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.
National MP, Denise Lee joined Laura Kvigstad to discuss the news on National. They discussed Nationals stance on recreational cannabis, National's criticism of kiwi build and the primary school in Auckland that is stopping school donations, asking government to back them.
First up, National MP, Denise Lee talks about nationals stance on recreational cannabis, national's criticism of kiwi build and the primary school in Auckland that is stopping school donations, asking government to back them.
Then, Producer, Louis Laws spoke with Rhys Jones of Fire and Emergency Services about recent reports bulling and harassment amongst firefighters.
After that, Lillian Hanley talks to Laura O'Connell Rapira from Action Station about the recent survey on cannabis legalisation.
Next, Pania Newton of SOUL, Saving Our Unique Lands, speaks on the reclamation festival happening in march.
And Final, Minister of Maori Development, Nanaia Mahuta speaks on the Rātana meeting yesterday.
Action Station released a recent survey from the public on recreational cannabis legalisation. MP, Andrew Little made the announcement that a referendum would be held prior to the 2020 election, prompting Action Station to release the results.
The survey shows a great deal of support for legalisation. Laura O'Connell Rapira spoke with Lillian Hanley to discuss more about the results and reasoning that respondants gave for their answers.
The annual meeting for Rātana occured yesterday where people including governmental delegation come together in celebration of the founder of Rātana, Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana’s birthday.
It’s one of the events that helps to kick of the political year and is an important for affirming government obligation to Maori people and the people of Rātana faith.
Minister of Maori Development who attended the event, Nanaia Mahuta joined Laura Kvigstad to discuss the day's importance and how she found yesterday's celebration.
This day in history takes us back to 1943 for the Casablanca Conference, and features an aside about the murder of an Italian-American radical activist around the same time.
The first part of a look into Housing, Urban Development and Public Engagement in planning. Today, we have contributions from Housing Minister Phil Twyford, Opposition Spokesperson Judith Collins and Auckland Action Against Poverty Coordinator Ricardo Menéndez March on Kiwibuild, affordable housing and future reforms.
The full podcast of The Wire. Today, we look into housing with Minister Phil Twyford, MP Judith Collins and AAAP's Ricardo Menéndez March. The Community Garden talks to Auckland Library of Tools and This Day in History returns to 1943. Listen in to find out more.
Isaac Ottley and Wednesday Davis are part of the Fossil Free University of Auckland group here on campus. It is part of the wider 350 movement looking to unite people around climate change solutions. 350 Aotearoa hopes to grow climate action in NZ. Fossil Free UoA formed in 2015 with 350s support and their aim is to have the University completely divest from fossil fuels. Newsroom reported this week that coal-fired generated energy from Genesis Energy’s Huntly station was the highest in the December quarter in more than five years. Genesis said “conditions in the market were “unprecedented” given the unusually low lake inflows for that time of the year and reduced production from the Pohokura gas field”. Essentially, tight gas supplies last year and NZ’s reliance on the flexibility of Genesis to run it’s dual fuel units when required, meant they had to burn a lot more coal than usual. Isaac is the President of Fossil Free UoA, and Wednesday is the Treasurer. Their campaign has been going on for a while, and Lillian Hanly wasn’t entirely sure what the group did behind the scenes of public demonstrations at the university calling for divestment but had also heard there had been some movement within the University’s Council in looking into this issue. Lillian spoke with Isaac and Wednesday to find out more, they talked extensively about the wider issue regarding divestment and fossil fuels themselves.
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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