Nine To Noon for Thursday 24 October 2019

 

 

09:05 Helter-smelter: What's behind the Tiwai Point review?

Tiwai Point Aluminium smelter's owners Rio Tinto are undertaking a review of the plant's future which will include investigating closure following losses over the past year and what it says are high costs for transmitting electricity. Close to one thousand people are employed at the Southland operation, with many more associated with businesses that help support it. Kathryn talks to New Zealand Aluminium Smelter's chief executive Stew Hamilton about the review and the impact any pull out would have.

09:20 Farmers get their way on agricultural emissions

A sector-led approach to emissions prices will be announced shortly at parliament. Through a joint action plan, separate from New Zealand's Emissions Trading Scheme, farmers and growers will calculate their emissions and offsets at the farm gate by 2025. Kathryn talks to DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle. 

09:30 We need to talk about loneliness: researcher

Auckland University research into loneliness has just been made into an animated short film. The research, by Professor of Health Sciences Dr Merryn Gott, found significant loneliness and social isolation among the elderly affecting both physical and mental health. She says we need a public health campaign focusing on loneliness, in the same vein as recent campaigns on depression. Dr Gott hopes the film, Elder Birdsong, will help encourage social connection.

09:45 Arrest after 39 bodies found in lorry in UK

UK correspondent Harriet Line looks at the grisly discovery of 39 bodies in a lorry in Essex and the arrest of a young man from Northern Ireland. She'll also report on Boris Johnson's Brexit deal's early success, then defeat and how all eyes are now on Brussels for any possible extension.

10:05 The Hamilton boat builder & the America's Cup

Rob McLean is a boat builder whose Hamilton factory is busy turning out chase boats for the America's Cup in Auckland in 2021.  After the Cup is over, 26 boats will be distributed to Coastguard units throughout the country, thanks to a grant from the Lottery Fund. As well as boating, Rob is a passionate hunter and camper,  and that's fed into another part of his business, building camper trailers for utes and heli-huts for hunters. Rob talks to Kathryn about building his business, and his love of the outdoors.

10:35 Book review - On the Plain of Snakes by Paul Theroux

David Hill reviews On the Plain of Snakes by Paul Theroux, which is published by Penguin Random House.

10:45 The Reading

The Imaginary Lives of James Poneke by Tina Makereti read by Mitch Thomas. Episode 11 of 12.

11:05 Online voting: yes or no? And Libra no more

New technology with Paul Matthews joins Kathryn to talk about the pros and cons of offering online voting in local body elections - is it worth the risk? He'll also look at why New Zealand's fibre adoption stats are second only to Japan, and Facebook's big crypto-currency venture appears to have been a flop  - why have its major partners pulled out?

11:25 Moving house: the impact on children

Recent research from the University of Otago has found moving house is linked with increases in emotional and behavioural difficulties in four-year-olds. Psychologist Sarb Johal talks to Kathryn about the impact of moving home, and how parents can help.

11:45 Jojo Rabbit, El Camino and Wellington Paranormal, season II

Film and TV reviewer with Chris Schulz looks at Taika Waititi's new Nazi comedy Jojo Rabbit, the Breaking Bad spin-off movie El Camino and the second season of Wellington Paranormal.