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.
It’s no secret that poverty is a prevalent issue in Aotearoa, with the narrative often around inequality amongst our most vulnerable communities. New research conducted by AUT’s New Zealand Work Research Institute has found that more than 50,000 working households are living in poverty across New Zealand.
This report was commissioned by the Human Rights Commission, who will analyse these implications identified through the findings, to inform their advocacy work focussing on poverty, equality, and non-discrimination.
Louis spoke with Dr. Alexander Plum, a Senior Research Fellow, at the NZ Work Research Institute, who are an inquiry-driven research team that analyse & explore issues affecting people and their work. Here he is talking about inequality amongst working-class households.
This week on the wire, we have our weekly chat with Green party Co-leader James shaw, on prisoner voting rights, ACC fossil fuel divestment, APEC bill, and touch on the budget. Dhannun speaks to Rob McCann on White ribbon day. Sherry speaks to author of No friend but the Mountains, Behrouz Boochani, on being detained on Manus island for 6 years as a refugee. And finally Louis speaks to AUT Alexander plum on working households in poverty.
Behrouz Boochani was detained on Manus island for 6 years, after fleeing Iran due to his work in Journalism. Behrouz wrote No friend but the mountains while in the detention centre, smuggling out PDFs on Whatsapp. Earlier this month he left Manus for the first time to travel to New Zealand. Sherry caught up with Behrouz and when they began the interview, he mentioned he'd been quite tired, flying from Auckland to Christchurch, and hadn’t had much time to himself yet due to interviews requests.
Sherry speaks to him about the power of language in upholding inhuman structures, his criticisms of Australia’s refugee policy, and the power of storytelling and journalism to expose and reshape narratives. She begins by asking him on his experience on Manus Island.
Neutral corner for this week looks at the ongoing protests in Bolivia following the resignation of longtime President Evo Morales in circumstances that his supporters describe as a military coup but which detractors frame as a healthy transition of power.
With nearly half of sunscreen brands tested by Consumer NZ failing to provide protection above SPF50, Bronwyn Wilde speaks with Sue Chetwin about whether purchasers can trust what they buy.
First up, The National Party’s, Denise Lee, joins us for our weekly chat. She talks about the decision to scrap the ban on parliamentary tv footage for political advertising, the conflict of interest in the provincial growth fund and the recent meeting Denise has had in Mount Wellington after a survey from the public where some are saying the area is not receiving enough attention in regards to crime and safety.
Then, Laura Kvigstad has a chat with the National Secretary of the New Zealand Resident Doctors Association, Deborah Powell about the spike in violence towards hospital staff.
After that, producer, Bronnie Wilde speaks with CEO of Consumer NZ, Sue Chetwin, about how 9 Sunscreens have failed to provide the coverage claimed on the label.
And Finally, producer, Benjamin Goldson discusses the ongoing unrest and violence in Bolivia in a new segment of Neutral Corner to round out the show.
Between February 20, 2016, and February 20, 2019, Canterbury DHB saw 2,383 recorded physical assaults, 1450 verbal abuse incidents, and 380 psychological harm events. Overall that accounts for two physical assaults a day. Since these figures, the New Zealand Resident Doctors Association says they have seen a spike in assaults, and the concern is that many of them are not being reported. The National Secretary of the New Zealand Resident Doctors Association, Deborah Powell joined Laura Kvigstad to discuss what is happening within our hospitals to see such a rise in assaults.
Justin talked to Justice Minister Andrew Little about the anniversary of the Pike River Mine disaster, rental law reforms, a new national interest test on selling assets and New Zealand First donation controversies.
Justin also gave an update about the situation in Hong Kong and talked to Janet Ng, who is running for local councillor in the local elections this weekend.
Mary-Margaret talked to Tuari Potiki about honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi in cannabis law reforms.
Neighbourhood Watch looks into Canberra slashing robodebt and the bushfires.
Justin gave an update on Hong Kong, after police seiged two major universities and firing more than 1000 tear gas and rubber bullets at protestors entrenched there. The upcoming weekend is also the day for Hong Kong's local election, so Justin talked to Janet Ng, who is running for re-election at the Mei Foo Central constituency, to discuss her campaign.
Issac Ip is also contesting the Mei Foo Central constituency but he did not respond to an interview request.
After the Christchurch terror attack, Tuari Potiki wrote that this IS us but it does not have to be. Along with other Māori leaders, he spoke in Wellington yesterday about how cannabis reform is an opportunity to make Aotearoa a more equitable place for tangata whenua. Mary-Margaret spoke to him about what active incorporation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi looks like in drug policy reform.
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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