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 Human Rights Commission has welcomed a report published by the State Services Commission that suggests the public sector needs a more diverse workforce. The report showed that while the overall gender pay gap has reduced by 0.5%, pay for women of colour remains disproportionally low.
Equal Opportunities Commissioner Doctor Jackie Blue spoke to 95bFM reporter Olivia Mortimer-Eade.
Could humans be developing bigger heads and therefore, bigger brains? The University of Vienna has published a study which suggests that the increasing number of C-sections may be affecting human evolution. Before C-sections were so common, natural selection would have it that fetuses with large heads did not survive birth. Bruce Floyd, a senior lecturer in biological anthropology at the University of Auckland, researches human development and biological variation, and speaks to 95bFM reporter Martha Lees.
The figures of animals used in testing and research in New Zealand are down. The Ministry for Primary Industries on Monday released the figures which showed in 2015 there was a 28 percent decrease from the previous year. However, in 2014, there was a 39 percent increase in the number of animals used in experiments, so this year’s decrease still means there are thousands more animals still suffering.
SAFE is an animal rights group that opposes animal testing in New Zealand. Their executive director Hans Kriek, spoke to 95bFM reporter Daniel Walker.
Last week Auckland mayor Phil Goff announced he is setting up a special task force to look into Auckland's housing shortage. Goff says the task force aims to get the most up-to-date information from the key players in the sector in order to address problems such as unaffordable homes, high rents and homelessness. He says local and central government must work together to address Auckland's housing crisis otherwise the issues associated with it will get worse. Reporter Sam Smith spoke to Goff about the new task force.
Last week it was announced Recorded Music NZ will begin incorporating Bandcamp sales statistics into the New Zealand music charts. The charts will now include physical and digital sales from the online music store which RMNZ says is part of their aim to make the charts more reflective of the way people consume and purchase music. The move follows the incorporation of album stream statistics from sites such as Spotify from earlier in the year. Reporter Sam Smith spoke to RMNZ's data manager Paul Kennedy about the changes.
New Zealand’s total emission rate has increased 23.2 percent since 1990, and makes up 0.2 percent of global emissions. A new online tool has been created that helps New Zealand households track and reduce their carbon footprint. Reporter Jess Smith speaks to secretary for the environment, Vicky Robertson, about this tool and what New Zealanders can do to reduce their carbon footprints.
The Te Piriti Special Treatment unit at Auckland prison at Paremoremo is home to a large horticultural garden that inmates work on to then give back to the community by giving all produce grown to charities such as Salvation Army. 95bFM producer Hannah Ross spoke to the horticultural instructor at the Te Piriti unit, Bill Bean, about what this garden project is and how it has progressed over the years.
The New Zealand Dental Association have released a consensus statement regarding sugary drinks and the changes that need to be made to reduce the amount of sugary drinks being consumed. 95bFM producer Hannah Ross speaks to Chief Executive Officer at the Public Health Association, Warren Lindberg, about the consensus statement and the associations thoughts towards it.
Prime Minister to-be Bill English steps into the spotlight for real this afternoon. The Wire host Angus Craig speaks to political commentator Jennifer Curtin about what we can expect as a result of the 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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