Nine To Noon for Wednesday 15 July 2020

 

09:05 Judith Collins on her plans for National

Judith Collins emerged from last night's National Party emergency caucus meeting as the victor, taking over the mantle of leadership with just 66 days to go until the election. She joins Kathryn this morning to talk about what she'll be doing to convince the country to put National back into government.

09:25 On the trail of a Kiwi pornographer

The victims of New Zealand man Michael James Pratt are still waiting for reparation for being duped into making porn videos that were then widely shared online. 22 women filed - and won - a civil lawsuit after they were recruited and told their sex tapes were for distribution via DVD to individuals in foreign countries - but were instead placed on the GirlsDoPorn website owned by Pratt. He's also wanted on criminal charges in the US, but has yet to be found. Ed Chapin represented the women who sued Pratt and joins Kathryn to talk about efforts to recover the NZ$19m he was ordered to pay them. 

09:45 Australia's Covid cases hit 10,000

Australia correspondent Bernard Keane joins Kathryn to talk about the rise in cases in Victoria and New South Wales and whether the Australia could achieve a NZ-style elimination of the virus. Australia has moved to cut arrivals, with some claiming only upgrades to business class can guarantee them a seat. Meanwhile a plan to admit foreign students has been suspended - throwing Australia's fourth-biggest export industry deeper into crisis.

10:05 A Physio in Ethiopia: Julie Sprigg

West Australian physiotherapist Julie Sprigg has captured her experiences working as a physio in the slums of Ethiopia in an extraordinary work of narrative non-fiction. Here Julie worked with children with disabilities in a convent clinic, and at a university hospital, teaching on the country's first physiotherapy degree. Each chapter features a different child patient, some who walk home from hospital after life-threatening illnesses, others are not so lucky.  Julie's book is called Small Steps - A Physio in Ethiopia.  It's her first book, which was shortlisted for 2018 City of Fremantle T.A.G. Hungerford Award. Julie joins Kathryn from Perth.

10:35 Book review - Awatea and the Kawa Gang by Fraser Smith

Louise Ward of Wardini Books reviews Awatea and the Kawa Gang by Fraser Smith, published by Huia.

Awatea’s adventures are perfect for the post-lockdown kid - barefoot shenanigans in the bush accompanied by his mate, Carrot the Parrot. In this caper, the pair encounter poachers and it’s up to Awatea and his mates at the beach to protect their habitat. 

10:45 The Reading

The City God, by Paula Morris from her collection 'Forbidden Cities'. Read by Yvonne Martin. 

11:05 Music with RNZ's Yadana Shaw 

Yadana Saw shares some new tunes and collaborations from Auckland hip hop stalwarts Team Dynamite, and Wellington's Phoenix Foundation. And we'll hear the latest release from the son of British new wave/punk exponent Ian Dury.

11:20 Octogenarian Rachel McAlpine's poetry about ageing

Rachel McAlpine has a novel way to celebrate turning 80, the release of her book of poetry - How to be old.
The Wellington writer blogs and podcasts about getting old. She is also the author of novels, songs and plays.

11:45 Herd immunity, synthetic spider silk and perk up your ears!

Science commentator Siouxsie Wiles joins Kathryn to talk about making silk from microbes, how humans twitch their ears when they hear interesting sounds and the importance of herd immunity.

Associate Professor Dr Siouxsie Wiles is the head of Bioluminescent Superbugs Lab at the University of Auckland.