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 Kvigstad, speaks with the co creator of a new mental health initiative, Kiara Moynihan about their goals to spread awareness of mental health services around New Zealand.
Producer Conor spoke with Professor Malakai Koloamatangi, from Massey University, about last weeks symposium in Tonga, and the future of democracy building in the pacific kingdom.
The new Labour-led coalition government is making moves. The govt announced Tuesday plans to amend the Overseas Investment Act (OIA) to classify residential housing as "sensitive", which will effectively ban non-resident foreigners from buying existing homes without breaching major trade agreements. The government are moving as quickly as possible, the ban should come into effect early next year, and It’s a well timed political move coinciding with the potential of Labour signing a TPP agreement late next year.
Not all are impressed with the moves. Criticism if rife of it’s effectiveness to fix the housing crisis. Mike Hosking has said its the move to make to make everyone think youre doing something. But is ths the case?
I spoke earlier with Political commentator Bryce Edwards to analyse what the ban means for Labour and this government.
The news has come that Auckland City council are to kickstart a project that will see the Ports of Auckland moved. Many might rejoice at this idea, the eye sore of Auckland’s waterfront will finally be removed, and the land can be redeveloped to beautiful green pastures.
These dreams may not become a reality any time soon. The ports of Auckland have preemptively released their 30 year plan, highlighting existing and future projects that will see Auckland’s waterfront transformed in the meantime.
I spoke with Ports of Auckland CEO Tony Gibson to find out what Aucklanders can expect from their port over the next 30 years.
Lachlan spoke with The Opportunities Party Co-Deputy Leader Geoff Simmons about Labour's latest housing policy announcement on banning foreign buyers and they also discuss the future of TOP.
Lachlan spoke with Ross Bell from the New Zealand Drug Foundation about Labour's promised referendum on the legalisation of cannabis and drug policy in Aotearoa more generally.
Tina Ngata of Ngati Porou is an indigenous and environmental rights advocate. Recently she posted an open letter to Jason Momoa regarding his apology for the joke about rape he made at a Game of Thrones press event in light of the MeToo campaign. Ngata welcomes his apology, but critiques they way statements like these attempt to shut a conversation down, and the way others continue to shut the conversation down once people have apologised instead of continuing to the point where these issues are put on the table and people are made uncomfortable and held accountable for these issues. So Lillian Hanly and Tina had a conversation about it. They also bring the discussions back home to discuss Once Were Warriors and the new film in cinemas called Waru that deals with child abuse.
Yesterday, the Australian run detention centre on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, was shut down after PNG's supreme court ruled its existence unconstitutional.
Around 600 asylum seekers are determined to stay in the detention centre, due to fears of violence by locals and police.
There are reports of the refugees filling rubbish bins with rainwater, due to the water supply being cut-off and reports of locals looting the camp.
Producer Reuben McLaren spoke to Amnesty Internatonal's Kate Schuetze, who is currently on Manus Island, to find out more.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has seen more than 3 million people displaced from their home amidst growing violence in Kasai Province.
The UN High Commissioner For Refugees said that over 400,000 have been displaced in the last three months alone and that the unrest and violence caused by the ongoing ethno-political conflict could cause that number to rise dramatically.
bFM's Conor Knell spoke to Robert Patman about the crisis.
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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