Nine To Noon for Tuesday 1 June 2021

 

 

09:05 Flood waters receding but state of emergency remains in Canterbury

The flood waters are receding in Canterbury but the region remains in a state of emergency after three days of heavy rain. More than 300 properties had to be evacuated - some people have been able to return home but others spent a second night in shelters and are waiting for the all clear to return. Farmers in the region are out and about assessing damage and trying to locate missing stock. Meanwhile the Ashburton bridge at State Highway 1 has been immediately closed after motorists reported they could feel it slumping underneath them. The Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is due in Ashburton shortly to meet with the Mayor, the emergency management centre and the local rural trust. Kathryn speaks with David Clark Federated Farmers Mid Canterbury President

09:17 How much rubbish can one town take?

 Residents in the Southland town of Winton are fighting expansion plans by their local landfill that would allow them to take an uncapped amount of waste. At the moment, the privately-owned AB Lime landfill only has consent to take up to 100,000 tonnes of solid waste per year - but is seeking to increase this. In its application to Environment Southland the company says it wants to "become the premier landfill for the southern regions", and future proof the landfill so it can accept waste from a wider range of locations. It also wants to be able take waste in emergency scenarios - like when it accepted dead cows during the mycroplasma bovis outbreak. A hearing on the consents AB Lime is seeking was held earlier this month. Joining Kathryn is Katie Allan, from the AB Lime Landfill Action Group.

09:39 Ashburton bridge at risk

Ashburton District Mayor Neil Brown talks to Kathryn about the Ashburton bridge which closed this morning due to "slumping". He says engineers are en route to inspect the bridge and he estimates it could be a week to repair it.

09:45 Plummeting Hauraki Gulf crayfish stocks 

There is concern about kai moana stocks in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf - where crayfish numbers are falling rapidly. A University of Auckland study has revealed that the crustaceans population has plummeted - even inside fully protected marine reserves, and numbers outside reserve boundaries are likely to be lower than previous estimates. Researcher, Dr Nick Shears from the University's Institute of Marine Science the numbers crayfish in protected areas have dropped by 60-80 percent in the last decade or so. This is despite being within a no fishing area. He talks to Kathryn about what is causing the koura depletion.

09:45 USA correspondent Susan Davis

Susan talks to Kathryn about the Senate failure of the 1/6 Commission and whether it means there will be no independent investigation. Also ongoing negotiations on President Joe Biden's $2 trillion infrastructure plan.

Susan Davis is a congressional correspondent for NPR and a co-host of the NPR Politics Podcast.

10:05 Flooding in South Canterbury

Floodwaters are receding in Canterbury, but concerns about damage to Ashburton Bridge on State Highway 1 forced it to close this morning. Motorists had reported they could feel it slumping beneath them as they crossed over. Tresca Forrester is Waka Kotahi's journey manager for the South Island. 

10:10 Mark Watson: Bikepacking the length of the Americas

Mark Watson is a photographer by vocation and an adventurer by nature. His most ambitious journey yet is a 46,000km transcontinental bike trip from Alaska all the way to Patagonia. With his partner Hana Black, they took four years to bike-pack an uncommon route through the American Cordillera. Together they explored 16 different countries, with a epic range of experiences... but like many adventures last year, the Covid-19 pandemic cut the the trip short. Mark is now back in New Zealand, whiling away the time until he can return to South America. Mark Watson will be a keynote speaker at the Mountain Film Festival which is taking place in Wanaka later this month.  

10:35 Book review: World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

Melanie O'Loughlin of Lamplight Books reviews World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, published by Milkweed Press.

A collection of essays that both delights and astonishes. From the award winning poet, comes a lyrical, charming and sly meander through the natural world of the poet’s life. Every page, beguiling you to look at nature in a new way. 

10:45 The Reading

The Years Before my Death, part two. David McPhail reads from his memoir. 

11:05  Road and bridge closures causing chaos in Canterbury

RNZ reporter Conan Young got trapped on the south side of the Ashburton River earlier this morning, shortly after it was closed due to significant slumping on the northern side of the bridge. Engineers are on the way to inspect the bridge but it is expected to be closed at least for days. Conan speaks with Kathryn from Pudding Hill.

11:10 Setbacks for fossil fuels, regulators eye 'buy now pay later' schemes

Business commentator Rod Oram looks at the historic setbacks for fossil fuel companies overseas and the relatively modest developments here. He'll also look at how the 'buy now pay later' schemes like Afterpay and Zip are likely to be in line for regulation - once legislation to regulate bank fees for credit and debit card use is sorted.

11:30 Edith Gibson has 3,000 Dolls

Edith Gibson lives in the heart of suburban Auckland with her collection of 3,000 Dolls, repairing and caring for them. In a short documentary Edith invites you into her home, shares her prized dolls, and imparts pro tips and tricks for repairing these beauties to their former glory. Kathryn speaks with filmmaker Daisy Lawless about the joys of collecting.  Daisy is director of Edith Gibson Has 3000 Dolls, showing at the Doc Edge film festival.

11:45 Media commentator Andrew Holden

Andrew looks at some of the winners from the Voyager media awards and social media policy for journalists.

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. 

Music played in this show

Title: Cay's Crays 
Artist: Fat Freddies Drop
Broadcast time: 9:25am

Title: 3 on E
Artist: Vulfpec
Broadcast time: 11:30am