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.
Welcome to The Wire for this Rāpare, Thursday! This week, Tuva'a has his weekly catch-up with Labour's Andrew Little, and Milly speaks to Sarah Sneyd from Alcohol Watch about the proposed harm reduction bill. Stella speaks to Marsden Fund recipients Julia De Bres (for research into supporting transgender youth) and Dr Nick Mortimer (about the toughness of pounamu). Stella also speaks to Jennifer Curtin about the impact the Black Ferns in raising the profile of women's rugby. She also speaks to Jenni Adams about the IceCube Collaboration- revealing more about nearby galaxies.
Our News and Editorial Director Jess speaks to Brooke van Velden in our weekly chat with the ACT Party, this week they’ll be talking about hate speech laws & the End of Life Choice Act one year on.
Emilia will be chatting about this morning’s announcement to give $20,000,000 in funding to help address loss and damage caused by climate change in developing countries, she talks to Climate Change Minister James Shaw and Oxfam's Communications and Advocacy Director Jo Spratt.
And she will also be chatting to Jess Chambers, Head of Campaigns from SAFE about the non-ban on cage-farmed hens.
On Wednesday morning it was announced that the government would be giving $20,000,000 to developing nations to help address loss and damage caused by climate change.
The funding comes as part of the government’s commitment to deal with the impacts of climate change not covered by funding for adaptation measures.
This makes New Zealand one of only a few nations to make a loss and damage payment, which have also been described as reparations for the economic damage caused to developing nations by global warming.
Emilia spoke to Climate Change Minister James Shaw & Oxfam's Communications and Advocacy Director Jo Spratt.
Climate change reparations are set to take centre stage at this years COP27 summit. This will see developing countries being paid for climate change damages, especially when they have contributed the least to climate change. So how exactly will this work?
Christina asked Dr Kevin Trenberth, a Distinguished Scholar at the National Centre of Atmospheric Research in Colorado.
With the COP27 climate summit underway and the recent agricultural emissions reduction plan the government released, attention is being drawn to how New Zealand will meet its emissions reductions target of net-zero by 2050.
For their weekly catch-up Casper discussed emissions reductions policy with National party MP Dr Shane Reti, how the National party differs from the government and what alternative approaches they’re considering.
They also spoke about recent concerns that have been appearing in the media and in policitcal messaging around the impact monetary policy is having on mortgage holders, and whether this debate is showing the whole picture.
Researchers from the University of Auckland’s school of architecture and planning are trialing a ‘scoot or bike and ride’ project at Panmure station, with the intent to integrate micromobility options with public transport.
Casper spoke to principle investigator for the project Dr Tim Welch about what they’re doing and what it might mean about the future of transport in Auckland.
With another Guy Fawkes come and gone, calls to implement stronger fireworks regulations have reignited amid several blazes wreaking havoc around the country this weekend. Every year, the public are urged to use fireworks safely, but some argue simply issuing annual warnings is not enough.
Christina discussed this with Alice Hayward, a spokesperson for Ban the Boom, a campaign which is hoping to "support fun not fear" and end the private sales of fireworks.
Spike speaks to Sarah Helm, director of the NZ Drug Foundation, about their latest report on overdoses and the wider introduction of Naloxone in New Zealand.
Spike speaks to Brin Ryder about drug testing services, the approaching festival season, and what that might mean for people planning to take psychoactive substances over summer.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 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
With the rise of fast fashion outlets like Shein and Temu alongside the wider mainstream options available that contribute substantial amounts of clothing waste to landfill, experts are calling for an urgent response on a governance, business, and individual level.
Wire Host Sara spoke to Mindful Fashion Chief Executive Jacinta Fitzgerald about the problem, and the industry response to sustainability, as well as University of Auckland Marketing Professor Mike Lee about the importance of ethical consumption.for individuals.
First, is the interview with Fitzgerald, where she begins by talking about the organisation Mindful Fashion.
Following this, Sara spoke to Marketing Professor Mike Lee about the research he has undertaken around consumerism.
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