Nine To Noon for Thursday 10 November 2022

 

 

09:05 The US midterm elections with correspondent Ron Elving

It's still too early to say what the final results will be in the US  midterm elections as counting continues in many states. The Republican party appears on track to retake control of the lower House of Representatives, but by a very small margin. And the Senate remains on a knife edge, with a decision on whether Democrats or Republicans have control of the upper chamber likely to rest on a run-off election in the state of Georgia next month. US correspondent Ron Elving discusses the complexities.

Ron Elving is a Senior Editor and Correspondent, Washington Desk for NPR news 

09:15 ACC investment fund goes green 

One of the country's biggest investment funds, ACC, has launched a $100 million Climate Change Impact Fund. ACC's first investments for the fund are in Lodestone Energy's solar farms, and Leaft Foods' plant protein initiatives. ACC says it selected companies that not only reduce emissions, but also provide commercial returns. That will meet its main focus of financially supporting people who've suffered injuries or are rehabilitating. ACC is the biggest investor in New Zealand bonds, and one of the largest in the New Zealand equity market, with an investment fund worth $45 billion. Kathryn speaks to James Muir, ACC's Climate Change Impact Fund Manager.

09:30 Susan Marshall on her 5000km run - and the possibility of doing it again

Susan Marshall is back home and earning a well-deserved break after running from 6am to 11pm.... for 50 days. She was the first woman - and fifth overall - across the line in the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence race in New York. The race is 3100 miles long - 4988 kilometres - and participants have 52 days to finish - which is basically the equivalent of running two marathons each day. Susan is just the ninth woman to complete the race in 26 years. So  would she do it again? 

09:45 How has the Reserve Bank operated monetary policy over the last five years?

A review of the Reserve Bank's monetary policy decisions over the past five years has found they are consistent with the data available when those decisions were made. The RBNZ Review and Assessment of the Formulation and Implementation of Monetary Policy (RAFIMP) is a detailed report card on what the Monetary Policy Committee decided to do, what worked, what it could have done better and lessons learned. The review, which was conducted by the Reserve Bank, also found its decision to ease monetary policy during the Covid-19 pandemic was warranted and worst-case economic scenarios were avoided. Kathryn is joined by RNZ political editor Jane Patterson. 

UK correspondent Harriet Line joins Kathryn to look at the first resignation from Rishi Sunak's cabinet. Sir Gavin Williamson - already sacked twice from Cabinet in disgrace - bowed to pressure to resign amid allegations of bullying. Nurses are set to go on strike at some of the country's biggest hospitals before the end of the year, joining other industrial action across other sectors including the railways. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has branded Just Stop Oil protesters who blocked a major motorway as "extremists". And a man was arrested after eggs were thrown at the  King and Queen Consort during a visit to York.

10:05 Bluey - the Aussie kids show adults love and the Kiwi connection

The award winning children's show Bluey is among the top ten most streamed shows on TVNZ On Demand. The animated series is made in Australia and features the fun-filled daily life of a family of blue heeler dogs - six year old Bluey, her sister Bingo and their parents Bandit and Chilli. It's been streamed over 14.5 million times on TVNZ On Demand and in May was the most streamed show - beating out Shortland Street. Loved by kids and adults alike, it's been praised for the relatable way it portrays fatherhood and modern family life. Recently it hit the headlines when Disney wanted an episode mentioning farting, banned in the US. Bluey might be Australian but there's a strong kiwi connection. Animator Rich Jeffery is one of those lured across the Tasman to work on the show. He speaks to Kathryn about his career and the secret of Bluey's success.

10:35 Book review: Tauhou by Kotuku Titihuia Nuttall

Ash Davida Jane reviews Tauhou by Kotuku Titihuia Nuttall, published by Te Herenga Waka University Press

10:45 The Reading

In the reading today we have another story from A History of New Zealand in 100 Objects written and read by Jock Phillips. Todays story is about the Christchurch Mosque Shootings and is titled Tariq Omar's Football……

11:05 Tech: Facebook job cuts and the boom in generative AI

Technology commentator Mark Pesce joins Kathryn to talk about the 11,000 jobs that will go from Facebook's parent company Meta. He'll also look at the explosion in generative AI - algorithms that make it possible for machines to write, code, draw and create with remarkable authenticity. Is this the 'big bang' moment in the field of artificial intelligence? He'll look at 'Copilot' - a programming tool that can write code in a number of languages and how it's landed Microsoft with a class action lawsuit. Could copyright issues be avoided by a licencing approach being taken by Melbourne Artist Anthony Breslin? He's granted licensing rights for an AI model to be trained against his works - allowing him to create new works long after he's dead.

Mark Pesce is a futurist, writer, educator and broadcaster. 

11:25 Getting kids outdoors adventuring

For many new parents, getting out of the house can be a mission with nappies, change of clothes, food, buggy or front pack. Ceana Priest says - don't be daunted by that. She's mum to six year old Finn, and she's been taking him on adventures since he was a baby. But she found there wasn't a lot of information around at that that time on child-friendly adventures, so she set out to write the book she wanted. She's just put out her third book - this one published by Penguin - called Kid Friendly Adventures: Auckland - The Ultimate Family Guidebook.

11:45 Screentime: The Crown, The English, Selena Gomez, Mister Organ

Film and TV reviewer James Croot joins Kathryn to talk about the latest - and controversial - series of The Crown (Netflix), a new Western starring Emily Blunt called The English (Amazon Prime), Selena Gomez's new documentary My Mind and Me (Apple TV), a documentary for space lovers called Good Night Oppy (Amazon Prime) and David Farrier's jaw-dropping film Mister Organ (cinemas).

Music played in this show

Track: Run On
Artist: Moby
Played: 10:30am 

Track: Clint Eastwood
Artist: Gorlliaz 
Played: 10:40am 

Track: Stop This Flame
Artist: Celeste 
Played: 11:30am