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.
Caitlin & Amanda review some of our favourite interviews and report from this year on The Wire. They look at rivers with authors Catherine Knight and Marama Muru-Lanning, National party highlights and priorities with National MP Jami-Lee Ross, a year in review of Australian news with Radio Adelaide's Ineke Mules, and a history of the current situation in the Syrian city of Aleppo.
Ximena & Pearl review some of their favourite pieces from this year on The Wire. They look at the housing crisis with economist Shamubeel Eaqub, how the Harambe meme is actually racist, the global drugs survey, the sale of RNZ's Auckland office & studio space, and the origin of the term 'yaaas'. They also have their weekly chat with Labour leader Andrew Little and US correspondent Jason Leopold about the year that was 2016.
Daniel Walker and Olivia Mortimer-Eade review some hard-hitting, poignant, and funny pieces from the Wednesday Wire in 2016.
There's an interesting proposal during the refugee crisis, looking back to when wait times for Family Planning were two months, asking if Auckland’s rents really only rose by a dollar this year, our favourite piece from weekly feature Dear Science, bFM's last interview with the late trade unionist Helen Kelly, a listen to the sounds of this year’s Eid day festival, Ladi6 and Boh Runga on women in music, and a flashback to that one time Ricky Gervais followed someone on Instagram.
In our final weekly chat to Māori party co-leader Marama Fox for 2016, we discuss 2016 in politics, what to look forward to in 2017, and even get a special impromptu performance of 'Santa Baby'.
Sam Smith and Jess Smith revisit some of the best interviews from Tuesday Wire this year. They revisit the place of record stores in the digital age, the legitimacy of law, actress Jennifer Ward-Lealand's journey learning te reo, education funding changes, and the petition to get a day of commemoration for the New Zealand wars. We also have our final chat with Māori party co-leader Marama Fox for the year.
Angus Craig and Hannah Ross review the best interviews of the Monday Wire. We revisit Gareth Morgan's new party, SPCA's take on vicious dog laws, online harassment, song theft, medical students taking risks and our weekly chat with the Green Party about how this year has been.
You’ve probably heard a lot about Syria, particularly Aleppo in the past week. Mack Smith reports on this week's updates, and Amanda Robinson takes a look at the history of the conflict.
An Auckland protest group has been organising demonstrations against the now former President of South Korea, Park Geun-Hye. Previously they were calling for her to be resign, but despite her being impeached last week - effectively ending her presidency - the demonstrations aren’t done just yet.
Producer Mack Smith spoke to April Rin Kwak, one of the organisers and participants in these protests. He began by asking her why she decided to get involved.
A new report has been released detailing widespread migrant worker exploitation in New Zealand. This comes as New Zealand’s first convicted human trafficker was yesterday sentenced to nine years in prison. Amanda spoke to Stand Against Slavery CEO Peter Mihaere about the report and how widespread human trafficking is in New Zealand.
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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