Nine To Noon for Monday 22 May 2023

 

 

09:05 PWC Australia tax leak scandal: could it happen here?

The PWC tax leak scandal is Australia has raised questions here about whether the public sector is too reliant on external consultants.PWC globally has been rocked by revelations that a senior Australian tax partner, contracted to advise the government on tax reform, shared privileged information with other partners and staff at the firm to target potential new clients seeking to dodge potential tax changes. Three partners and the Chief Executive have now left the "Big Four" accounting firm. Public Service Commission data here shows the public service organisations spent $1.2 billion on contractors and consultants for the 2021/22 year -  32% more than the previous year.  Dr Andrew Cardow is a senior lecturer at Massey University, specialising in public management history, he's also the Director of the MBA programme. He believes private sector consultants are being used as de facto public servants, and this has the danger of weakening the state and the potential for unintended consequences. Kathyrn also speaks with Geoffrey Watson, Senior Counsel and director at the Australian Centre for Public Integrity.

09:30 Waitaki Whitestone set to become UNESCO Global Geopark

With its unique rocks, boulders and cliffs, the Waitaki Whitestone region is set to become New Zealand's first UNESCO global geopark. After four years of work by the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark Trust, a nomination for global geopark status was accepted by UNESCO last year and it's expected to be officially rubber stamped at the end of the month. Including features such as Elephant Rocks, Te Kaihīnaki Moeraki Boulders and Omarama's Clay Cliffs, the region will be recognised as an area of international geological significance. It's hoped the move will boost tourism and help protect the special heritage sites and landscapes. Kathryn is joined by the Chair of the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark Trust Helen Jansen and Geopark manager Lisa Heinz to hear more about the road to UNESCO accreditation and what it will mean for the district.

09:45 South America correspondent Katy Watson 

South America correspondent Katy Watson joins Kathryn to talk about the instability in Ecuador, where leader Guillermo Lasso has dissolved the National Assembly just a day after defending himself in an impeachment hearing over alleged embezzlement. The former head of Brazil's indigenous protection agency has been indicted over the murder of British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira. Brazil's president Lula is under fire for his views on Ukraine and there's  mystery over the whereabouts of four children missing from a plane crash.

Katy Watson is a BBC correspondent based in Sao Paulo.

10:05 Women's football pioneer Patricia Gregory on the female game's meteoric rise

Women's football is one of the fastest growing sports in the world right now, reaching new heights in spectator and player numbers, following the success of high profile teams.  The next women's world cup will be played in New Zealand and Australia, starting in July, and will be the biggest yet. Patricia Gregory was 19 and watching the Spurs at Tottenham Town Hall with her father when she began to wonder why women didn't play football. It was something she wanted to set right. In 1969, the Women's Football Association was formed, and Patricia Gregory was a founding member and its first assistant secretary. She went on to have a number of high ranking roles with the association. During that time she also witness the end of a 50 year ban on women playing at Football Association grounds.

10:35 Book review: The Red Hotel by Alan Philps

Cynthia Morahan reviews The Red Hotel by Alan Philps, published by Hachette

10:45 Around the motu : Tim Brown in Otago

The dust has settled in Gore and its young, embattled mayor Ben Bell  now has a freshly united council behind him. His deputy had called on him to resign, leading to an extraordinary council meeting where it appeared a motion of no confidence was a foregone conclusion. Tim talks to Kathryn about the district which has delivered many twists and turns since October's elections. Also, the backers of a proposed international airport in Central Otago say key details of the Tarras plan will be made public very soon. And Tim looks at the loss of Kiwi ownership of the leases of Queenstown camping sites to an Australian company and some Otago innovation - Surf's up for inland wave catchers!

Tim Brown is an RNZ reporter in Dunedin covering Otago and Southland

11:05 Political commentators Jones & Morten

Brigitte and Neale join Kathryn to dissect what was in last week's Budget - are there any extra votes in it for Labour, and what was the Opposition's reaction to what's been dubbed the "blowout Budget"? They'll also discuss the worsening debt situation and pressure on interest rates.

Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is a director of public affairs firm Capital. Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government, a National Party member and currently volunteering for the party's deputy leader, Nicola Willis.

11:30 Blackball Black Garlic: 'We can't keep up with demand'

Sam Weston and Wayne Hanright are the founders of Blackball Black Garlic - one of only two producers of black garlic in the country. After two years in business, they say they cannot keep up with demand. Black garlic takes five weeks to make, and they produce it  in 70-kilogram batches. Sam and Wayne say black garlic has a sweet flavour with a savory aftertaste, and is a great condiment in many dishes. Sam joins Kathryn from the West Coast town of Blackball.

11:45 Urban issues: The Building Code and fire protection rules

Urban issues correspondent Bill McKay joins Kathryn to talk about the Loafers Lodge fire and the lowdown on Building Code rules related to building fire protection.

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