Nine To Noon for Thursday 30 January 2020

 

 

09:05 Auckland's infrastructure billion dollar bonanza

The Auckland region is the big winner following the Government's 12-billion dollar infrastructure spend.  A raft of road and rail upgrades are planned, including three billion dollars earmarked to improve arterial routes to the north and south of the city.  There is also more than a billion dollars allocated for rail. Kathryn discusses the funding package  with Auckland Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Michael Barnett,  Matt Lowrie who is the Editor of Greater Auckland, formerly known as transportblog.co.nz and the Chief Executive of Civil Contractors, Peter Silcock.
 

09:20 High tech predator control scheme a first 

A high tech predator control entity says it has eradicated all pests from a remote valley in South Westland and what's more - is keeping them out. Zero Invasive Predators - or ZIP - did the trial in a 12,000 hectare block within the Perth River valley near Whataroa last year. After carrying out a 1080 predator removal operation in 2019, ZIP established a network of 700 traps for rats and possums, all connected by radio and satellite to rangers' phones and laptops, along with 142 cameras to detect predators. ZIP CEO Al Bramley tells Kathryn Ryan the technology is  bringing New Zealand closer to achieving predator-free status. 

09:45 Three days to Brexit, Huawei gets ok, BBC cuts 450 jobs

UK correspondent Matthew Parris looks at the UK's controversial decision to let Chinese tech giant Huawei roll out its 5G network, how British citizens are faring amid the coronavirus outbreak, Brexit is now just 3 days away, the BBC is cutting 450 jobs and e-scooters might finally be made legal.

10:05  She's back! Elizabeth Strout on Olive Kitteridge in Olive, Again

Described as one of America's finest writers, award-winning and best-selling author Elizabeth Strout speaks with Kathryn Ryan about one of the finest female characters to come out of American fiction.  Olive Kitteridge is back in Olive, Again. Olive Kitteridge sold a million copies, earned Elizabeth a Pulitzer Prize in 2009 and was followed by the HBO mini-series with the double Oscar-winning Frances McDormand playing Olive. The book's sequel Olive, Again is a brilliant series of  vignettes showcasing Olive's complexity as she gets older, drawing us once again into Olive Kitteridge's world, along with an ensemble cast of fellow Crosbyites.

10:35 Book review - Best of 2019

Louise Ward of Wardini Books with her top picks from 2019: Running With Sherman by Christopher McDougall (Allen & Unwin), The History Speech by Mark Sweet (Huia), and The Good Thieves by Katherine Rundell (Bloomsbury).

10:45 The Reading

On An Island With Consequences Dire by Kelly Ana Morey, adapted by Owen Scott read by Michelle Amas . Part 4 of 5. (Broadcast only, no online reproduction)

11:05 Facebook's new tracker released 

Tech commentator Paul Matthews looks at the "Off-Facebook Activity" finally released by Facebook that allows you to see the 180 days' worth of data Facebook collects about from sites that you've visited - even when you're not using Facebook. He'll also talk why Big Tech is asking for more regulation, and a stoush that's brewing over a review in the polytech sector. 

11:25 Anxious parenting: Kevin Wilson

American author and father Kevin Wilson revisits his obsession with spontaneous human combustion in his new novel Nothing to See Here.  Here former college room-mate Madison asks Lillian to be a governess to her strangely afflicted ten year old twin step-children Bessie and Roland, who have a tendency to overheat and burst into flames, a metaphor for parenting with anxiety. Kevin has been dogged by anxiety throughout his life, and the prospect of parenthood petrified him. How could he look after a small child if he couldn't look after himself?  But, as Kevin tells Kathryn Ryan becoming a dad surprised him.

11:45 Underwater, Frida: Viva la vida

Film and TV reviewer Sarah McMullan joins Kathryn to talk about deep sea thriller Underwater, starring Kristen Stewart. She'll also look at Frida: Viva la vida, a documentary on the two sides of artist Frida Kahlo. She'll also do a wrap-up of the school holiday flicks - including Robert Downey Jnr's massive misstep in Dolittle.

Music played in this show

Artist:   Rhye
Song: The Fall
Time:  09:30 

Artist:   L.A.B
Song: In The Air 
Time:  09:45

Artist: French for Rabbits
Track: Wounded bird
Time: 10:35

Artist: Shura
Track: The Stage
Time: 10:40

Artist: Andy Shauf
Track: Things I do
Time: 11:45