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.
In its first full term with a six-justice conservative majority, the Supreme Court spent the last few days of their sitting issuing far-reaching decisions that will transform American life. Last week we spoke about the court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade, leaving abortion rights up to states to decide.
They also ruled in the case of West Virginia vs. the Environmental Protection Agency, which held that the Obama-era Clean Power Plan exceeded the U.S. EPA’s authority under the Clean Air Act.
Kevin Trenberth was involved in the earlier stages of this case prior to it heading to the Supreme Court, and Emilia Sullivan spoke to him about what this ruling told us, and what it means for climate change in the future.
Following March’s Commerce Commission inquiry which found that the two big supermarket chains, Woolworths and Foodstuffs, were using their dominant market position to push excess costs and uncertainty onto suppliers, the government has made steps towards increasing competition in the supermarket industry.
One of the steps was announced yesterday - introducing a grocery commissioner and a mandatory code of conduct to ensure suppliers to supermarkets get a fair deal.
Emilia Sullivan spoke to Chief Executive of Consumer NZ, Jon Duffy about the grocery watchdog and code of conduct.
Tuva’a Clifton speaks to Labour Party’s Andrew Little about Health New Zealand as we get to the end of its first week of operation
Emilia Sullivan will be speaking to David Welch from Auckland Uni about the new Omicron wave in Aotearoa
She'll also be speaking to Kevin Trenberth about the US Supreme Court’s ruling on the scope of powers conferred on the Environmental Protection Agency.
And finally she'll be speaking to Consumer NZ Chief Executive Jon Duffy about the establishment of a grocery commissioner and a mandatory code of conduct in the battle against the supermarket duopoly.
That's us for the Thursday Wire! See you next week.
Aneeka has completely taken over the segment from Frances, and this week she chats to European correspondent Cameron Adams about Ukraine, the upcoming NATO summit, and all the happenings in Europe.
Last Friday the Government launched Aotearoa New Zealand’s first Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People, and New Zealand’s first Ministry that will have a NZ Sign Language name, as well as Te Reo Māori and English names. This follows Health New Zealand and the Māori Health Authority also officially taking effect, in what is regarded as a fully national health service. Last year the government announced a suite of changes for disabled people as part of the Health and Disability System reforms. Budget 2022 also saw over $1 billion of new funding go into the disability sector.
Minister for Disability Issues Hon Poto Williams sez “In the spirit of ‘Nothing About Us, Without Us’, the new Ministry will start the ball rolling with ensuring the Ministry’s culture and values are mana-enhancing, the governance and partnership arrangements are meaningful, and the mechanisms that will give effect to disabled peoples voices are enduring. The Ministry will lead and coordinate disability policy across government, including improving outcomes for disabled people in areas such as employment, education, health and wellbeing.
Joe speaks with Hon Poto Williams about the launch of Whaikaha - the Ministry for the Disabled.
On the 23rd June 2022, The US Food And Drug Administration moved to ban JUUL e-cigarettes from the United States market. Their reasoning? Their business model fails to assure that their user base remains safe while using the e-cigarette. This motion follows a two year investigation into their parent company Juul Labs.
Trishil deep dives into the state of affairs in the United States, as well as speaking to Sarah Helm from the New Zealand Drug Foundation about the perception of vaping in New Zealand and how the US ban could affect us.
Alex chats with ACT’s Brooke van Velden about the EU Free Trade Deal and the rise in gun crime in Auckland.
Joe speaks to Hon Poto Williams about the launch of the Ministry for the Disabled
Trishil talks about the ban on Juul e-cigarettes in the US and interviews Sarah Helm from the New Zealand Drug Foundation about New Zealand vaping culture and whether the ban in the US could affect New Zealand
Alex then chats with Ian Powell, the former Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, about the new Maori Health Authority
And there is also Eurovision, Aneeka’s weekly catchup with Europe correspondent Cameron Adams
For the past two weeks Jack Horsnell been embarking on an investigation, answering the questions, why are student fees so expensive? And where they are spent? Jack spoke to a range of experts with the goal of unravelling the complicated world of university fees.
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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