Nine To Noon for Monday 11 May 2020

09:05 Economy showing strain, are welfare changes coming?

As the economy shows further signs of strain, what can the government do in this week's Budget to get us on the road to economic recovery? 41,000 more people have gone on to the benefit since February, government spending has risen $4 billion more than expected, and official debt now sits at 21.3 percent of gross domestic product. Kathryn discusses the state of the economy and prospects for the Budget with Infometrics economist Brad Olsen, Shamubeel Eaqub from Sense Partners, and ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner.

09:20 Early childhood sector - viability concerns

As schools, universites and early childhood centres wait to find out when they can be fully operational again, the level 3 and 4 lockdown has claimed casualties in the education sector. The Early Childhood Council Chief Exective Peter Reynolds says seven weeks of closure has taken a huge emotional and financial toll on some early learning centres, with one operator phoning him in tears saying they won't be reopening. He says even when centres can reopen under level 2, attendance numbers will be slow to build up and he predicts more centres will cease operating.

09:30 Schools eye a return to class

Education leaders say the mood among teachers has shifted considerably in the last week, towards a desire to return to class. Depending on what the government announces later, schools could be back as early as Monday next week, under new alert level 2 rules. So why, for the most part, has the mood changed towards wanting to get students back into school again, and what will this safer normal look like? Post Primary Teachers' Association President, Jack Boyle and New Zealand Principals' Federation Perry Rush, discuss.

09:45 Bolsonaro goes jet-skiing amid Brazil's Covid crisis

South America correspondent Katy Watson joins Kathryn to talk about the weekend jet-ski jaunt by President Jair Bolsonaro, who continues to downplay the seriousness of the Covid-19 outbreak - even as the country's death toll passed 10,000. She'll also cover the strange plot by a US mercenary to kidnap Venezeula's President Nicholas Maduro.

10:05 Tamara Birchall's long, hard road to becoming a doctor

Tamara Birchall was born and raised in Kaikohe in the Far North, but it was a year living on First Nation reservations in Canada as a teenager which inspired her to become a doctor and give back to her local community.

It was a long, hard road for Dr Birchall, who lost her mother to cancer just after her final medical school exams at Auckland University. The day after her graduation ceremony, she was badly injured in a car accident which killed her fiancee and grandmother.

Seven years on, 34 year old Dr Birchall is part way through her specialty GP training, and runs outreach clinics in the Far North, where Covid 19 has added a whole layer of complexity to her work.

10:35 Book review - Grown Ups by Marian Keyes

Laura Caygill reviews Grown Ups by Marian Keyes, published by Penguin Books New Zealand. A lighthearted look at family dynamics, marriage and overcoming demons from Ireland's queen of chick lit.

10:45 The Reading

My Name Was Judas, episode 1. Written by C.K Stead, read by Stuart Devenie.

11:05 Political commentators Mills and Morten

Political commentators  Stephen Mills and Brigitte Morten talk about the expectations of a nation as the Prime Minister is about to announce when we move to alert level two, also a look ahead to Thursday's budget.

Stephen Mills is the executive director of UMR Research and former political adviser to two Labour governments.

Brigitte Morten is a senior consultant with public and commercial law firm
Franks & Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government.

11:30 Feed Me, Feed Me with hospo whizzes Fran Mazza and Aaron Carson

Fran Mazza and her husband Aaron Carson have set up and run some of Auckland's most successful cafes, including Winona Forever in Parnell, Barbarinos in Avondale and Sugar at the Chelsea Sugar Factory in Birkenhead. Their new book Feed Me Feed Me showcases a range of recipes for meals and sweet treats - including this gluten-free chocolate cake Torta Caprese, and dark chocolate rocky road.

11:45 Off the beaten track with Kennedy Warne

Today, as we anticipate stepping down to the next alert level, Kennedy talks to Kathryn about consolations and diversions and resolutions during these times of closure. 
Consolations - nature and the outdoors, Diversions - people rediscovering the crafts and practices of former times, and Resolutions - as thoughts turn to "reopening", what can we take from this experience to better equip humanity to face the future