Nine To Noon

Lake Onslow hydro project: Pros and cons

July 27, 2020 21:25 - 8 minutes - 8.04 MB

Hydrologist Earl Bardsley joins Lynn to explain how the hydro project proposal for Lake Onslow would work and what benefits it could bring, as well as concerns over biodiversity.

Septic tank seepage a public health time bomb

July 27, 2020 21:08 - 17 minutes - 16 MB

Two Northland communities fear raw sewage dredged up from recent flooding poses serious health risks.

Ironclad Pans - designed to last a lifetime, or three

July 26, 2020 23:30 - 12 minutes - 11.7 MB

Kate and Levi Slavin, and their business partners, have created a frying pan that's designed to last 100 years. The Ironclad Pan is locally designed and made.

Book review - Utopia Avenue by David Mitchell

July 26, 2020 22:40 - 5 minutes - 5.49 MB

John King reviews Utopia Avenue by David Mitchell, published by Hachette NZ.

Hermione Norris - not getting Cold Feet

July 26, 2020 22:07 - 28 minutes - 26.3 MB

Twenty-two years after it first went to air, the award-winning British comedy drama Cold Feet is back on Kiwi television, for a 9th season.

The heartbreak of losing a baby

July 26, 2020 21:25 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MB

Every year around 600 families in New Zealand experience the unimaginable heartbreak of losing a baby at birth or shortly after.

Dismay over demise of first responders' bill

July 26, 2020 21:07 - 17 minutes - 16 MB

First responders and corrections officers are disappointed a bill which would have seen tough penalties imposed on offenders who attack them has been shelved.

The week that was with Gemma Gracewood and Irene Pink

July 23, 2020 23:50 - 9 minutes - 8.98 MB

Our comedians Gemma Gracewood and Irene Pink look at a weighty issue facing gondolas in Venice.

Book review - The Dominant Animal by Kathryn Scanlan

July 23, 2020 22:35 - 6 minutes - 5.55 MB

Hera Lindsay Bird of Unity Books reviews The Dominant Animal: Stories by Kathryn Scanlan. Published by Faber Factory. Forty surgically concise short, short stories fold neatly into this gorgeous new novella by by the artist and writer Kathryn Scanlan. Part horror, part fable, part poetry and part aphorism, set in an unnamed rural midwest or an anonymous city, each set piece tells you all you need to know to understand the state of America right now. Read it in one session, because you wi...

A potted garden history

July 23, 2020 22:09 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MB

Green fingered garden historian, David Marsh talks to Kathryn Ryan about gardens through the ages and how he came to make a floral paradise in France. David Marsh blogs and gives talks for The Gardens Trust which is the only UK national charity dedicated to protecting and conserving the heritage of designed landscapes.

How to get more Muslim women involved in sport

July 23, 2020 21:35 - 19 minutes - 17.5 MB

A new report suggests New Zealand's not as inclusive as it could be, when it comes to getting Muslim women involved in sport. Researchers at Waikato University have looked at the experiences of Muslim women and their participation in sport and recreation - the first time the issue's been explored in any depth in Aotearoa. Kathryn talks with Professor Holly Thorpe and Dr Nida Ahmad from the University of Waikato, and 17-year-old Huda Anas, who plays in North Wellington's Premier Division ...

Union worried over nurses in both hospitals, quarantine hotels

July 23, 2020 21:10 - 17 minutes - 15.8 MB

The Nurses Society is raising alarm bells over some members working in public and private hospitals - while also doing extra shifts in quarantine and managed isolation facilities. Geneva Healthcare currently holds the contract for nursing services to the 32 managed isolation and quarantine facilities in five regions. The Nurses Society says some of its members have been doing extra work at quarantine facilities while also working their regular jobs. Kathryn talks with David Wills is the ...

Shirley, Stateless and Search Party

July 22, 2020 23:45 - 9 minutes - 8.49 MB

Film and TV correspondent Chris Schulz joins Kathryn to look at Search Party's new season after it went missing in action, Stateless, which is a new series from Cate Blanchett's new production house that is inspired by the experiences of Cornelia Rau, and finally Shirley, a biopic of horror writer Shirley Jackson starring Elisabeth Moss.

How the brain develops: from newborn to adult

July 22, 2020 23:31 - 16 minutes - 23.1 MB

Brain researcher, parenting coach and founder of X-Factor Education, Nathan Wallis, explains how the brain develops from newborn to adult. Why do male and female brains grow differently, what hinders and promotes brain growth, and what are warning signs for parents if a child isn't developing normally?

