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.
Last week, advocacy organisation The Disabled Persons Assembly held a pre-election forum in Wellington where politicians took questions from voters on their approach to disability policy.
India Essuah spoke with Green candidate Teall Crossen about what the attendees' major concerns were and the policies their party would implement if in Government.
A new book on submarine cables explores their influence on the world, through communication flows, economic forces and environmental impact.
Maritime lawyer Douglas Burnett is the author of The Cloud Beneath the Sea, which examines all this within an international legal framework - reporter Mack Smith spoke with him about the new book.
We speak to lawyer Graeme Edgeler about The Taxpayers' Union 'invoicing' Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei, saying she must pay back the "money she stole from taxpayers", before she can have any credibility as a Member of Parliament. They put the figure at $57,000 but Edgeler says that number doesn't add up.
The statment is referring to Turei's admission that when she was a solo mum in the early 90's she lied to WINZ about her living situation so that her benefit wouldn't get cut.
We then speak to the Executive Director of The Taxpayers Union about Edgeler’s concerns with the figures, and our own calculations which showed the figure to be much lower.
This Monday on The Wire, producer Jack Marshall speaks with Tertiary Education Union organiser Shaun Scott about the recently proposed staff cuts at Otago University. Amanda chats to Green Party co-leader James Shaw about the Party's AGM and families package announcement. Pacific Media Centre's Kendall Hutt gives us an update on the Papua New Guinea elections for Southern Cross. And Jack talks to Dr Simon Pollard about education, bugs, and junk science.
Otago University is looking to cut around 200 jobs. Producer Jack Marshall spoke to Tertiary Education Union organiser Shaun Scott talking about the proposed staff cuts at Otago University and how this might effect the students and staff.
Science? Bees? Killer insects taking over cockroaches to grow their children inside of? Look no further than Science Simon! Producer Jack Marshall has a yarn with Dr Simon Pollard from the University of Canterbury about fake science, his love of bugs and teaching, and even throws in a couple bad jokes into the mix.
Producer Kelly Enright and reporter Laura Kvigstad talked to Andrew Mackintosh and Nancy Bertler, both from the Antarctic Research Centre. They explain the implications that the one trillion tonne iceberg that calved off the Anarctic Peninsula will have on us, and speculate upon the fate of the remaining Larsen C Ice Shelf.
As the face of journalism changes, media mergers cut jobs and more news organisations maximize clicks, science journalism which can be costly both in time and funds is suffering. In this report Producer Jack Marshall speaks with Dr Doug Ashwell, Associate Head of School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing, and Peter Griffin the Director of the Science Media Centre. We also delve deeper into the future of New Zealand's science journalism.
With more than 1 million sexually transmitted infections (STIs) acquired every day worldwide, there would be huge impacts for potential effective medical treatments. This makes the study by Dr Helen Petousis-Harris all the more powerful with hope for a vaccine in the pipeline. Drug resistance, especially for gonorrhoea, is a major threat to reducing the impact of STI's worldwide. Producer Jack spoke to Dr Petousis-Harris about what her team’s study has found.
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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