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.
Scholars have predicted the demise of religion for a long time, yet it appears that in the 21st-century religion is on the rise, a global trend expected to exceed 50 years. The answer, it seems, is down to childcare. While most child supervision can be stressful & expensive, religious communities tend to have greater support for families than secular communities, which leads to larger families. I talked to Doctor John Shaver, head of religious studies at the University of Otago, who gave me some insight into the resilience of religion.
Turtle rescuers around New Zealand are calling for bans to turtle breeding. Most rescues are over crowded with Auckland's Rescue Reptile having over 100 turtles in their care. Angie Harvey the owner of Auckland's Rescue Reptile speaks about why she believes turtle breeding should banned.
Author and Co-Founder of The Journey, Kevin Billet discusses his stance on depression. He believes it is not a mental illness but is instead a mismanagement of emotions. He explains more about how he believes emotions are processed when someone has depression and what someone can do to address it.
With the year of 2019 beginning, we attempt to take a look at what things we have to look forward to in the world of politics for the year. Associate Professor in Politics of Massey University, Grant Duncan discusses what 2019 could hold for us. He notes the a conservative party that could take out ACT. He also mentions the importance of voting in local elections as these elections impact local issues such as rate payers. Then he talks about how the living standards frame work impacting 2019 budget.
First up, Associate Professor of Massey University, Grant Duncan discussesa what we should be looking out for in politics in 2019. He notes the rise of a conservative party that could take out ACT, local elections and living standards frame work impacting 2019 budget.
Then, Producer, Louis Laws spoke with John Shaver about the recent report on the endurance of religion. Researchers saying it's linked to better child care within religious communities.
After that, Author and Co-Founder of The Journey, Kevin Billet discusses his stance on depression. He believes it is not a mental illness but is instead a mismanagement of emotions.
Then, Louis spoke with Helen Paterson on the recent study into where teenagers are learning about contraception.
Finally, Angie Harvey from Auckland's rescue reptile speaks about why she believes turtle breeding should banned.
On the Wire today, Grace talks to the National Party’s Chris Bishop about organ donations, Oscar talked to Minister Andrew Little about Sexual violence and juries, The Community Garden returns talking to Meshed, and This Day in History returns to January the 17th, 1961.
TW: This involves discussion of sexual violence, including rape, and the criminal court process that follows when someone reports an assault.
In the latest Sunday Star Times, Allison Mau has conducted an investigation into the criminal court process of sexual violence cases. Mau spoke to a number of different people in this field to see what people thought of the current process. A number of people believe it is not only ineffective resulting in an extremely low number of convictions comparable to the number of assaults, but it is also spoken of as a process that re-traumatizes the victim. One of the issues that was raised is the judgment by jury, and the removal of a jury in these cases was floated as a solution.
Frances Joychild is a Queen’s Counsel Barrister in Auckland and has worked on human rights law for the past 33 years. Some of the areas she focuses on are refugee work, work for beneficiaries or housing corporation tenants, and sexual harassment and sexual violence. Joychild does not do criminal prosecution, but civil cases. This focuses on people who do not want to go through the criminal courts but want to seek justice through different methods. This could look like mediation between the accused and the victim and is still a legal process but does not end up in a criminal conviction. Instead, it looks like recompensation in whatever form is decided. Lillian Hanly spoke to Frances to find out more about these possibilities, what a civil legal process actually looks like, and why she prefers this method.
Earlier this week the goverment announced 20 million dollars to go toward making certain rural highways safer. It is part of the Safety Boost Programme which makes regional state highways safer through a range of low-cost safety improvements. This particular announcement will upgrade 670km across 11 rural state highways. Julie-Anne Genter, Associate Transport Minister, made the announcement and Lillian Hanly spoke with her to find out more about NZ’s car culture and safety on roads. Lillian started by asking what this 20 million dollars will do specifically.
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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