another lap around the sun!
For our regular segment with the Green Party Oscar speaks to co-leader James Shaw about gun control, trees and minimum wage. Michael Andrew from Southern Cross is in studio to bring us the latest in Pacific news, Lachlan speaks to Professor Kypros Kypri about the lack of consultation with Maori for local alcohol licensing, Jemima speaks to Co-Convenor of OraTaiao about the Emissions Trading Scheme and the effect of climate change on human health, and finally Lachlan talks to the New Zealand Resident Doctors Association Senior Advocate David Munro about the group’s upcoming strike.
Members The New Zealand Resident Doctors’ Association have voted to strike for a fifth time this year. The four day strike that will occur in mid April is in response to a hardening of the DHBs hardening position in negotiations. Both parites are to meet on the 5th of April for mediation in an attempt to solve the dispute. Lachlan spoke with NZRDA Senior Advocate David Munro about the strike action, first asking why the union voted for a fifth round of strikes.
Research by the University of Otago has shown a lack of consultation from local government with Maori on decisions around alcohol and licensing. This is in comparison with the relatively large influence Alcohol companies and lobbies have in decision making. Lachlan spoke with lead author Professor Kypros Kypri about the research, first asking him what the main findings were.
Last week the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Simon Upton, released a climate change report suggesting a major change in the way New Zealand tackles climate change through the Emissions Trading Scheme.
OraTaiao: New Zealand Climate and Health Council says that although the report makes some useful points it fails to hold the agricultural sector accountable for its harm to both the environment and human health. OraTaiao is a group of health professionals calling for urgent and fair climate action with real health benefits for New Zealanders now and in the future. Rhys (Reece) Jones, a Public Health Physician and Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland, and Co-convenor of OraTaiao, spoke to Jemima about 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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