Nine To Noon for Monday 30 May 2022

09:05 Rogue employment advocates causing "reputational, financial, psychological harm"

Concern that rogue employment advocates are causing reputational, financial, and psychological harm to their clients has prompted calls for the regulation of the sector. Employment advocates fulfill a similar role to lawyers during employment disputes, but there are no requirements for qualifications or training; anyone can call themselves an employment advocate. The sector is not regulated and there is no professional body for the public to complain to if they receive bad advice. This is of concern to employment lawyers and advocates alike, who are seeing cases of employment advocates obtaining poor outcomes for their clients. Kathryn speaks with Kelly Coley, an employment advocate and president of the Employment Law Institute of New Zealand, a group including lawyers, advocates and consultants. Also on the programme is Paul McBride, a partner at McBride Davenport James and a member of the Law Society's Employment Law Committee. 

09:30  Decarbonising heavy transport with hydrogen trucks 

Work is underway to build a network of hydrogen refuelling stations to power a new fleet of low-emission trucks, a move that could significantly decarbonise the country's heavy transport industry. The Taranaki-based energy company Hiringa Energy is building the network, and will be incorporated into existing Waitomo fuelling sites. Work has begun on four initial stations on key transport routes in the North Island; in Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton and Palmerston North, and it's hoped to expand to 24 refuelling stations across the country over next four to five years. Hiringa Energy's chief executive Andrew Clennett says heavy transport accounts for more than a quarter of New Zealand's total vehicle emissions, despite making up only four percent of vehicles. He says in terms of emissions, taking one diesel truck off road is the equivalent to removing 150 cars. Kathryn speaks with Andrew Clennett, chief executive of Hiringa Energy and Andy Sinclair, chief executive of Hyundai NZ. Both are board members at the New Zealand Hydrogen Council. 

09:45 Europe correspondent Seamus Kearney

In France, it's been a rocky start for President Macron's newly-appointed prime minister, Elisabeth Borne. The start of the new government has been overshadowed by a storm over rape allegations against a new minister. And the French President and the German Chancellor have held a new phone call with Russia's Vladimir Putin, reportedly urging him to hold direct talks with the Ukrainian leader Zelensky. Meanwhile, Serbia's president, who is seen as Putin's closest ally in Europe, has struck a new three-year gas deal with Russia after a phone call with Putin. 
 

 

10:05 Hit and running across the USA: Nick Ashill

Nick Ashill is a Marketing Professor at Victoria University who is just about to resume an epic run across America - five years after he was seriously injured in a hit and run accident. Nick began his mission across the United States in 2017, but 4000km into the journey got hit at 50mph by a pickup truck. After 16 surgeries, relearning how to walk and then run, he left for the US on Friday and today begins the final 922km of his journey, over a period of 18 days. Along the way, he is raising funds for the New Zealand Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ and the UK-based Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) Trust. He tells Kathryn his remarkable story.

10:35 Book review: Eight Hundred Heroes by Stephen Robinson

David Hill reviews Eight Hundred Heroes: China's Lost Battalion and the Fall of Shanghai by Stephen Robinson, published by Exisle Publishing

10:45 The Reading

 

11:05 Political commentators Thomas & Te Pou - PM in the US

Kathryn, Ben and Shane discuss the significance of the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's visit to the US, which includes a meeting with Joe Biden. Also, China's surprise move in the Pacific, has it caught NZ and and Australian foreign policy asleep at the wheel?. And the Government's 6 million dollar response package to crime, and a reflection on Joe Hawke's legacy.

Ben Thomas is a PR consultant and a former National Government press secretary.

Shane Te Pou is a former candidate, campaign manager and executive member of the Labour Party, and a former union official. He is no longer a member of any political party. He is a Director and HR Manager for IT Company Mega.

11:30 The Kiwi company making crackers from recycled beer grains

Jan Meyer is CEO of Rutherford & Meyer, a Lower Hutt-based company her mother co-founded in 1996, which makes fruit pastes, crackers and wafers. Their latest endeavour though, is based on sustainability. Called the Upcycled Grain Project, it turns spent grain from breweries into tasty cracker creations. Jan talks to Kathryn about why 'upcycling' is the way to go.
 

11:45 Off the beaten track with Kennedy Warne

Kennedy mixes history and geography, with visits to three remote track destinations in Northland, Marlborough and North Canterbury. 

Music played in this show

Track: Br Blue Sky
Artist: ELO
Time played: 10:40

Track: Little Sieve
Artist: T G Shand
Time played: 11:30