Spark's voice calling upgrade, Apple's pandemic preparedness

July 22, 2020 23:06 - 18 minutes - 17 MB

Technology commentator Bill Bennett looks at Spark's trials in Devonport and Miramar that aim to get customers off copper wire for landline voice calling and onto fibre or wireless, Amazon's big surge since the pandemic began which has netted Jeff Bezos £10bn to his fortune in just one day and how Apple was the only Fortune 50 to foresee a pandemic risk and insure against it.

Book review - A Room Made of Leaves by Kate Grenville

July 22, 2020 22:35 - 6 minutes - 5.91 MB

Anne Else reviews A Room Made of Leaves by Kate Grenville, published by Text.

The last journey of waka maker and voyager Ema Siope

July 22, 2020 22:09 - 30 minutes - 28 MB

The life and achievements of waka maker, sailor, and voyager Ema Siope have been honoured in a documentary tracing her final journey to Samoa. Ema Siope was known and respected in the Samoan waka community for her boat building skills, and strength, and for passing her knowledge to younger craftspeople. She died last year after a long battle with cancer, aged 52. Kathryn talks to Ema's youngest sister Fetaui Iosefo, and to Director and Producer Anna Marbrook about her documentary Loimata...

UK gets some good Covid news, report into Russian meddling

July 22, 2020 21:50 - 8 minutes - 7.47 MB

UK correspondent Harriet Line joins Kathryn to talk about the hope delivered out of the Oxford vaccine trials and a new protein treatment. A highly critical report into Russia's activities in Britain's election processes is out, and it's not good. Harriet will also look at Labour's decision to pay "substantial damages" to whistleblowers who contributed to a TV expose of its handling of anti-Semitism.

Is it time for purpose built managed isolation facilities?

July 22, 2020 21:35 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MB

A top Australian epidemiologist is calling for purpose built managed isolation facilities to replace hotels saying viruses like Covid-19 will need to be managed well into the future. The state of Victoria reported 484 cases yesterday, leading to Australia's highest daily increase so far. Mary-Louise McLaws is a member of the WHO and worked with China on its response to SARS. Is it time to accept viruses are part of our future, and how can we best prepare for that?

Some Tarras locals horrified by international airport plans

July 22, 2020 21:06 - 27 minutes - 25.6 MB

A proposal for a new publicly owned international airport in the tiny town of Tarras in Central Otago has taken the community by surprise, with some saying it would ruin prime growing land and devastate the environment. Christchurch Airport, which is 75 per cent owned by the Christchurch City Council and 25 per cent by the Crown, revealed yesterday it had already spent $45 million on the proposal. This would see a two-point-two kilometre runway capable of accomodating international jet a...

The pandemic and public law

July 21, 2020 23:50 - 11 minutes - 10.3 MB

Law correspondent Dr Dean Knight looks at how legal issues and challenges that arose over the lockdown haven't gone away, next week the High Court will hear the legal challenge to level 3 and 4 lockdown. He'll also talk about the legal authority for border quarantine and how a proposal to charge people for hotel and food costs butts up against an important human right. Dr Dean Knight is Associate Professor, Faculty of Law and NZ Centre for Public Law, Victoria University of Wellington.

Reviving the recorder!

July 21, 2020 23:35 - 16 minutes - 15.1 MB

Showing new musical audiences what the recorder is capable of, is what it's all about for University of Canterbury student Lily Doak.While many music students may start with the recorder, only to leave it behind, Lily Doak has a long-standing passion for one of the humblest of wind instruments, and it's already earned her a soloist spot in two prestigious classical music concerts. She plays 2 of her favourite pieces.

Book review - The Quick and the Dead by Cynric Temple-Camp

July 21, 2020 22:35 - 4 minutes - 4.12 MB

Harry Broad reviews The Quick and the Dead: True stories of life and death from a New Zealand pathologist by Cynric Temple-Camp. Published by Harper Collins.

What is Maths good for? Wunderkind Stefan Buijsman

July 21, 2020 22:05 - 29 minutes - 26.9 MB

Mathematics underpins modern life, and if students were taught the ideas behind it they'd better understand its relevance and power, says Stefan Buijsman who got his PhD in the philosophy of mathematics aged 20.

Victorians under mask order, Australia copies NZ wage subsidy

July 21, 2020 21:50 - 10 minutes - 9.3 MB

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton joins Kathryn to look at how Victoria has 300 - 400 cases of Covid emerging each day and state residents are now required to wear masks in public. Australia is adjusting the wage subsidy scheme it introduced to account for hours worked, and charges have been laid over the deaths of four people the Dreamworld fun park.

