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.
Awareness and conversation around the meaning of consent is becoming increasingly common in this day and age. The Consent Club, a volunteer run support system, is doing its part to change consent culture for the better. Although the club has been around for a couple years now, this is the first year they are working in direct correspondence with the University of Auckland. Olivia Holdsworth spoke to club founder Ollin Perez Raynaud to find out more about the work they do and began by asking what is The Consent Club.
Geoff Simmons is the leader of The Opportunities Party, the political party founded by Gareth Morgan before the last election, that failed to win a seat in Parliament. This is despite a strongly fought election campaign that saw them ultimately end up with 2.4 percent of the Party vote.
Host Stewart Sowman-Lund sat down with Geoff in the 95bFM studio to talk about the Party's election prospects and the state of politics in New Zealand.
New Zealand was ranked the seventh most gender equal country in the world by the latest World Economic forum report on gender equality. However, many industries in New Zealand remain unbalanced. Grace speaks with Eva Sherwood, chair of Techwomen and board member of NZTech about the gender gap in New Zealand's tech sector.
ALRANZ Abortion Rights Aotearoa are starting a campaign similar to the In Her Shoes website from Ireland which highlights personal stories of women seeking abortions. It is an effort to combat stigma around the issue and instead increase education and conversation around it. Terry Belamak is the National President of the pro-choice group ALRANZ in NZ whose purpose is to ensure everyone has the freedom to decide for themselves whether or not to receive abortion care. Lillian Hanly spoke with Terry about the campaign as well as the history of ALRANZ and the progress of the pro choice movement itself.
If you wish to share your story, you can contact ALRANZ on info@alranz.org or directly message them on the Abort the Stigma Facebook page.
Welcome to Board Games, where we shall roll the dice on an array of local issues in our new weekly chat with the head of the Waitematā Local Board, Pippa Coom, and her support cast on the board.
Tune in from this week on to learn about every thing from what a local board actually does to what's happening in the waitemata electorate, from what's included in an area development plan to how you can get involved in local politics. Climb the ladders and get your local knowledge past go every tuesday wire with your hosts Oscar and Lisa!
Here is our first episode where we get to know the basics!
The full show podcast for the Wire show of Tuesday the 5th of March.
On Today’s show, we have a fair few items. Mitch talked to Dr Mels Barton about Sea Week, The Community Garden has migrated from Thursdays and this week we were joined by Tim from The Warren up on Cross St in Central Auckland, we have a new segment as well called Board Games, tune in to find out more and finally, we go to the international desk to talk about USA and North Korea nuclear talks and Algerian Protesting.
On the show today Lachlan speaks to Robin Wilson Whiting from First Union about unfair wages in retail. Jemima talks to Green Party co-leader James Shaw about the party's new Strengthening Democracy Bill. Oscar speaks to Catherine Delahunty of West Papua Action Auckland about unethical imports of kwila wood. Jemima wraps it up with Worry Week by talking to AUSA Engagement Officer Emily McDonald about university orientation and student engagement.
Official figures show almost 18,000 retail workers are on minimum wage, currently $16.50 an hour. FIgures also show 67 percent of retail workers see it as their career. First Union is fighting for the living wage through their worth it campaign, arguing retail is valuable work that often goes unnoticed. The campaign has included negotiations with employers, public information campaigns, and picketing. Lachlan spoke with Robin Wilson Whiting of First Union about retail workers’ wages and their recent picket of a supermarket, first asking her what conditions were like for retail workers currently.
Veteran activist John Minto will be walking the last North Island kilometre of his ‘Walk for Palestine’ today. Taking a life long stance on activism, John is walking to build awareness and support for the Palestinian struggle. He has walked over 1700 kilometres from Cape Reinga to Wellington since the 14th of December, and this next leg of his journey will take him onto the South Island, where he encourages supporters to join him. Louis spoke with John on why he’s behind this crisis as well as the journey he’s made 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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