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.
Auckland’s annual TEDx event is coming up in a few weeks, so Mary-Margaret spoke to creative director Ethan Alderson-Hughes about what’s in stock for this year. One speaker is Hemi Kelly, who also joined us, to talk about how TEDx provides a platform for ideas that exist outside of the mainstream. I started by asking Ethan to explain what TEDx is.
Saturday the 13th of October
https://tedxauckland.com/events/2018/
You can also get a student discount if you send a photo of your student ID when you purchase tickets.
The Sentencing Act 2002 s 27 allows those representing offenders to provide a cultural report of their background to support the offender’s case for not going to prison or for a shorter period. Jemima spoke with High Court barrister and solicitor and senior lecturer at AUT Law School, Khylee Quince, about s 27 reports. They discussed why they are making a positive difference for Māori offender.
This week on the Monday Wire, Jemima spoke with co-leader of the Green Party, James Shaw, about a Warrant of Fitness for housing and the future of electric cars. Southern Cross was back to discuss press freedom in Nepal, protests against President Duterte in the Philippines and the pre-election mood in Fiji. Damian spoke with the Secretary for the Equality Network, Peter Malcom, about the tax interim report. Damian also talked tothe Director of the Office for Disability Issues, Brian Coffey, about NZ Sign Language strategy. Finally, Jemima spoke to High Court barrister and solicitor, Khylee Quince, about Sentencing Act s 27 cultural reports and why they are making a difference for Māori.
The Minister for Disability Issues, Carmel Sepuloni has recently released The New Zeland Siign Language Strategy to promote the uptake and use of New Zealand sign language. Producer Damian Rowe spoke to director of the Office for Disability issues Brian Coffey about the new strategy.
Tax Working Group recently released its interim report which provides reccomendations for the New Zealand tax system. Producer Damian Rowe spoke to Equaltiy Network's Peter Malcom to talk about the report regarding its ability to address inequality.
Laura Kvigstad speaks with National MP, Amy Adams on why National opposes a capital gains tax and the issues with the new proposition from the tax working group. Then they discussing Housing New Zealand compensation tenants who were evicted due to illegitimate meth testing. Finally, they discuss how Adam's spent the anniversary of women's sufferage and the new gender pay equity bill.
First up on the Friday Wire, National Party Member Amy Adams talks with us about a new gender pay equity group, capital gains tax and Housing New Zeland's announcement to refund the evictions that occured due to the meth testing fiasco.
The, Stewart Sowman-Lund talks with tax consultant Terry Baucher about what a capital gains tax could mean for New Zealand.
Following that, we talk with Samantha Smith in Neighbourhood Watch on needles being found in fruit in Australia and a royal commision inquiry into state care.
Next, Jenn responds to Don Brash’s interpretation of ‘The Haka’ with a report.
And finally, for Wire Worry Week, Executive Director of BodySafe, Debbie Tohill, talks with us on what exactly consent is.
Last week Don Brash once again gave his quite negative opinion on Māori. He was asked on RNZ to respond to a listener who described the Haka as a valuable part of the country's cultural identity. His response frustrated and saddened me but also got me thinking about language, culture and interpretation. These were topics which were discussed with Margaret Mutu last week so I made a report as an extension of last week's interview.
Neutral corner looks at a recent agreement between Russia and Turkey regarding the future of Syria's Idlib province. To do so we compare the coverage of the agreement by the media outlets of both states, RT (formerly Russia Today) and TRT World, a subsidiary of the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation.
Reporter Oscar Perress (with a little interjection and discussion from host Lachlan Balfour) discusses the issues with the lack intersectionality in the 1893 Electoral Act, and how the passing of the act was pivotal to furthering the movement but perhaps was not the conclusion as it is often recognised as.
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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