Nine To Noon for Tuesday 21 December 2021

 

 

09:05 Coronial system overloaded, "aggravating grief"

An overloaded coronial system, creaking under the pressure of cases requiring investigation, is being described as fundamentally flawed and aggravating families' grief. Ministry of Justice figures obtained by Stuff show the number of inquests have dropped dramatically from 2012 when 330 unexpected deaths were investigated. By 2019, that number was down to just 62, and in 2020 only 24 deaths were investigated - however Covid-19 lockdowns were a big factor. Wait times have also ballooned; with it taking an average of 877 days for an inquiry to be conducted, and 1451 days for an inquest. Minister for Courts Aupito William Sio has promised to reform the coronial system; Kathryn speaks with him about the progress being made, as well as Anne Stevens QC, a barrister in Dunedin who represents families in the Coroners Court. 

09:30 MPI urges action on water storage

The Ministry for Primary Industries is calling for urgent action on water infrastructure in the face of the growing threat from climate change. The report Water Availability and Security in Aotearoa urges New Zealand to "act strategically - and to act now". It says while New Zealand is traditionally viewed as a green and water-rich country, climate change trends show the country is getting warmer and drier, and more prone to climate extremes like floods and droughts. It warns that current interventions will not be enough in future, and strategic focus and serious investment will be needed to meet the challenge of climate change.

09:45 USA correspondent Kelsey Snell - Ominous Omicron 

Another Covid surge in the US with a huge wave of Omicron cases and the retiring director of the National Institutes of Health warns there could be one million cases per day. And the nation is preparing to mark the anniversary of the January 6th insurrection at the US Capitol. The committee investigating the attack is issuing subpoenas and the House has voted to hold the former White House Chief of Staff in contempt of Congress.

Kelsey Snell is a congressional correspondent for NPR, based in Washington DC.

 

10:05 Ruby Tui takes flight

Ruby Tui is celebrating the end of a big and successful year, and not her first. In 2016 she was part of the team that won silver at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.  In 2017 she took out the award for Women's Sevens Player of the Year, and was the World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year in 2019.  In 2018 she was part of the Black Ferns sevens team that won the Sevens Rugby World Cup.  But this year  Ruby Tui gained fans around the world when she helped bring home gold from Tokyo, which, she tells Kathryn, helped heal that Rio heartbreak.

10:35 Second hand bookshop review: The Odyssey by Homer

Dan West from Book Hunters Bookshop, formerly called Patrick's Bookshop in Whanganui reviews The Odyssey by Homer    

10:45 The Reading

11:05 Business commentator Nikki Mandow - protest action

Nikki talks to Kathryn about a few localised protests. There's the Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray Westmere helipad situation, a sand issue at Herne Bay beach, opposition at Pakiri about the environmental issues around sand, and skiers are protesting potential Mt Ruapehu ownership changes

Nikki Mandow is Newsroom's business editor 

11:30 In praise of the pohutukawa (and rata)

The pohutukawa, Aotearoa's Christmas tree, is in full bloom now in many parts of the country, signalling it's time to head to the beach. But just two decades ago the future of the iconic tree was in doubt. Robyn Haugh, Chief Executive of Project Crimson, a charitable trust dedicated to protect and restore the pohutukawa and rata, says New Zealanders are embracing the idea of donating trees around the country.

11:45 Financial Planner Liz Koh - buying happiness

A timely topic for the Christmas season.  Does money really buy happiness? Research shows that the key to buying happiness is not how financially successful we are but what we do with our money - it is not how high our income is but how we allocate it. 

Liz Koh is a financial planner and specialising in retirement planning. This discussion is of a general nature, and does not constitute financial advice.

 

Music played in this show

Track: Look What We Do 
Artist: Benne Sings 
Broadcast time: 9:30am 

Track:  Christmas Calling
Artist: Norah Jones 
Broadcast time: 9:45am 

Track:  Higher Ground
Artist: Stevie Wonder
Broadcast time: 10:30am 

Track: Nest 
Artist: Hania Rani
Broadcast time: 10:45am 

Track:  Taking Me Back 
Artist: Jack White
Broadcast time: 11:30am