Nine To Noon for Thursday 13 April 2023

 

 

09:05 Water reform: 10 entities expected instead of 4

The government is expected to abandon its plan for four massive water entities in favour of ten when it announces its re-worked plans for 3 waters reform this morning. Many councils around the country objected to the original plan which would have seen 67 councils' drinking, waste and storm water assets taken over by four large regional entities, fearing a loss of local control. An estimated $185 billion  is needed over the coming decades to upgrade water systems, which many councils simply can't afford without massive rates rises. The Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Local Government Minister Kieran McAnulty will announce the changes at 11am in Greytown. RNZ Political reporter Katie Scotcher discusses what is expected.

09:15 Straws, tableware, fruit stickers and bags: more throw-away plastic binned

Supermarket produce bags and throw-away plastic lunch-time, food truck and party-ware will soon be a thing of the past. The Government is phasing out a second tranche of plastic typically used once before being binned. The manufacture, sale or distribution of single-use plastic produce bags, and plastic plates, bowls and cutlery will be banned, from the start of July. 150m plastic produce bags are in circulation each year. So from July 1st that's 17,000 fewer plastic bags, an hour. Plastic straws will also be restricted, and stickers on fruit are on the way out unless they're made of compostable plastic.  Susie speaks with James Palmer, Chief Executive at the Ministry for the Environment.

09:30 New arts funding platform hopes to level philanthropic playing field

The Covid years were tough ones for the arts sector - and now it's facing extra challenges amid a cost of living crisis. A new funding platform - the first and only one dedicated to the arts and culture sector - seeks to change that.  It's been set up and run through Funding HQ with help from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, and will help smaller arts groups connect with the right funder for them.  Jenni Giblin is Funding HQ's CEO and says a large chunk of available funding tends to go to the same organisations - and she sees the new arts and culture funding portal as a way of levelling the playing field.

09:45 UK: Sunak-Biden meeting in Northern Ireland, doctors' 96-hour strike

UK correspondent Dan Bloom joins Susie to discuss the meeting between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden in Northern Ireland, amid a continuing political stalemate. The health system is dealing with an unprecedented four-day strike by junior doctors who are seeking a 35 per cent pay rise and Labour has stepped up attack ads ahead of the general election - but it's being accused of dog-whistle politics.

10:05 Arihia Bennett : from social worker to CEO of Ngai Tahu

As Chief Executive of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Arihia Bennett leads a whanau of more than 78,000 iwi members, including their near-$2b worth of assets. She's been in the role for 11 years, overseeing all of Ngai Tahu's operations, including farming, seafood, tourism and investment. She has also served as Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Commissioner, been on the board of Barnardos NZ and the Christchurch Women's Refuge (now known as Aviva).   She is a current member of the Global Women's Network and the Tuahiwi Māori Women's Welfare League. In 2008, she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and the community. Arihia Bennett is a social worker by profession, from a whanau steeped in community service. She talks to Susie Ferguson about her leadership style, her vision for Ngai Tahu and her love of vintage clothes.

10:35 Book review: The Fate of the Land by Danny Keenan

Jonathan West reviews The Fate of the Land by Danny Keenan, published by Massey University Press

10:45 Around the motu : Matt Brown in Marlborough

Matt talks to Susie about escalating car theft crime and a recent vape store ramraid. Also there is concern about the swollen Taylor River running through Blenheim and he has an update on grape harvesting in the region.  

Matt Brown is a reporter for Marlborough News based in Blenheim

 

11:05 Three Waters revamp: details revealed

The government has unveiled its shake-up of the three waters reforms, abandoning plans to establish four mega water entities in favour of ten. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Local Government Minister Keiran McAnulty just unveiled the new plan in Greytown. RNZ political reporter Katie Scotcher speaks with Susie Ferguson again. 

11:10 Technology: Will an AI pause be effective? What are digital citizen skills?

AI expert Dr Mahsa Mohaghegh of Auckland University of Technology joins Susie to talk about the pause that's been called for in the development of AI - is it too soon to be calling for safety systems at this stage when the technology is so new? Meanwhile AI has been doing the job of TV anchors. And as technology infiltrates all manner of subjects at school, do students need to be taught how to be good digital citizens?

11:25 Mummy do it! Daddy do it! When you child only wants the other parent

Author and parenting coach, Maggie Dent, talks to Susie about what to do when your child only wants you or your co-parent to do things for them.  Maggie is the mother of four boys, and the proud grandmother of four girls. She's a former teacher and counsellor, author of numerous books and the host of the ABC podcast Parental as Anything.

11:45 Screentime: Beef, Air, Bouncers

Film and TV correspondent Tamar Munch joins Susie to talk about Beef (Netflix), a revenge comedy drama about two strangers who get into a road-rage incident. Air (cinemas), is directed by and starring Ben Affleck, about the true story behind the origin of the Air Jordan shoe and Bouncers (Neon) is a local mockumentary that follows a rag-tag trio of clueless security officers.