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.
What do we do about our falling voter rates in local elections? Some say we offer chocolate, sasage sizzles or make it a holiday, though, the most common call is to put voting online.
However, Dr Julienne Molineaux, Director of The Policy Observatory, says voting in local elections is far too complex, with too many options and too few clear opinions for voters, thus, online voting won't do much.
Producer Jack Marshall spoke with Dr Molineaux about the problems with local elections and how we might improve them.
Yesterday the government announced the largest budget surplus in a decade. Finance Minister Grant Robertson stated that their surplus had increased to 7.5 billion dollars. He attributed this to a strong economy that is “outperforming much larger developed countries”. John Milford, chief executive of Wellington Chamber of Commerce stated in an RNZ interview that the surplus was delivered by a strong business community, high employment and a strong GST take. Meanwhile, the National party has rebuked the government's claims, accusing them of “sitting on a stack of money” by not properly supporting underfunded public services. The Public Service Association, New Zealand's largest union, representing a variety of government-employed workers, has stated that this surplus is an indication that more needs to be spent on services and issues, including the housing crisis, hospitals and beneficiaries. William Boyd spoke with PSA National Secretary Glenn Barclay about their recent press release on the announcement. Will started off by quoting both the government and National’s stance on the surplus and asking whether he or the PSA agrees with either.
2019 marks the 250th anniversary of when Captain James Cook arrived in Aotearoa. Tuia 250, is commemorating the first onshore meetings between Māori – the tangata whenua of Aotearoa New Zealand – and Pākehā in 1769–70. The commerations have been met with mixed responses, taking place at the arrival of the Endeavour yesterday. Tuwhenuaroa spoke to Owen Lloyd, Chairman of the Tairawhiti District Māori Council, who has a deep connection to te Tairawhiti on both his Pakeha and Maori side. He has very different views to those expressed by many maori in the mainstream media, so I began the interview by asking him about his own personal take on the Tuia 250 commemorations, and about the response of protestors like his colleague Marise Lant.
On Dear Science with AUT’s Marcus Jones, it’s Nobel Prize week and we discuss some of the achievements being recognised by the scientific community
Tuwhenuaroa spoke to Owen Lloyd, Chairman of the Tairawhiti District Māori Council about Tuia 250, and the protests that took place in Gisbourne
William talked to Nation Secretary of the Public Service Association Glenn barclay about the recent announcement of a budget surplus from the government.
Lillian spoke to Saharawi resistance spokesperson Tecber Ahmed Saleh who works for the Ministry of Health in the Saharawi refugee camps about the implications of NZ importing 70 percent of its phosphate from Western Sahara through Morocco
Mitch talks to Lauren Vargo at the Green Desk about glaciers and ice melting across Aotearoa.
Oscar talks to Minister Kelvin Davis about #Tuia250 and what the Labour Party see it as meaning for Aotearoa's future.
Olivia discusses the climate crisis and rebellious acts with Extinction Rebellion activist Melanie Vautier amidst their ongoing actions in Pōneke.
And finally Oscar talks to Tim Bowater of the living compost system up at OMG Auckland to discuss his work there, non linear climate change solutions and carbon sequestration.
On the 4th of October, the Auckland University clocktower was occupied by students calling for the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Stuart McCutcheon regarding his complacency in protecting students against white supremacy. This arose after stickers and posters promoting a white-nationalist group was spotted, and McCutcheon cited the incident as ‘unfortunate’ but protected by free speech.
Bronwyn Wilde headed to the protest and spoke to some of the protestors: AUSA Women’s rights Anamika Harirajh, AUSA president George Barton, Green MP Golriz Ghaharama, and students Gabriella Brayne and Israa Falah.
The Office of the Children’s Commissioner has relseased a report into youth residential care facilities. The Hard Place to be Happy reportcontains children’s experiences of living in the institutions in their own words, with much of it making for harrowing reading. The facilities are largely run by Oranga Tamariki, who have indicated possible changes to the system in the future. Lachlan spoke with Children’s commissioner ANdrew Becroft about the report.
This week on the Monday Wire, Sherry and Bronwyn bring us a report on the anti-white supremacy protest on Friday at the University of Auckland. Southern Cross is back with the latest news from across the Pacific. Lachlan speaks to Children's Commissioner, Andrew Becroft, about the "Hard Place to Be Happy" report on youth residential care. Jemima wraps it up with a conversation with Green Party co-leader James Shaw about lowering the voting age and the government's decision to drop the "family link" refugee policy.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 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
With the rise of fast fashion outlets like Shein and Temu alongside the wider mainstream options available that contribute substantial amounts of clothing waste to landfill, experts are calling for an urgent response on a governance, business, and individual level.
Wire Host Sara spoke to Mindful Fashion Chief Executive Jacinta Fitzgerald about the problem, and the industry response to sustainability, as well as University of Auckland Marketing Professor Mike Lee about the importance of ethical consumption.for individuals.
First, is the interview with Fitzgerald, where she begins by talking about the organisation Mindful Fashion.
Following this, Sara spoke to Marketing Professor Mike Lee about the research he has undertaken around consumerism.
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