Nine To Noon for Wednesday 14 December 2022

 

09:05 Stamp shortage as Christmas rush hits NZ Post

Some New Zealand Post outlets have run out of both international and local stamps - right as the Christmas rush hits. One Auckland NZ Post Shop is displaying a sign warning customers "Please read before entering: Unfortunately we have run out of International and Local stamps, sorry for any inconvenience". A worker there has told Nine to Noon this is may not be an isolated case. Last December, some Christchurch post outlets ran out of stamps and New Zealand Post warned customers to expect delays. The Postal Workers Union says it's a broken system that is generally unable to deliver on the government's three-day delivery target.  Kathryn speaks with National President of the Postal Workers Union Aotearoa National President John Maynard.

09:30 Flood recovery and rebuilds in 2022

2022 brought serious flooding to parts of the country and major clean-up jobs. In March, Tairawhiti Civil Defence declared a state of emergency when torrential rain caused flooding across the East Cape and Hawke's Bay. The deluge caused serious damage to Gisborne's roads, bridges, properties, and farmland. Less than two weeks later, ex-tropical cyclone Fili brought more heavy rain and high winds, battering a region that hadn't yet recovered. Further south, major flooding in August put the Nelson-Marlborough region into a state of emergency, prompting a clean-up described as likely the "biggest recovery ever faced" in the region. Heavy rain caused widespread slips, rivers to burst their banks, and major damage to critical infrastructure, including State Highway 6, which is still being repaired. Hundreds of homes had to be evacuated, with more than 150 eventually being red-stickered. Kathryn speaks to Gisborne's mayor Rehette Stoltz and checks in with Nelson resident Maggie Gray, who Nine to Noon spoke with during the floods. 

09:45 Australia: Robodebt inquiry, gas plan, Queensland shooting

Australia correspondent Annika Smethurst joins Kathryn to talk about the Royal Commission of Inquiry underway into the country's Robodebt scheme  - an automated debt recovery programme introduced in mid-2016 for welfare recipients which was prone to errors and misjudgements. Parliamentarians will be recalled next week to pass a law imposing a temporary cap on gas and coal prices and more details have emerged about those involved siege at a Queensland property.

10:05 Cracking Crosswords: Doug Hendry

Kathryn speaks with Doug Hendry, who makes the crosswords that appear in nearly all our newspapers every day.  Doug and partner Ange run Tauranga-based The Puzzle Company. They've been testing people's skills for more than 30 years, with a range of more than 50 puzzles - including  crosswords, sudoku, wordfits, word searches and quizzes.

10:30 Around the motu: Matt Brown in Marlborough

Matt talks to Kathryn about concerns about how RSE workers are being treated and  how local employers have reacted to a recent highly critical report. Also there is heavy demand on Cook Strait ferry operators, and work is beginning on a new Picton terminal. Matt Brown is a reporter for Marlborough News based in Blenheim.

 

10:35 Book review: The Circus Train by Amita Parikh

Louise O'Brien reviews The Circus Train by Amita Parikh, published by Hachette

10:45 The Reading

Part three of My Father's Island written and read by Adam Dudding.

11:05 Music with Kirsten Zemke: The popularity of skiffle

Kirsten joins Kathryn to look at skiffle, a type of "folk music" performed with a mixture of manufactured and handmade instruments. Originating in the United States in the first half of the 20th century, it became popular in UK in the 1950s. Skiffle was a major part of the early careers of some musicians who later became prominent rock performers, such as the Beatles. Kirsten Zemke is an ethnomusicologist at the University of Auckland's School of Social Sciences.

11:20 Yaks 'n Yetis: Peter Hillary and Ant Sang's new book's Himalayan magic

Mountaineer Peter Hillary has teamed up with artist Ant Sang and the result is 4 Yaks and a Yeti - a book that see a young Nepalese boy undertake a perilous journey to find the mythical palace, Shangri-La. Along the way he and his four loyal yaks endure snowstorms and other dangers in the mountains - and are fearful of the legendary Yeti. The Himalayas are a special place for Peter, who's visited the region over 80 times and is chair of the Himalayan Trust, founded by his father, Sir Edmund. Ant is an award-winning cartoonist and graphic novelist whose artwork help immerse the reader in the physical and spiritual worlds of the Himalayan people.

11:45 Science: Covid risk tool, oldest DNA found, wearable UV patch

Science commentator Dr Siouxsie Wiles joins Kathryn to talk about a handy online tool to help you see how likely it is someone infection will be at your gathering. The world's oldest DNA being found in Ice Age sediment in northern Greenland - it's a million years older than anything found before. Chinese researchers have created a wearable UV light monitoring patch which can send alerts to your phone when exposure is too high. And if you're looking for a feel-good gift for Christmas, here's a suggestion to help the kids at Starship. 

 

Music played in this show

Track: Green Onions
Artist: Booker T & the MG's
Time played: 09:45