Nine To Noon for Friday 5 November 2021

 

 

09:05 How websites are manipulating you to spend more 

More than half of the most popular New Zealand websites may be unfairly manipulating you, often into spending more money, or giving away your personal information. ‘Dark patterns’ are design techniques that aim to trick or mislead internet users. Research carried out by Victoria University found in a study of the top 100 websites with the .co.nz domain, 54 percent of sites had at least one form of dark patterns. E-commerce sites were the biggest offenders, with tactics such as countdown timers or fake scarcity of items to invoke the fear of missing out, and forcing users to register their details to purchase an item. Media sites also had a high number of dark patterns, most commonly the auto-play functions on embedded video, and what's called the "roach motel"; where it's easy to sign up to a service or subscription, but very difficult to cancel. Dr Cherie Lacey, a media and communication studies lecturer at Victoria University carried out the research. 

09:40 NZ Sculpture on Shore, Women's Refuge biggest fundraiser, goes virtual

In amongst the many events dealt the Delta blow this summer is NZ Sculpture OnShore - a major art exhibition held in Takapuna, Auckland. The exhibition is not only the country's largest sculpture event, it's also the biggest fundraiser for Women's Refuge. This year's funds were go towards the Kids in the Middle project - which is to design special spaces for children at each of the 40 refuges around the country. It came out of research conducted by Women's Refuge, which interviewed children about their time at safe houses and what would make them feel more safe and comfortable. NZ Sculpture OnShore organisers decided the event simply had to go ahead. Kathryn speaks with Women's Refuge CEO Ang Jury and Sally Dewar, from NZ Sculpture OnShore.

09:45 Pacific correspondent Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor  

Tonga's first postive Covid case has now tested negative and the CEO of Tonga's Health Ministry, Siale 'Akau'ola says the person will be tested again today, but already there's a collective sigh of relief. Moera also talks to Kathryn about the Pacific Reset, with New Zealand further stepping up its relationship with Pacific nations and a COP26 update on what all the Pacific groups are doing.

RNZ Pacific's Team Leader, Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor 

10:05 She's a Killer: Imagining an Aotearoa overrun by 'wealthugees'

In the near future, the climate emergency has forced the wealthy to seek refuge in Aotearoa. Water is rationed, and things like coffee and beer are now luxury items - prohibitively expensive for most people. This is the setting for Kirsten McDougall's new novel 'She's a Killer'. We meet her protagonist, Alice, a prickly near-genius who borders on being a sociopath. She crosses paths with Pablo, a 'wealthugee', who pays her to look after his teenage daughter Erica - but neither of them are who they seem. The subject matter of the novel is heavy, but the book is a fast-paced and often humourous look at what humanity's final act could look like. This is Kirsten's third novel; her first was The Invisible Rider, published in 2012 and Tess in 2017, which was longlisted for the Ockham NZ Book Awards, and shortlisted for the Ngaio Marsh Award.

10:35 Book review: The Country of Others by Leïla Slimani

Briar Lawry of Unity Books Auckland The Country of Others by Leïla Slimani, published by Faber & Faber

10:45 The Reading

11:05 Music reviewer Grant Smithies​

Grant reckons the self-titled fourth album by Los Angeles trio La Luz is a gorgeous haunting marvel. We’ll hear two tracks from that today, alongside some blistering Afro-funk from Nigeria’s The Funkees and an early classic from Liverpool’s Echo and The Bunnymen.

 

11:30 Sports commentator Sam Ackerman

Sam gives his take on the head trauma issue resurfacing in rugby amid confirmation that former All Black Carl Hayman's early onset dementia diagnosis. Also, how the Black Ferns will react under pressure and why the Black Caps need to deliver a big performance at cricket's T20 World Cup.
 

11:45 The week that was

A few laughs with Comedians Te Radar and Karen O'Leary - Always blow on the pie - in this case across the Tasman, it's party pies in the shape of Australia! And an Easter Island crab bridge helping crabs safely across the road.

 

Music played in this show

Track:  Strange Overtones
Artist: David Byrne and Brian Eno
Broadcast time: 10:40am 

Track: Loveland Pass
Artist: Lionlimb
Broadcast time: 11:50am