Nine To Noon for Tuesday 15 March 2022

 

 

09:05 Global step in right direction to end plastic pollution

The recent commitment by 175 UN nations to end plastic pollution waste is being hailed as an historic moment and a huge global step in the right direction. Earlier this month, Heads of State, Ministers for the environment and other representatives, including New Zealand, endorsed a resolution at the UN  Environment Assembly in Kenya. The aim is to draft a legally-binding treaty by 2024 - to stop the proliferation of plastic. 
But what does this mean in practice, and what is achievable from this large global commitment?. To discuss the scope of the mandate and what negotiations lie ahead to actually stem and prevent plastic pollution, Kathryn talks to Associate Professor Trisia Farrelly from Massey University's school of people environment and planning and who is on the United Nations Environment Programme's Scientific Advisory Committee and Expert Group. Also joining the conversation, Marine biologist and Senior Scientist at ESR and Dr Olga Pantos. Olga is the co-lead of the MBIE-funded national project 'Aotearoa Impacts and Mitigation of Microplastics'.

 

09:30 The pesticide avoiding power of mosquitos

In New Zealand they are a bloodsucking nuisance, but in other parts of the world mosquitos spread serious disease - including the Zika virus, West Nile virus, dengue, and malaria. The Ministry of Health website states that Mosquitoes are responsible for more human deaths than any other living creature. UK based, medical entomologist at Keele University, Frederic Tripet  is the co-author of a study recently published in the journal Scientific. The study has found that mossies have learned to avoid five common pesticides after a single non-lethal dose. 

09:45 USA correspondent  Kelsey Snell - aid for Ukraine

Congress has passed a $13.6 billion aid package for Ukraine, divided between humanitarian and defense aid. The humanitarian section includes money for direct support to refugees, food and health care support and money to help groups working with people who have fled the country or are displaced within Ukraine. The defense spending includes $3 billion to support the U.S. military's European Command and additional money to allow President Biden to transfer defense equipment to Ukraine and allies supporting Ukraine. There's also funding to fight disinformation and to provide support for cybersecurity. On the domestic front, Kelsey says gas prices have hit a new record high this week with prices rocketing over $4.17 a gallon. It is creating huge price shocks across the economy, which is already struggling with inflation. 

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

10:05 Monica Ali returns with Love Marriage

Monica Ali's debut novel Brick Lane catapulted her to fame in 2003 which she followed with Alentejo Blue, In the Kitchen, and Untold Story. Her latest novel, Love Marriage, is her first book in 10 years, and has been well worth the wait. It tells the story of Yasmin, a 26-year-old trainee doctor from an Indian family, who is engaged to her colleague Joe, the upper middle-class son of an outspoken feminist author. Two people. Two families. Two cultures. What could go wrong? Love Marriage continues Monica Ali's longstanding interest in how individuals and families respond when conflicts arise and family truths emerge... The book has already been picked up for adaptation by the BBC. 

10:35 Book review: Super Model Minority by Chris Tse

Harry Ricketts reviews Super Model Minority by Chris Tse, published by Auckland University Press

10:45 The Reading

Harriet Prebble reads part two of Bug Week by Airini Beautrais

11:05 Business commentator Pattrick Smellie

Pattrick talks to Kathryn about how things look for Jenny Shipley and her fellow directors of Mainzeal after last week’s Supreme Court hearings? Also he believes the government’s petrol tax and public transport decisions are “good politics” but says they also would appear to herald that for the next 18 months, this is a government that will be poll-driven, short termist, and ultimately highly pragmatic in its desire to win a third term. 

Pattrick Smellie is the editor and co-founder of BusinessDesk and has reported on the New Zealand economy and business since 1983.

11:30 Consumer issues: Supermarket pain, Warehouse sustainability claims

Consumer NZ's head of communications and campaigns Gemma Rasmussen joins Kathryn to shine a light on some big issues for consumers. They include new figures on what we're paying for some grocery staples and how we feel about it, and the disappointing final recommendations of the Commerce Commission into the supermarket sector. She'll also talk about Consumer's checks on sustainability claims by The Warehouse.

11:45 Media commentator Andrew Holden - TVNZ + RNZ 

Andrew talks to Kathryn the plans for a new public media entity formed from TVNZ and RNZ and the many unanswered questions about the detail. Two critical moments will occur in the next three months: the make-up of the Board, and how much money will be allocated in the May Budget for the new organisation.

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: Take My Hand
Artist: Zero 7
Time played: 9:30am

Title: Good Times 
Artist: Chic 
Time played: 9:45am 

Title: Fulton 
Artist: Steve Gunn
Time played: 10:30am 

Title:   Kaore He Wa
Artist: Bic Runga
Time played:  10:45am 

Title:  Dominion Road 
Artist: Mutton Birds
Time played: 11:30am 

Title: Rock Steady 
Artist:  Aretha Franklin
Time played: 11:50am