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.
Today on the Wire, Hanna speaks to James Renwick, a climate scientist from the Victoria University of Wellington, about the difference between offsetting and reducing emissions.
Jemima brings you a special on the drug testing legislation brought in at the end of 2020 and the lack of services available at festivals this summer due to limited resources. Jemima speaks to some Rhythm and Alps festival goers to hear their thoughts on drug checking. Then, the Rhythm and Alps Director Alex Turnball talks about whether festivals should have drug testing and the process of getting a drug checking service like Know Your Stuff on board. Jemima also hears from a source who works in a shop that sells DIY drug testing kits about their popularity this summer. Finally, she chat to Sarah Helm, the Executive Director of the New Zeland Drug Foundation, about Know Your Stuff’s recent figures on drug testing and what needs to happen to ensure that Know Your Stuff has the resources to be present at all festivals.
While New Zealand has a target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, net zero emissions can be achieved without transformative change through measures which merely seek to offset emissions. New Zealand has continued to garner criticism for inaction on climate change, and was recently excluded from the Climate Ambition Summit. This raises the question of whether New Zealand's climate policy reflects the urgency of the situation.
Hanna spoke to James Renwick, a climate scientist from Victoria University, about the efficacy of offsetting emissions through tree planting, and whether we should instead seek to reduce emissions.
In this special on the new drug testing legislation introduced at the end of 2020, News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston looks into whether the law change has made an impact this summer.
Dispite the fact that the change has legalised drug testing for events, Know Your Stuff - the drug checking organisation, was unable to provide their services at many festivals over the New Year period due to limited notice and resources. Jemima explores public opinion on the lack of services available, the process of getting a checking service on board at an event, the reasons behind the popularity of DIY drug testing kits and what needs to happen to ensure that testing services are available at all festivals in Aotearoa.
In this piece Jemima speaks to Rhythm and Alps 2020 festival goers, Rhythm and Alps Director Alex Turnball, a source who works for a shop that sells DIY drug testing kits and New Zealand Drug Foundation Executive Director Sarah Helm.
If you are looking to get drugs tested, Know Your Stuff in conjunction with the NZ Drug Foundation are running two clinics on Saturday 23 January in Auckland and Wellington.
Auckland - The Hemp Store, 253 Karangahape Road, 11am-3pm.
On todays show, Jess interviewed Dr Ralph Buck, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Chair on Dance and Social Inclusion about the benefits of recreational dance.
Then Aneeka talked to Rick Bidgood from AT&T about residential parking restrictions, Ian Hadland of Otago Fish and Game about the hundreds of dead eel and trout found in Silverstream, and lastly brought you a piece on opportuites and events for Kiwi artists with Michael Tucker.
Hundreds of eels and trout were found dead in lower Silverstream with the Otago Regional Council, Otago Fish & Bird and local farmers now trying to get to the bottom of it. While investigations are ongoing, Otago Fish & Bird are fairly confident that this occured due to low oxygen and high heat environment that developed in the water. Aneeka speaks to Ian Hadland, chief executive for Otago Fish & Bird, about what's going on.
As many Aucklanders would have noticed, residential parking restrictions have been expanding for quite a while, getting further into the city fringe into increasingly residential areas. Aneeka spoke to Rick Bidgood from at&t about why this is and what this means for transport in the city.
Travel restrictions due to Covid-19 means that international acts have not been able to enter the country for gigs and events. This has left a vacuum which is being filled by Kiwi artists who now have increasing opportunities to shine without being overshadowed by international acts. Aneeka speaks to Michael Tucker from Loop about what this means for the New Zealand music scene.
Jess talked to Dr Ralph Buck, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Co-Chair on Dance and Social Inclusion about the benefits of recreational dance.
We started by discussing the significance of his new co chair position, which was appointed for the first time last year.
New research has shown more educstion is needed for boys and men when it comes to consent, in an effort to reduce sexual violence statistics. James talks to associate professor Janet Fanslow about the research and what steps can be taken.
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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