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 todays show we have Sam Smith captaining our discussions into our election focused coverage on the problems of liveability in New Zealand. We delve into child poverty and transportation with New Zealand First's Tracey Martin. As per usual we get our minds blown by AUT's Allan Blackman talking about the IG-Nobel prize as well as how we avoided nuclear destruction during the cold war.
Conversations about immigration have more often than not been about 'quality immigrants' this election, with some people getting tired and hurt by this rhetoric. Lillian Hanly speaks to a NZ born Chinese woman, and a Chinese immigrant about the effects of such discussions.
Many of the topics that have been most prominent this election are closely linked to issues of family violence.
To understand the issues in this area and how, and if, they're being addressed by political policy, India spoke to Dr Ang Jury, the Chief Executive of Women's Refuge. She then spoke to Jackie Clark who runs the support and advocacy organisation The Aunties.
On our coverage on the lead up to election day we are focusing on a different issue each week. This week we are taking a look at liveability.
Producer Lucy Austin talked to Aucklanders about their views on livability.
Reuben McLaren also had a chat with Moira Lawler from Lifewise charitable trust to get an overview of New Zealand's livability conditions. Lifewise is community social development organisation that work with families, the elderly and children with disabilities, and also deals with social issues such as homelessness.
There has been a lot of confusion in the media recently about Māori seats. 95bFM reporter Sam Smith made a report on their history, and how they work, in order to clear up any misconceptions.
Over the weekend a number of complaints have been made by Māori about issues during advanced voting, Lillian Hanly spoke with Veronica Tawhai who laid the complaints with the electoral commision.
On the Wire with Kelly for Rāmere, the 15th Mahuru:
Kelly talked with Stephens Mills from UMR research on the volatility and accuracy of polling in New Zealand.
She then chats with MP for Te Roopu Nahinara, the National Party, Jami-Lee Ross on the topic of health. They begin by discussing collective health spending over the past 9 years and National's vision should they be re-elected.
On Neighbourhood Watch this week: Nicole Wedding from Radio Adelaide is chatting to us about Rebel Wilson's recent win of a defamation case, the same sex postal vote, and changes to Australian media laws.
Laura and Conor chat with Ross Bell from the NZ Drug Foundation, and Abe Gray from The Opportunities Party. We discuss drug reform in New Zealand and the current election debate surrounding the issue.
Laura and Conor chat with Ross Bell from the NZ Drug Foundation, and Abe Gray from The Opportunities Party. We discuss drug reform in New Zealand and the current election debate surrounding the issue.
Kelly chats with MP for Te Roopu Nahinara, the National Party, Jami-Lee Ross on the topic of health. They begin by discussing collective health spending over the past 9 years and National's vision should they be re-elected. They also chat about the importance of mental health funding, and the possibility of drug reform laws.
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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