Nine To Noon for Thursday 18 April 2019

 

 

09:05 Concern over plans to sell Auckland carparks

Auckland Council is considering selling off inner city carpark buildings to help pay its half share of a projected billion-dollar budget blowout for Auckland's City Rail Link. The massive blowout in the country's largest ever transport project was revealed yesterday - officials citing increased construction and contingency costs, plus a decision to accommodate longer trains. Mayor Phil Goff says one option is selling or leasing four inner-city parking buildings. The Automobile Association says inner city carparks in Auckland are already in high demand, and any sale or lease will lead to price hikes for drivers. Kathryn speaks with AA principal adviser for infrastructure and motoring affairs Barney Irvine. Also with Mike Cohen, member and former chair of the Takapuna & Devonport Local Board.

09:15 Qualifications crackdown 'unfair' for au pair families

Families who use au pairs say they'll be unfairly impacted by the government's recent announcement that they will now require all home based childhood educators to hold a level 4 ECE qualification. Education Minister Chris Hipkins has acknowledged the reforms are likely to drive some operators out of business, but at the same time will improve the quality of education provided by the home-based sector. Kathryn Ryan talks to single Mum of three, Kelsey Waters who says kiwi families need choice, flexibility and a childcare system that is affordable for them. Also joining the discussion is Tanya Burrage, owner of Dream Au Pair.

09:30 Now you can eat eggs for longer

Whether you're decorating them, eating them, rolling them or all three, there's no denying that hen's eggs are a huge part of the Easter season. In New Zealand eggs are now officially safe to eat up until 35 days from the date of lay. So as there's a nationwide supply shortage, chucking them out too soon is not all its cracked up to be. To test if an egg is fresh, place it into a glass of water. If it sinks, it is fresh. If it stays submerged, but doesn't touch the bottom, it's older, but still okay to eat. If it floats, throw it away because it has gone off.

09:45 What now for Assange and rebellion on London streets

UK correspondent Kate Adie looks at the legal dilemma facing the British government over Julian Assange after his arrest, how the Extinction Rebellion is adding to London traffic hell and there's no way the British tabloids will tone down their obsession with Meghan ahead of the new royal baby's arrival.

10:05 Silver Swans: Taking up ballet in your senior years

 A ballet school in Auckland is out to challenge the idea that the art form is only for the young and agile. Kathleen Curwen-Walker founded the Auckland Academy of Adult Ballet's Silver Swan programme two years ago and now has 50 over-55-year-olds learning the basics at the barre. She joins Kathryn to explain how quite a prescriptive form of dance can be adapted for more weary bodies - along with one of the founding "Swans", Rosemary Hepözden - who says signing up to ballet was an act of "delicious defiance".

10:35 Book review

Ian Telfer reviews True? Short stories by Northland writer Michael Botur. This is his fifth self-published short story collection.

Written in unvarnished street language about the rougher side of life - drugs, jail and death, the book shows rare bravery and honesty.

10:45 The Reading

Grey Tiger, a short story by Karen Goa read by Ginette McDonald.

11:05 Sweeter tweets and New Zealand unicorns

Technology commentator Sarah Putt looks at a move by Twitter to self-regulate with a planned "hide replies" function, part of an attempt to make the platform less nasty and why does New Zealand need more unicorns?

11:25 How to help chaotic, dreamy, inattentive kids

Education and parenting consultant Joseph Driessen talks to Kathryn about how to parent children who struggle with underdeveloped executive skills, and who find living an organised life extremely demanding.

 

11:45 Too Funny to Fail: The Life and Death of the Dana Carvey Show and The Act

Film and TV reviewer Tamar Munch has watched Too Funny to Fail: The Life and Death of the Dana Carvey Show, a documentary about a TV show that had everything - and failed to deliver. And The Act is a new anthology crime series based on the life story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and the murder of her mother.