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.
Today in Glen Innes a protest will take place in support of Niki Rauti. She is a Tamaki Housing Association tenant who is facing eviction 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. Her supporters say that evicting tenants and redeveloping the land is about making money. Reporter Sam Smith spoke to one of the protest organisers Lisa.
2016 was a big year for celebrity deaths. The amount of famous people passing was seemingly bigger than normal, while the scale of public mourning online was more extensive than ever. But what drives people to mourn celebrities on social media? And has social media changed how we respond to the deaths of famous people? Rebecca Kern is a lecturer and researcher in media studies at Manhattan College in New York and has studied the phenomenon that is the collective mourning of celebrities. Reporter Sam Smith spoke to her about social media, death and celebrities.
A recent New Zealand Medical Record article looks into suicide rates in New Zealand, focusing on age and cultural patterns. The results showed that Maori suicide rates are at a record high, being 1.6 times that of non-Maori. Wire producer Jess Smith spoke to John Snowdon, an old age psychiatrist and the author of the article, about the results and some of the reasons for them.
Around 3000 junior doctors have begun their three day strike today in support of safer working hours and conditions. Currently, junior doctors are expected to work for seven nights in a row, and up to 12 day shifts in a row. They say this putting the lives of patients at risks and are demanding changes be made. bFM reporter John-Michael Swannix filed this report.
A new trade agreement between China and NZ will be giving kiwi exporters and advantage. The agreement launches a new joint data sharing system between the two customs improving the efficiency of exports. 95bFM producer Hannah Ross spoke to Customs Minister Nicky Wagner about the agreement and the advantages New Zealand can gain from it.
OXFAM will be released a report that exposes extreme wealth disparities in New Zealand. The report shows that 1% of New Zealanders own 20% of the country’s wealth and that the number of wealthy New Zealanders worth more than $50 million also grew by 20% in the past year. The Executive Director of OXFAM, Rachel Le Mesurier, spoke to 95bFM producer Martha Lees about the main findings of the report.
The Department of Conservation has reported huge numbers of walkers using New Zealand’s Great Walks this summer. Due to the strain this puts on DOC’s limited resources, they have said that they may consider charging a ‘differential fee’ for the Great Walks. While DOC considers the increased popularity to be a positive thing, some groups of trampers aren’t happy about the number of people using the walks. Federated Mountain Clubs Vice President Jan Finlayson spoke to 95bFM producer Martha Lees about the impact of the Great Walks’ renewed popularity.
A new Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory (Cath Lab) has opened at Tauranga hospital and will be taking its first patient this afternoon. The lab will provide care close to home in a one-stop-shop for heart patients. 95bFM producer Hannah Ross spoke to Clinical Nurse Manager Jason Money about the new lab.
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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