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.
Maumahara Girlie is a contemporary theatre show at the Basement Theatre playing during the Matariki Festival from the 3rd - 7th July. Based on a script for Window Gallery by Mya Morrison Middleton who is of Ngai Tahu descent, it features a group of young Māori women grappling with shame and decolonisation, and the urbanisation of their identity, particularly in regards to disconnection and language. Lillian Hanly spoke with both Mya and Freddy Carr, of Ngai Tuhoe and Ngati Awa descent, who is one of the actors in the show, about some of the issues the script speaks to. We ended up having a conversation for almost half an hour. Lillian started by asking what the inspiration was for this story.
On Dear Science with AUT’s Allan Blackman we talk music for babies, flat earths, and the problems with psychology experiments.
Jenny Marcroft from NZ first gives us an update on the goings on with Kauri Dieback.
Our producer Darashpreet speaks to Cee Payne about the most recent development in the Nurses pay and working conditions negotiations, and then speaks with Richard Wagstaff from the Council of Trade Unions regarding the decision.
For Wire Worry Week, Lisa talks to Associate Professor Gillian Abel about the current health and safety situation in the sex work industry.
Finally, Lillian has a chat with writer of Maumahara Girlie Mya Morrison Middleton and performer Freddy Carr, a performance playing at BAsement Theatre in early July. This is just a snippet of the long interview, which is podcasted separately.
The New Zealand Nurses organisation has rejected the District Health Board’s latest pay offer, which was increased by 15%. After 9 years of underfunding in the health area, the nurses have reached a breaking point. With poor work conditions, low staffing and high pressure, the nurses are demanding the District Health Board do something about this issue. The New Zealand Nurses organisation are using this opportunity to be loud and clear with the changes they expect in the system, after being let down for many years. This issue is not about nurses wanting more money, but about getting more appreciation and respect for their line of work.
A social media post by a nurse which commented on this issue being painted solely about pay by mainstream media reminded people the negotiations are more than that. Nurses are calling for safer staffing and recognition of more nurses being needed in wards. The offer the District Health Board proposed equated to approximately 1 to 2 extra nurses for each across New Zealand. This would not be sufficient enough to cover staffing issues or safely care for patients. The social media post also mentioned that new graduate nurses are feeling unprepared and ill supported by the system.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation Industrial Services Manager, Cee Payne spoke a little bit more about this, as did Richard Wagstaff, President of the Council of Trade Unions who has been supporting the nurses movement.
Tuesday Wire for the 19th of June 2018. Busy show!
Conor looks into Singapore on the International Desk, Leonard checked out whats happening with the future changes on K Road, Wire Worry Week sees Laura chat to Dame Catherine Healy about Sex Work, on the Green Desk Jack discusses Kokako in the Taranaki with Karen Shaumacher.
Finally, the lovely Trevor graces Everday People with his wisdom.
In International News, Conor looks at the country hosting the Trump-Kim summit and looks behind the clean, orderly streets at the nations political structure and in doing so, he poses a question; would you sacrifice your political freedom for social harmony and the elimination of social ills.
Leonard caught up with Craig Neilson from Auckland Transport to discuss the changes that are planning to be made on Karangahape Road. Today was the last day of a weeklong pop up at 290 K road, showcasing the plans for the future.
Mary-Margaret speaks to Dalton Kelly about how the government’s proposed tourism tax will impact the rural GP network. We have a chat to the green party MP Chloe Swarbrick about Land Information Minister Eujayne sage signing off on the expansion of a chinese water bottling company and Marama Davidsons accusations of systemic racism by the police. Damien speaks to Kaikoura Wildlife Rescue about the red billed gulls that were brutally killed in Kaikoura. Reuben has a chat to lawyer Michael Bott about his accusations that police were effectively acting as private security for the defense industry expo last year in Wellington.
The government has proposed charging tourists a levy of up to $35 on arrival. While Australians and Pacific Islanders would be exempt, it would raise eighty million dollars in the first year. The tax revenue will go towards aiding the pressures on infrastructure from high tourist numbers. Dalton Kelly is the CEO of the Rural GP Network, the organisation calling for an allocation of the tax revenue because of the high demand they experience from tourists. Mary-Margaret started by asking him to tell us how big the network is.
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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