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.
Author Scott Morrison has put out a new book examining the dark history of Tongan island A’ta. In 1863, a group of sailors and whalers - some of them New Zealanders - arrived at the island and kidnapped half of its inhabitants. The some 150 ‘Atans were then sold into slavery, while the rest of the island's residents were eventually forced to abandon their home for the mainland. Producer Mack Smith spoke to Scott about the significance of these events and began by asking him what led him to uncover them.
St Johns has recorded around 3000 incidents of abuse towards their staff this year, with an estimated ten ambulance workers needing hospitalisation every week. bFM reporter Ben Goldson spoke to chief executive Peter Bradley and began by asking exactly what all this abuse was made up of.
Yesterday in Parliament a motion moved that the House express its support for refugees seeking protection by calling on the Government of Australia to ensure that all refugees currently on Nauru and Manus Island are given a genuine chance at restarting their lives in safety, and to withdraw proposed legislation seeking to ban refugees who arrive by sea from ever entering Australia. NZ First and National MPs voted against the motion, and Amnesty International is calling it a missed chance for NZ to be on the right side of history. Pearl speaks to Executive Director of Amnesty International Grant Bayldon about this.
A new report came out yesterday that revealed concerning levels of migrant worker exploitation in New Zealand. The research showed workers were working excessive work hours - up to 18 hour shifts and 80 to 90 hour working weeks - and that some were being paid as little as $5 an hour by employers. Ximena speaks to the Green Party immigration spokesperson, Denise Roche, about the report.
Two New Zealand fishing companies are working with the World Wildlife Foundation to help reduce harm caused to Māui dolphins by commercial fishing along the West Coast of the North Island. The companies, Moana and Sanford, have promised to implement a range of changes, including no conventional trawling within a 100m depth in Māui habitat after 2022, and also video cameras & electronic tracking on all vessels. Pearl speaks to World Wildlife Foundation Head of Campaigns, Peter Hardstaff, and CEO of Sanford, Volker Kuntzsch, about this decision.
Work and Income staff recently started requesting ID from their clients seeking access to benefits. It follows prosecution after a woman was murdered in an Ashburton WINZ office.
Auckland Action Against Poverty spokesperson Vanessa Cole says they see this as further unnecessary punishment of beneficiaries.She spoke to 95bFM reporter Daniel Walker.
During his time as Prime Minister, John Key promised to retain the current retirement age of 65. New Prime Minister Bill English has since said he "will not keep this pledge". Raising the retirement age to 67 could have significant impact on New Zealanders, both young and old. Retirement Commissioner Diane Maxwell spoke to 95bFM reporter Olivia Mortimer-Eade.
A recent look into the carers case legislation shows the breaches of human rights that have occurred. The current system that carers have to go through to get paid for the care they provide for vulnerable people is intense and never covers enough of what they do.
Human rights lawyer Golriz Ghahramen speaks to 95bFM reporter Olivia Mortimer-Eade.
The government has just announced that a new renewable energy strategy is now open for public consultation. The strategy has been updated to target 3 priority areas being transport; the heat used in industrial and manufacturing processes; and innovative and efficient use of electricity.The strategy will cover from 2017 until 2022 and hopes to improve New Zealand’s Energy efficiency overall. Although the release spoke of plans to improve the efficiency of New Zealand's energy emissions, there was no details mentioned.
Labour’s spokesperson for energy, Stuart Nash spoke to 95bFM reporter Olivia Mortimer-Eade
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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