This week on the Wednesday show, Ximena & Dylan look at new and old drug policy (of both the natural and synthetic sort), as well as some cool eco businesses who're doing some cool eco things. Steve Pointing also pops by for Dear Science, where he talks through the crucial components that make life on earth thrive.
Yesterday was Waitangi Day, the day we commemorate the signing of New Zealand's founding document the Treaty of Waitangi. Things were relatively quiet this year, although there was the issue of the media being banned from the lower Te Tii Marae, and the Prime Minister Bill English not showing up to Waitangi on the day. On Sunday, Vice New Zealand held a special panel discussion on Waitangi Day. Reporter Sam Smith went along and filed this report.
Disagreement is brewing in the Labour party over the arrival of former Alliance MP Willie Jackson. Jackson will be a candidate on the list for Labour during this year's election after it was initially believed he was going to run for the Maori party in Tamaki Makaurau. However, Jackson's arrival has not been welcomed by all. Many Labour supporters are against his candidacy due to comments he made about sexual assault victims during the Roast Busters scandal, while Labour MP Poto Williams has come out saying she cannot in good conscience support Jackson. Reporter Sam Smith spoke to political commentator Bryce Edwards about Jackson's return to Labour.
In Prime Minister Bill English’s State of the Nation speech yesterday, he announced a major policy to boost the police force by more than 1000 extra police staff. 95bFM reporter Leroy Martin speaks to Green Party Criminal Justice Spokesperson David Clendon about the new policy.
Labour Leader Andrew Little announced on Wednesday a $10 million investment towards Dunedin’s gaming industry if they’re elected this year. The fund will go towards creating a Chair of Computer Gaming at Otago University, setting up a gaming incubator with a motion capture studio, and provide funding to attract more people to the city, all with the aim of turning a $90 million dollar industry into a billion dollar one. 95bFM reporter Ben Goldson speaks to New Zealand Game Developers Association spokesperson James Everett about the funding.
Earlier this week Trump announced an executive order banning residents of seven Muslim-majority countries from the Middle East and Africa from entering the country for 90 days. The order also temporarily stopped the US’s refugee programme, including emergency intakes for those fleeing Syria. But how close are our refugee policies to Trump’s? bFM reporter Amanda Jane Robinson spoke to Doing Our Bit NZ’s Murdoch Stephens about New Zealand’s refugee policies.
Last week, we heard a bit about a new NGO being launched called VOYCE - Whakarongo Mai. The organisation intends to operate as an advocacy and connection service for children and young people in care. It will launch on April the 1st this year, alongside the replacement for Child Youth & Family, the Ministry for Vulnerable Children Oranga Tamariki. News Director Ximena Smith speaks to Dingwall Trust Director & member of the VOYCE establishment team, Tracie Shipton, to get more detail about what the service does.
The Green's announced a new policy yesterday to make Te Reo Māori compulsory in schools. bFM reporter Mack Smith examines this issue, speaking to Green Party MPs Marama Davidson and Catherine Delahunty, and President of the New Zealand Educational Institute, Lynda Stuar in this report.
The Auckland Pride Festival Board has asked the Department of Corrections to withdraw its application to march in next month's Auckland Pride Parade. Corrections presence at Pride events became contentious after protest group No Pride In Prisons gatecrashed the parade objecting to the Department's staff for their treatment of transgender inmates. bFM reporter Pearl Little speaks to No Pride in Prisons spokesperson Emily Rākete about the issue.