09:05 Vacant shops, falling sales challenge retail sector

Whangarei CBD retail precinct - empty shops Sept 2019

Whangarei CBD retail precinct - empty shops Sept 2019 Photo: Steve Smith - NCC

Changing shopping habits and flat turnover in the retail sector is resulting in an increasing number of vacant shops. The most recent statistics from Retail NZ show turnover was sluggish in the second quarter of this year, with more than half of its members failing to hit their sales targets. It has been a been consistent downward trend over last 18 months, in the Whangarei CBD alone there are more than 50 empty shops. To look at why the retail sector is struggling to keep up with the changing habits of shoppers, and what can be done about it -, Kathryn talks to Retail NZ's CEO Greg Harford, the CEO from the Northland Chamber of Commerce Steve Smith and Steve Canny from the Southland Regional Development Agency - Great South.

Looking down arcade with two empty shop fronts on the left.

Photo: ( RNZ / Ian Telfer )

09:20 Help for whanau when a baby dies

The Department of Internal Affairs and other government agencies have established a new website for parents and whanau who have suffered the death of a child or baby. The website, called Wheturangitia, is a gateway for bereaved families to information including navigating the coronial process, clarifying the rules and entitlements around paid parental leave and funeral grants. The content caters specifically to stillbirth, miscarriage, neonatal death, fetal abnormality and SUDI, or sudden unexpected death of an infant. Kathryn speaks with the manager of Internal Affairs Life Events team, Becky Cassam and the Department's Senior Advisor for Service Innovation, Tim Kong.

No caption

Photo: DIA

09:45 Europe correspondent, Seamus Kearney

Ukrainian officials are privately voicing concern that their country will suffer in the fallout from the Trump impeachment inquiry, thousands of people have turned out to pay their respects to the late French President Jacques Chirac who died last week at the age of 86, and the ousted Austrian Chancellor is set for an election comeback .

10:05 Alanna Mitchell: the ocean is "a warm, breathless and sour" toxic cocktail

No caption

Photo: alannamitchell.com

Canadian climate change journalist of over 30 years Alanna Mitchell is not a scientist or a trained actor.  But her one-woman show has been one of the most talked-about performances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year.  This adaptation of her sixth book about climate change, the award-winning Sea Sick: The Global Ocean in Crisis offers what she's learned about the health of the world's oceans traveling five continents in two and a half years, joining thirteen expeditions with thirteen climate scientists along the way.  Alanna explains to Kathryn Ryan why in the book, and the play, she describes the oceans as "a warm, breathless and sour toxic cocktail".

10:35 Book review - Wild Honey by Paula Green

No caption

Photo: Massey University Press / illustrated by Sarah Laing

Tina Makereti reviews Wild Honey: Reading New Zealand Women's Poetry by Paula Green. Published by Massey University Press.

10:45 The Reading

Facebook Redux a short story by Nic Low  read by George Henare.

11:05 Political commentators Hooton & Jones

A review of the Prime Minister's trips to New York and Japan, also a crack on MP's using Parliament footage for attack ads.

Nine to Noon political commentators Matthew Hooton and Neale Jones

Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Matthew Hooton is an Auckland-based public relations consultant and lobbyist. Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is director of Capital Government Relations.

11:30 Food of the Venetian Republic

Kathryn talks with chef and restaurateur Nino Zoccali about the cuisine of the Venetian Republic, Adriatic Croatia and the Greek Islands and shares recipes for Venetian Prosecco and Snapper risotto and Croation braised lamb shoulder.

11:45 Bill McKay -The Festival of Architecture

A look at how activists are changing the way architecture and urban design are done.

Bill McKay Festival of Architecture

Photo: Bill McKay

Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland.