Nine To Noon for Wednesday 6 November 2019

 

 

09:05 Ponzi scheme victims ‘angry’ at proposed changes to insolvency laws

Victims of the country's biggest ever ponzi scheme say they’re angry that a plan to protect small investors from ponzi schemes has been shelved by Commerce Minister Kris Faafoi. Kris Faafoi's changes to insolvency laws had originally included a plan to give liquidators greater scope to claw back money from investors who withdrew funds from a ponzi scheme just before a collapse, to share among all investors. That part of the law reform has now been put on hold with the Minister saying he wants to avoid delaying progress on other parts of the reforms, relating to other kinds of insolvencies that don't involve fraud. Bruce Tichbon represents investors who lost money in Ross Asset Management, New Zealand's biggest ponzi scheme.

09:20 Businesses need to take workplace wellness more seriously

Ryan Picarella is the president of Wellness Council of America, which works to create healthy workplaces. He's in New Zealand to talk to businesses about how to prioritise wellness. He talks to Kathryn Ryan about what makes a healthy workplace, and what gets in the way when businesses are trying to change the culture of their business.

09:30 Auckland band The Beths on their international success

Indie pop band The Beths from Auckland have been making waves around the world with their music. Rolling Stone magazine named the band's song Happy Unhappy the song of the summer - and that was even before the release of their debut album last August. The Beths are up for five awards at next week's Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards, including album of the year, best group and breakthrough artist. Elizabeth Stokes, Jonathan Pearce and Benjamin Sinclair - The Beths - join Kathryn to talk about their success.

09:45 Melbourne Cup, equal pay for Matildas and ScoMo's protest ban

Australia correspondent Chris Niesche joins Kathryn to talk about the Melbourne Cup and whether it was marred by an ABC investigation into racehorse treatment. The Matilda, Australia's women's football team, are set to get pay equity with the Socceroos - but is it really that good a deal? And Prime Minister Scott Morrison says environmental activists are conducting "economic sabotage" and he's planning a crackdown.

10:05 Paediatrician and composer, Louise Webster

Almost 40 years since completing her medical training, Auckland paediatrician and child psychiatrist, Louise Webster has added a Doctorate in musical composition to her qualifications. Despite her heavy workload, she is also a composer, pianist and plays violin with St. Matthew's Chamber Orchestra. In 2012, she completed a Masters of Music in composition with first class honours in 2012, and this year, a doctorate.

Louise Webster's compositions have been recorded by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and performed by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and the New Zealand String Quartet. 

 

10:35 Book review - Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Louise O'Brien, from quarterly review periodical New Zealand Review of Books Pukapuka Aotearoa, reviews Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. This book is published by Macmillan.

10:45 The Reading

Mercenary Territory by Susan Pointon told by William Kircher and Sarah Boddy. Episode 3 of 5.

11:05 Music: Michael Kiwanuka, Bat for Lashes, SoccerPractise

RNZ Music’s Yadana Saw plays some recent releases that have caught her ear. The new album from old soul indie Michael Kiwanuka is doing a high rotate. Plus Bat For Lashes tribute to all the lusciously 80s and the latest from Auckland reo-electro outfit SoccerPractise.

11:30 RV There Yet? Don and Marilyn Jessen

Don and Marilyn Jessen have owned eleven caravans and a couple of motorhomes, which they've converted themselves.  Their new book RV There Yet? - Owning and using a recreational vehicle in New Zealand guides the reader through all stages of the practical realities of RV ownership, be it building, buying, powering up, legal responsibilities, safety, maintenance and accessories.

11:45 Measles long-term impact, tsunami fungus and bendy materials

Science correspondent Siouxsie Wiles joins Kathryn to talk about the new findings into how measles can weaken the immune system for years after an infection, the fungus that migrated from the tropics to the forests of the Pacific Northwest thanks to tsunami and researchers have developed a material that can bend and move to face light beams - much like sunflowers move to face the sun.