The Wire with Max

The television landscape in New Zealand is changing faster and faster every year. For more than 40 years journalists have written about convergence of our media, and it seems we have reached peak, with internet and television becoming one. With the Sky and Vodafone merger appeal being withdrawn from the high court, it seems an impending monopoly of television in New Zealand has been put on hold. For now. Harry talks with news and technology writer Bill Bennett about whether this is the case, and about the state of New Zealand television in 2017.

A controversial water treatment plant is being proposed for a section of native bush just outside of the Titirangi township. The original plan had the plant situated in Oratia, with Watercare stating 12 houses would be required to be removed. However, a successful protest from the community has stalled this proposal, with Watercare now considering an alternative site - a four hectare patch of land which barriers Exhibition Drive, Woodlands Park Road and Manuka Road. Local residents voiced their concerns in early June by placing placards on trees with words such as "Watercare, don't chop me down”. On the Green Desk yesterday, Lily Peacocke spoke with the Titirangi Residents and Ratepayers Association, Dr Mels Barton, regarding this contentious issue, but residents are saying she represents only a small section of the Titirangi community. To illuminate an alternative perspective, 95bFM reporter Adam Jacobson speaks with the Titirangi Protection Group’s president, Simon Kitson.

The 2017 Parliamentary Drug Law Symposium kicked off today in Wellington, bringing together a range of international and domestic speakers to talk about how better drug laws can be developed for the 21st Century. An increasing number of countries around the world are shifting their stance towards controlling drugs, away from a prohibitive approach and towards law & policy that promotes health and wellbeing. One of the speakers at the Symposium is Professor of Criminology at Durham University, Fiona Measham, who is also the Director of a non-profit in the UK that provides drug safety testing, as well as welfare and harm reduction services at nightclubs and festivals. 95bFM reporter Pearl Little catches up with Fiona to find out a little more about her work.

Reporters Sam Smith and Mack Smith look into the possibility of Qatari news network Al Jazeera closing in the wake of the ongoing Gulf states diplomatic crisis.