Auckland trees thin on the ground

July 21, 2020 21:40 - 9 minutes - 9.08 MB

As developments expand in South Auckland, the city's trees are dwindling to the point they're well under minimum standards for canopy cover. The data has been analysed by LiDar (Light Detection and Ranging) surveys between the years 2016-2018, and gathered by the Tree Council. Kathryn talks to the organisation's chair Sean Freeman.

'It's simply not fair': Franchise sector calls for rent relief

July 21, 2020 21:10 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MB

Many franchise businesses say they're still being hounded by their landlords for rent from the lockdown period, while others are facing rent increases. The Franchise Association took a snap survey of its members, representing some 985 small business owners, and found 82 per cent said agreement on rents was unlikely without action from the government. The survey also found 20 per cent of franchisors had been warned to expect a rent hike. Government plans for help with arbitration costs hi...

Bold or bonkers? Doing business in uncertain times

July 20, 2020 23:40 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MB

It takes courage to re-brand and re-launch a 30-year-old business, and common sense would tell you that in hard economic times, or in the middle of a pandemic it's quite possibly a bad idea. But that's just what Asher Boote did, with the iconic Wellington restaurant, the Tinakori Bistro (now Daisy's) and he hopes it will be inspirational to others in the hospitality industry. Asher Boote has also bought a quarter acre plot in Shannon to secure his food supply, in uncertain times. What's ...

More allegations against MP Andrew Falloon

July 20, 2020 23:05 - 11 minutes - 10.3 MB

More allegations about the National party MP Andrew Falloon have emerged. The MP for Rangitata resigned from Parliament this morning, effective immediately, following revelations he sent an indecent picture to a 19-year-old woman. The National Party leader Judith Collins says two more women have come forward saying they were also sent indecent material by Falloon, and police have told her they would 'most likely 'want to reopen investigation. RNZ Political editor Jane Patterson.

Book review - The Constant Rabbit by Jasper Fforde

July 20, 2020 22:35 - 4 minutes - 4.18 MB

Louise O'Brien reviews The Constant Rabbit by Jasper Fforde. Published by Hachette NZ.

Author Max Brooks on zombies, Yeti and disaster preparedness

July 20, 2020 22:06 - 33 minutes - 30.3 MB

Max Brooks has published three zombie-themed books, including the hugely successful World War Z - where a highly infectious virus breaks out in China and sweeps the globe, turning humans into terrifyingly relentless zombies. The book was adapted into a Hollywood blockbuster starring Brad Pitt. His latest novel, Devolution, is centred around a small eco-community that comes under attack from Yeti which are brought into contact with humans after a devastating volcanic eruption. His knack f...

Paracetamol: calls to spring-clean stockpiles at home

July 20, 2020 21:40 - 9 minutes - 8.29 MB

Calls for a spring-clean of medicine cabinets following new studies revealing both stockpiling of paracetamol in our homes, and the nature of calls to the National Poisons Centre. The majority of calls about substances to the University of Otago's National Poisons Centre in 2018 concerned paracetamol, according to research lead by Dr Eeva-Katri Kumpula, a Finnish-registered pharmacist and postdoctoral fellow based there. Children, half aged under five, are chief among those being expose...

Diversity of athletes not reflected in sports management

July 20, 2020 21:06 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MB

Researchers are calling for the cultural and ethnic diversity of athletes to be reflected in management and governance roles of all sporting codes An AUT study in conjunction with NZ and Auckland Rugby has found Pasifika woefully under represented in off-the-field roles, including coaching, administration, refereeing, governance and leadership.The project, called Navigating Two Worlds looked into the barriers to greater involvement, finding a dominant Western based culture and perspectiv...

Raw Glory: Seven cakes for seven sisters

July 19, 2020 23:30 - 9 minutes - 8.96 MB

[gallery:6247] Mashal Butler and her husband Kurt started out with an organic wholefoods store and in 2015 Mashal started making raw, healthy desserts. With no cane sugar, no gluten and no dairy - the beautiful treats at Raw Glory aren't baked at all. One of seven girls, the cakes in the main collection are all named after her sisters. She joins Kathryn to talk about how she makes her cakes, and how each sister got a treat to match their personality.

Raw Glory: seven cakes for seven sisters

July 19, 2020 23:30 - 9 minutes - 8.96 MB

When Mashal Butler first tried a raw, vegan cake, she wasn't impressed ... but she was intrigued by their potential. Now Mashal and her husband Kurt run the Auckland dessert company Raw Glory. The couple make seven raw cakes named after Mashal and her six sisters – each with flavours matched to their personalities.

