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.
Today on the Wire we had a very full show! Jemima spoke with James Shaw for our regular segmentwith the Green Party about COP24 and the Green Party's achievements after a year with the coalition government in power. Our regular segment with Southern Cross covered Bernie Smith’s lecture on housing which was delivered in an annual Bruce Jesson Lecture last week, former president of French Polynesia, Oscar Manutahi Temaru supports the Maohi independence movement in a upcoming referendum in New Caledonia, and Professor Robie’s account on the evolution of media in the pacific since the 60’s. Damian spoke to Auckland Councillor, Linda Cooper, about the private sale of fireworks. Our new segment with Ella Christensen called Under the Weather discussed extreme weather and climate change events happening in the world over the last week. Jemima spoke with Ruth Dreifuss, the Chair of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, about moving away from drug prohibition and towards drug regulation. Finally, Justin spoke with Andrew Little about abortion law reform.
The amended TPPA bill, known as the CPTPP, passed its third reading in parliament this week. The Green Party is the only party which voted against the bill.
Claudia spoke to Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman, asking why the Green Party continues to oppose the controversial trade treaty.
This week on the Friday Wire, Stewart's hosting and anything could happen!
He chats with National Party MP Amy Adams about the latest polls, the fuel tax, and National's culture.
Plus, what's going on in Australia? Aussie correspondent Sam Smith is here to tell us all.
Then, Laura talks mental health with the chairwoman of the Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust, Corinda Taylor, and reaches out to the people to hear what they have to say.
Next, producer Claudia talks to Green Party MP Golriz Gharaman about the CPTPP.
And finally, political commentator Bryce Edwards discusses the ethics of political donations.
First up on the Wire, Oscar brings us a mental health worry week and community garden combo, speaking with Yana from Papaya Stories about community and using the city to improve our mental health. Lachlan then speaks with Ben Peterson from Unions Wellington about the bus strikes going on at the moment. Andrew Little joins Lachlan for their regular chat, this week discussing political donations and biases in the justice system when it comes to drug related offences. Finally, Ben brings us this day in history on China’s admittance to the United Nations in 1971.
This day in history goes back to 1971, for the admission of the People's Republic of China into the United Nations as the official representative of the Chinese nation.
Wellington Bus Drivers are on strike. Changes made to contracts by operator Tranzit have caused unionised drivers to take strike action in an effort to get tranzit around the negotiating table. The union says strike action will continue until tranzit begins discussions with workers over better condition.
Thomas Nash, along with Laura O’Connell Rapira, Max Harris and Nina Hall have established an organisation called New Zealand Alternative aiming to widen the public conversation around Aotearoa New Zealand’s role in the world. The press release announcing the event stated the "organisation will do research, policy development and advocacy to help shape a truly independent, values-driven foreign policy for Aotearoa as a South Pacific country". It’s first publication was released this morning, titled Aotearoa New Zealand and Conflict Prevention. Angus Coker Grant spoke with Thomas Nash to find out more and started by asking what exactly the New Zealand Alternative is. Just a note to remember, this interview was conducted yesterday and speaks of the launch as being ‘tomorrow’ but it was in fact this morning.
For Dear Science we talk about retracted research, germ infested hand dryers, and the latest Breakthrough award - which is worth more than the nobel prize.
Angus Grant speaks to Thomas Nash prior to the launch of new organisation New Zealand Alternative this morning
Ella Christensen looks into the effects on mental health from climate change for Worry Week this week
And Lisa Boudet takes us through the upcoming US midterm elections.
Former Malaysia deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim has returned to Malaysian politics after winning a by-election two weeks ago. Justin looks into the history of Malaysia and the relationship between Anwar and his mentor/friend/enemy/current Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
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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