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.
Producer Laura speaks with political coordinator of AAAP, Ricardo Menendez March, on punitive costs placed upon mothers who do not list the biological father's name on their child's birth certificate.
Reporter Conor Knell speaks to Doctor of International Politics at Auckland University, Thomas Gregory, on the state of democracy in Turkey.
Producer Laura speaks with political coordinator of AAAP, Ricardo Menendez March, on punitive costs placed upon mothers who do not list the biological father's name on their child's birth certificate.
This week in Neighbourhood Watch with Nicole Wedding from Radio Adelaide, we talk about a campaign being undertaken in Tasmania to save 500,000 wildlife from death by car.
Producer Conor speaks with Susan St John of the Child Poverty Action Group, about treasury's mistake in projecting child poverty reduction numbers.
And of course we continue our weekly chat with National Party MP, Jami-Lee Ross. Kelly asks him to explain the error Treasury made in relation to the numbers of children forecast to be lifted out of poverty.
News and Editorial Director Lillian Hanly responds to conversations by people who have never been involved in Te Reo Māori revitalisation about the revitalisation of Te Reo Māori. In this report, Lillian speaks with Glenis Philip-Barbara, Finn Ogle, Max Harris and Vincent Olsen-Reeder - people who have been involved with language revitalisation efforts. Thank you also to Leonie Pihama, Tina Ngata and Leonie Hayden for their public commentary.
Surprisingly strong MDMA has hit NZ shores. Some might rejoice at this news, but it’s cause for concern, according to Wendy Allison, Director of Know Your Stuff; An organisation aimed at drug use testing and harm reduction at events and festivals nationwide. With the progam now in it’s third summer season of drug testing, I caught up with Allison to talk about what the organisation is all about, how they operate, and the risks with stronger drugs hitting our summer festivals.
Recent research has shown New Zealanders are the most wasteful people in the developed world, producing 3.86kg of waste per capita per day. The problem is set to get worse with China refusing to take much of the low grade plastic is has previously disposed of for us. I spoke with Jo Knight from Zero Waste NZ about waste in Aotearoa and what we need to do to produce less of it. I began by asking her why we produce so much waste.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand is warning that if its current levels of funding are not increased their ability to protect those in the water will be seriously undermined. They have had to move volunteers from two busy Auckland beaches to patrol more dangerous areas in recent days and are calling on central government to give them the finances they need to adequately patrol the beaches they need to. Lachlan spoke to Matt Warren from life saving New Zealand about their funding issues and what he’d like see done to fix them.
This Day in History takes us from the end of 1973 Arab-Israeli War, through the Camp David Accords, the invasion of Lebanon, the First Intifada, the Oslo Accords, the Second Intifada and Operation Cast Lead.
Forest and Bird have released a report on an attempted cover up of New Zealand's fisheries. The report highlights a string of incidents on fishing vessels where unwanted mammals and birds have been caught in nets and lines, resulting in countless deaths of dolphins, sealions and albatross. There have been attempts from fishing groups to ask for permission to not release images of these incidents, in fear that they may tarnish the reputation of New Zealands fishing and fish exports. Producer Will spoke with Forest and Bird chief executive Kevin Hague about what their report unconvered.
On The Wire today we have Dear Science with Allan Blackman who tells us about amalgam fillings, trace elements and chromium, and fake rainbow water.
Tracey Martin is back at work so we hear about the last stretch in the government's first 100 days.
Producer Will Parsonson talks to CEO Kevin Hague from Forest and Bird regarding their report that highlights a cover up attempt from NZ Fisheries.
Finally, we hear from Dr. Kalama O Ka Aina from Hawaii who talks us through what happened after the false missile alert earlier this week and discusses why nuclear war is only a threat because of America's occupation of their land.
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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