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.
Development organisation Oxfam says the Paradise Papers are clear evidence of an unjust global system, that allows those with immense wealth to avoid paying their fair share of tax, fuelling poverty and inequality.
The Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) across multiple organisations have been working for months on the Paradise Papers, which include over 13 million documents in total, making it the largest data leak in history.
India speaks to Oxfam New Zealand’s Executive Director Rachael Le Mesurier about the revelations.
This week on the Tuesday Wire, we look at the Paradise Papers, which examine how the world's elite use offshore tax havens, Labour's changes to paid parental leave and the Equal Pay Act, and accessibility issues in Auckland's transport system. Cartoonist Toby Morris also explains the ethics of cartoons and the line of racism and on the Green Desk we look at warmer oceans and their effects on reefs.
Illustrator Toby Morris discusses ethics in cartoons, following a controversy around two Fairfax pieces that have been labelled by some as ‘racist’ and unfair.
Last week it was announced that Auckland is now a UNESCO city of music, joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. The Creative Cities Network was started in 2004 to promote social, economic and cultural development among cities who have identified creativity as a strategic factor and enabler for sustainable urban development. Auckland will join the 180 members from 72 countries around the world covering seven creative fields and becomes just the 31st city of music. Sam Smith spoke to Recorded Music NZ’s Mark Roach about the news and what it means for the local music scene.
Rohan Evans is the owner and operator of the music venue The Wine Cellar which has become a staple first-gig venue in the Auckland music scene. As living costs are rising and venues in Auckland are closing down, the music scene has run into problems with audience participation, venue shortages, and gentrification affecting artists. Joel Thomas talked to Rohan about these issues, and how they contributes to the cyclical boom and bust nature of the Auckland Music Scene.
Leonard Powell speaks to John Greet from the Te Karanga Trust about the evolution of the Trust over the past decade, and the effect that music workshops are having for different communities and cultures around Auckland.
The Wire with host Joel Thomas, and producers Leonard Powell and Sam Smith. Joel chatted to Green Party member Marama Davidson about the Parihaka Bill, and the High Court’s decision on the previous Government’s climate change action. For the Pacific News segment Southern Cross, Joel talked with AUT Pacific Media Centre’s Kendall Hutt about the ongoing situation on Manus Island. Producer Leonard Powell spoke to John Greet from the Te Karanga Trust to discuss how the trust operates, and how its music workshops are providing important outlets for youth. Joel had a chat to Rohan Evans, the owner and operator of the live music venue The Wine Cellar about the state of Auckland’s music scene. Also, Producer Sam Smith talked to Mark Roach from Recorded Music NZ about Auckland becoming a UNESCO city of music.
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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