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.
With the University of Auckland recently deciding to close the creative libraries and move the books to the general library, Elam students and others in the art community felt there needed to be an educational common space to fill the gap left. Lachlan spoke with Kathryn Aucamp about the Samoa House project, a new space for the arts community opening on K rd.
First up on the Wire, Andrew Little joins us to discuss overlapping treaty claims, ministry of justice strike action, and possible reforms to the OIA. Neutral corner returns, looking at a recent deal between Russia and Turkey regarding Idlib province in Syria. Oscar brings us a report on women’s suffrage and voting and the intersectionality of our democratic process. Lachlan speaks with Kathryn Aucamp about the new Samoa House library. Finally, This Day in History looks at the 1982 NFL players strike.
For Dear Science we talk about plastic in the ocean, predisposed forgiveness, and Ig-Nobel prizes.
From NZ First, Fletcher Tabuteau talks to us about the State of the Government event in the weekend and the extension of the NZ Defence Force's troops in the Middle East.
Darashpreet Johal talks to Māmari Stephens, senior lecturer at the School of Law at Victoria University about using the words sexual harassment, assault and misconduct interchangeably.
And finally, Lisa Boudet speaks with Jackie Blue from the Human Rights Commission on the anniversary of women’s suffrage.
Some interesting texts in this week as well with a bit of feedback from Lillian Hanly...
New Zealand is celebrating the 125th birthday of the Electoral Act which granted all women above the age of 21 in Aotearoa New Zealand the right to vote. Across the country, the suffragettes' achievement are being acknowledged, as well as that of all pioneering wahine from then and now.
But if this piece of legislation made New Zealand the first self-governing country in the world to access universal suffrage, let's not forget the long roads that still awaits women to reach equality.
Lisa talks to Dr Jackie Blue, the Equal Employment Opportunities and Women’s rights Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission. They discuss the landmark legislation, its modern ramifications, but also the challenges ahead.
It’s Wire Worry Week and we are focussing on sexual harassment. Mary-Margaret looks at language and the role it plays in this landscape by examining Marama Davidson's calls to reclaim the c word. In his international segment this week, Conor is taking us to Uganda where Ugandan Indians want to become recognised as an official tribe. Justin is covering the Hong Kong typhoons and gives us a report on what is happening there. Leonard has come back with an everyday people, and he talks to poet David Merritt. And finally, for the Green Desk this week, we go post-truth and ask why a select few doubt the science around 1080.
This worry week, we are looking at sexual harassment. Language plays a huge factor in this, so Mary-Margaret decided to analyse Marama Davidson’s recent calls for women to reclaim the c word. Warning: this story contains expletives.
Last night after Everbody Eats on K Rd, Leonard came across local legend David Merritt selling his poetry zines outside St Kevin's arcade. He asked him some questions.
This week, Conor looks into the Indian community in Uganda and their fight to be recognised as an official tribe of Uganda. We explore the history of these people, their current place in the country and we listen to their case for being culturally accepted as Ugandan.
As doubt around the use of 1080 has flared up in the public sphere and headlines of New Zealand’s media. We thought it was time for the Greendesk address the issue. Jack Marshall has this story.
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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