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.
On Dear Science with AUT’s Allan Blackman we talk abour organic molecules on Mars; a device can produce water out of thin air and Professor Margaret Brimble is First NZ woman to become a fellow of The Royal Society of London. Reuben interviews the chief executive of Amnesty International about possible war crimes committed by the US led coalition on Syria. Darashpreet speaks to Keren Segal about fusion power. Reuben also speaks to the founder of Housing First about the program’s beginnings and its criticisms. Darshpreet also has a report on the US North korea Singapore summit. Lastly, Lucy speaks to RNZ reporter Phil Pennington about combustible building cladding in Auckland.
1 year on from the awful Grenfell Tower fire in London, the Auckland Council have declared that the highly combustible aluminium polyethylene filled cladding is safe for use in Aucklands buildings.
The council have produced a list naming all the buildings with the cladding which include 7 Auckland hospital buildings and Auckland universities OGGB building.
Lucy Austin spoke with RNZ reporter Phil Pennington to find out more.
A report by Amnesty International suggests that the US-led coalition against ISIS may have committed war crimes during the offensive to take back the city of Raqqa in Syria.
Reuben McLaren speaks to Amnesty International NZ Chief Executive Tony Blackett about the report.
29 years after the Tiananmen Square protests resulted in thousands dead, Conor looks at the state of human rights in China today and how New Zealand can reconcile criticising how its biggest trading partner treats its own people
Today on the Wire:
Leonard speaks to Terry Foote about the new electronic busses in Christchurch
Conor goes in depth on China, with the 29th Anniversary of Tiananmen Square protests
Jack does the Green Desk w Shane Jones, the discuss 1 billion trees being planted
Will and Oscar do a report about the Three Strikes Law
Annora graces the Everday People segment
Oscar Peres speaks to Emily Rakete from People Against Prisons Aotearoa about the pros and cons of the Three Strikes Law and what impact it has on our corrections system and the communities who see high rates of crime
Mary-Margaret talks to the Vice-President of Auckland University’s Student Union about the membership of eight uni executives at the expensive Northern Club. We check in with Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson about how they did in the Northcote by-election, and prison reform. Lillian Hanly talks to the Mental Health Foundation about the language media uses in suicide coverage. Is it appropriate? Damian Rowe speaks to Forest and Bird chief executive Kevin Hague about fishing skippers avoiding legal MPI obligations. And finally Lillian talks to Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta about the digitization of a number of historic Māori magazines from the 1970s and 80s.
Following immense backlash from the student body about proposed closures of 4 libraries that belong to the Arts faculties, it has been found that Auckland University executives have spent almost $40,000 in 4 years on eight memberships at the Northern Club. Vice Chancellor Stuart McCucheon says the memberships are worthwhile because they host functions that raise funds for the university. However, Auckland University Student Association doesn’t understand why they need expensive membership to have those kinds of meetings, and say that it's absolutely inappropriate to spend that kind of money when the university is quoting tight financial constraints as a justification for cutting libraries and entire language programs. Mary-Margaret spoke to vice-president Jessica Palaret about the student union’s thoughts.
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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