Nine To Noon for Monday 16 December 2019

 

09:05 Should black 'stop signs' be introduced on our food?

Researcher Professor Cliona Ni Mhurchu, from the University of Auckland's Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences say health experts want packaged food and drink to carry compulsory health star ratings, stop sign warnings, or both, to help families make healthier food choices and curb the climbing obesity rate. It follows research comparing the voluntary Health Star Rating system used here and in Australia, with the mandatory health warning system used in Chile. For the comparison, the Auckland researchers classified almost 14,000 packaged food and beverages according to both systems. They found that two thirds of New Zealand products would have at least one health warning under the Chilean system.

Earlier this year Professor Cliona Ni Mhurchu 's work on virtual supermarkets showed how a junk food tax would lead shoppers to make healthier choices.

09:20 Community recovery in Nelson & Tasman District wildfires

 A look back at this year's wildfires in Nelson and Tasman District - New Zealand's largest aerial firefight on record and  the  largest since 1955. Back in February two separate fires, just 20 km apart, forced 3 thousand residents of Wakefield out of their homes and a further 97 people from the Redwood Valley area. It took a month for the fires to be declared "controlled"  but the work to make the community more resilient continues to this day. Kathryn is joined by Wakefield Fire Station Chief Fire Officer,  Fritz Buckendahl and Wakefield Constable Jamie White.

09:45 Clarity in EU after UK vote, arrests after deadly Albania quake

Europe Correspondent Seamus Kearney joins Kathryn to discuss the reaction in Europe following the landslide victory of Boris Johnson in the UK. He'll also talk about deal EU leaders struck to get the bloc carbon neutral by 2050 - albeit without coal-dependent Poland for the time being. And authorities in Albania have arrested at least nine people after the deadly earthquake there last month.

10:05 Supreme Court Justice - Joe Williams

Earlier this year Joe Williams became the first Māori judge appointed to the Supreme Court. He's had a long career in the law as the Chief Judge of the Māori Land Court and chair of the Waitangi Tribunal and a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Williams is a fluent reo speaker and affiliates to Ngāti Pūkenga and Te Arawa. He's passionate about addressing the challenges Māori face in a western legal system.

Justice Williams is also a talented musician. Here's a song from 1985 that he wrote and recorded with his band Aotearoa. 

Clarissa Dunn reviews Sing New Zealand: The story of choral music in Aotearoa by Guy E. Jansen, published by Massey University Press.

How group singing in Aotearoa has evolved in the past 200 years - and how the best choirs have become so good.

10:45 The Reading

Jane Seaford's short story A Lame Excuse told by Deidre O'Connor.

11:05 Impact of UK election on NZ and media mergers go to Cabinet

Political commentators Matthew Hooton and Neale Jones discuss what the UK election result might mean for New Zealand's election next year, the proposal for a public broadcasting "super entity"which goes to Cabinet today and what has the government really decided on moving the Ports of Auckland?

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 A wholefood Christmas

Bronwyn Kan with some wholefood recipes using simple pantry ingredients. Maple roasted pumpkin, miso roasted potatoes, hemp seed fudge, and more. They feature in her new book Whole Again. You might like to try out some new recipes for Christmas : Crispy Cauliflower Salad, Miso Roasted Potatoes, Maple Roasted Pumpkin and Hemp Seed Fudge.

11:45 Making the most (and avoiding the pitfalls) of the Great Kiwi Outdoor Summer

Gareth Eyres joins Kathryn to talk about a bike ride that's right on the doorstep for most Aucklanders - yet doesn't get much publicity. He also talks about how it's necessary to expect almost anything when it comes to making the most of a Kiwi summer. 

Music played in this show

Artist: Andrew Keoghan
Track: Bright idea
Time played: 9:34

Artist: Rilo Kiley
Track: Silver lining
Time played: 11:32

Artist: Camera Obscura
Track: This is Love
Time played: 11.45