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.
Today on the Monday Wire we play our best bits from the year. Jemima gives an update on what Green Party co-leader James Shaw has been up to at COP24 and plays a clip from an interview with him on housing warrant of fitnesses. We play a clip of activist Mike Treen talking about his detainment in Isreal for the best of Southern Cross. Damian plays his favourite peice with Jeff Crabtree from the Zebra Collective about sexual harassment in the music industry. Ella is back to finally wrap up the year's crazy weather with Under the Weather. Justin plays two of his best pieces, one with Justice Minister, Andrew Little, on abortion reform and another with Nigel Hampton from the Howard League for Penal Reform on prisoner voting rights. Finally, Jemima plays two short clips from two of her favourite interviews. One with the Chair of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, Ruth Dreifuss, about drug regulation and another with High Court barrister and solicitor, Khylee Quince, about s 27 Sentencing Act 2002 cultural reports.
The coalition government announced the classification of two strains of synthetic cannabinoids as A-Class drugs. The change will also see punitive action on individual users lessened, with a diversion to rehabilitation services available under police discretion. Jenn spoke to Chief Executive of the NZ Mental Health Foundation, Sean Robinson, as well as Ross Bell, Executive Director of the NZ Drug Foundation about synthetic drugs and this new approach.
Te Roopu Nahinara, National Party Member Amy Adams joins Laura Kvigstad to speak about letting fees being banned and the speculation that the ban will raise the cost of rent. They briefly touch on the ethics around these fees.
She then tells us about the ministerial diaries being opened to the public next. She questions how transparent these diaries will be, keeping in mind that MP's can choose not to disclose certain information under the guise of concern for the public.
They then finish on the United Nations Migration Pact and why the National Party has chosen to not back government in signing it.
In Neighbourhood Watch, Radio Adelaide's Sam Smith joins us to discuss the decission to place an Australian space agency in Adelaide and what this will mean for the community. She then tells us about new laws on encrypted messaging in Australia that will allow police to apply for a warrant over suspicious activity to gain access to people's messages. It raises the age old question around the security of the state and the privacy of the individual.
First up, we talk with Te Roopu Nahinara, National Party Member Amy Adams on the recent decission to ban letting fees, National's lack of support for the United Nations Migration Pact and government announcing they will be opening ministerial diaries to the public for the sake of transparency.
After that, Jennifer Rose Tamati speaks with Shaun Robbinson from the Metal Health Foundation and Ross Bell from the New Zealand Drug Foundation on synthetic cannabis being deemed an A class drug.
Following that, Radio Adelaide’s Sam Smith fills us in on all the Aussie news. Sam discusses the choice to have Australia's space agency based in Adelaide and the new encryption laws that will allow police to apply for warrants for encrypted messages.
Finally, Grace Watson speaks with John Buttle, senior lecturer in criminology at AUT about media portrayal of the Grace Millane case.
Producer Angus Coker Grant spoke to human rights activist Maire Leadbeater from West Papua Action about human rights violations committed by the Indonesian government in West Papua. The WPA have called for the New Zealand government to cut its military ties with Indonesia and demand justice for atrocities committed. Angus started off by asking about what the human rights issues the WPA are most concerned with.
First up on the Wire, we have Angus speaking with Maire from West Papua Action about their calls for NZ to cut ties with the Indonesian military over human rights abuses. Andrew Little joins Lachlan for their final chat, discussing name suppression, medicinal and synthetic cannabis. Oscar isn't here in person but has left us an interview with Ger for community garden about a marketplace for upcycled and recycled goods. Finally, Ben brings us This Day in History on the capture of Saddam Hussein in 2003.
For Dear Science we talk about quick cancer spotting, Voyager 2 and the dangers of a soy sauce cleanse
For Worry Week this week we are looking at Broadcasting Responsibilities and I speak to Guyon Espiner from Radio NZ about his journey learning Te Reo and the obligation of Pākehā broadcasters in revitalising the language
Lisa reports on the newly released report on Family violence, titled Every four minutes, and discusses the findings with author Doctor Ian Lambie
Every four minutes, a call is made to the police or a notification is sent to child services, related to a case of family violence. It is also the name given to a newly released report. It is the third of a series of researches looking into the justice system, and written by Doctor Ian Lambie, the Chief Science Advisor to the Justice sector.
About 150,000 calls for care or protection notices are made each year, 80 percent of child and young offenders have experienced family violence, while 87 percent of young offenders aged 14 to 16 years old had previous care and protection concerns.
A third of New Zealand women experience physical or sexual partner violence, rising to 55 per cent when psychological/emotional abuse is included.
And at least one in 10 New Zealand men have experienced childhood sexual abuse.
While pointing out the statistics, Dr Lambie insists his report reveals family violence is not so much an individual issue within a couple or a home, but more so a community.
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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