Listen back to features and interviews from 95bFM's daily news & current affairs show, The Wire. Your hosts Zoë Larsen Cumming, Jemima Huston, Bronwyn Wilde, Justin Wong and Oscar Perress focus on the issues of Tāmaki Makaurau and elsewhere, in independent-thinking bFM style. Weekdays 12-1pm on 95bFM.
The government has just announced a bill to expand sick leave entitlements from five days to ten days a year. Noah spoke to Chief Executive of Retail NZ, Greg Harford who has come out against the bill. He also spoke to Annie Newman, Assistant National Secretary of E Tū, a union which has long called for an increase in annual sick leave.
While Māori representation in Parliament is guaranteed by the Māori seats, no similar guarantee exists at the level of local government. In fact, the Local Electoral Act 2001 requires proposed Māori wards be put to referendum if 5% of local voters request it. General wards are not subject to such a clause.
ActionStation and Te Rōpū Tautoko Māori are calling on the government to amend this provision, making the law governing Māori wards equal to that which governs general wards.
Hanna spoke to Toni Boynton from Te Rōpū Tautoko Māori about the group's mahi, and what Māori representation means for local government policy, partnership under the Treaty of Waitangi, and democracy itself.
The Electoral Commission has revealed that this year's election had a huge increase in the youth vote and the Māori vote. Noah spoke to Chief Electoral Officer Alicia Wright about what the Commission did differently this year.
This week Zoë Larsen Cumming speaks to James Shaw about the Climate Emergency declaration set to be announced by the government this week, along with the Green's stance on the Five Eyes Intelligence Network regarding recent statements by the Chinese government.
The Child Poverty Action Group has released a report regarding the Labour Government's unjustifiably slow progress on welfare reform in relation to the Welfare Expert Advisory Group's recommendations that were given to the government in February 2019. Aneeka speaks to Caitlin Neuwelk-Kearns who co-authored the report from the Child Poverty Action Group about the government's lack of action and changes we need to start seeing.
Zoë speaks to the Green party co-leader about the Climate Emergency declaration and the Five Eyes Intelligence Network.
Jess Hopkins speaks to Dr Julie MacArthur, a Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations and Public Policy at the University of Auckland about environmental governance and policy in New Zealand.
Zoë speaks to the CEO and founder of KidsCan, Julie Chapman, on child poverty in Aotearoa.
Aneeka Moheed speaks to Caitlin Neuwelt-Kearns from the Child Poverty Action Group about the government’s inadequately slow progress on welfare reform.
Finally, Zoë speaks to PhD Candidate Briar Meads, Ngāi Tahu on te Tiriti o Waitangi as opposed to the Treaty of Waitangi.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the Government will declare a climate change emergency. This declaration is non binding, but Ardern says the motion intends to hold the Government accountable and recognises they are taking the issue seriously.
Jess Hopkins talked to Doctor Julie MacArthur, a Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, and Public Policy at the University of Auckland, about this declaration and key environmental policy issues facing Aotearoa.
First up, Dr Julie MacArthur discussed her research into environmental programmes and climate resilient infrastructure, and what needs to be done to reduce emissions.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is a both a highly influential and highly misunderstood and contested document. Zöe Larsen Cumming spoke to PhD Candidate Briar Meads of Ngāi Tahu, about what it means when someone refers to The Treaty as opposed to Te Tiriti in media, business or politics.
The interview began by asking how while most people are aware that there are some very important differences between the english Treaty of Waitangi and the Te Reo Te Tiriti o Waitangi, but can outline what these key translation differences are?
2019 statistics show that one in five children in Aotearoa are living in poverty and this has only worsened with the COVID 19 pandemic. Zoë Larsen Cumming speaks to the founder and CEO of KidsCan, Julie Chapman to discuss this issue.
If you'd like to find out more about KidsCan, check out their website: https://www.kidscan.org.nz/
The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges in prisons and for prisoner rights all over the world, Prison crowding and sub-standard living conditions have created ideal breeding grounds for the virus. How has the pandemic threatened the human rights of the incarcerated all over the world? Doug Becker speaks with Steve Swerdlow and John Raphling.
For more stories like this head to www.thebigq.org
The events of the past week in the United States were pressured by a President who has shown little regard for democratic norms and principles since his election in 2016. Has an authoritarian slide taken place under Donald Trump? How will this impact the Presidency in the long-term? Doug Becker speaks with Andrew Rudalevige and George C. Edwards III about Trump’s authoritarian legacy.
For more stories like this head to www.thebigq.org
On January 6, a mob emboldened by US President Donald Trump seized control of the US Capitol Building in Washington D.C. in an attempt to block the transition of the Presidency to Joe Biden. These events resembled a coup. How much did this coup attempt resemble others internationally? Is this the beginning of an era of undemocratic actions against peaceful transitions following elections? Doug Becker speaks with Anne Meng and Naunihal Singh.
For more stories like this head to www.thebigq.org
How much of the discourse on nuclear proliferation and other arms control is dominated by western notions, and in particular, a civilisation clash? What would a decolonisation of the discourse on arms control mean for the future of nuclear non-proliferation? Doug Becker speaks with Ritu Mathur.
For more stories like this head to www.thebigq.org
The COVID-19 pandemic has reached a new high in infections across the US, across Europe and around the world. But good news is on the horizon with the development of several vaccines. But how quickly will the vaccines be distributed? What principles will guide their distribution? And how will the pandemic change public health discourses in the US and around the world? Doug Becker speaks with Mark Peterson and Heather Wipfly.
For more stories like this head to www.thebigq.org
In November last year, a near three decade old ceasefire in the disputed region of Western Sahara was broken and war resumed. This territory has been a tinderbox of conflict since Spain decolonised in 1975. What are the roots of this conflict? Why has conflict reignited? What are the potential pathways to a resolution? Doug Becker speaks with R. Joey Huddleston, Randi Irwin, Stephen Zunes and Jacob Mundy.
For more stories like this head to www.thebigq.org
Justin and Health Minister Andrew Little talked about the government's COVID-19 vaccination programme, and a then-potential agreement over the future of Ihumātao.
Justin and Zoe talked about the federal government's failed attempt to extend a cashless debit card scheme for welfare recipients, protests against a gas well project on aboriginal land in western New South Wales, and a failed motion to exclude police and prison officers in Sydney's Mardi Gras.
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