Nine To Noon for Thursday 19 December 2019

 

 

09:05 Tourism numbers could 'kill the golden goose'

A major report from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment warns tourism – both domestic and international - is putting the country under major pressure and eroding the very attributes that make New Zealand such a draw card. The report says international visitor numbers could reach 10-13 million a year by 2050. Simon Upton says this, plus local tourism, places a myriad of pressures on the environment including loss of natural quiet, water quality degradation, solid waste generation and management, biodiversity loss and greenhouse gas emissions.

09.20 West Coast 2019: rain, roads & rubbish

Extreme weather events mean 2019 could be remembered for all the wrong things on the West Coast of the South Island. Back in March heavy rain washed out a disused landfill near Fox Glacier, strewing rubbish across the riverbed and 40 kms of coastline.  More than 13 thousand bags containing the likes of plastic bottles, car tyres, old shoes, burnt plastic and dog poo bags were collected from the Fox and Cook Rivers and South Westland's coastline by volunteers, defence force and DOC staff.  The region's roads have been the victim of ferocious weather too. Earlier this year DOC's Director General Lou Sanson hinted the future of a road up to Fox Glacier is in jeopardy, and just last week almost a thousand tourists were stranded at Franz Josef with the closure of State Highway 6 due to land slips. For a  recap on all this and more Westland District Mayor Bruce Smith joins Kathryn Ryan.

09:45 Post-election business: Brexit and Labour's leadership race

UK correspondent Harriet Line joins Kathryn to discuss how the UK is settling down to business after last week's general election - including a look at which Labour MPs are putting their hand up to take over the leadership from Jeremy Corbyn. And in a hurry to clean up and swap out parliamentary offices, staff accidentally incinerate four suits belonging to Labour's former whip.

10:05 Overcoming huge odds to graduate

Walter Wakefield and Reece Clarke talk to Kathryn about overcoming the odds to return to formal education after four decades. The pair graduated last Friday from Otago Polytech with a New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing. Walter was homeless from the age of ten, living on the streets of Wellington. He's been a gang member, jailed for meth dealing and an addict himself. Reece was kicked out of school at 15, when his alcohol addiction began. Walt and Reece forged a lasting friendship during the course this year, and are planning to study further and join the mental health and addiction workforce.

10:35 Book review - Waterline by Chris Else

Ian Telfer reviews Waterline by Chris Else, published by Quentin Wilson Publishing.

10:45 The Reading

'Home For Christmas' a short story by Jane Seaford  told by Perry Piercy.

11:05 Top 10 in tech for the decade

Technology correspondent Sarah Putt examines the tech ideas and events that have happened between 2010 and 2019 that have changed the way we live.

11:25 Tips for surviving Christmas stress

Christmas and the holiday season can be a stressful time for many people. For some, it is as simple as fatigue after a busy year, while for others bigger emotional issues rise to the surface. Wellington psychologist Karen Nimmo has some coping strategies to share.

11:45 Marriage Story, The Report, The Two Popes

Viewing correspondent Tamar Munch looks at two movies starring Adam Driver: Marriage Story and The Report, which is about the CIA's use of torture following the 9/11 attacks. She'll also preview New Zealander Anthony McCarten's new movie The Two Popes about Pope Benedict and Pope Francis. 

 

Music played in this show

Artist: The Head and The Heart
Track: Summertime
Time played: 9:50

Artist:  Rob Ruha and Ria Hall
Track: Ka Ihi Te Moana
Time played: 10:35

Artist: Crowded House
Track: Tall Trees
Time played: 10:44