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 abridged summary of a series of 5 interviews compiled by Thursday Wire host Oscar Perress on the topics of planning, engagement and our views of land in Aotearoa. Featuring the words of MP Judith Collins, Minister Phil Twyford, Jacqueline Paul and Olivia Haddon.
Shakaiah Perez, also known as Travelling Feather, is of Afro-Polynesian descent and is a multi dimensional artist, blogger and dj, working on visual performance and activism art. Shakaiah has been overseas, and recently returned home to Aotearoa. While she was in London late last year, during the anniversary celebrations of Captain Cook, she was commissioned by the Royal Academy of Arts for an exhibition called Cosmic Ocean along with other pasifika artists that 'celebrated contemporary Oceanic culture and the unique natural landscape of the pacific islands, from seas to skies' says the website. Shakaiah chose to make a film which was called: Exotic Savage: The Decolonisation, and the blurb read as follows: This new multi-sensory artwork incorporates poetry, dance, film, installation and participatory performance art to weave together narratives of (de)colonialism while celebrating Perez’s layered heritage and the stories of those in her communities. Lillian Hanly spoke with Shakaiah about the exhibition but first started by getting her to tell us more about her background and upbringing given this is the very experience which informs her work.
Shakaiah is looking to host an exhibition here in Aotearoa with the film before returning to London and is looking to hear how the NZ Pacific community responds to the film.
Marama Davidson, co-leader of the Green Party, was at the annual Waihopai spy base demonstration this weekend, protesting against international spying. Davidson says that sort of spying puts the human rights and privacy of global citizens at risk. Hamish Webber spoke with her to find out more and started by asking why she is protesting.
On Dear Science today we talk about ancient earth rocks found on the moon, the rise in foetal genetic testing and the (probable) end of the Opportunity Rover on Mars.
Marama Davidson talks to Hamish Webber about international spying.
And we hear a long form piece on a film made by artist Shakaiah Perez for a Royal Academy of Arts exhibition, and this discussion goes into issues of representation, activism art and decolonisation.
Former Tuesday Wire host Mary-Margaret Slack joins us again from London today. With the increasing risk of a no-deal Brexit becoming more and more likely, we spoke with her to find out what that actually looks like and why the risk is becoming more likely. First though, Lillian asked what people are feeling about the whole situation at the moment.
Data protection and technology company regulation are common conversations in this day and age and it looks like New Zealand is delving further into the discussion. We have just joined a breakaway group of about 70 countries who want to implement a new set of global ecommerce rules. It is claimed these rules will benefit small businesses by enabling them to participate in cross border trade. However, critics are saying these rules aren’t simply about trade - they actually restrict the government’s ability to regulate data, digital networks and online marketplaces. Olivia Holdsworth speaks to Auckland University law professor Jane Kelsey to find out more about these new ecommerce rules.
- We talk to two international correspondents: Mary-Margaret in London discusses a potential No Deal Brexit, and Justin in Paris follows up on the Gilets Jaunes movement and protests
- Mitch Fuller brings you the Green Desk with Geoff Reid, deputy chair of Friends of Okura Forest, and talk about their environmental awareness festival
- Olivia speaks to Professor Jane Kelsey about New Zealand joining a global collective implementing new e commerce rules protecting big companies from regulation
- Lisa reports on the political crisis in Venezuela
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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