Nine To Noon for Friday 11 December 2020

 

 

09:05 Inquiry into Volunteer Fire Fighter Association CEO abandoned

Three and a half months after the appointment of a QC to look into allegations against the Chief Executive of the volunteer fire fighters association, the investigation has been abandoned.The chief executive of the United Fire Brigades Association, Bill Butzbach, was suspended in August while three allegations of bullying and harassment were to be investigated by Wellington based QC Kristy McDonald. In a statement the United Fire Brigades Association says despite extensive consultation over the terms of reference, no agreement could be reached with two of the complainants, and therefore the inquiry has been abandoned. Kathryn talks with Tony Sutorius, a senior volunteer firefighter with 28 years experience, who is founder of Vollynet, the largest online community for volunteer firefighters. And Nine to Noon Executive Producer Clare Sziranyi reports that FENZ's proposed Disputes Resolution Scheme has also been put on hold.

9:15 Brexit talks breakdown in Brussels 

The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson told media this morning that there is a "strong possibility" that the UK will fail to form a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union. He has just returned from Brussels where he has been negotiating for a brexit trade deal with the EU. The talks between Johnson and the President of the European Union Ursula von der Leyen have been fraught. Mrs von der Leyen said yesterday that the sides were still "far apart". It's an important moment for the UK as their post Brexit period of still using EU trade rules runs out on December the 31st. After almost four years of negotiations, a no deal Brexit is looking more and more likely. Harriet Line is the Deputy Political Editor at the Press Association and she has just returned from Brussels with the UK Prime Minister.

09:20 Feel good Xmas giving: The Good Registry

Co-founder of the The Good Registry Christine Langdon offers ideas of what to give this Christmas that will make everyone, not least Mother Earth, feel good.  The Good Registry is an online community where people who already feel they have too many things in their lives, can say to friends and family "no gifts please", instead asking them to give to a charity, via the platform.

09:45 Asia correspondent Elizabeth Beattie

Farmers in India are protesting new laws liberalising agricultural markets, calling for a national strike following inconclusive talks with Narendra Modi's government, and the crackdown in Hong Kong continues as police continue to make fresh arrests in the city. This week eight more activists were arrested for their participation in last year's protests. 

Elizabeth Beattie is a journalist at Thomson Reuters, based in Hong Kong.

10:05 Lisa Woollett: mudlarking and the stories of what we throw away

Lisa Woollett is a photographer and award winning author with a passion for beachcoming and mudlarking, and telling the stories of what we throw away. Her latest book, Rag and Bone, explores her own family's history of collecting - her great grandfather was a scavenger and her grandfather a dustman. It's also a reflection on how much we consume and discard as a society and how little we reuse.

10:35 Book review - Imagining Decolonisation by Bianca Elkington and others

Leilani Tamu reviews Imagining Decolonisation by Bianca Elkington and others, published by Bridget Williams Books.

10:45 The Reading

Go Baby, by Jedwina Turner, told by Phoebe Smith.

11:05 New music with Jeremy Taylor

Jon Savage's paen to the year 1966 has Jeremy Taylor wondering - was it the best year in music? He'll play tracks from the Rolling Stones, Dusty Springfield and others.

11:30 Sports commentator Sam Ackerman

Fresh from his incredible double hundred in the first test, Black Caps captain, Kane Williamson has pulled the pin on the second test to be with his partner to prepare for the birth of their first child. Sam also talks to Kathryn about how language such as a 'head knock' downplays the significance of potential brain injuries on the rugby field.

11:45 The week that was with

Comedians Te Radar and Irene Pink