Nine To Noon for Tuesday 5 February 2019

 

 

09:05 Promoters welcome the legal heat on Viagogo

The Commerce Commission is suing ticket reseller Viagogo in the High Court today for breaches of the Fair Trading Act. The website has been the subject of numerous complaints to the Commission, making it one of the most complained-about traders in New Zealand. Promoter Ian Magan says the move against the "invasive" company is a good first step.

9:20 Predicting rips

University of Canterbury Coastal Geomorphologist Dr Seb Pitman is developing a way of mapping rip tides on Muriwai beach. He explains to Kathryn Ryan how GPS "drifters" could predict rips and make sea swimming safer.

09:30 Efforts to eradicate deadly disease from Hamilton hives

Waikato Beekeepers are taking samples from Hamilton's 1500 hives, in a co-ordinated effort to rid the city of American Foulbrood disease which wipes out bees. Honey Scientist, Dr Mark Goodwin says it's a huge undertaking, but worthwhile as Hamilton is a hotspot for the infection.

09:45 Donald Trump's state of the union address looms

From the US, Washington bureau chief of The Guardian, David Smith on the eve of the US President's state of the union address which was previously postponed by the government shutdown. Also, mounting pressure on Virginia governor, Ralph Northam, who is refusing to quit over historical racist photos. And the New England Patriots bask in the glow of another Super Bowl victory.

10:05 Ghazwan Alsharif: From Baghdad to the Bay

The true story of how a former Iraqi translator for the US, accused of being a double agent, managed to forge a new identity as an openly gay man in San Francisco. During the Iraq War, Ghazwan Alsharif was one of thousands of Iraqis who helped the U.S. military, yet he was accused of being a double agent. While he was eventually cleared, he was tortured for 75 days before that happened.

His incredible story has been made into a documentary: From Baghdad to the Bay  which is part Doc Edge's Auckland Pride programme at the Auckland Art Gallery.

10:35 Book review - The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz by Jeremy Dronfield

Quentin Johnson reviews The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz by Jeremy Dronfield, which is published by Micheal Joseph.

10:45 The Reading

Mona Minim & the Smell of the Sun by Janet Frame read by Dick Weir.  Episode 7 of 9 

11:05 Banks & life insurers on notice & Air NZ profit downgrade

Business commentator Rod Oram talks to Kathryn about the impact on NZ banks and life insurers of the Australian Royal Commission on their parent companies. Also Air New Zealand's profit downgrade, and the knock-on to the rest of the tourism industry here, and Lion Nathan goes back to the future to seek growth opportunities

11:25  Political leaders at Waitangi

RNZ's Shannon Haunui-Thompson reports from Waitangi where political leaders have been speaking at the treaty grounds.

11:35 Amsterdam to Sydney in an EV

Wiebe Wakker has spent the last three years driving an electric car from Holland to Australia. His project is called Plug Me In and aims to dispel myths about the reliability of EVs. He's nearing his destination of Sydney and talks to Kathryn about his car "Blue Bandit", and his journey.

11:45 PR shields & digital startups shed staff

Media commentator Gavin Ellis says if DHBs want to retain public confidence they must emerge from behind the shield of their PR departments. The Taranaki Daily News used its front page on Saturday to tell readers how it was being stonewalled by the Taranaki DHB,and a Sunday Star Times investigation met with a refusal for an interview from the Waitemata DHB. Also, for the digital-only new media, January was a bad month. The largest US startups shed 2100 jobs. Like newspapers, they have become victims of Facebook and Google. 

Gavin Ellis is a media commentator and former editor of the New Zealand Herald.  He can be contacted on gavin.ellis@xtra.co.nz

Music played in this show

Artist:   Phil Collins
Song: In The Air Tonight

Artist:   Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Song:  Hunnybee

Artist:   Crowded House
Song: Twice If You're Lucky

Artist:   Supergroove
Song: Sitting Inside My Head