Nine To Noon for Thursday 19 August 2021

 

 

09:05 Michael Baker on growing Delta outbreak

Health officials are expecting more cases will have been detected in Auckland's outbreak overnight, and will be briefed once the results are back later this morning. Ten community cases have been identified so far. Three more cases were revealed last night, two of them young people linked to the first group of seven.The third is a woman in her 60s with no connection to the others but a link to the border. The list of places of interest in Auckland and Coromandel now sits at almost 70 and includes shopping malls, bars, cinemas, supermarkets, a large secondary school, a church and Sky City Casino. Potentially thousands of people are now considered contacts. Susie speaks with Otago University Professor of Public Health, epidemiologist, Michael Baker.

09:20 Air NZ boss - the scramble to fly kiwis home

Susie speaks with Air New Zealand Chief Executive Greg Foran about the scramble to get thousands of New Zealanders home before the 48 hour window closes at midnight tonight. Also the latest on the Air New Zealand flight attendant who has tested positive for the virus.

09:30 Reserve Bank leaves interest rates on hold....for now

The Reserve Bank was widely expected to lift rates in its review of the Official Cash rate yesterday, but decided against it due to the latest Covid-19 lockdown. Susie speaks with ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner about the decision not to move, and how the latest Covid outbreak might impact the economy.

09:45 Raab's Crete holiday criticised, gun licensing question, old master found

UK correspondent Matthew Parris joins Susie to look at the British evacuation from Afghanistan, as the Foreign Secretary comes under fire for his five-star Crete holiday during the crisis which he claims "no one saw coming". Gun licensing is under investigation following the revelation the unit that gave the Plymouth killer a shotgun certificate is manned by civilians and police officers aren't really involved in the vetting. And a forgotten painting by the Italian master Canaletto has been found hanging in the drawing room of an English home.

10:05 Lost in Translation? The impact of translators on world history

Would Hiroshima have been bombed if the Japanese language contained a phrase meaning 'no comment'? Did a mistaken translation of the Italian "canali" -- or channels -- shape the space race to Mars? Translator Anna Aslanyan delves into these questions in her new book Dancing on Ropes, a popular history of how translators have altered the course of world events. She shows the tightrope translators walk in their work, and what can happen when the balance tips and just how far a simple misunderstanding can go. Susie speaks to Anna Aslanyan - journalist, literary translator, public service interpreter and now author. 

10:35 Covid outbreak: What does the latest modelling tell us?

Covid modeller Michael Plank from the University of Canterbury Mathematics department joins Susie to explain what the latest modelling looks like.

10:40 Book review: In love with Hell by William Palmer

Quentin Johnson reviews In love with Hell by William Palmer, published by Hachette

10:45 The Reading

Builder's Notebook, episode 4. Written and read by Sarah Boddy.

11:05 Tech: Skills crunch, Aussies try encryption, conspiracy nuts get tech-savvy

The tech industry in New Zealand is approaching breaking point, with closed borders seriously exasperating an already stretched massive specialist skills shortage. Is New Zealand’s future economic prosperity at risk? The Australians are consulting on a set of new rules that have another go at breaking encrypted communications, in an effort to gain access to private conversations. Where’s the balance between privacy and crime-fighting? And Covid-19 conspiracy groups are getting more organised with the help of technology, communicating and organising online while also flouting Covid scanning rules across the ditch.

11:25 Babies and sleep

As any parent of a new baby knows, sleep in those first weeks and months can be elusive. Dr Bronwyn Sweeney is a Clinical Psychologist and honorary associate with the Sleep Wake Research Centre and Massey University. She says there are lots of different books, consultants, and sleep programmes out there which can be overwhelming for new parents. She talks to Susie about the science of sleep and shares some tips and tricks on how to encourage good sleep in babies.

11:45 Modern Love, Deceit, Coda, Tina

Film and TV reviewer James Croot joins Susie to talk about Modern Love, a star-studded anthology of romance, gritty new British crime drama Deceit, Apple's Sundance-winning movie CODA and new documentary Tina.

Music played in this show

Artist: Reb Fountain
Track: Beastie
Time Played: 9:32

Artist: French for Rabbits
Track: Beastie
Time Played: 9:45