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.
Is the Green Party out of touch with Pacific people? Well, AUT journalism lecturer Richard Pamatatau seems to think so. In an article written for E-Tangata, Pamatatau says the Greens do not do enough to reach out to Pacific voters and that the fact only two Pacific candidates are on the list is a reflection that the party is indeed out of touch. Pamatatau says the Greens have much to learn about engaging with the Pacific population, and the list placing of Leilani Tamu (20) and Teanau Tuiono (19) is evidence of that. In the article Pamatatau also claims that Green delegates were given a special instruction by the party's general secretary to ensure 22-year-old Chloe Swarbrick secured a top place. Reporter Sam Smith spoke to Pamatatau about his claims.
A group protesting seismic testing and oil drilling on the East Coast has taken their fight to the United Nations. The group, Te Ikaroa are heading to the UN Oceans Conference in New York where they will highlight how seismic testing violates indigenous rights through the disruption of local marine ecosystems. More than 80 indigenous communities have voiced their objection to seismic testing being carried out by Chevron and Statoil on the East Coast, while a petition has also been set up to remove Statoil from the area. Reporter Sam Smith spoke to Te Ikaroa spokesperson Tina Ngata about their campaign.
In the lead up to today's visit by US secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Mack speaks with Greens co-leader James Shaw about climate change action in NZ-US relations.
Check out the full podcast for this week's Tuesday show, where we speak to AUT journalism lecturer Richard Pamatatau about the Green Party's lack of Pacific Voices, Māori Party co-leader Marama Fox and Te Kotahitanga co-chair Pita Tipene about the government's withdrawal from Ngāpuhi treaty settlement discussions, the organisers behind a recent NZ visit to the UN protesting oil drilling, and more.
This week, Tess and Jack chat to the Wateminz’s CEO, Paul Evans about a possible plastic bag levy, and Jack speaks to Umesh Perinpanayagam on the recent protest in Sri Lanka regarding missing relatives from the civil war. And of course, our weekly Friday feature Neighbourhood Watch with Radio Adelaide’s Nicole Wedding. National MP Jami Lee Ross is back for our weekly chat. All this and more on the Friday Wire - check out the full podcast here.
Wasteminz’s represent the waste, resource recovery and contaminated land sectors. They conducted a National online survey of 1000 people across the whole country about the state of New Zealand’s environment. The survey found two thirds of respondents would support a levy on plastic bags if the money went to charity. 95bFM The Wire host, Tess Barnett, spoke to CEO, Paul Evans about the survey.
Umesh, a researcher at the University of Auckland talks about the current situation in Sri Lanka and the issues the Tamil people have been facing since the end of the civil war. Families have been protesting missing their missing relatives that surrendered to the government towards the end of the war, Umesh goes on to talk about his research into characterizations of genocide in Sri Lanka and the Tamil struggle.
95bFM reporter Laura Kvigstad spoke to Alex Tarrant, a political journalist based in the Parliamentary Press Gallery in Wellington about about the Reserve Bank looking to introduce debt-to-income restrictions and what this might mean for housing.
This week, Jogai, Harry, and Lucy chat to the Head of the AIDS Epidemiology Centre Dr Sue McCallister about yesterday's HIV statistics, and catch up with Dr Melanie Berez of Otago University to learn more about her report on sexual violence in adolescent relationships. Jogai speaks with Jaycee Tanuvasa about Auckland's thriving vogue scene and what this means for young LGBTQ Maori and Pasifika peoples in 2017, and our Thursday feature State of the States is back with Nick Sawhney. Andrew Little is also back for our weekly chat. All this and more on the Thursday Wire - check out the full podcast here.
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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