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 earthquake commission has confirmed that it will go ahead with plans to cut almost half of its staff, despite an influx of new claims from the Kaikoura quake. The staff will be reduced next year from around 850 to 450, however with the recent Kaikoura quake the EQC is expecting around fifty thousand new claims, while they are also still meeting claims made from the 2011 Canterbury earthquake. Bfm reporter Dylan Kelly speaks to Labour’s Canterbury spokesperson Megan Wood, and Jess Smith speaks to insurance lawyer John Goddard about the inevitable effects of the cuts.
Sam Smith resumes his weekly chat with Marama Fox, co-leader of the Maori Party, this week looking at the news the Māori and Mana parties are exploring working together at next year’s election in order to win back the Māori seats off Labour.
Talks to upgrade New Zealand’s free trade agreement with China will begin next year, with both countries aiming to to reach the $30 billion mark in trade by 2030, and Prime Minister John Key saying an upgrade is needed to achieve this. Bfm reporter Alice Canton spoke to University of Auckland lecturer Robert Scollay to find out more.
Over the weekend former Cuban leader Fidel Castro died aged 90. Castro brought communism to the island nation, overthrowing dictator Fulgencio Batista during the revolution of 1959. His death has been met with mixed reaction with parties in the streets of Miami amongst the local Cuban community who fled his rule, while others celebrate what he achieved as leader in the form of bringing free education and healthcare to the country. Reporter Sam Smith speaks to Cuba’s Ambassador to New Zealand Mario Alzugaray Rodriguez about Castro’s death and his legacy.
The Zonta Club of Auckland and Auckland Libraries are holding a panel discussion addressing the issue of violence against women and children. The discussion is being held tonight at Auckland central library at 5:30pm. 95bFM producer Hannah Ross spoke to one of the panelists, Janet Fanslow, who is an Associate Professor from the School of Population Health at Auckland University, about what the panel is focusing on.
Last Friday the government launched the Disability Confident campaign which aims to support employers to hire and retain disabled employees. 95bFM producer Hannah Ross spoke to Disability Issues Minister, Nicky Wagner, about what the campaign consists of.
The Government announced this week that it will update the Equal Pay Act and amend the Employment Relations Act to implement recommendations of the Joint Working Group on Pay Equity. This will make it easier for women to file pay equity claims with their employers, rather than having to go through the courts. It will also assist employers in addressing those claims. I spoke with Minister for Workplace Relations Michael Woodhouse about this update.
Dr Nicki Jackson is speaking at the Centre for Addiction Research one-day symposium on November 28th. Nicki is discussing her current research on the relationship between neighbourhoods and adolescent drinking. I spoke with Dr Nicki Jackson about what her current research entails.
Forest and Bird are disappointed in the sentence handed to a fisherman who killed dozens of albatrosses. Daniel Smyth was given 300 hours of community work on Wednesday, after pleading guilty to causing the deaths of nearly 40 albatrosses. The group says the Ministry of Primary Industries needs to do more to address these kinds of incidents. Forest and Bird's Seabird advocate Karen Baird spoke to 95bFM reporter Mackenzie Smith, who began by asking her what was wrong with the albatross killer's sentence.
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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