Nine To Noon for Monday 1 August 2022

 

 

09:05 Paying it back: cost of living payment

A New Zealander living in London who's receiving the cost of living payment says she wants to opt out, but it's not a simple matter. From today - anyone who earns under $70,000 a year, and is not eligible for the winter energy payment, will see $116 appear in their bank account - the first installment of the $350 payment over the next three months. So far 56 people have contacted IRD to opt out of the payment. Susie speaks with London based IT worker, Laura, who left New Zealand in 2014.

 

09:10 Are insurers the reason for landlords doing frequent flat inspections?

Private landlords say they don't necessarily want to conduct frequent intrusive inspections of rented properties, but rigid insurance policies require it.  Landlords and property managers who take out loss-of-rent policies have to carry out regular inspections to cover their insurance obligations - or risk having a claim rejected. Most insurers require these to be done every three months. The Property Investors Federation says for low risk, long term tenants, this is onerous and unnecessary, and Renters United says such frequent inspections are stressful and and intrusive for tenants. Susie Ferguson speaks with Property Investors Federation President Andrew King; Geordie Rogers, President of the tenants' advocacy group Renters United and Tim Grafton, the Chief Executive of the Insurance Council.

09:30 Horticulture sector eyes new wood fibre tech

Could wood fibre technology be a game changer for our horticulture industry and help reduce carbon emissions?
Locally grown fruit, vegetables and plants are all generally grown in compost or potting mix which contains peat. Peat is a highly sought after ingredient which boosts production, retains nutrients and holds water but it is imported, and mining of it has been banned recently in the UK and Ireland because of the high levels of carbon emitted in the process. A Matamata company, Daltons,  which supplies growing media such as potting mix, has just imported the first wood fibre processing machine which will use wood chips from pinus radiatus trees to reduce its reliance on peat. Susie Ferguson speaks with Scott Bromwich from Dalton's and Dr Brian Jackson from the University of North Carolina, has been researching alternatives to peat for nearly 20 years.

09:45 Europe's scramble to find alternatives to Russian gas

Germany correspondent Thomas Sparrow discusses how the EU plans to reduce gas consumption in response to Russia reducing gas deliveries. He also talks about travel chaos as Lufthansa was forced to cancel over 1000 flights. Thomas is a political correspondent for Deutsche Welle, based in Berlin.

10:05 Freediving, spearfishing, & reconnecting with the moana

Susie Ferguson speaks to Renee Taylor, founder of Salt Aotearoa. Her purpose is to inspire greater connection with the ocean, by encouraging people to learn to freedive, spearfish, and to collect kaimoana. She's relatively new to the activity herself, only learning to freedive and spearfish at the age of 30. But it's had such a profound impact on her own life, that she wants to share it with others, particularly other wahine Māori. Renee Taylor says it's reconnected her with her Māoritanga, and has changed the way she sees the impacts of humans on the moana, and our taiao, our natural world. Salt Aotearoa offers opportunities for people to get in the water and learn to dive, by hosting free dive events and diving camps. 

10:35 Book review: The Perfect Golden Circle by Benjamin Myers

Kim Pittar from Muir's Independent Bookshop Gisborne reviews The Perfect Golden Circle by Benjamin Myers, published by Penguin Random House

10:45 The Reading

Episode 16 of 'Baby No Eyes' by Patricia Grace.

11:05 Political commentators Sherson & Te Pou

Trish Sherson and Shane Te Pou discuss the week in politics: the fallout from the Green Party leadership vote, National's calls for an independent inquiry into the Reserve Bank's monetary policy response from the time the pandemic began; how Christopher Luxon has come through his Hawaii/Te Puke blunder and a look at the race for the Auckland mayoralty. Trish Sherson is from corporate affairs firm Sherson Willis, and a former ACT 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 Exploring First Nation Canadian ancestry through food 

Wellington chef Jonny Taggart has based his Wellington on a Plate event, Kakhwi-io, on his recent discovery of his Inuit heritage. Adopted at birth, Jonny decided during lockdown to find out more about his ancestry; a search with uncovered he is part First Nation. As a chef, the obvious way for him to discover more about his culture was through food, which he is now putting on display at this year's Wellington on a Plate. Jonny Taggart is the head chef of Ltd, and a new Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant, Kisa, in Wellington. 

11:45 Urban issues with Bill McKay : Localised flooding in suburbs and cities.

Bill talks to Susie about what we can do about an upsurge of flooding events in suburbs and cities across Aotearoa. He says there's been an increase in frequency and intensity of the downpours that lead to flooding, including on the street where he lives in Auckland. With climate change and increasing temperatures having a disproportionate effect on rain Bill looks at some of the practical strategies that could be employed, including where we build.

Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland.

Music played in this show

Artist: Joy Crookes
Track: 19th Floor
Time played: 9:45

Artist: Toro-y-Moi
Track: The Loop
Time played:10:45

Artist: Salmonella Dub
Track: Tomfoolery
Time played: 11:45