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.
Papua New Guinea's National Capital District is heading to the polls today, amid fears the election will be subverted. The governor of Port Moresby has claimed there are problems with the electoral roll and polling places. He's also told media that reports are circulating of illegal ballot paper printing, and people bribing officials of the Electoral Commission. Amidst all this, Transparency International have set up a corruption hotline to help people report wrongdoing in the election. Daniel spoke to head of Transparency Papua New Guinea Arianne Kassmen, and started by asking what they hope to achieve with the hotline.
With the death toll from the Grenfell tower fire expected to rise further, representatives of the building industry are voicing concern about whether quality control standards in NZ are fit for purpose.
Producer Ben talks to a spokesperson for the Specialist Trade Contractors Federation, Graham Burke.
At New Zealand's first bush school, students learn to kill and cook rabbits and possums in a classroom free environment. The school opened earlier this year near Clevedon and currently has eight students aged four to 14. Co-founder Joey Moncarz has taken a "rewilding" approach to education, where kids form a deeper connection with nature and are free to roam: "Rewilding also involves recognising that humans are, at their core, gatherers and hunters". Producer Reuben McLaren speaks to Deep Green Bush School's co-founder Joey Moncarz about the new school.
Two weeks ago marked 50 years since the Israeli occupation of Palestine began. Two weeks ago we spoke to Jewish anti-occupation group Dayenu about the occupation. Today, bFM reporter Amanda Jane Robinson speaks with Palestinian Nadia Filistin to hear her experience of the occupation.
Today on the show producer Ben Goldson speaks to spokesperson for the Specialist Trade Contractors Federation Graham Burke about quality control standards. We have Pacific Cooperation Foundation's journalism interns Shivika and Linda live in studio for Southern Cross. We have Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei to talk about the anti-smacking law and contesting the Nelson seat. We talk to Palestinian Nadia Filistin about the Israeli occupation. Finally producer Reuben McClaren speaks to the co-founder and head teacher of The Deep Green Bush School Joey Moncarz.
This week, Tess, Katie and Kelly chat National MP Brett Hudson instead of Jami Lee Ross this week about Todd Barclay, Kelly chats to Sandra Murry from NZPSC about the new tyre initiative. Katie chats to Tania Papal'i from the DHB and Rebecca Hooker from RAID about the event in Kataia to ignite conversations around mental health. 95bFM reporter Krisite Waugh chats to Marama Fox about #outintheopen, another initiative targeting mental health and suicide prevention. And of course we have our weekly chat with Radio Adelaide's Nicole Wedding for all the latest in Australia news. All this on the Friday Wire - check out the podcast here.
Saturday 24th of June marks the beginning of The Hīnātore / Light of Hope hui, a Kaitaia event which aims to promote conversation about mental health struggles in Northland youth. The hui is organised by the Muriwhenua branch of Ngāti Hine Health Trust youth suicide prevention group named Responding to All In Distress in conjunction with Northland DHB. 95bFM reporter Katie Doyle spoke to co-facilitators of the event Tania Papal'i and Rebecca Hooker about te Hinatore.
The Ministry of Maori Development in conjunction with suicide prevention groups have released their last round of videos called #outintheopen. The videos urge young Maori to speak openly about their struggles with mental health and reinforce the importance of taking suicidal feelings seriously. 95bFM reporter Kristie Waugh speaks to Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox about where the programme started and what she hopes will be achieved.
Environment Minister Nick Smith’s tyre recycling initiative invests $19 million to Golden Bay Cement in Northland for equipment to incinerate tyres for fuel, and $6.4 million to create a nationwide tyre collection service and shredding facilities. 95bFM reporter Kelly Enright talks to Sandra Murray from the New Zealand Product Stewardship Council about whether this really is a positive initiative.
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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