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.
Last week, Chris Hipkins announced that the Labour Party is pledging to rule out any sort of capital gains tax or wealth tax if re-elected. Hipkins has stated that it is simple mot the time for big changes to the tax system given how much Kiwis are struggling with the cost of living. The pledge has received backlash and contrasts starkly with policies of Te Pati Māori and The Green Party, leaving a potential future coalition uncertain.
Wire producer Rosetta spoke to to Child Poverty Action Group's convenor Alan Johnson about the policy, and what the decision will mean for the wealth gap and child poverty in Aotearoa.
The Grocery sector has been in the spotlight since it was reported that food prices increased 12.5 percent from last year.
This increase in food prices matched with a cost of living crisis has left many New Zealanders choosing between which of their basic needs is most important.
However, the cause of the cost of living crisis has had little effect on supermarket profits, with the two biggest supermarket retailers in New Zealand recording a combined profit of 430 million dollars last year.
In an unprecedented move, the Labour government has chosen to create a new commission to look at measures needed to regulate the supermarket industry in order to get fairer prices for ordinary Kiwis
Nicholas spoke to newly appointed grocery commissioner Pierre Van Heerden about his experience and his ideas on what needs to change in the grocery sector.
- Spike speaks to ACT MP Simon Court about ACT's youth justice policy announcements, and water researcher Marnie Prickett about Auckland Council's flood mitigation plan, along with new nitrate readings from South Auckland.
- Rawan speaks to Ben Schmidt from the Tertiary Education Union about voluntary redundancies at Massey University, and Auckland University Professor of Physics Richard Easther about the recent discovery of gravitational waves for Tomorrow's World.
- and Nicholas speaks to the newly appointed Grocery Commissioner Pierre Van Heerden about the role, and his focuses going in.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has ruled out introducing a wealth or capital gains tax if Labour is re-elected this year.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Action Station Director Kassie Hartendorp, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Pareraukawa, about why they believe a wealth tax and capital is needed in Aotearoa.
She started off their interview asking about their reaction to the Prime Minister's decision.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins speaks to Labour's Andrew Little about the government's response to recent dawn raids and their announcement that they would not introduce a wealth tax after the election.
She also speaks to Action Station Director Kassie Hartendorp (Ngāti Rau-kawa and Ngāti Pare-rau-kawa) about the government ruling out taxing the super-rich.
And she chats to undergraduate student at the University of Auckland Vaitoa Mallon about Kiribati language week.
Host Milly Smyth speaks with Daniel Hikuroa from the University of Auckland about Matariki.
Producer Rawan Saadi speaks with University of Auckland Doctoral candidate Ashlea Gibbons about the 250,000 dollar grant she has received to continue her research on the impact of fat bias on Maori in healthcare.
She also speaks to Australian-Jewish author and independent journalist Antony Lowenstein about his new book "The Palestinian Laboratory" which exposes and discusses how the Israeli occupation has been testing technology and military equipment on Palestinians.
This week is Te Taetae ni Kiribati Te Taetae ni Kiribati — Kiribati language week.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to undergraduate student at the University of Auckland Vaitoa Mallon about connecting with his Kiribati heritage growing up in Aotearoa.
This week on the Thursday Wire, Milly spoke to Dan Hikuroa from the University of Auckland about the very exciting first Matariki public holiday that will take place on the 14th July 2023.
This week, humanitarian agencies in New Zealand released an open letter to the government calling for legislation on ending modern-day slavery. World Vision and Tearfund are calling for the government to roll out legislation that requires businesses to assess where modern-day slavery may be used in their supply chains domestically and globally.
It is estimated by World Vision that around fifty million people are in modern-day slavery with around 27 million experiencing forced labour, with a large number in the Asia-Pacific. Consumer goods imported into New Zealand are often direct products of modern-day slavery.
To talk more about the policy recommendations that World Vision is pushing for, and the broader issue of modern-day slavery in New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific, host Andre Fa'aoso spoke to Morgan Theakston, Advocacy, Campaigns and Communications Manager at World Vision.
Host Andre Fa’aoso speaks to Morgan Theakston, a spokesperson from World Vision about their campaign and petition calling for the government to implement policies that can put an end to modern-day slavery.
Emilia speaks to Green Party co-leader James Shaw about the party’s annual general meeting that they held over the weekend.
Arno speaks to FIRST Union organiser Justin Wallace about their negotiations for better pay for Frame & Truss workers.
Arno also speaks to MBA student and business owner Joel Stirling about his experience as an MBA and meeting Richard Branson.
Plus some tunes and a fun little technical blooper.
National and Act have recently released new 'tough on crime' policies, including proposals for bootcamps and 'tougher' consequences for gang members.
Today on the Wire, Beth spoke with Dr Ian Hyslop, a Senior Lecturer at the School of Counselling and Social Work at the University of Auckland, about conventional youth justice facilities, whether they are ethical and effective means of addressing crime, and alternative ways to approaching the issue.
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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