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.
Local elections are fast approaching and there’s been a trend of declining participation. The problem is particularly bad in Auckland where turnout was under 40%. This causes problems around representation at local government level as well as setting the agenda in elections. Lachlan spoke with Professor Janine Hayward from Otago University about local government elction turnout.
Dhan-nun speaks with White Ribbon New Zealand’s Manager Rob McCann, from the national branch of an international organisation dealing with ending Male domestic violence. Today, the 25th of November, is international White Ribbon day, a day symbolising opposition to violence against women.
White Ribbon commissioned some remarkable research on prevalent male stereotypes in Aotearoa, and how they contribute to our exceptionally high rates of domestic violence.
The United Nations Committee on Torture recently released a report requesting the NZ government reinvestigate torture claims at the former psychiatric hospital Lake Alice. The report is a result of a complaint from 2017 by Victor Boyd of independent watchdog group Citizen’s Commission on Human Rights on behalf of a previous patient of the facility. The UN has upheld that complaint recommending the government conduct a ‘prompt, impartial and independent investigation’ into all allegations of torture and ill-treatment at Lake alice, as well as, where appropriate, the filling of ‘specific torture and/or ill-treatment charges against perpetrators, and the application of the corresponding penalties under domestic law.’ The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry has announced it would investigate the allegations, but they have said they will not make any findings ‘civil, criminal or disciplinary liability’ as recommended by the UN. Mike Ferriss is the current director of CCHR New Zealand, Deb Rawson spoke with him to find out more.
Please note this conversation contains discussions of torture including electrocution and sexual assault
No - it is not a joke. The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra have moved their performances online. They did their first performance last week, the Wednesday night in which the rāhui was about to start. Lillian Hanly spoke to NZSO’s Principal Trombonist David Bremner to find out how that’s going to work.
Lillian spoke to Fletcher this morning about contact tracing, an injection of cash into the regions and the announcement from the SFO that their decision regarding NZ First’s political donations will be out before the election. She started by asking how he felt about moving to level 3 next week.
Fletcher stated the government would have had the necessary capacity for contact tracing as of the 23rd April - the originally stated day to come out of Level 4 before the government announced an extentions. I wrote to the Ministry of Health asking whether this was indeed the case and this was their response:
"The Ministry is confident that New Zealand can provide high quality contact tracing. The Public Health Units (PHUs) and National Close Contact Service (NCCS) have a baseline capacity in place as well as additional capacity they can call on to deal with the contact tracing needs that might be ahead of us. This includes managing under a range of scenarios that could occur within the different alert levels and controls and includes a current ability to scale up to 10,000 calls a day. From our most recent information from public health units and the National Close Contact Service, for the period 13-17 April, 80% of close contacts were traced within 48 hours of the case being notified to the units."
Covid 19 is presenting new concerns around privacy and data as governments are launching apps to have more effective contact tracing. There is speculation on how that data may be used, whether the data may be used to police rather than protect. This is particularly concerning for some within Māori communities and there are calls for a collaborative approach from government in order to honour te tiriti. Karaitiana Taiuru recently wrote a report on the importance of data privacy for indigenous communities. He's developed an ethical framework around the collection of data using some of the principals of a Māori worldview. He joined Laura Kvigstad to express the importance of incorporating te ao Māori in the development contact tracing apps.
Government has announced some guidelines of Alert Level 2 with more expected to come. Laura Kvigstad gives you a quick rundown of the guidelines so far and the response that some industries have had to them.
Many have commented that welfare did not receive the increases in spending for the 2020 Budget that they were hoping for. In a time where more people will need financial support, it has left some perplexed. Brooke Fiafia of Auckland Action Against Poverty joined Laura Kvigstad to discuss welfare spending in this budget…
New research from the Child Poverty Action Group has shown families with children receiving benefits would require an estimated $110 a week on average to reach 50 per cent of equivalised median after-housing-costs (AHC) income. These are the measures used by the government to measure the amount of children living in poverty, as in, after you pay for rent how much money is left over. Those families would also require an extra $215 to reach 60 per cent of the same measure, meaning income support levels for the 2020/21 year are well below the Government’s official poverty measures, even when recent benefit increases are included. Lillian spoke to Janet McAllister who was part of the research team to find out more:
On the Friday Wire, Jemima speaks to NZEI Te Riu Roa president Liam Rutherford about the NZCER survey showing one in four students feel occasionally unsafe in the classroom. Liam discusses solutions for students exhibiting extreme behaviour.
Sherry talks to the author of the Human Rights Commission report PRISM, Taine Polkinghorne. They discuss the human rights issues relating to people of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and sex characteristics.
Jemima reports on the Government decision to end the Auckland light rail proposals discussion. Justin gets National Party Transport Spokesperson Chris Bishop's thoughts and Jemima talks to Green Party Transport Spokesperson Julie Anne Genter.
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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