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 in parliament a bill was proposed to ban seabed mining. The bill was voted down by National, ACT and Labour, and Environment Minister David Parker announced last week that a select committee inquiry to investigate seabed mining. Kiwis against Seabed Mining spokesperson Cindy Baxter was in parliament yesterday for the reading of the bill and she spoke about what happened.
The Exhibition "Let Us Drink the New Wine, Together!" has been curated by Alys Longley and Máximo Corvalán-Pincheira in collaboration with over 100 artists worldwide.
It is on until 13 May, in person at the Malcolm Fisher Gallery in Howick and online.
Alex Bonham spoke to Alys Longley, an Associate Professor at the University of Auckland's School of Dance talks about how the work is rooted in multi-disciplinary and multi-site collaboration pushing at the borders that divide despite or perhaps because it all began with artists being trapped at home during the Covid lockdown.
Andre spoke to Lauren Vinnell, Lecturer of Emergency Management at Massey University about our recent bouts of extreme weather, how Aucklanders and emergency management teams have reacted to it, and how in the future as these events become more frequent, how we may need to change our response.
Andre also spoke to Dylan Asafo, Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland about why the 2021 dawn raids apology wasn’t enough for the Pacific community, and also about recent revelations that dawn raids are still happening in the Pacific community.
On the Green Desk, Jack Marshall speaks to Sarah Bealing, a Restore Passenger Rail supporter from Wellington, about why causing traffic chaos and delays in the Wellington CBD is good for their cause.
Producer Alex Bonham speaks to Grant Hewison from Lawyers for Climate Action, and Associate Professor Alys Longley about the physical and online exhibition “Let Us Drink the New Wine Together.”
Government officials and Pacific community leaders met to discuss continued dawn raids on the Pasifika community despite the official government dawn raid apology in 2021.
On the 19th of April, a dawn raid on a household led to the arrest of a Tongan man. Amongst those there at the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni and Immigration Minister Michael Wood. Michael Wood indicated at the meeting that he was considering granting amnesty to all overstayers in Aotearoa.
To talk more about what has and hasn’t happened for the Pacific community following the dawn raids apology, Andre Fa'aoso spoke to Dylan Asafo, Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland.
The extreme weather system that is continuing to affect the North Island caused havoc throughout Tamaki Makaurau on Tuesday. The state of emergency declared in Auckland drew stark contrasts to the Auckland anniversary floods in January and Cyclone Gabrielle in February.
Auckland Emergency Management, Civil Defence and Auckland Council sprung into action as the rains poured down throughout the city, with heavy rain warnings issued in north and west Auckland.
As extreme weather events appear to become more frequent, do Aucklanders and management agencies need to reconsider how they react and deal with these situations? To receive input and analysis, whilst also determining how well agencies have responded to the recent weather, Andre Fa'aoso spoke with Doctor Lauren Vinnell, Lecturer of Emergency Management at Massey University.
Welcome to the Tuesday Wire! Join the Tuesday Wire team (Milly and Beth), as they discuss a variety of current affairs topics, including:
Dear Science with Allan Blackman
Beth Speaks to Eugenie Sage on Clive Palmer’s mineral permit
Beth also spoke to Don Hine on the impacts of climate change on youth mental health
Milly conducts a report into crime in the Auckland CBD
And lastly, Milly speaks to Carrie Leonetti associate professor from the University of Auckland regarding expert-led domestic violence training for court judges
In her weekly catch up with the National Party's Dr Shane Reti, Milly speaks about the party's plans on the healthcare system,a workforce that is suffering staff shortages with huge flow on effects for New Zealanders. Nationals plans to incentivise beginning a career in nursing and midwifery and then focus on retention is how they are focussing on helping the struggling health industry.
Crime in the Auckland CBD has been on the rise for multiple years now, with many reports of people feeling unsafe. Today Milly from the Tuesday Wire conducts a report into what the statstics are, what is causing the current spike in crime and what some possible solutions might be, to make you feel more safe and to work towards reducing the crime rate. Many thanks to James Oleson, Criminology, University of Auckland, the School of Social Sciences, for the data that helped to create this report.
For their weekly catch up, Hanna spoke to Te Pāti Māori's Takutai Kemp about MP Meka Whaitiri quitting the Labour Party to join Te Pāti Māori. Whaitiri's statements indicate the jump was prompted by Labour dropping co-governance in its Three Waters reforms, disregarding obligations under Te Tiriti guaranteeing Māori authority over natural resources. They discussed what differentiates Te Pāti Māori from Labour, and why Whaitiri aligns herself more with the former than the latter.
Te Pāti Māori have also signed a letter with other inigenous peoples in the Commonwealth calling for the King to apologise for the harms of colonisation, and have a petition underway seeking to remove the British royal family as Aotearoa's head of state. Hanna and Takutai Kemp discussed these in light of the coronation of King Charles, and foundations for a Tiriti-centric Aotearoa.
The Disinformation Project released a report last week which confirmed that since Posie Parker's arrival in Aotearoa in late March, there has been an increase in anti-trans hate in far right circles.
Caeden spoke to Awhi Marshall (Te Arawa, Tainui) who is a student and InsideOut Kōaro board member on her perspective on the report as a trans and takatāpui person with experience in this space. Awhi uses she/they pronouns.
Caeden also spoke John Fenaughty, a cis (he/him) Senior Lecturer in Counselling, Human Services and Social Work at Waipapa Taumata Rau the University of Auckland. John spoke on anti-trans discrimination and the role of academics in gathering this data. Here are these interviews.
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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