Book Review - Remain Silent: (Manon Bradshaw, Book 3)

July 19, 2020 22:35 - 5 minutes - 4.68 MB

Remain Silent: (Manon Bradshaw, Book 3) by Susie Steiner Published by: HarperCollins RRP: $35.00 Reviewed by Laura Caygill.

Sanding through a lockdown

July 19, 2020 22:05 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MB

While lockdown has been a period of downtime for some, woodworker and restorer William Cottrell has been hard at work restoring a native wood sideboard from 19th century Aotearoa. It's just as well he had seven weeks, it's no small task restoring 19th century wooden furniture, but it's an effort that has become a lifelong passion for WIlliam. He's spent the last few decades finding and returning hundreds of native wood pieces to life, many of which now grace government buildings and muse...

Europe Correspondent Seamus Kearney

July 19, 2020 21:50 - 8 minutes - 7.4 MB

Europe correspondent Seamus Kearney joins Kathryn to talk about the first in-person meeting for EU leaders since the Covid-crisis began, which has failed to reach agreement on a financial recovery plan for the bloc. Tension between the Spanish government and pro-separatist leaders in Catalonia is back on the boil, with claims Madrid phone-tapped members of the movement. And France is hit by another historic cathedral blaze.

Is social media the right place to combat racism?

July 19, 2020 21:40 - 12 minutes - 11.6 MB

Social media has become a go-to platform for getting your marketing message across, but new research suggests it also has the power to significantly undermine it. Auckland University of Technology Dr Angelique Nairn looked at how people reacted to anti-racism messages posted to social media as part of the first 'Give Nothing to Racism' campaign run by the Human Rights Commission, fronted by Taika Waititi. While much of the feedback on social media was positive, it also generated more rac...

The Warehouse announces job losses and store closures

July 19, 2020 21:05 - 9 minutes - 8.78 MB

Union delegates representing Warehouse employees say the retail giant has used Covid-19 to justify decisions that will leave hundreds of workers without jobs and thousands more with significant reductions to their incomes. Staff at The Warehouse went into meetings early this morning to finalise a restructuring process that could result in the loss of more than 1000 jobs, with hundreds more facing sweeping reductions to hours across the country as well as store closures. First Union's Den...

Will Auckland's water woes affect Waikato food producers

July 19, 2020 21:05 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MB

Waikato farmers and horticulturalists fear Auckland's water shortage will ultimately divert resources away from their operations and affect food supplies. The Government has fast-tracked Watercare Auckland's request to take an extra 200 million litres a day from the lower reaches of the Waikato River for drinking water and other municipal uses, it is to be considered by a Board of Inquiry but a timeframe has yet to be set. Horticulture NZ Chief Executive Mike Chapman says Auckland needs ...

Auckland earthworks could disturb cancer-causing dust - scientists

July 17, 2020 01:07 - 18 minutes - 16.6 MB

There are fears a carcinogenic substance more potent than asbestos could have been released into the atmosphere during earthworks in the Auckland.

The week that was with Pinky Agnew and James Elliott

July 16, 2020 23:50 - 11 minutes - 10.2 MB

Our comedians Pinky Agnew and James Elliott chat about a perfume co-designed by NASA that is said to capture what outer space smells like.

Book review - The Gospel of the Eels by Patrik Svensson

July 16, 2020 22:35 - 6 minutes - 5.57 MB

Bronwyn Wylie-Gibb of University Book Shop, Dunedin, reviews The Gospel of the Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World by Patrik Svensson. Published by Pan Macmillan.

Endurance - Louis Rudd's journey across Antarctica

July 16, 2020 22:08 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MB

Captain Louis Rudd knows what it's like to truly tough it out. He joined the Royal Marines at age 16, spent 25 years in the SAS and served in Northern Ireland, The Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Time for strategic waste plan?

July 16, 2020 21:30 - 18 minutes - 17.4 MB

New Zealand currently has one of the highest rates of waste production per capita in the developed world and it's not likely to have its own recycling infrastructure until at least 2030.

Careers advice for 15-25s, and their parents

July 15, 2020 23:30 - 17 minutes - 24.1 MB

How do you figure out what sort of career to work towards? How do you know what to study to get there? And what if you choose a course or job you don't like? Self-knowledge is the best prerequisite for figuring out a career path, says professional advisor Caroline Sandford.

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