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.
Shortly before the show Prodcuer Alex chatted with Green MP Teanau Tuiono about how the omicron outbreak is affecting Maori and Pasifika communities and what the government can do better.
This week on EuroVision European Correspondent Cameron Mulgan joins us to tell us what’s going on in Europe. This week Cameron and Frances spoke about the developments in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who has just returned to the UK after being detained in Iran for nearly six years and a little about what’s happening with the music scene in the wake of Brexit over there.
Earlier today Producer Alex chatted with National Party MP and Mental Health Spokesperson Matt Doocey about the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission’s recent report, which was damning about the outcomes that are being achieved with the Government’s present approach to mental health.
In Tāmaki Makaurau 500 – 1000 bikes are reported stolen each year. However, it is estimated that the actual number is between 2500 – 5000. 7% of people who have a bike stolen don't replace it and stop riding altogether, and bike theft becomes a financial barrier to choosing to bike.
Bike Auckland is an advocacy group who are working to create a better city for people on bikes. They are wanting to reduce barriers that stop people riding bikes, so people can keep using their bikes – for the planet, for climate change, for safe live-able cities and for mental and physical health.
Bike Auckland have recently partnered with Project 529 to tackle bike theft with the launch of a new bike registration and recovery system called 529 Garage. This week on the Wire, Frances caught up with Gabriel Gati who is on the leadership team with Bike Auckland and spoke about bike theft in the city and what this initiative of 529 Garage might do to reduce it.
If you are interested in getting your bike registered with 529 you can send an email to 529@bikeauckland.org.nz, visit www.529garage.co.nz or find their app by searching 529 Garage.
This week on the Wire Alex begins by speaking to the ACT party’s Brooke Van Velden about the history curriculum and the housing market.
Frances then speaks to Gabriel Gati from Bike Auckland about the massive rates of bike theft in Auckland and an initiative called 529 Garage which is hoping to decrease the rates of bike theft. She then speaks with our Europe Correspondent Cameron Mulgan on this week's Eurovision segment. This week we get an update on Ukraine, talk about Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe returning to the UK, and what the music scene is looking like over there in the wake of Brexit
Alex wraps up the show speaking with Matt Doocey from the National Party about the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission report and the Green Party’s Teanau Tuiono about his call for more long-term support for Maori and Pasifika in the midst of the pandemic.
Recently, the Herald revealed that a woman, who was a student at the University of Auckland, had been sexually assaulted by another student from her university of hall of residence. The perpetrator was reprimanded and prohibited from contacting the victim, but eight months on, he remains enrolled at the university.
Christina spoke to Vivien Whyte and Lily Chen from Thursdays in Black about the incident. They discussed rape culture on campus and the university’s response.
The Panama Papers, which were leaked 5 years ago, and revealing a shocking truth. Overseas businesses were exploiting New Zealand's tax incentives to avoid paying taxes.
Trishil Dahya took this opportunity to speak with Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark about his proposed business transparency bill, and how companies will be affected with these measures being put in place.
Today on the Wire, host Christina caught up with AUT Professor Marcus Jones for Dear Science. They talked about Russian and Ukrainian geopolitics reaching the International Space Station, an electrical circuit board that can learn on its own, and the implications of mapping the genome of an IVF embryo.
Producer Trishil Dahya spoke with Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clarke about a proposed bill to bring transparency around the tax and business affairs of foreign and domestic companies.
Christina talked to Karen Orsborn from the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission about their latest report on mental health and addiction in Aotearoa.
And finally, Christina spoke to Vivien Whyte and Lily Chen from Thursdays in Black about rape culture and sexual violence in the University of Auckland.
On Tuesday, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission released its latest report on mental health and addiction in Aotearoa. The report looks at the performance of these services between 2016 and 2017, and between 2020 and 2021. Christina spoke to the Commission’s Chief Executive Karen Orsborn about the report and the Commission's subsequent policy recommendations.
Last week saw the announcement of Aotearoa’s re-opening to international tourists, after two years of closure due to the pandemic.
Travellers from Australia can arrive from mid-April, and travellers from other visa-waiver countries can visit from the first of May.
The loss of tourism saw a drop of 15.6 billion dollars within the first year of the pandemic, and the state of the job market has left employers optimistic yet uncertain about the future.
Liam had a chat with Ann-Marie Johnson from Tourism Industry Aotearoa about the state of the industry and what’s to come.
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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