Climate change has been the hot topic that’s been on everyone’s minds and tongues. Theater maker Amber Liberté takes this discussion to the stage. “Our Modern Earth (Is a F*cking Mess)” is a piece of theatre and dance that indulges in the discourse of climate change through the eons that have passed by. The play goes through a visual transformative journey through the use of organic material (like leaves and branches) to more man-made or mechanical material (like plastic). With supporting entities like Generation Zero, the play attempts to make its audience members question the rapid nature of climate change.
This production will unfortunately not go ahead due to COVID-19, but will later be adapted into a film.
The Productivity Commission has proposed that the government should shift to variable subsidies for tertiary education funding.
95bFM reporter, Kelly Enright spoke to Productivity Commission chief Advisor Kevin Moar about the report. She started by asking what the proposal actually recommends.
bFM’s Joel Thomas also spoke to Jonathan Gee, the president of the New Zealand Union of Students Association, about the problems he has with the proposal. Gee believes variable subsidies will disadvantage lower-income students and imply the sole purpose of tertiary education is to get students into the workplace.
In December it was reported by Child Poverty Action Group that ethical lending schemes should be a model for adoption nationwide. They referenced Ngā Tangata Microfinance, a not for profit organisation designed as an alternative to the more merciless loan shark type models of lending companies.
Loan sharks often force families into an endless cycle of debt. Ngā Tangata Microfinance on the other hand provide no-interest loans to qualifying clients for family well-being and relief from high interest debt. A report from the organisation says this type of loan has improved people’s well being and reduced stress. It is estimated the loans have saved recipients collectively over a million dollars in interest and other charges. Lillian Hanly speaks with Robert Choy, the Executive Officer of the organisation.
Last week, a number of researchers presented the government with modelling on the vaccination rates required to protect New Zealanders in the coming years. Noah Ferguson-Dudding spoke to one of the researchers, Professor Shaun Hendy, about the models and their implications. They also discussed New Zealanders' attitudes towards lockdown, whether the government could have prepared better in their rollout, and how Auckland's housing crisis is exacerbating the pandemic.
Congratulations are in order for NZ's first family - and being a recent(ish) father himself, Mike's as pleased as punch. And just what is a piece of errant budget modelling code? Or, more importantly, _whose responsibility_ is a piece of errant budget modelling code?
Sam mans the Breakfast ship this morning! Dr Kirsten Zemke brings us Afrobeats on Travelling Tunes. Sam speaks to Rachael Norcross, guitarist and vocalist of Model Home about the band’s new debut album, out today, titled ...And Nobody Made A Sound. Joel Armstrong is our Viewmaster, reviewing the One Piece live action, streaming on Netflix. Whakarongo mai nei!
Earlier today, the International Comparison of Modern Medicines published a report looking at the public funding of modern medicine in 20 OECD countries. The report showed that New Zealand was in desperate need of access to modern medicine. Patient Voices Aotearoa has long been campaigning for a double and triple in funding for access to modern medicine. The organisation presented their petition to parliament in May 2021, which called for immediate funding. Joe talks to Fiona Tolich from Patient Voice Aotearoa about this need for funding and why it’s so crucial amidst the current COVID environment.
Today, World Vision New Zealand is set to present a strong Modern Slavery Act to the Petition Committee. This comes following a petition which garnered thirty seven thousand signatures and support from over one hundred businesses. Joe speaks to Rebekah Armstrong, the Head of Advocacy and Justice for World Vision New Zealand about the Act and why transparency on the issue of Modern Slavery is so important.
To crack down on modern slavery, the government is working on legislation to hold large companies using exploitative labour accountable.
If implemented, this legislation would meet requirements to tackle modern slavery laid out in the EU and UK free trade agreements.
News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Deputy Prime Minister Sepuloni about this, and started off our interview by asking what we can expect from their response.
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