Nine To Noon for Thursday 24 February 2022
09:05 Concern over film studio's fast-tracked consent process
A $280 million plan to build the country's first purpose-built large-scale film studio complex near Wanaka has the green light - but the fast-tracked process has raised concerns. The complex, by Silverlight Studios will include 10 sound stages, production facilities and the backlots of Venice, a medieval village, Paris and New York all set around an artificial lake. In addition to being a working film set, it'll include a film school and operate as a tourist destination. The fast-tracked consent process was brought in midway through 2020, and an application doesn't require notification or provide for general public feedback. Kathryn talks to two of the parties who were invited to comment on the Silverlight Studios project: Jerry Rowley, from the Mount Barker Residents' Association and Julian Haworth, president of the Upper Clutha Environmental Society.
Photo: Tilt Architecture for Silverlight Studios
09:30 Three generations of the Hitchings family's valuable work on mayflies
Photo: supplied
When Terry Hitchings retired from a career as a chemistry and physics teacher - and later a principal - he needed something else to do. In the 30 years since, he's been collecting and documenting species of mayflies in New Zealand waters - creating a valuable database housed at Canterbury Museum for researchers studying conservation and environmental change. He's also roped in his son, Tim, who in turn roped in his son, Richard, and the three generations of Hitchings have collected nearly 50,000 mayflies. Terry and Tim have both become Canterbury Museum Research Associates and the pair have co-authored a number of research papers. They've also discovered 15 previously unknown mayfly species, and details of their collections can be found here.
09:45 UK correspondent Matt Dathan
UK correspondent Matt Dathan joins Kathryn to talk about how some in Boris Johnson's party don't feel sanctions against Russia over Ukraine go far enough, but he's defended them, saying the UK is "out in front" on the issue. Meanwhile the effects of the tension with Russia are being felt at the pumps, with petrol hitting new highs. Covid restrictions will be lifted tomorrow - there'll be no legal restriction to isolate if you test positive. And a plan to limit the availability of student loans to those who pass their GCSE English and Math has critics crying foul.
Photo: 123RF, AFP, Pixabay
10:05 Davos Man: the billionaires who looted the world's economies
Photo: Supplied
"Davos Man: a member of the global billionaire class that controls the majority of the world's wealth". In his new book, New York Times global economics correspondent Peter S. Goodman contends that those billionaires have spent the past fifty years systematically looting the world's economies, starving societies of much needed tax revenues, profiting from the Covid-19 pandemic and destabilising democracy, all under the guise of a new, more socially conscious form of capitalism. Mr Goodman calls it one of the most monumental heists in human history; the systematic transfer of wealth from ordinary people to the billionaire class. Kathryn speaks with Peter S. Goodman about Davos Man: How the Billionaires Devoured the World.
10:30 Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr on rising interest rates
Photo:
The Reserve Bank Governor joins Kathryn to discuss interest rates, inflation and the economy following yesterday's increase in the official cash rate.
10:35 Book review: Again, Rachel by Marian Keyes
Photo: Penguin Random House NZ
Elisabeth Easther reviews Again, Rachel by Marian Keyes, published by Penguin Random House NZ
10:45 The Reading
Stuart Devenie reads episode four of Live Bodies, written by Maurice Gee.
11:05 Technology: Is Google search dying, and careful with your DNA
Technology commentator Mark Pesce joins Kathryn to talk about whether Google search has optimised itself to deliver ads, rather than worthwhile search results. What happens if Google continues to decline - will we be unable to access decent information because money has been prioritised over functionality? And should you rethink that ancestry test? Mark has some concerning examples of where DNA has been used in ways the person it belongs to didn't expect.
Photo: 123RF
11:30 Kids and covid: minimising risk and maximising resilience
Photo: befunky.com
Neuroplasticity educator and parenting expert, Nathan Wallis discusses children and Covid. What is the impact on children of having to wear face masks at school? And what are the common features we would expect to see in children who are resilient and not negatively impacted by covid?
11:45 Film & TV: Raised by Refugees, Raising Dion, Downfall: The case against Boeing
Film and TV reviewer Laumata Lauano joins Kathryn to talk about Pax Assadi's new comedy Raised by Refugees (Prime, Neon, Sky) based on his family's experiences of moving to New Zealand. She'll also look at second season of Raising Dion (Netflix) and the new documentary Downfall: The Case Against Boeing (Netflix) which examines the actions of the company in the lead-up to, and the aftermath of, two deadly crashes.
Photo: Neon, IMDb
Music played in this show
Track: Call My Name
Artist: Troy Kingi
Broadcast time: 11:30am
Track: 3 on E
Artist: Vulpeck
Broadcast time: 11:45am