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.
Ayana talked to the Deputy Executive Director of the New Zealand Drug Foundation on the new legislation legalising the testing of drugs at festivals this summer. The NZ Drug Foundation has been working with Know Your Stuff over the past three years and it will be different this summer.
On their weekly chat, Justin and Health Minister Andrew Little discussed about pill testing at festivals, health sector review, the government's climate emergency declaration, and New Zealand's relations with China.
Ayana spoke to the Drug Foundation's Deputy Executive Director Ben Birks Ang on how new legislation on fesitval pill testing will affect their operations.
Justin talked to Splore Festival's director John Minty on how drug testing will be conducted on site given its now legal.
Ayana chatted with two young festival drug users on how they view the changes.
Justin spoke to Splore Festival Director John Minty on the practical steps to implement festival drug testing and Ayana spoke to a couple festival drug users and their views on the changes.
Justin spoke with Health Minister Andrew Little on pill testing in festivals, health system reform, the government declaring a climate emergency, and New Zealand's reaction to Chinese foreign spokesperson Zhao Lijian posted a doctored image of an Australian soldier on Twitter.
Felix spoke to deputy leader of The Act Party, Brooke van Velden, about the new drug testing bill, as well as how they feel about the extensions being granted to minimum sick leave next year.
Media giant Stuff have issued a public apology and a commitment to do better in how they portray Maori. Karanama spoke to Carmen Parahi, Pou Tiaki editor for Stuff, about how monocultural journalism has hurt Maori, and how Stuff plans to improve following this historic move
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.
One of the first actions Joe Biden took on the first day of his presidency was to return the United States to the Paris Climate Accords. This follows Donald Trump taking the US out of the agreement while in office. What does this move mean for the agreement itself? What actions should the US take to have the greatest immediate impact to address the climate crisis? What next steps should nations take to strengthen global action to address climate change? Doug Becker speaks with Pamela Chasek, Shannon Gibson and Larry Schweiger.
For more stories like this head to www.thebigq.org
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