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.
Olivia Holdsworth and Oscar Perress talk to Housing First Programme Manager Fiona Hamilton and Public Service Association national secretary Glenn Barclay about the new measures to prevent homelessness being introduced by the government.
In Board Games this week, host Olivia Holdsworth and reporter Oscar Perress talk to Kerrin Leoni and Glenda Fryer, of City Vision, about their upcoming Waitematā local board campaigns, local issues and who they are.
Oscar Perress talks to Claudia Palmer of 350 Aotearoa about their current campaigns and the role of banks in endorsing the fossil fuel industry behind closed doors.
We talk Claudia Palmer of 350 Aotearoa about their current campaigns and the role of banks in endorsing the fossil fuel industry behind closed doors.
Next up, we talk to Housing First Programme Manager Fiona Hamilton and Public Service Association national secretary Glenn Barclay about the government’s new measures being introduced to prevent homelessness.
After that, for Green Desk, Oscar talks to ecologist Dr Mike Joy about fossil fuels, his upcoming talk at AUT uni and the biophysical limits to Aotearoa's food and environmental future.
And finally for Board Games we talk to Kerrin Leoni and Glenda Fryer about their upcoming Waitematā local board campaigns.
Today the Corrections Department announced its plan to reduce Maori offending and address over-representation in imprisonment. Hokai Rangi is a 5 year strategy that will incorporate Te Ao Maori, improve visitation for whanau, transform rehabilitative services, and provide sensitivity training for corrections officers so that they treat offenders with dignity and care. Maori would also co design the programme in a Treaty based partnership, and Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says the plan is part of a wider shift to a rehabilitative approach to offending. But as a response to the 2017 Waitangi Tribunal report on Maori offending, People against Prisons Aotearoa say the plan fails to deliver. Rahul speaks with PAPA spokesperson Emilie Rakete and begins by asking her what Hokai Rangi entails and where the criticism is coming from.
This week on the Wire, Jemima speaks to Green Party co-leader James Shaw about the 2018 census, prisoner voting rights and the green transport grant. Southern Cross is back with the latest in Pacific news. Lachlan talks to Dr Karen Webster from AUT about how central parties impact local body elections. Finally, Rahul speaks with People Against Prisons Aotearoa spokesperson, Emilie Rakete, about the Corrections Department's plan to reduce Māori offending and address over-representation.
Local elections are coming up fast and and an increasing number of candidates are becoming affiliated with central parties. Research from Auckland University of Technology shows that since Auckland became amalgamated, more candidates are opting to affiliate themselves with Labour, the Greens, and National than ever before. Research also shows these candidates are doing better than those running as independents. Lachlan spoke with lead researcher Dr Karen Webster about the research.
Recent reports have come out suggesting a correlation between poor housing and respiratory infections amongst young children. In response, Child Poverty Action Group is calling for housing WoF's as prevention for illness.
Jeni Carwright from the Child Poverty Action Group tells us more about how housing WoF's could prevent life long health complications for young children.
This day in history goes back to 1953 for the flight of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi from Iran amidst a coup which ousted democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh.
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