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 Tree Council is a community based organisation that has been advocating for the values and protection of trees for more than thirty years. They announced this week their full support for the Tupuna Maunga Authority’s restoration plan for Owairaka maunga following protests against the removal of 345 exotic trees on the mountain. Lillian Hanly spoke with Chair of the Tree Council Sean Freeman who explained the restoration plan, saying it is part of the integrated management plan that applies to all the maunga of Tāmaki Makaurau. Part of that plan is to remove the exotic vegetation and reestablish native ecology as a way of bringing back native fauna to those maunga, and restore, repair and reinstate the relationship between mana whenua and these sacred areas. Lillian then started by asking what the Tree Council’s response was to the protests.
On The Wire today, Dear Science with Allan Blackman takes us through protons, slippery ice and cleaning products that could kill.
Sherry is looking into the government’s announcements on changes in schools and speaks to two principals, one from Auckland Grammar School, and the other from Te Kura Kaupapa Motuhake O Tāwhiuau in Murupara.
William speaks to Jarred Abbott from First Union about the upcoming bus driver strikes.
Lillian hears from Sean Freeman, chair of the Tree Council on why they support the Tupuna Maunga Authority’s plan to restore Owairaka maunga.
The Ministry of Education is reforming the education system, shifting responsibilities away from principals and the Board of Trustees. This will replace the self-governing regime created in 1989, and give more power to the New Education Service Agency. Changes will include how enrolment schemes are set up in regards to zoning, along with buildings and maintenance. There reforms arose from a taskforce report released last year.
Sherry spoke to two principals part of the Community Schools Alliance, who oppose the reform. Te Kura Kaupapa Māori Motuhake o Tāwhiuau principal, Pem Bird, is concerned Maori students will not be supported due to the lack of bicultuaralism in the education system. Auckland Grammar School Headmaster, Tim O'connor, doesn't believe the ministry will hold schools to account due to the lack of detail in the report.
Unicef released a report last year which ranked New Zealand at 33 out of 38 for educational inequality across preschool, primary school and secondary school levels in the OECD.
Recently, a group of 21 mental health experts signed an open letter to MPs detailing the facts and evidence regarding assisted dying and suicide rates.
95bFM explores the grey areas and uncertainties around the euthanasia debate that has divided the nation.
Reporter Rachel Simpson talks sci-fi futures, the precautionary principle, and the meaning of rights. She speaks to Dion Howard, who is a registered nurse and specialist youth mental health worker. They discuss the experience and point of view of professionals who see these issues first hand.
We talk to Dr Julia Albrecht about the Tiaki Promise and about making a sustainable future for the tourism industry.
Reporter Rachel Simpson talked to registered nurse and youth mental health specialist Dion Howard about an open letter from experts to MPs detailing the facts and evidence regarding assisted dying and suicide rates
New Zealand has a new political party. The Sustainable New Zealand party has thrown its hat into the ring for the 2020 election with a focus on, surprise surprise, sustainability. They insist they’re not a blue green party, and are headed by former green party and national party member Vernon Tava. They’re willing to work anyone across the political spectrum to achieve their goals. Lachlan spoke with Vernon about the party.
This week on the Monday Wire, Jemima speaks to Green Party co-leader James Shaw about the passing of the Zero Carbon Act. Lachlan talks to Vernon Tava who is the leader of the new political party, Sustainable New Zealand, abour what the party stands for. Felix chats with Forest and Bird about the Bird of the Year competition and the Hoiho taking out first place this year. Jemima wraps it up with an interview with Dr Rebekah Graham who has worked with the Child Poverty Action Group on a paper regarding food insecurity in New Zealand.
Child Poverty Action Group has launched a series of papers that highligtht the problems children face living in food insecure households. Jemima spoke to an author of one of the papers, Dr Rebekah Graham about food insecurity in Aotearoa and what needs to be done to eliminate it.
Neutral corner for this week looks at media coverage of Iran's recent move to enrich uranium in violation of the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
WE spoke to Denise Lee of the National Party about… The Zero Carbon Bill passing, Background checks for electoral candidates, and Christopher Luxon running for National in Botany.
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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