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 today’s Wire, Lachlan speaks with Children’s Commissioner Andrew Becroft about the practice of youth being remanded to police cells. Our Wire Worry Week is refugees, and Harry speaks with Manager at the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Center Qemajl Murati, and president of the Refugee Council of New Zealand Dr Arif Saeid on refugees in New Zealand. Andrew Little joins lachlan for their regular chat, this week discussing The Bazley Report into allegations of sexual harassment at Russell McVeagh and the criminal cases review commission. Finally, this day in history returns, looking at the 1967 Newark riots.
The practice of holding youth in police cells while they await their court appearance began as a temporary measure in 1989. However, the practice has continued over the years, worrying legal experts and youth advocates as it breaches New Zealand’s international obligations and children’s human rights. Lachlan spoke with Children’s Commissioner Andrew Becroft about the practice, and why it is so dangerous.
A report on the New Zealand Nurses Organisation going on strike on Thursday 12th July for 24 hours. This report follows why the nurses are going on strike, covers the pay offers, their plan for patients and what the nurses are demanding from the District Health Board.
After two decades of never on, never off conflict, neighboring countries Ethiopia and Eritrea have taken a historic step towards long-lasting peace. Initiated by recently appointed Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed, the peace would bring economic relief and social stability to both sides.
Our producer Lisa Boudet delves into the roots of the conflict, and what the future holds for both parties.
On Dear Science with AUT’s Allan Blackman we talk Buckyballs, Penis pride and scientific journals with no shame. Darashpreet talks about the nurses strike which takes place tomorrow.
Lisa does a report on the peace deal between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Lillian Hanly talks about immigration and the myth of the refugee crisis with Jenny Stumer.
And finally Will does a report on the recent dialogue both international and local surrounding freedom of speech.
The Wednesday wire crew discuss the recent flaring up of discussions surrounding freedom of speech with the incoming arrival of far right speakers Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux.
News director Lillian Hanly talks to lecturer of media and communications Jenny Stuemer about her research focus- the fortification of borders around the world, and how the word 'crisis' impacts the publics perception of immigration and refugee issues
Changes have come to New Zealand’s music charts. With the advent of streaming, music markets around the world are looking for new and innovative ways to calculate their charts and display the most popular music of the week. New Zealand is no different and Recorded Music NZ have introduced two new charts called the Hot Singles and Hot NZ Singles. These are new charts designed to show what tracks are becoming more popular and gaining a following week to week. Sam Smith spoke to Recorded Music NZ’s General Data Manager Paul Kennedy about the changes.
It’s Wire Worry Week and we are focusing on refugees and the problems they are facing. Mary-Margaret talks to journalist and political commentator Tracey Barnett. Sam talks to Paul Kennedy from Recorded Music NZ about the recent changes to the NZ Music Charts. In his international segment this week, Conor looks into the rescue for the football team trapped in a cave in Thailand. Our greendesk friend Jack Marshall talks about bumble bees. Finally, Mary-Margaret asks the Kaipara Community Association about their opposition to a proposed Tegel Chicken Farm.
Tracey Barnett is a journalist and political commentator, who has done extensive work on New Zealand’s refugee quota and integration system. Mary-Margaret spoke to her firstly about some goings on in Italy recently, before we brought the conversation back home to Aotearoa.
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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