Nine To Noon for Monday 15 February 2021

 

09:05 New year, new lockdown: Covid restrictions back after new case

Health authorities are scrambling to work out how an Auckland family became infected with Covid-19, as the city goes into alert level 3 and the rest of the country enters level 2. Kathryn talks this morning to Otago University epidemiologist Professor David Skegg about what we know so far about this case and possible points of transmission. She'll also be joined by Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett about what will a three-day lockdown will mean for the city's economy.

09:30 Earthquake early warning system: new research

A new system that could give up to 30 seconds warning of an earthquake is being explored.  Massey University scientists are testing low cost sensors located in our homes to explore the feasibilty of early warning solutions,. A series of community roadshows to assess interest will also gauge what magnitude of earthquakes people want to be warned about.  Kathryn speaks with lead scientist Raj Prasanna. 

09:45 Europe correspondent Seamus Kearney

Italy has a new unity government, headed by the former president of the European Central Bank. Mario Draghi, nicknamed in the press as 'Super Mario. And Russia is warning it could cut ties with the European Union if the bloc goes ahead with threats to impose further sanctions. Tensions are high between Moscow and the West over the jailing of the opposition figure Alexei Navalny. 

10:05 High Country camps for townie kids 

For over 50 years the year ten, or fourth form students, from a Queenstown high school have been going on a very special camp. The Wakatipu High School Branches camp began in 1967 and takes students up into the hills above Queenstown on Branches Station. The students live under canvas, prepare their own food and if the weather holds they tramp up for a night at Lochnagar!

The camp has grown a bit, the first one had fifteen students and this year the teachers are planning for two hundred and seventy. Ken McIntryre is a PE and outdoor education teacher at Wakatipu High School and has been running the camp for the last twenty years. He's better known on the camp and at school as 'Mr Mac'. You can find the book Long Drops and Hard Knocks by Sue Fea here. 

10:35 Book review - Cook, Eat, Repeat by Nigella Lawson

Gail Pittaway reviews Cook, Eat, Repeat by Nigella Lawson, published by Penguin Random House.

This is classic Nigella - full of memoir and tips. Each section contains variations or ways to extend the product or recipes. 

10:45 The Reading

Steve Braunias with the first part of his book 'How To Watch A Bird'.

11:05 Political commentators Jones & Sherson

Trish, Neale and Kathryn look at the ever-changing Covid landscape with three new community cases in Auckland - hard on the heels of the Government's vaccine rollout announcement on Friday. They discuss the economic costs of even a short lockdown of three days in Auckland.

Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of Capital Government Relations.

Trish Sherson is from corporate affairs firm Sherson Willis, and a former ACT press secretary. 

 

11:30 A taste of Argentina on Waiheke 

Zuny and Paul Gillard run Sol Bar and Cafe on Waiheke Island. The menu includes some staples from Zuny's homeland, Argentina, such as empanada. The cafe also offers young adults with special needs, including Zuny's daughter Sera, a place to socialise and learn new skills.

11:45 Off the beaten track with Kennedy Warne

Baches, and what we can learn from them as we address the climate crisis. Kennedy talks about a visit to a former well-off-the-beaten-track bach community near the entrance to Manukau Harbour: the settlements of Big and Little Huia. Plus recently reopened tracks in the Karamatura Valley, near Huia in the Waitakere Ranges - including protective features to minimise risk to kauri.