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 Government has announced it will remove the cap on gender affirmation surgeries for trans people in Aotearoa. Previously, the cap stood at 4 surgeries every 2 years, leaving many on the over 100 person waitlist feeling deeply discouraged. Lachlan spoke with Ahi Wi Hongi from gender minorities Aotearoa about the cap being lifted.
This day in history looks at the 2007 Karsaz bombing in Karachi, Pakistan, which targeted People's Party leader Benazir Bhutto. Although it failed to kill Bhutto, the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan would be assassinated later that year.
First up on today's Wire we discuss the fallout from Jami-Lee Ross' secret recording of Simon Bridges, then Oscar unveils his new segment, Community Garden, this week speaking to Kieran from movespace. Andrew Little joins Lachlan for their regular chat, talking post prison support and the government’s response to an Israeli court ordering New Zealanders to pay a fine for encouraging Lorde to cancel a concert in Tel Aviv. Lachland also speaks with Ahi from gender minorities Aoteaora about the governemnet removing the cap on gender affirmation surgery, and finally, this day in history returns to look at the 2007 bombing in Karsaz, in Karachi Pakistan.
Justine Sachs is a co-founder of Dayenu, which is a group of young New Zealand Jews against the occupation of Palestine. Sachs is also one of the co-authors of the open letter to Lorde urging her not to perform in Tel Aviv. Following the cancellation of Lorde’s concert, some Israeli teenagers took the case to court hoping to seek damages. This week, Justine and Nadia Abu-Shanab (the other co-author) became aware that they had been ordered by an Israeli court to pay ‘compensation’ of more than $18,000 dollars. This lawsuit is possible after the passing of legislation in 2011 that allows individuals or companies impacted by the Boycott Divest and Sanction movement to sue for damages in Israeli courts. Instead of paying the fine, Nadia and Justine decided to create a fundraising campaign which would be donated to the Gaza Mental Health Foundation. A statement from the give a little page says, ‘The foundation will send donations in their entirety to organisations which are providing vital mental health support to the traumatised families of the Gaza Strip. Emotional distress is a lived reality for Palestinians in Gaza, where over half of children suffer PTSD as a result of Israeli military attacks.’ I got in touch with Justine to find out more and started by asking for some context around the letter to Lorde.
Hit & Run co-author Nicky Hager published in North & South on Monday a new lengthy investigation into the New Zealand Defence Force. The article mentions serious allegations of war crime cover-up, sexual abuse, and a culture of drinking devatating for soldier's mental health and the security of their loved ones.
This interview covers the allegations, as well as Hager's fight for transparency, and the consequences of the further deployement of NZ troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Last week, when we focused on cultural appropriation for Worry Week, Mary-Margaret wanted to look into the modern uses of kava, and ask an expert about the monetisation of it and the problems that may arise from that. Daniel Hernandez is an anthropology lecturer here at Auckland uni, and a lot of his research has centred around kava. He started by telling Mary-Margaret about the history of the plant.
This week Ben talks with James Roberts from Organise Aotearoa and Valerie Morse from Auckland Peace Action about Nicky Hager's new investigation into wrongdoing within the New Zealand Defence Force.
Nicky Hager has exposed allegations of sexual assault, war crimes in Afghanistan and a homophobic culture within the New Zealand Defence Force. Ben speaks to Organise Aotearoa who are picketing at the Defence Force’s offices today. Olivia speaks to the Auckland Women’s Centre’s Leonie Morris about their forum on Mana Wahine last week. In international news, Justin takes us to South Korea where a former president has just been jailed for accepting bribes from large companies including Samsung. Mary-Margaret speaks to an Auckland University anthropology lecturer about kava, and its place in the modern Pacific world. And finally, for the Green Desk this week, we have a chat with Auckland Council's Chief Sustainability Officer about the city’s Climate Action Plan.
Former South Korean president Lee Myung Bak has been jailed for 15 years for receiving bribes from some of the country’s (and the world’s) largest companies, including Samsung. Justin looks into what role these companies play in South Korea and the relations they have with the administration.
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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