Listen back to features and interviews from 95bFM's daily news & current affairs show, The Wire. Your hosts Jemima Huston, Mary-Margaret Slack, Lillian Hanly, Lachlan Balfour and Laura Kvigstad focus on the issues of Tāmaki Makaurau and elsewhere, in independent-thinking bFM style. Weekdays 12-1pm on 95bFM.
This is the last day where you can both register and vote in your local election. You can still drop off your voting papers tomorrow, Saturday the 12th of October, at a library near you but after that voting is closed. General Manager of Democracy Services Margeurite Delbet joins Laura Kvigstad to give us some more detail on all the ways you can get your final votes in.
This week a big topic in the news has been government 7.5 point five billion dollar surplus. The high surplus has resulted in a great deal of criticism for the government's management of money however Infometics Economist Brad Oslen joined Laura Kvigstad to discuss how the surplus is an opportunity for the government to prioritise their spending.
The Parent Category Visa, which allows migrants to bring over their family members, will be reopened. The previous government closed the category entirely in 2016, however this week it was announced that the category will reopen in February next year - with some changes. Many are criticising the new requirements as discriminatory and favouring the rich.
These include capping the number of visas a year to 1,000 and increasing the financial requirements of the migrant child who must sponsor their parents. While previously a migrant worker would only have to prove an annual income of $65,000 to sponsor one parent, this has been increased to $106,080 for one parent and $159,120 for two. Or, if you are looking to combine your and your partner’s incomes, $159,120 for one parent and $212,160 for two. These numbers are based on the median income of $53,040.
Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway sez the high salary threshold is to help to attract high-skilled migrants to New Zealand.
I spoke to Tax Barrister Dave Ananth about how he would suggest the scheme be changed, such as by introducing temporary visas. He began by dispelling the myth that all migrant parents are interested in Permanent Residency.
On this week's Friday Wire, The National Party’s, Erica Stanford, joins Laura Kvigstad to discuss the government's surplus and why National is pointing to the government for the rise in gang activity.
After that, Bronnie Wilde speaks to Dave Anant about the new requirements of the Parent Category Visa and his suggestions for a different approach.
Then, Informetrics Economist Brad Olsen joins Laura to discuss the government’s surplus and it's not necessarily a bad thing.
Next, General Managers for Democracy Services, Margeurite Delbet tells you where you can get your last minute votes in for this year's local elections in Auckland.
And Finally, Ben Goldson covers Operation Peace Spring in a segment of neutral corner.
Justin talks to Vincent Martigny, a political science professor at the University of Nice and l'École Polytechnique in Paris, about the life and legacy of former French President Jacques Chirac, who passed away at the end of September. Chirac was the President of France between 1995 and 2007. He also served as the Mayor of Paris and the French Prime Minister.
The government has announced that there has been a surplus of 7.5 billion dollars - the biggest budget surplus in a decade, more than double forecasts. Justin talked to Finance Minister Grant Robertson to see what made up the surplus and how the government is going to spend it.
The local elections are in full swing this year, with the predicted voter turnout for this Saturday's local elections heading for an all-time record low. It seems turnout has been slipping every three years, with current estimates for 2019s local elections unlikely to be above 40 per cent. So who’s to blame for this crisis of voter decline? Is it on the voters or do we have an out of date system? Louis spoke with Dr. Lara Greaves, A lecturer in politics & public policy at the University of Auckland, about the current climate surrounding these local elections, as well as solutions for voter certainty in the future.
What do we do about our falling voter rates in local elections? Some say we offer chocolate, sasage sizzles or make it a holiday, though, the most common call is to put voting online.
However, Dr Julienne Molineaux, Director of The Policy Observatory, says voting in local elections is far too complex, with too many options and too few clear opinions for voters, thus, online voting won't do much.
Producer Jack Marshall spoke with Dr Molineaux about the problems with local elections and how we might improve them.
Justin talks to Finance Minister Grant Robertson about the government's $7 billion surplus.
On International Desk, Justin talks to University of Nice and l'École Polytechnique professor Vincent Martigny about former French President Jacques Chirac, who passed away at the end of last month.
Louis talks to Dr Lara Greaves of Auckland University about the potential low voter turnout at the local elections.
Jack Marshall talks to Dr Julienne Molineaux, the Director of the Policy Observatory, about online voting.
Neighbourhood Watch looks into Extinction Rebellion protests in Australia and the collaspe of White Ribbon Australia.
Yesterday the government announced the largest budget surplus in a decade. Finance Minister Grant Robertson stated that their surplus had increased to 7.5 billion dollars. He attributed this to a strong economy that is “outperforming much larger developed countries”. John Milford, chief executive of Wellington Chamber of Commerce stated in an RNZ interview that the surplus was delivered by a strong business community, high employment and a strong GST take. Meanwhile, the National party has rebuked the government's claims, accusing them of “sitting on a stack of money” by not properly supporting underfunded public services. The Public Service Association, New Zealand's largest union, representing a variety of government-employed workers, has stated that this surplus is an indication that more needs to be spent on services and issues, including the housing crisis, hospitals and beneficiaries. William Boyd spoke with PSA National Secretary Glenn Barclay about their recent press release on the announcement. Will started off by quoting both the government and National’s stance on the surplus and asking whether he or the PSA agrees with either.
At the Green Desk today, we talk to Dr Julia Albrecht about the Tiaki Promise and about making a sustainable future for the tourism industry. Tune in to find out more!
Our options as a humanity may be dwindling in the face of climate change. The coming changes may completely alter the world as we know it with collapsed ecosystems, mass immigration of climate refugees, and more devastating wars over basic necessities such as food and water. Maria Armoudian speaks to veteran journalist Gwynne Dyer about the scenarios we face with climate change and the options for humanity.
Last Thursday the Zero Carbon Bill was passed into legislation by a unanimous vote in Parliament. Jemima spoke to Green Party co-leader James Shaw about the law and what impact it will have on the global movement for climate change action.
Australian correspondent Zoe is back for another week. This week she tells Stewart about an historic development in Victoria. Plus, potential relief for drought-stricken farmers.
This week on Green Desk, Mitchell speaks to Tūpuna Maunga Authority Manager Nick Turoa about the recent planting of 3000 native species on Ōwairaka. Mitch and Nick discuss the TMA’s plans for the ecological restoration of Tūpuna Maunga and their next steps in removing the exotic species on Ōwairaka. To begin, Mitch began by asking Nick about the establishment of the Tūpuna Maunga Authority, their role and aspirations for Tāmaki Makaurau’s Maunga.
We were priviliged enough to talk to Goodlife Projects Charitable Trust about their project, providing opportunities, community (Of Course) and the Kai ora fund. Tune in to learn more!
As California burns, oceans rise, storms intensify, and Greenland’s glacier’s melt, we explore solutions to the climate change problem with Stanford Professor Marc Jacobson. He is the author of the just-released study "The health and climate impacts of carbon capture and direct air capture."
For the final instalment of Southern Cross this year, Pacific Media Watch contributing editor Michael Andrew talks to the Wire team about the Australian 60 Minutes crew detained in Kiribati, the Melanesian Media Freedom Forum and the New Zealand media crisis.
The government recently announced its agreement with the agricultural sector to have agircultural emissions at a farm level to be priced by 2025. This gives the sector five years to calculate and reduce their own emissions until the government can decide to bring them under Emissions Trading Scheme. Jemima spoke to Green Party co-leader and Climate Minister James Shaw about the agreement and whether agriculture will be left off the hook again under the reformed Emissions Trading Scheme and when it comes to the global work to reduce green-house gas emissions.
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