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 today's Wire Lachlan speaks with Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier about mental health in prisons. Producer Jemima discusses national's new leadership team with Associate Professor Grant Duncan. Andrew Little joins us for our regular, talking about Rangatahi courts, justice reform, and changes to the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. Finally Ben brings us this day in history on the death of Stalin in 1953.
Andrew Little joins Lachlan for their weekly chat, this week discussing Rangatahi courts, justice reform, and changes to the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act.
Jemima talks with Massey University Associate Professor Grant Duncan about the new National Party leadership. They spoke about National's new leader, Simon Bridges, and what New Zealand can expect to see from a National Party leadership change.
Jemima spoke with new National Party leader Simon Bridges about his new role. They talked about the leadership campaign and where he sees the National Party going in the lead up to the 2020 election.
This Day in History takes us back to 1953, for the date that, according to official Soviet history, Premier Joseph Stalin is said to have died, having suffered a cerebral hemorrhage several days earlier.
Everybody Eats is all about feeding people. They rescue food that would otherwise go to landfill. Every monday night at Gemayze Street in St Kevins arcade, people from all walks of life are encouraged to come along for a 3 course meal, which is a pay as you feel basis. Leonard Powell has a chat with Nick Loosely, the man behind Everybody Eats.
Bronwyn Bent is a co-director of The Race, a play by the Hobson Street Theatre Company in association with the Auckland City Mission, that is on as part of the Auckland Fringe Festival. It looks at the way racism affects those experiencing homelessness in Aotearoa and wants to spark a discussion that reminds people that ‘homeless don’t mean hopeless’. Lillian Hanly spoke with Bent before opening night tomorrow night and started by asking what the play was about.
The Government has confirmed the establishment of a four-member ministerial advisory group to investigate the establishment of a Public Media Funding Commission. The Labour Government has placed public broadcasting as a top priority for them this term especially when it comes to how public media is funded. Minister Claire Curran says a well-resourced public media is necessary to tell our stories and inform our democracy and that she wants to be sure we have the right framework for a resilient and sustainable New Zealand broadcasting system. Sam Smith spoke to the minister about the new advisory group and the state of public media.
Today is the first day back at uni for Auckland uni students and it’s a busy day on campus. All of the uni clubs have set up their stalls in the quad and Albert Park in the hopes they’ll get some new sign ups. Mary-Margaret went to ask some of the people at the stalls about joining clubs at uni and what it can add to your uni experience. She started by asking the student running the netball stall how many players are on their netball team.
Soala Wilson from The Works Hair Salon in Grey Lynn, with the help of Nicola Edwards from the Auckland Foundation, have created the charity SPINZ. This is Sanitary Products in New Zealand Schools. An organisation that takes donations and money to supply schools with pads. Lillian Hanly speaks with Soala and Nicola about the organisation and their attempt to raise awareness through a Round the Bays entry.
If you want to find out more, visit spinzs.co.nz or email soala.wilson@gmail.com if you want to have a go at running (or walking) with them this weekend.
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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