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.
In a new segment highlighting the lead up to Christmas, the Friday Wire team explore different cultures and religions, and how each one marks and celebrates the closing of the year. This week we looked at the origins of the Diwali festival, and how it is celebrated in New Zealand!
Producer Conor spoke with Mark Jennings, formerly of Media Works, on the People's Commission on Public Broadcasting and Media. Mark served as a panelist on the commission, and travelled to various parts of the country to engage in discussion with concerned individuals.
Today Jami-Lee Ross talks to Kelly about the role of the opposition and what that entails in terms of keeping the government accountable. They touch on the debacle surrounding the water royalty and the TPP, and whether Jacinda Ardern's coalition notes should be made public
Today on Neighbourhood Watch with Nicole Wedding from Radio Adelaide we look at the legalisation of euthenasia in Victoria. We also discuss the sexual harassment allegations made against TV host Don Burke, and Nicole informs us of a surprising move from Triple J.
In a new segment highlighting the lead up to Christmas, the Friday Wire team explore different cultures and religions, and how they mark and celebrate the closing of the year. This week we looked at the origins of the Diwali festival, and how it is celebrated in New Zealand!
Producer Laura Kvigstad speaks with Wendy Preston of Mixit on the recent book launch of ‘It’s All of Us’. She then speaks with multiple organisations around refugees and the struggles faced with integration into New Zealand.
Harry and Minister responsible for the GCSB Andrew Little talk through yesterday's revelation regarding the GCSB and John Key misleading the public days before the 2014 election.
Lachlan spoke with Professor Andrew Geddis from the University of Otago about the revent controversy over Green MP Golriz Ghahraman's legal work to do with the Rwandan genocide.
Lachlan spoke with ACT leader David Seymour to discuss Labour's new foreign buyer directive which will require foreign buyers of land over 50000 square metres to undergo stricter checks from the government before they are able to make their purchase.
This Day in History takes us back to 1947, for part two of an earlier segment on the Balfour declaration 30 years earlier. November the 30th, 1947 saw the start of a civil war in the British Mandate of Palestine between Muslims and Jews, which eventually spun out to open conflict with the newly-formed state of Israel and several of its neighbours.
This was followed by several more wars between Israel and various coalitions of its Arab neighbours, which culminated in the 1973 "Yom Kippur" War.
DISCLAIMER: This Day in History uses news footage which reflect contemporary attitudes on subjects such as ethnicity and colonialism, these do not represent the views of 95bFM.
On today's Wire we have Otago University Law Professor, Andrew Geddis, to talk about Green Party MP Golriz Ghahraman's work for United Nations tribunals.
We've also got Labour Party MP Andrew Little to talk about recent revelations surrounding the GSCB, and there's also ACT MP David Seymour to talk about the government's changes to the Overseas Investment Office.
Finally there's This Day in History, for the second part of an earlier piece on the Arab-Israeli conflict. This week it's 1947 and the start of a civil war in Mandatory Palestine.
On todays show we have Allan Blackman in for Dear science, talking about lightning, antimatter, Schrodingers cat and hand sanitizer. Paddy Gibson talks to us about the Australian sentiment towards the issues on Manus island. Phil twyford talks to us about the future of rail and roads in NZ and finally we talk about TVNZ's new webseries Baby Mama's Club with director Hanelle Harris and producer Mia Marama Henry.
Webseries Baby Mama's Club was released on TVNZ On Demand and on Youtube yesterday. We speak with director Hanelle Harris and producer Mia Marama Henry.
For NZ viewers, find the show here bit.ly/2A9sJw8
If you're overseas, check it out here bit.ly/2ncA7Ca
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