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.
Yesterday a bill was drawn from the ballot that would see student loan repayments being diverted into saving towards a home. 95bFM producer Amanda Robinson spoke to Green MP Gareth Hughes about his First Home Student Loan Repayment Diversion Bill, and began by asking him what exactly the bill involves. Friday Wire host Caitlin McIlhagga also spoke to AUSA President Will Matthews about what he thinks of the bill.
Yesterday Green MP Jan Logie's Domestic Violence Victims’ Protection Members’ Bill was drawn from the ballot. The bill would allow victims of domestic violence to claim up to 10 days paid leave for domestic violence issues. Caitlin spoke to Jan Logie and Human Rights Commissioner Jackie Blue about the bill.
AUT’s Centre for Journalism, Media and Democracy Research has just released their 2016 New Zealand media ownership report. The findings are unsurprisingly a little dire, with ownership by financial institutes on the rise and the prospect of two major mergers on the cards. Ximena speaks to the co-director of the research centre, Dr Wayne Hope, about the significance of the findings from this years report and about what they might mean for the health of New Zealand’s media landscape.
The Global Drug Survey is the largest of its kind in the world. It's independently run by a group of researchers and academics, and averages around 100,000 participants each year. The survey produces reports for global media and public health organisations, using their data and expertise to create digital health applications that deliver screening and brief interventions for drugs and alcohol, as well as creating free online harm reduction resources and anonymous, confidential self-assessment tools. Pearl speaks to Adam Winstock, a London based consultant psychiatrist, addiction medicine specialist and founder of the Global Drug Survey, about this year's survey and what they hope to achieve.
A Dunedin school has reportedly been mistreating students with disabilities through the use of a seclusion room.
Sara Cohen School has now undergone investigations by police, the Ministry of Education and an independent investigator.
This comes after the closing of a controversial seclusion room in a Wellington school and removal of funding for other special needs schools around the country.
Education spokesperson for the Green party Catherine Delahunty, spoke with 95bFM reporter Olly Clifton.
The Women’s Collective is a group which focuses on fostering conversations around global issues that affect our community.
Their most recent event ‘Lead like a girl’ focused on the issues of entrenched biases and damaging expressions such as the term “like a girl”.
A panel of 6 female leaders who are currently part of the Global Woman Breakthrough Leadership programme discussed these issues and how they ‘lead like a girl'.
95bFM reporter Olivia Mortimer-Eade attended the event.
The New Zealand Music Foundation has released the findings of their first community wellbeing report. The foundation started in 2012 and provides support to members of the local music industry in times of illness, distress and hardship. The report’s findings were gathered from the results of a survey conducted in July where over 1300 respondents from within the music community answered questions about their working hours, income, exercise, drug and alcohol use, and mental health. Reporter Sam Smith speaks to the general manager of The NZ Music Foundation.
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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