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.
Tonkin and Taylor sustainability engineer Kate Boylan, runs the Internal green team at her workplace and shares how to get business and groups and individuals on board with Plastic Free July. Sherry talks to Kate about on her work in setting up safe landfills, construction and demolition waste, and establishing a circular economy. According to Plastic Free July Aotearoa, “New Zealanders still use 309 million single use coffee cups, 541 million straws and 105 million single-use bottles per year. the average person uses about 31kg of plastic packaging each year.”
Sherry begins by asking Kate what the biggest issue is currently in New Zealand’s sustainability process.
Lillian Hanly speaks to writer and journalist Margie Thomson:
Margie has been investigating the story of Matt Blomfield for the past three and a half years. This investigation turned into a book called Whale Oil, a book whose foreword was written by Nicky Hager. Who is Matt Blomfield you ask? I had no idea either. But I did know Whale Oil. I knew Nicky Hager. I knew Dirty Politics. I knew Cameron Slater, or at least I knew some things. So when I found out about this book, I knew I wanted to read it. I knew I wanted to read it even more when it came out that someone had been held up at the airport with an embargoed manuscript with a foreword by Nicky Hager.. I was ridiculously intrigued. And so we got Margie Thomson in studio to have a chat about everything. It turns out this is a story of one of the few people who stood up to Cameron Slater. Margie and I ended up speaking for 45 minutes about fake news, the definition of property, bullying and harassment and the importance of critical thinking. I started by asking Margie to tell us about the book...
Tracy Mulholland, of the Whau Local Board rejoins us to discuss the launch of the Ethnic Peoples Plan in the Whau as well as discussing local board visibility and a few ideas around the intersection of both.
The Full Show Podcast of The Tuesday Wire for the second of July, 2019.
We had the privilige of talking to Kelly Marie Francis of Whenua Warrior about Whenua Warrior, what and why it is. We also got an update about the ongoings at Ihumātao and how you can get involved. Tune in to find out more!
We had the privilige of talking to Kelly Marie Francis of Whenua Warrior about Whenua Warrior, what and why it is. We also got an update about the ongoings at Ihumātao and how you can get involved. Tune in to find out more!
And at the International Desk, We discuss the week in US Foreign Diplomacy.
It has been a busy week for US President Donald Trump and his foreign policy aids on the diplomatic front. From news economic sanctions against Iran, to a truce in the trade war he leads against China, Trump showcased his favorite and maybe most effective negotiating tool: economic warfare. He also made history in North Korea, thanks to his rather unorthodox diplomatic methods. He's however unlikely to make history for his Palestine/Israel peace plan. Everything explained, thanks to our producer Lisa Boudet.
First up on the Wire today, Izzy speak with Tova O’Brien about trust in the media. Southern Cross is back for another week where we talk about events across the Pacific. Associate Professor Stephen Hoadley then joins us to discuss New Zealand’s relationship with Israel and the United Nations Relief Works Agency. Finally, Ricardo Menedez-March from Auckland Action Against Poverty talks about the government’s new housing standards and their effect on housing NZ tenants
The government’s Healthy Homes standards come into effect today, and include a raft of changes covering insulation, heating, and moisture control to improve conditions for renters. State housing, managed by housing New Zealand, has longer to comply with the standards, something groups are saying will harm the health of their occupants. Lachlan spoke with Ricardo Menendez-March from Auckland Action Against Poverty about the standards and Housing New Zealand
Associate Professor Stephen Hoadley from the University of Auckland speaks with Lachlan about New Zealand's relationship with Israel and UNRWA, the United Nations agency that deals with Palestinian refugees.
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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