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.
The Auckland Vogue Scene has been alive and thriving in the CBD for years now but it’s truly come into the limelight with a short documentary Vice produced this year, showcasing the young LGBTQ Maori and Pasifika community that makes it shine. Jogai caught up with New Zealand Samoan artist Jaycee Tanuvasa about the incredible journey of Voguing, and how it aims to uplift and empower some of the most vulnerable in our society.
The Family Violence clearinghouse has released a new report concerning sexual abuse and relationships in adolescents. The report covers how violence and abuse in adolescents are disproportionately unreported, and how education concerning gender norms can help to combat this issue. Wire producer Lucy Austin spoke with author of the report, Otago University's Dr Melanie Beres from, who began by telling us about what exactly the report covers.
The University of Otago's AIDS Epidemiology Center released their annual HIV/AIDs report yesterday as part of their newsletter. The report showed that 244 people were diagnosed with HIV in New Zealand in 2016, the highest number ever diagnosed in one year since recording began of the epidemic in 1985. Wire Producer Harry Willis spoke with the Head of the AIDs Epidemiology Center Dr Sue Mcallister to try and break down some of the statistics released and to try to figure out why these numbers are getting higher each year.
The Auckland Council are wanting know the public’s opinion on the rules around Easter Weekend trading. The proposed bylaw will give communities around Auckland the ability to choose whether or not open on Easter Sunday, but this possible change is drawing both praise and criticism. Producer Adam Jacobson spoke to Retail New Zealand’s Greg Harford and First Union’s Retail and Finance Secretary Maxine Gay to hear about the arguments on each side of the debate.
Anti-establishment sentiment has been an increasingly more relevant and contentious topic around the world, especially going into this year’s general election in New Zealand. An academic keenly interested in this topic is Grant Duncan from Massey University, who will be giving a public lecture about it tomorrow night. Producer Will Parsonson speaks to Grant about recent global political events and what the potential impact might be on New Zealand, first asking him about the changing landscape of international democracies.
If you’re interested in heading along to Grant’s free lecture tomorrow night called ‘Trust, distrust and the end of politics as we knew it’, register here. The lecture runs from 6:00-7:30 in the Atrium Building Round Room on Massey University's Albany campus.
This week on the Wednesday show, Ximena, Adam & Will (our great new producer, hi Will!) take a look at the different arguments around Easter trading laws, as well as chat to a smart dude about anti-establishment politics ahead of his lecture at Massey University tomorrow night. AUT's Allan Blackman is back with us again for Dear Science after his trip overseas to talk to us about the latest in science news, including how a brand-spanking new science centre is set to open in Jordan, and Ximena speaks to NZ First's Tracey Martin for our new regular political commentary feature with her on the Wednesday show each week.
A group who advocates for community mental health support workers has warned there may be an exodus if pay rates do not increase. Platform sez workers in the sector may move to the aged care and disability sectors, who are set to receive a pay increase between 15 to 50 percent on July First as part of a settlement that was reached early this year. Our reporter Katie Doyle spoke to Platforms CEO Marion Blake about the warning and her concerns with the current state of the Mental Health sector.
The Privacy Commissioner says smart electricity meters could be compromising the security of people through data collection. We speak with John Edwards about this.
Donald Trump is threatening to pull the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement. Reports are suggesting Trump has told multiple sources that he plans to leave the landmark agreement, although the man himself says he will make a decision on America’s future involvement later this week. During the election campaign Trump made it clear that he favored withdrawal, while he has also labeled man-made climate change a hoax. The Paris Agreement is a multilateral agreement adopted in December 2015 and ratified by 147 countries that aims to hold the increase in global temperatures to below two degrees and reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions. The agreement is the world’s first comprehensive climate agreement. Reporter Sam Smith spoke to environmental politics lecturer at the University of Auckland Julie MacArthur about what this means for the future of the agreement.
Check out the full podcast for this week's Tuesday show, where we speak to Privacy Commissioner John Edwards about electricity meter privacy, Māori Party co-leader Marama Fox about her take on the budget and mental health advocacy group Platforms CEO Marion Blake about an incoming exodus for the sector. Green Desk features sustainable packaging and Sam also has a report on Trump and Climate Change.
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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