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 JMAD New Zealand Media ownership report is an annual report by AUT’s Merja Myllylahti, a philosophy Doctorate who looks into media ownership trends locally and internationally. The report, which has been running for seven years now, is a key document in understanding trends, transparency and control in the media.
Joel spoke to Merja about this.
This afternoon MPs will vote on the government’s plan seeking to make medicinal cannabis more available.
The bill purportedly lays the foundation for a regulated medical cannabis industry and also gives a defence for the terminally ill to use and possess cannabis.
The Greens have submitted a similar bill that is more far reaching. Their bill would allow patients, with a terminal illness or debilitating condition, to grow their own cannabis, subject to a doctor's permission.
Medicinal cannabis campaigner Rebecca Reider has criticized the government’s bill, claiming that it doesn’t go far enough and will still criminalize suffering people.
Reuben McLaren spoke to Ross Bell, the Executive Director of the New Zealand Drug foundation, to discuss the benefits and drawbacks.
WIRE WORRY WEEK. Producer Leonard Powell shoved his phone in a few peoples faces around the city to get their opinions on public transport, whats good about it, what is wrong with it, and what needs to change.
News director Lillian Hanly talks to Urs Signer who lives in Parihaka, and is a member of climate justice Taranaki.Signer talks about the impacts of removing new permits for offshore drilling and the ongoing impacts of onshore drilling.
Kelly and the National Party's Jami-Lee Ross chat about the recent government announcement to cease contract renewal for offshore drilling- is it a good or bad thing for Aotearoa?
Producer Laura Kwigstad talks to Bill Mackay, a university of Aucland architecture lecturer who has a unique focus on urban planning. He spells out what the future of transport could look like for Kiwis as well as the future of our cities may become.
Debbie Abbas of Palestine Solidarity NZ, explains to Kelly what the current conditions for many Palestinians trapped along the Gaza Strip are like. Debbie calls upon the government for more acknowledgement and action toward the human oppression.
The Golden Dawn Tavern of Power was an Auckland music venue that many listeners would be familiar with. It has had hundreds if not thousands of local and international acts through its doors, surprising Ponsonby crowds with established, unknown, and unusual acts.
With the waiting list for state housing at an all time high and with the Government recently deciding to increase the maximum price for Kiwibuild homes, producer Jemima decided to speak with Ricardo Menendez March, the spokesperson for Auckland Action Against Poverty. They discussed how these issues would effect those who need state housing the most and what AAAP is doing to help those people.
First up on the Wire, Oscar speaks with Filipo Levi from the Villa Education Trust about the place of religion in the school curriculum. Andrew Little joins Lachlan for their regular chat, this week discussing the Pare Hauraki settlement and synthetic cannabis. Tim Chambers from the University of Otago talks about his study into children's exposure to alcohol advertising. Finally, This Day in History returns, looking at the First Gulf War in 1990.
Goodnature is an innovative company that aims to minimise pests and ensure that New Zealand's native birds flourish. They design traps that are safe, easy to use and provide constant control. Jemima spoke to Sam Gibson, from Goodnature, about their traps and their work with the Kaimanawa Hunting Liaison Group to protect the whio (blue duck).
The National Party's Amy Adams joins us this week to discuss the National Party's walk out in parliament following Simon Bridges being ejected. She tells us why criticism of the walk out being uncohesive is short sighted.
We then discuss the Landcorp Tax Submissions to the Tax Working Group and National's speculations on what this submission means going forward.
Trigger Warning: This piece discusses sexual violence. If you or anyone you know is suffering with the effects of sexual violence you can reach out to the free helpline, Safe To Talk, on 0800 044 334.
This week our media has been filled with coverage around the Grace Millaine case. United Kingdom coverage released the name of the alleged man involved which has potentially damaged the case.
This Wire Worry Week, we’re talking about Media Responsibility.
Producer Grace Watson spoke with AUT lecturer, John Buttle who explains the media’s approach on this coverage.
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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