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.
Sam Smith talks to a politics lecturer from Aston University about an article she wrote on Childish Gambino’s poignant video ‘This Is America’. Mary-Margaret asks the Council of Trade Unions Vice-President about how the gender pay principles announced by the government last night will impact pay equity. In his international segment this week, Conor Knell does some myth busting about farm attacks in South Africa. Laura Kvigstad learns about a new alcohol interlock sentence initiated by the government due to the prevalence of drink driving. Our greendesk friend Jack Marshall learns about new research into how Australian moths use magnetic fields to migrate.
In international news this week, a new study has been released saying that farm murders are down in South Africa, contrary to the rhetoric spread by conservative and far right commentators overseas. Conor looks into this and other problems surrounding South Africa's violent crime rate to work out what's true and what is simply ideological dogma
The government last night announced five principles that are crucial in New Zealand for achieving pay equity. They are: freedom from bias and discrimination, transparency and accessibility, acknowledging the relationship between paid and unpaid work, sustainability, and participation and engagement. Mary-Margaret spoke to the Council of Trade Unions vice-president Rachel Mackintosh about how this will help to close the gender pay gap. She started by asking her to explain some of the more specific principles.
From July 1st, anyone convicted of two or more drink-driving offences within five years, or any first time offenders caught driving more than 3 point 2 times the legal alcohol limit will be subject to an alcohol interlock sentence. This is a device that prevents people who are intoxicated from driving. Laura Kvigstad spoke with The CEO of No One Ever Stands Alone, Leah Abrams, on the matter, asking what her thoughts were on the recent change.
The United Nations has recently revealed a new report that shows the growing certainty that two degrees of warming will have a servere impact for humanity. Producer Damian Rowe spoke to Dr Alex Macmillan about its implications to New Zealand and the changes that will need to be made on the Zero Carbon Bill.
The Government has announced an extension on the life-time limit on student loans for medical students from 8 years to 10 years. Producer Damian Rowe spoke to Te Oranga president Chayce Glass on the implications this will have for students and for Maori, Pasifika and rural students.
Damian talks to Dr Alex Macmillan from OraTaiao about the new UN climate change report that indicateswe've been sitting on our hands for too long.
Reuben speaks to Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson about the government's record investment into sustainable transport and the push to implement stock monitoring cameras after footage of a sharemilker repeatedly beating cows came to light.
Laura Kvigstad speaks to Emilie Rakete from People Against Prisons Aotearoa about the recent Ministry of Justice report that is projecting a rise of four thousand prisoners over the next decade.
Damian Rowe also speaks to Chayce Glass from the Maori Medical Students' Association, Te Oranga, about the student loan cap extension and what it will mean for medical students.
The Minister for Education, Chris Hipkins, has announced a $31.7 million boost into the tertiary education sector, which the government says will increase the quality of lifelong learning opportunities. It comes after a budget which saw no extra money for tertiary institutes.
The Tertiary Education Union have welcomed the announcement, saying the increase will help to stabilise the sector whilst essential work is done to reform it and the way it is funded.
Stewart had a chat this morning with Sandra Grey, the National President of the Tertiary Education Union, about why this funding injection was so important, and started by asking her what this announcement actually means for tertiary institutes?
This wire we focus on the domestic violence victims protection bill, Jennifer-Rose Tamati speaks with Holly Carrington from Shine on what the new Domestic Violence- Victims Protection Bill means for victims of domestic violence and then we have a chat with National Party Member Erica Stanford on the bill and why the National Party pulled support for it. Then we pop across the ditch the talk with Rachel McDonald from Radio Adelaide about a new bill that has sparked contraversy, with some saying it compromises free speach. After that Stewart Sowman-Lund speaks with the National President of the Tertiary Education Union, Sandra Grey, about the announcement of increases in tertiary funding. AND we be chat about the results of our twitter poll on the matter. Finally, Lillian Hanly speaks to the creator of the organization Rise Up 4 Homelessness, Shari Nevahlagi about the upcoming homelessness count announced by Auckland Council.
Shari Nevalagi created the organisation Rise Up for Homelessness. She's a solo mother of two children, both with autism, and has autism herself. She spends time volunteering with homeless Whānau and neurodiverse Whānau in Tāmaki Makaurau, and is currently working in Manurewa helping to provide rough sleepers with food and support.
Lillian Hanly spoke with Shari following the news that Mayor Phil Goff has announced a 'homelessness count', and talked with her about her concerns.
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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