Nine To Noon for Tuesday 22 December 2020

 

 

09:05 Electricity Authority rules on intentional dam spilling 

The electricity regulator has found that water spilled out of South Island dams in 2019 caused an unfair situation for consumers for power prices. But its not allocating blame to any one generator. The Electricity Authority has found  that there was an "undesirable trading situation" from the 3rd of December to the 27th of December 2019 and that "water was wasted when it could have been used". 

A complaint was taken to the Electricity authority by a group of seven smaller electricity retailers who accused Meridian and Contact Energy of manipulating prices. A preliminary decision in November found that prices had been pushed up by the spilling water. It also found that as a result less sustainable power generation was used in the north island to meet demand for power. 

the final decision has found that while there was an unfair situation, no one is to blame. The authority has said that they will announce further actions to address the situation in February next year. Steve O'Connor is the Chief Executive of Flick Electric, one of the seven retailers who made the complaint that there had been an unfair trading situation. 

09:20 Poorer countries will miss out on Covid vaccines: Oxfam

As the rollout of Covid vaccines continues at pace, there are concerns low-income countries will miss out as wealthier ones snap up supplies. Last week New Zealand announced it had secured access to 15 million vaccine courses, ensuring every New Zealander could be protected from Covid-19. But data calculated for the People's Vaccine Alliance, a grouping of organisations including Amnesty International and Oxfam, found nine out of ten people in 70 low-to-middle income countries will miss out on the vaccine. The Alliance is calling on governments in wealthier nations to take steps to ensure vaccine access is fair, and for pharmaceutical companies to openly share their technology and put people before profit. Kathryn speaks with Oxfam UK's Health Policy Manager Anna Marriot.

09:45 USA correspondent Ron Elving

Ron Elving talks to Kathryn final stages of the Trump presidency as Covid rages in the US and vaccination is underway.

Ron is Senior Editor and Correspondent on the Washington Desk for NPR News.

10:05 Benee and her Mum

From her home in Auckland Stella Bennett, better known as musician Benee has been able to grow her pop career despite this year's disruptive pandemic. The 20 year old singer/songwriter was meant to be touring and promoting her debut album Hey U X, but Covid forced a rethink on that. She talks to Kathryn about a year which has included a huge haul of awards and accolades, including the Aotearoa Music Awards single of the year for Supalonely.  Benee's Mum, Tania Anderson is now her PA as her career soars.

10:35 Book review - The Cousins by Karen McManus

Harry Broad reviews The Cousins by Karen McManus, published by Penguin Random House.

10:45 The Reading

11:05 Grace Millane murderer named

The man who murdered British backpacker Grace Millane can now be named.

28-year-old Jesse Shane Kempson was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years for the murder of Ms Millane, who was 21, and from Essex in the UK.

RNZ Reporter Sarah Robson has been following the case.

11:10 Business commentator Rebecca Stevenson

Rebecca takes a look at some of the  NZ companies which have thrived this year, including Shift72 which had 10 staff and wasn't profitable and now revenue has increased 740 percent this year, it is profitable and employs 40 staff people.

Rebecca Stevenson is BusinessDesk's Auckland bureau chief.

11:30 OK Boomer! New Zealand in the Swinging Sixties

It was the time of pixie cuts, miniskirts, Beatles fanaticism, marching bands and men on the moon. The Swinging Sixties turned 60 this year - and Ian Chapman has marked it with a book jam-packed with photos, essays and funny personal experiences of the decade. Ian is an author, musician and lecturer at Otago University, and his love of pop culture led him to seek out contributors from all walks of Kiwi life for the book - which is perhaps provocatively called 'Ok Boomer'. Yes, the now infamous utterance by Green MP Chloe Swarbrick in Parliament in response to a heckler provided the inspiration for the title. Ian joins Kathryn for a walk down memory lane.

11:45 Media commentator Andrew Holden

Mediaworks repays staff who took a 15% pay cut during Covid and the NBR threatens Newsroom over its story on a former employee who has been outed for writing a racist blog.

Andrew Holden is a journalist for more than 30 years including five as Editor of The Press (in Christchurch) and four as Editor-in-Chief of The Age in Melbourne.