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.
This week on the show Pearl and Sam take a look at the Mt-Albert by election, famine in South Sudan, Auckland Arts Festival, pill testing at festivals plus more. There's also another installment of Green Desk and Marama Fox is back for her weekly chat.
The Act Party announced a policy of rewarding self-improvement in prison at their conference in the weekend. The policy is designed to give prisoners the opportunity to gain literacy and numeracy skills, which will reduce their prison sentence as well as help give them a better chance when they are released from prison. However the policy has been critiqued by some, who say it only will be applicable to a small portion of the prison community, and also that’s counterintuitive to ACT’s punitive three strikes polic. 95bFM reporter, Tess Barnett, speaks with ACT Party leader David Seymour about the policy.
Justin Milano is kicking off the event Project17 held at AUT campus designed to inspire business starters and innovation. Justin helps exceptional entrepreneurs build thriving companies. As a serial entrepreneur and executive coach, he uses a unique blend of business coaching and leadership psychology to help entrepreneurs create breakthroughs. 95bFM reporter, Tess Barnett, catches up with him.
Campbell Live, TV3's longrunning 7pm current affairs show broadcast its final episode on the 29th May 2015. Three's main rival, TVNZ, had already replaced Campbell Live's equivalent, Close Up, with Seven Sharp, billed as more dynamic and interactive than its predecessor. Both channels responded to their critics by claiming Campbell Live and Close Up were failing to attract the lifeblood of commercial TV: ratings. But should news be forced to compete with entertainment-only media such as live sport or scripted TV? Should programming be based solely on ratings or does news have an importance that transcends financial concerns? 95bFM reporter Ben Goldson speaks to Associate Professor Geoff Lealand of Waikato University and Senior Lecturer Peter Thompson of Victoria.
This week, Ximena and her producers Tess and Ben look into ACT's new prison literacy policy and what audience ratings really mean in the 21st century. They also catch up with Green Party co-leader James Shaw for their fortnightly chat about 1080 regulation and a new freshwater protection bill.
Green Party MP, Catherine Delahunty, is criticising the government's new water policy. The plan, announced by Environment Minister Nick Smith, places the focus on lowering the standards required for water swimmability rather than improving the quality of the rivers. 95bFM producer Tess Barnett spoke to Green MP Catherine Delahunty about the government’s announcement regarding swimmable rivers.
US police are arresting the last of the Standing Rock protesters after a long winded fight over the North Dakota pipeline project. Many months of protesting came to an end for the tribes of North Dakota after a final ruling allow police to arrest the remaining protesters so they can go forth with the final piece of the pipeline. 95bFM The Wire producer, Tess Barnett, put together a report about the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Watercare are considering moving development of a new water plant outside of Oratia, following local outrage. The company have proposed two other sites in West Auckland locations which are protected ecological zones. 95bFM reporter Ashleigh McCaull spoke to water supply manager, Priyan Perera about the issue.
Supporters of Niki Rauti are occupying her Glen Innes home again today ahead of a decision by the Tribunal court as to whether she will be forcibly evicted from her home which has been sold to developers. Tamaki Redevelopment Company are removing state housing in the area and building a mixture of social, affordable and private housing in their place. 95bFM reporter Amanda Jane Robinson spoke to supporter Lillian Hanly.
The annual Auckland Pride Parade takes place tomorrow night. But what exactly does this parade celebrate? bFM reporter Amanda Jane Robinson takes a look at the history of Pride.
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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