Nine To Noon for Wednesday 8 May 2019

 

09:05 Big law firm backs Southern Response class action

Major Australian law firm Maurice Blackburn has agreed to underwrite a class action law suit against Southern Response seeking redress for Canterbury earthquake claimants. Christchurch lawyer Grant Cameron says "hidden costs" led to significant underpayments to about 3000 people. Maurice Blackburn is a law firm which specialises in class actions, its principal lawyer Martin Hyde joins Kathryn, along with Grant Cameron, to talk about why they think they have a strong case.

09:20 What happened to EV incentives?

There's around 13,800 electric vehicles or EVs on New Zealand roads, but any incentives to encourage more of them appears to be delayed. Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter had indicated a number of policies were to be taken to Cabinet early in the year, but that doesn't appear to have happened. The delay has disappointed Mark Gilbert, who heads up the group Drive Electric.

9.30 Floating ideas: where to relocate a sinking capital city

Indonesia has announced plans to move its fast-sinking capital city Jakarta. Home to over ten million people, large parts of the city could be underwater in 30 years time.   Criss-crossed by 13 rivers and with half the metropolis below sea level, Jakarta is one of the fastest sinking cities in the world.  It's also one of the world's most congested. American journalist based in Jakarta Krithika Varagur looks at the options for relocation with Kathryn Ryan.

09:45 Australian voters are heading to the polls early

Australia correspondent Bernard Keane looks at the key areas of policy difference between the parties now the election campaign is in full swing and many Australian voters have already cast their ballots - is early voting the way to go?

10:05 Clear bright future: Why human beings need to resist the machines

Author Paul Mason says the world order is being ripped to shreds by an alliance of ethnic nationalists, women-haters and authoritarian leaders who are harnessing the power of machines and algorithms to do it. He argues in his book Clear Bright Future: A Radical Defence of the Human Being that it's not too late to stem the chaos and disorder. He tells Kathryn why we need a new theory of the human being and how people can help back with small acts of defiance.

10:35 Book review - Hush Hush by James Patterson and Candice Fox

Lisa Finucane reviews Hush Hush by James Patterson and Candice Fox, which is published by Penguin Random House.

10:45 The Reading

The Sound of Butterflies by Rachael King read by Elizabeth McRae. Part 9 of 11.

11:05 Getting on board. Why diverse talent matters

Professor Paul Healy from Harvard Business School has surveyed over 2000 directors of global companies about their boards' size and composition, internal dynamics, internal governance, and effectiveness. He says an effective  board should be seen as a team of people, rather than an exclusive club, with a varied skill set and not too many high profile members. Also recommended is taking the time to understand the culture and tone of the whole organisation rather than just the elite, and avoiding group think.

11:20 James Shaw on climate change plan

Climate Change Minister James Shaw joins Kathryn to discuss the government's plan to combat climate change. Under the proposal, methane will be treated differently to other greenhouse gases, in response to push back from the agricultural industry. It has also set a new emissions reduction target for all greenhouse gases, except methane, to net zero by 2050, in line with New Zealand's commitments under the Paris Agreement. The Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill will be introduced to Parliament today. 
 

11:30 Discovering new music from Kiwi artists

It's New Zealand music month, so music commentator Kirsten Johnstone takes a look at some new music from Kiwi artists including, Repulsive Woman, JessB and Bailey Wiley.

 

11:45 HIV drug success and rethinking the panda's diet

Science correspondent Dr Siouxsie Wiles looks at how suppressive antiretroviral therapy or ART for HIV is reducing the virus down to undetectable levels, new research shows autism can be reliably diagnosed in children as young as 14 months and it might live on bamboo but the Giant Panda is more carnivore than you think.

Associate Professor Dr Siouxsie Wiles is the head of Bioluminescent Superbugs Lab at the University of Auckland.