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.
The latest annual New Zealand Census of Women on Boards shows the top 100 publicly listed companies still overwhelmingly male and Pākehā. Simplicity is NZ’s not for profit kiwisaver scheme, and managing director Sam Stubbs assisted in the census. Simplicity will be engaging in formal shareholding action voting directors in and out, if companies have not achieved full diversity by 2022. Sherry speaks to Sam on issues with tokenism, why it’s been so slow to change, and begins by asking him about the ethnic and gender makeup of boardrooms at the moment.
This week on the Monday Wire, Sherry talks to Mai Chen about the Chinese experience of the New Zealand court system. Lachlan speaks to Dr Garth Bennie from the New Zealand Disability Support Network about the gap in funding for disability services. Jemima talks to Green Party co-leader James Shaw about the US withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, Gareth Hughes' resignation and the Sustainable NZ party. Sherry wraps it up with an interview with Sam Stubbs from Simplicity NZ about diversity in New Zealand board rooms.
Parliamentary submissions on the Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Bill were open recently, from the 6th to the 10th of November. The New Zealand Law Society presented its submission to Parliament’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee yesterday, highlighting a number of concerns about the Bill's substance, as well as the urgency with which it has proceeded.
The Bill was introduced last month by Justice Minister Andrew Little to impose restrictions on New Zealanders suspected of terrorism-related activity overseas attempting to return home. This came shortly after Prime Minister Jacinda Arden warned extremist Mark Taylor (who is currently believed to be detained in Syria) that if he came back to New Zealand he would face “the full force of the law”
Producer Bronwyn Wilde spoke to Geoff McLay of the New Zealand Law Society about their submissions. He began by noting the Bill's blurring of the realms of criminal and civil law.
International Desk talks about Bolivia and its ousted president Evo Morales
Mary-Margaret talked Peter Thompson of Victoria University on the possibility of a new public media entity replacing TVNZ and Radio New Zealand.
Justin talked to Justice Minister Andrew Little about the government's new legeslations regarding firearms and sexual violence victims and the new Sustainable New Zealand party and Bird of the Year results.
Mary-Margaret also talked to Auckland University's Siouxsie Wiles about the Wellington City Council's claim that breasfeeding in pools could cause contamination.
Wellington City Council has banned breastfeeding in pools, saying it poses a risk of contamination. Mary-Margaret asks microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles if breast milk really contains potentially harmful contaminants.
Political changes involving left-wing politicians occured in several Latin America countries, as Bolivian president Evo Morales is ousted from power while former Brazilian President Lula has been released from prison. Justin talked to Fabricio Chagas-Bastos from the University of Melbourne about the "pink tide" that brought these politicians to power and Aitor Gonzalez, a PhD student at the University of Auckland, about what caused the downfall of Morales.
Bus drivers for East Tamaki and the Airport will be taking full strike action for a twenty four hours after four AM tomorrow. This comes after employment relations reach a new low between drivers and company Go Bus. First Union representatives has stated that Go bus have cancelled regular wage bargaining, suspended drivers affiliated with the union and endangered the safety of striking workers. They have also stated that Go Bus and service provider Auckland Transport frequently “pit drivers against the public” in media releases on strike action. In response Go Bus have stated that drivers are “making students the victim” by timing the strikes alongside the exam period. The bus company also rebutted all of First Unions claims stating that they have made wage increase offers, haven’t cancelled negotiations and have not suspended anyone over the strikes. William Boyd spoke with FIRST Union Secretary for Transport, Logistics and Manufacturing, Jared Abbott about the planned strike and Go Buses unethical practices. William started off by asking why drivers are striking.
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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