Nine To Noon for Thursday 13 October 2022

 

 

09:05 Gas and electricity prices rising for Contact, Genesis customers

Gas bills will rise by an average of 11 percent next month for Contact Energy customers, and 10 percent for Genesis customers - if not on fixed term contracts. Electricity prices are also on the rise, by an average of 8 percent for Contact customers; Genesis does not yet have that figure available. The size of the increases vary from customer to customer, and depend on where they live, and which plan they are on. One Contact Energy customer in Wellington has been notified of a 15 percent increase in their electricity price. The companies have pointed to low gas production, and the increased cost of carbon credits, for rising gas prices.  However the four major generator-retailer companies; Contact, Genesis, Mercury and Meridian, have doubled their profits in the last 12 months from $788 million to more than $1.5 billion. Kathryn speaks to Mike Fuge, the chief executive of Contact Energy and Paul Fuge, the manager of Powerswitch - Consumer NZ's price comparison website. 

09:30 Art in good company: the corporate contribution

Art-lovers are stepping over thresholds to see some spectalular works adorning Auckland's offices and corporate foyers, in a tour called The Corporate Contribution offered by Dr Linda Tyler, Associate Professor Museums and Cultural Heritage, in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Auckland, Part of the 2022 Art in the City programme, Linda is walking a group through some of Auckland's major commercial buildings, offering glimpses of the role the city's corporate community plays as patron to the arts.  Linda also discusses with Kathryn the lack of understanding some corporates have for art works inherited in newly acquired buildings.

09:45 UK: More market meltdown, cut-price coronation

Prime Minister Liz Truss says she won't make any cuts to public spending - but has warned there'll be "difficult decisions" ahead. And the chaos after the ‘mini-Budget’ is continuing- with the markets in meltdown again today. The Bank of England said it'll end its emergency bond buying bailout - designed to stabilise the markets - on Friday, prompting fresh fears of instability. And King Charles will be crowned on May 6 - but could it be a cut-price coronation?

10:05 Down the rabbit hole: how online conspiracy theories take hold

In his new book Fake Believe: Conspiracy Theories in Aotearoa freelance writer and director Dylan Reeve takes a deep dive into the conspiracy theories gripping many people online today. What are these rabbit holes that people are going down? How have so many people come to this place? And what does it mean for our society? Dylan Reeve has been quietly asking these questions for twenty years, observing these groups online and immersing himself in the world of conspiracy theories - a world that's becoming increasingly relevant today.

10:35 Book review: Undoctored by Adam Kay    

Ralph McAllister reviews Undoctored by Adam Kay, published by Hachette.

10:45 The Reading

Part two of Calamity Jane by Suzi Pointon, told for us by Denise O'Connell.  

11:05 Tech: Targeted ads, Iran & Starlink, laughing robots

Technology correspondent Mahsa Mohaghegh joins Kathryn to talk about targeted advertising; how it works, what the difference is between first and third-party cookies and Google's cookie-replacement developments. She'll also talk about efforts by Elon Musk to activate Starlink in Iran to help combat an internet ban amid mass protests. And why are researchers are teaching robots to laugh?

Dr Mahsa Mohaghegh is Senior Lecturer, School of Engineering - Computer and Mathematical Sciences and  Director of Women in Technology at the Auckland University of Technology.

11:25 Parenting: Motherfood, Vanessa Clarkson

Registered nutritionist and specialist in infant, child and maternal nourishment, Vanessa A Clarkson's new book Motherfood has over 40 recipes to help expectant and new mums rise to the task.  They're plant-based, wholefood recipes for drinks, meals, breakfasts, snacks, and desserts (all low in refined sugars).  Vanessa is an advocate for healthier food systems. She has worked with Australian supermarket Coles to remove food additives, salt and sugars from everyday foods as part of Australia's Health Star Rating system, and is studying towards a PhD in food system transitions at the University of Melbourne.

11:45 Screentime: Amsterdam, Catherine Called Birdy, Rosaline, Derry Girls

Viewing commentator James Croot joins Kathryn to look at new, star-studded conspiracy tale Amsterdam (cinemas), Lena Dunham's adaptation of Catherine Called Birdy (Amazon Prime), a new twist on Romeo & Juliet in Rosaline (Disney+) and the new - and final - season of Derry Girls (Netflix).

Music played in this show

Track: Lucky Girl
Artist: Fazerdaze
Time played: 10:45

Track: Montreal    
Artist:Roosevelt
Time played: 11:06

Track: The Wire
Artist: Haim
Time played: 11:27