At the end of last year, Australia introduced a ban on social media use for those under the age of 16. While the policy was discussed across the globe in multiple countries, Australia was the first to actually introduce it.
New Zealand is one of the countries looking into introducing its own social media ban, despite a growing amount of evidence that the bans are ineffective. Young people are not only often resourceful enough to dodge the ban, but often the most significant causes of mental harm and distress run much deeper than just social media content.
With New Zealand announcing a pause to development of our social media ban policy on Thursday last week, News Director Castor spoke to the Director of Wellbeing, System Leadership, Data, and Insights at Te Herenga Mahara, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Dr Ella Cullen.
Last week, the government announced it would amend climate laws to prevent companies from being sued over damage caused by greenhouse gas emissions. The change will prevent liability findings in tort cases and will apply to current and future cases.
The amendment is in response to a case against Fonterra made by Iwi leader and activist Mike Smith, who is not seeking any financial damages but feels it is in the public’s interest to have companies held liable. The Supreme Court granted Smith the right to pursue the case, raising questions about whether this government action is going around the courts and breaching democratic checks and balances.
These changes will directly go against the International Court of Justice opinion, which confirmed countries have a duty to prevent significant harm to the environment and to regulate the activities of companies within their jurisdiction.
To discuss the repercussions of this climate law change, host Thomas talked to Dr Justin Sobion from the University of Auckland Law School.
Recent weeks have seen the government adopting a series of policies targeted at immigration. Some of these policies are set to be introduced immediately, while others are proposals for the upcoming election. What all of these policies have in common is that they aim to respond to an idea that there is a subset of immigrants who are making society in New Zealand worse.
This is a narrative that we’ve seen dominate conversations about immigration overseas, particularly in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. It often leads to gross displays of racism, with mass riots and crackdowns on people who have done nothing wrong. With these recent policies and media attention towards the anti-immigrant rhetoric in Aotearoa this month, concerns have been raised over whether those overseas developments could be seen here.
For this week’s catchup with the ACT Party’s Simon Court, News Director Castor planned to ask about both immigration and the move-on orders for rough sleepers, though we ran out of time to discuss both. They began by asking Simon about the government’s recent stance on immigration.
Laika Rountree joined us for Stage Direction. This fortnight, she was laughing, she was crying, she was touched--suffice to say, there was a bunch of good stuff to see. She also played a snippet of her interview with Suzy Eddie Izzard. What a treat!
Professor Emeritus Peter Lineham’s phone was broken… but then it wasn’t. A miracle, perhaps?! This week’s That The Spirit topic: 100 years of the Bahá’í Faith in New Zealand.
We also heard a sneak peek of Oto and Jaycee’s interview with Mei Semones, who’ll be here in Auckland in June.
Aaaaaand, we had the pleasure of speaking to Stephen Heard from Clap Clap Riot! They’ve got the band back together, released a new single, and are embarking on their first NZ tour in seven years!
Charlie chats with Rosetta and Milly about the importance of weighing your coffee! Tune in throughout the week for your chance to win a bag of the Kenyan Gichathaini AA single origin, or use the code 95bFM at checkout via the eighthirty website for 10% off. Whakarongo mai nei!
Frances Chan showcases a bucketload of local artists for NZ Music Month, plus some fathers and sons, and a 90s throwback set.
Setlist:
Clear Path Ensemble – Plasma Plaza
Yurt Party – The Gambler
Jonathan Crayford – Nine
Angine de Poitrine – Ababa Hotel
Oscar Laven – Dizzy Orchestra
Fine Wine Social Club – Sleep Better
Pino Palladino & Blake Mills – Somnambulista
Yussef Days ft Rocco Palladino – Tioga Pass
Ulysses Owens Jr – Mo’Betta Blues
Chico Hamilton – Blue Sands
Kenny Sterling – Isle of Light
Fugue State – Danger
Jamiroquai – Music of the Mind
Corduroy – Chowdown
Ellis Marsalis & Branford Marsalis – Sweet Lorraine
Christian McBride – King Freddie of Hubbard
Alex Ventling – Trondheim II
The Circling Sun – Flying
Myele Manzanza ft Rosie Frater-Taylor – Falling Fast
Quincy Conserve – Frustration
Flo and Lou are back tonight with special guests: Robin and Jame from Melanie and a whole bunch of other local shit. Sharing their favourite Kiwi tunes and international influencers, while providing excellent banter.
Topics ranged from wild tour stories, local band lore, guitar hero fascination and piss shop pitstops.
AND PLUS!!! The Hard Fast and Heavy Show had the honour of playing Vagina Dry's upcoming single BRUTALISED - as the first radio show in NZ and worldwide to have access to the absolute awesome new tune!
95bFM 
