Nine To Noon for Wednesday 14 October 2020

 

09:05 Lawyer: Covid-induced rent dispute measures need greater teeth

A lawyer acting for a group of Auckland tenants who have been served notice to pay rent arrears says business evictions will become common, unless there are stronger measures for solving Covid-induced rent disputes. Kate Sheehan is acting on behalf of eateries based in Elliott Stables, in the central city. They've been served Property Law Act notices for rent and operating expenses they owe to their landlord, Icon Group. Icon delivered $675,000 in rent relief to the tenants during the first lockdown. But the tenants argue the second lockdown, ongoing roadworks and a lack of foot traffic have meant they're operating at an extensive loss. Because the tenants received some rent relief, they're also ineligible for help from the government's new $40m arbitration services fund. The group is crowd-funding help for legal fees, which they say could lead to a law change to prevent others being caught in this situation.

09:20 Advocating for tamariki

The country's first Assistant Māori Commissioner for Children Glenis Philip-Barbara talks with Kathryn Ryan about her  dreams for tamariki Māori. Ms Philip-Barbara was appointed to the newly created role last week. She is from Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Uepōhatu and has worked in the public and community sector for more than 30 years.

09:45 NSW Premier's secret, covid set-back, Pell and the Pope

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton unwraps the scandal surrounding competent and popular New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian, who confessed to a secret five-year relationship with a disgraced former fellow Liberal Party state MP Darryl Mcguire. Melbourne's covid recovery isn't happening as fast as was hoped, James Packer's casino licence is in jeopardy and the Pope has held a very public meeting with Cardinal George Pell, following his acquittal on child sex abuse charges.

10:05 Goat farming in the greater Auckland area

Patumahoe farmer Matt Bolton runs the country's largest goat farming operation, milking more than 5,000 goats a day and demand for goat milk is growing. He runs two neighbouring properties, Oete Farm and Oakdale farm employing 30 staff.
 

10:35 Book review  - The Savage Coloniser Book by Tusiata Avia

Faith Wilson reviews The Savage Coloniser Book by Tusiata Avia, published by Victoria University Press.

10:45 The Reading

The Mesmerist, episode 8. Written and read by Barbara Ewing.

11:05 Music with Graeme Downes

Graeme squeaks in two years early on the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit! He joins Kathryn to deconstruct the song and discover what made it such an instant classic.

Dr Graeme Downes is a musicologist, former senior lecturer in the Department of Music at the University of Otago and founding member of The Verlaines.

 

11:20 Lingerie for breast cancer survivors

Touched by Pink is a Dunedin-based social enterprise offering attractive and comfortable underwear for 'breast cancer survivors and thrivers', founded by Andrea Samson and Lucy Warren. The friends were disappointed by the range of ugly and uncomfortable "Victorian-era" type bras available to them when they went through treatment. Kathryn speaks with Andrea and Associate Professor Lynnette Jones from the University of Otago School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, who established a breast cancer exercise training programme.

11:45 Who speaks for children in the Family Court?

Law commentator and family court Simon Jefferson QC examines who represents the voice of children in the Family Court system and the statutory provisions to have their views taken into account. He looks at what the best model is for representation and whether we are meeting our international obligations.

Simon Jefferson QC is a family law expert based at Trinity Chambers in Auckland.