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.
First up on the Wire, Oscar speaks with Emmy Rākete from People Against Prisons Aotearoa about the exploitation of prisoners’ labour. Neutral corner looks at the ongoing saga that is Simon Bridges’ expenses leak. Andrew Little joins us for our regular chat, this week discussing a possible victim focussed justice summit and sentencing for drug related offences. Finally, Ben brings us this day in history on the Allied Control Council of Germany following WW2.
Oscar Perress spoke to Emmy Rākete from People against Prisons Aotearoa, about the prison labour force, both nationally and internationally, and the conditions that allow for it to exist.
The University of Otago is building a new dental teaching facility and patient treatment clinic in South Auckland to help meet the health needs of people, and provide students with wide ranging opportunities in a diverse community.
The building is being built on land owned by Counties Manukau District Health Board, and will be helping people in South Auckland with their dental issues.
FORTY EIGHT final year, Bachelor of Dental Surgery will be assigned to the counties manukau facility, as part of their coursework. Construction of the building is already underway and is proposed to be completed by TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY.
To find out more about why the facility is being built in South Auckland and how it’s all coming about, Darashpreet spoke to Professor Paul Brunton, the Pro-Vice Chancellor Division of Health Sciences.
Andra, founding member, and Nik, co-creator, of a game called Sooth, joined Lillian Hanly in studio this week. They are part of a group of people who came together to do prototypes, artwork, and testing in order to get this game ready for commercial use. What is this game you say? Essentially it’s a question game with yes or no answers. The rules are very loose and you can really make the game whatever you want it to be, whether it is serious or just fun. Some of the questions go like this, Do you tolerate intolerance? Do you go by the name your parents gave you? Are you famous enough to be in the news when you’re arrested for intoxication? Is a headmaster more important than a politician? Anyway. The best way of understanding the game is to play it. So Lillian started by asking Nik and Andra how this all began and then got some fellow bFMers in the studio to play the game…
So that was Sooth! If you’re interested in playing you might want to go checkout their facebook page to find out more or get in touch with them, as well as head to their Boosted page to support the effort.
American whistleblower Chelsea Manning is planning on coming to New Zealand as part of a speaking tour, but the National Party believes the activist should not be allowed to enter the country. The reason cited is Manning's previous criminal conviction.
Producer Daniel Meech spoke to Green Party MP and Human Rights lawyer Golriz Ghahraman and started with asking about who Chelsea Manning is, and what she did.
On Dear Science with AUT’s Allan Blackman we are talking about how we are capable of smelling, dodgy psych studies, and a botched execution in a Nebraska state which may be due to the drugs used.
Daniel Meech talks to Green Party MP Golriz Ghahraman about the upcoming Chelsea Manning talk and National’s desire to see her banned from entering the country on the ground of her previous conviction.
Lillian talked to some co founders of the game Sooth to find out what it is all about
Darashpreet talks to Professor Paul Brunton about the new dental facility University of Otago will be building in South Auckland
After two Liberal Party leadership spills last week, Malcolm Turnbull has been ousted as party leader and Prime Minister on Friday. Treasurer Scott Morrison became the 30th Prime Minister of Australia, after defeating Peter Dutton and Julie Bishop. Justin spoke to Dr Peter Chen of the University of Sydney about what caused the leadership challenges and how it will affect trans-Tasman relations, Dr Jill Sheppard of the Australian National University about the new government’s effects on refugee and climate change policies and Frank Bongiorno of the Australian National University on the legacy of these challenges on Australian political history.
This week on the Greendesk, to get fresh for fashion week Jack has a story about ethical fashion with a founder of the site Well Made Clothes. Justin takes us to Australia for international news this week - he speaks to three Australian academics about what’s been happening over there. Leonard speaks to Mik Smellie about the random acts of kindness day and Splice organisation. And finally, Conor recaps Bob Muller’s investigation against the Trump 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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