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.
Overnight, civil servant Sue Gray released her long-awaited report into a series of parties held in the prime minister's office while the UK was in covid lockdowns.
While the report is impartial and doesn’t make any specific recommendations as to the repercussions Prime Minister Boris Johnson should face, it found that these events “should not have been allowed to happen”, and now the question has been passed to the Conservative Party to assess whether Johnson should remain in his post.
Emilia Sullivan spoke to Aeron Davis, professor of political communication at Victoria University of Wellington about the inquiry.
Joe speaks to Will Matthews, an organiser from the Public Service Association about the DHB’s Offer and ERA’s Recommendations that were released to Allied Health Workers this week. He’ll also be speaking to the Honourable David Parker, the Minister for Ocean and Fisheries about the nationwide rollout of cameras on commercial fishing vessels
Emilia speaks to Massey University’s Sally Casswell about Digital Alcohol Marketing crossing borders. She’ll also be speaking to Aeron Davis from Victoria University about the Partygate scandal in UK Politics after the official inquiry was released overnight.
Trishil speaks to Richard Beasley from the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand and Joanna Turner from Asthma and Respiratory New Zealand about a new study touting the effectiveness of using a combined tubuhaler to reduce the severely of asthma attacks.
The war in Ukraine is continuing to heat up. The European Union has voted to place an oil embargo against Russia.
Trishil speaks to Professor Stanley Hoadley about an impending oil embargo being placed against Russia, and the fall out that such a move would result in.
Trishil has taken over Eurovision for the week as Frances recovers from a cold, speaking with Cameron Mulgan about the war in Ukraine, Grain Exports being affected leaving Ukraine, The spread of Monkeypox across Europe and the many methods of dealing with the disease, Spain introducing a paid menstrual leave package, and discussions about the Cannes Film Festival.That's us for the Wednesday Wire!
This week on the Wednesday Wire, Aneeka and Trishil are filling in for Stella.
Alex speaks with ACT party deputy leader Brooke Van Velden about the budget, with a specific focus on climate change.
Trishil speaks to Professor Stanley Hoadley about an impending oil embargo being placed against Russia, and the fall out that such a move would result in.
Trishil also speaks to Richard Beasley from the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand and Joanna Turner from Asthma and Respiratory New Zealand about a new study touting the effectiveness of using a combined tubuhaler to reduce the severely of asthma attacks.
Finally Trishil has taken over Eurovision for the week, speaking with Cameron Mulgan about the war in Ukraine, Grain Exports being affected leaving Ukraine, The spread of Monkeypox across Europe and the many methods of dealing with the disease, Spain introducing a paid menstrual leave package, and discussions about the Cannes Film Festival.That's us for the Wednesday Wire!
On May 10th New Zealand’s employment court reached a landmark decision against the Gloriavale religious community, classifying the work members do as employment, going against the claims that residents were volunteers.
This comes after years of allegations against the group exposed kiwis to a world of physical abuse and workers violations, with children as young as 6 being made to work long hours at Gloriavales many businesses’.
Jack spoke with Dr Bill Hodge, an employment law expert about the decision, and what it could mean for the future of the secretive community.
The allegations against Gloriavale have also re-ignited demands for the community to lose its tax exempt status, I talked to professor of Law Michael Littlewood about the possibility of this, however I started by asking him why they are tax exempt in the first place.
Despite Menopause being a natural hormone change in women's bodies, women don't often feel comfortable discussing the changes they experience and often feel stigmatised.
Trishil Dahya spoke to Isis McKay from Women's Health Action about the stigmas surrouding menopause.
This week on the Monday Wire, Trishil is filling in for Charlie.
Stella and Isla are talking to marine biologist Georgia Third for this week's episode of Tomorrow’s World.
Trishil speaks to Isis McKay from the Women’s Health Action about the stigma’s surrounding menopause. He also speaks to Dr Arindam Basu on the developing Monkeypox endemic, as well as Dr Jennifer Curtin about the Australian Election, and how the result will affect the nation over the next three years.
Joe speaks to Chloe Swarbrick The Green Party today about the Department of Conservation failing to submit the resource to consent on Putiki Bay. He also talks to Professor Nicola Gaston about how the Budget for 2022 and how the funding science has received may go towards research and innovation.
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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