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.
To get both sides of the wage debate, 95bfm talks to Council of Trade Union President, Richard Wagstaff, and Business New Zealand's manager of Employment Relations Policy, Paul McKay.
On today’s show we continue our election coverage, this week we talking the New Zealand economy, more specifically, work and income and employment. Are wages keeping up with the cost of living in New Zealand? Should New Zealand introduce a universal basic income? We are discussing these questions and more today, gathering a range of perspectives on party policy affecting those on beneficiaries and seeking employment in NZ.
Firstly we speak with Labour’s finance spokesperson Grant Robertson, then National’s minister for social justice Anne Tolley. We follow with Chief Economist at the New Zealand Initiative Dr. Eric Crampton, Council of Trade Unions President Richard Wagstaff and Business New Zealand’s manager of Employment Relations Policy, Paul McKay. We round off today’s show speaking with beneficiary advocate Miles Lacey
Yesterday National’s Social Development spokesperson Anne Tolley announced a plan to guarantee work experience, training or drug rehab to under-25s once they’ve spent six months on a jobseekers benefit. Lachlan spoke to Anne about this and the controversial benefit sanctions in the policy.
As part of our indepth look at the economy we look at work and income. Possible alternatives to the current welfare system include a universal basic income. Lachlan discusses the possibility of a universal basic income with Chief Economist at the New Zealand Initiative Dr. Eric Crampton. He then spoke with beneficiary advocate Miles Lacey about the difficulties beneficiaries face under the current system, and what needs to change.
Producer Will talks to Newsroom columnist and political commentator Rod Oram about how the tech industry will impact Kiwi jobs. We delve in to the discussion around automatons and their effect on the economy, as well as looking at how New Zealand can sit at the forefront of positive technological and economic growth.
Ahead of the election, producer Jack Marshall spoke to New Zealand business journalist Rob Oram about the state of New Zealand’s tax system and how the Labour and National's policies will shape the future New Zealand.
The Opportunities Party’s tax policy involves an overhaul of the current system, and wouldn’t change the amount of tax raised, but would change the level of tax collected on wealth versus income.
India spoke to The Opportunities Party's deputy co-leader Geoff Simmons about how this would work. and how New Zealand would be affected by such a shift.
Yesterday National announced a new policy to crackdown on meth dealing among gangs. The policy includes a roll out of new police powers which will enable police to search gang members property without a warrant. Police minister Paula Bennett says drugs such as meth and the gangs that peddle them are a scourge on society. In outlining the policy Bennet defended the hard line approach taken saying serious criminals and gang members have fewer human rights than others. Reporter Sam Smith spoke to Canterbury University sociologist Jarrod Gilbert about the policy.
Yesterday North Korea detonated what it claimed was a hydrogen bomb that could be launched on a missile capable of reaching the United States. Mack Smith reports.
The East Coast has had a long history with music, from the Herbs up in Ruatoria to New Zealand’s current largest music festival - Rhythm and Vines. We caught up with Rugged and Wylde from Wairoa about their new studio at the Gaiety theatre and where coastal hip-hop is heading.
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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