Nine To Noon for Thursday 21 May 2020

 

 

09:05 Does the new NZ COVID app pass muster?

As contact tracing apps become a feature of life during the Covid pandemic - just how many are we going to have to put up with? The government's NZ COVID Tracer hit Apple's App Store and Google Play stores on Tuesday night, and by the time the Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield did his media appearance at 1pm yesterday 92,000 people had downloaded it. It's an app of two halves: your personal information will be registered with the Ministry of Health, while your phone will store location information collected via QR code scanning. But you'll still have to use various registers provided by businesses. Joining Lynn to talk about the app is computer systems engineer Andrew Chen, a research fellow with Koi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures at the University of Auckland.
 

09:20 ​Wooing the domestic tourist dollar

With international tourism at a standstill, competition is fierce as the regions all vie for the domestic tourist dollar. Tourism operators from regions which normally have international visitors in droves are now eyeing up New Zealanders who are wanting to take a break and regional marketing campaigns are being drawn up. To discuss what's at stake -  Buller District Mayor Jamie Cleine, from Marlborough's Chamber of Commerce, Hans Neilson and Tauranga Chamber of Commerce CEO Matt Cowley.

09:45 UK correspondent Matthew Parris

Matthew joins Lynn Freeman to talk about push-back to a government plan to open schools from June 1. And will the UK's contact tracing system be "world-beating" as Prime Minister Boris Johnson promises?

10:05 High Wire - a storybook for adults

High Wire is the collaboration between Wellington based writer Lloyd Jones and artist Euan Macleod who lives in Sydney. It is the first in a series of picture books written and made for adults, showcasing New Zealand writers and artists. High Wire is told by a narrator who sets off to walks to Australia, traversing a high wire bridge across the Tasman. Lloyd Jones' words are illustrated by the brooding images created by Euan Macleod.

10:35 Book review - Square Haunting by Francesca Wade

Jenna Todd of Time Out Bookstore reviews Square Haunting: Five Women, Freedom and London Between the Wars​ by Francesca Wade. This book is published by Faber.

10:45 The Reading

CK Stead's My Name Was Judas read by Stuart Devenie.  Part 9 of 13. 

11:05 Do track and trace apps work, top Amazon engineer 'rage quits'

Technology commentator Mark Pesce joins Lynn to look at whether contact tracing apps are delivering as promised, even as privacy is threatened. Tim Bray, a legend in technology circles, quit as Amazon's VP and one of its top engineers over concerns about labour policies. He'll also talk about a big Taiwanese computer chip manufacturer moving production to the US.

11:25 Growing a love of science

Aucklander Rachel Rohloff is on a mission to grow a love of science among primary school children. She's a teacher, entrepreneur and now author. Her book The Living World is a resource for teachers and parents - full of ideas and activities to teach children basic science with creativity based on the natural world. Rachel says you don't need bunsen burners and petri dishes to instill a curiosity and love of science.

11:45 The Luminaries, The Great, The Vast of Night

Film and TV reviewer James Croot looks at the TVNZ-BBC production of Eleanor Catton's award-winning novel The Luminaries, a hilarious new look at Catherine the Great from the co-writer of The Favourite and a cool sci-fi tale The Vast of Night, which is coming to Amazon Prime.