Nine To Noon for Friday 29 September 2023

09:05 Parnell's gigantic sinkhole & huge job of fixing it

Auckland's deputy mayor says more pipeline issues are expected in Parnell because of the intense wet weather. Earlier in the week, a main sewer line below a private property on St Georges Bay Rd collapsed, causing a tennis-court sized hole to open up, with wastewater overflow pouring into the harbour and closing several beaches. It's expected to be ten days before the sewage flow can be stopped. This is the third such collapse affecting water pipes in Auckland in recent months. Watercare's chief operations officer Mark Bourne tells Kathryn the the repair is likely to be the largest wastewater bypass solution that's ever been put in place in New Zealand. She also speaks with Cheryl Adamson,  General Manager of the Parnell Business Association.

09:15 Unprecedented demand on Canterbury's child mental health services 

Canterbury's youth mental health services say they are struggling to meet increasing demand. Over the past decade, the number and complexity of cases those on the frontline are dealing with has ballooned by 121 percent. Te Whatu Ora's district service manager Deborah Selwood admits this demand in growth means only the most severe cases can be seen with any consistency. The physical condition of the current community treatment facility - Princess Margaret Hospital - is only compounding the problem. However, the construction of a new treatment facility - Kahurangi - is nearing completion, with community teams scheduled to move in next year. Deborah Selwood, Te Whatu Ora's Child, Adolescent and Family mental health service manager, joins Kathryn to discuss.

09:30 Indian cultural institution celebrates 25 years

The Natraj School of dance - a cornerstone of Indian culture in Aotearoa - was founded in a seemingly unlikely place, Lower Hutt. It's owner, Prabha Ravi opened its doors 25 years ago, and since then more than 1000 students have learned classical Indian dance under her tutelage. In 2017, Prabha was  awarded a Queen's Service Medal for services to the ethnic and dance communities and in celebration of the school's latest milestone she is embarking on her most ambitious stage production yet. She speaks to Kathryn. 

09:45 Asia correspondent Emily Feng

Asia correspondent Emily Feng has been following the story of embattled property developer Evergrande, as the chairman is placed under police surveillance, with the exact reasons unclear. The developer has been at the centre of a liquidity crisis in China's property sector, which accounts for roughly a quarter of the economy. And in Taiwan, tensions are rising amid questions of disinformation in the run-up to the January presidential elections.

Emily Feng is an international correspondent for NPR covering China, Taiwan and beyond.

10:05 ​Kim Crotty: From prisoner to playwright 

It was a late night knock on the door that sealed Kim Crotty's fate.  Following a relationship breakdown, Kim - a Western Australian - quit his job at the Salisbury Playhouse and move to Bristol to be closer to his young sons. But in a desperate bid to make ends meet he ultimately chose a path that upended everyone's lives, with the police bust on his cannabis grow house sending him to prison for two years. In a cell, separated from his boys Kim was determined to maintain a connection with them and so began a writing project. The result was 47 short stories delivered to weekly to his sons - Otto and Arlen. A decade later those stories became the backbone of the play 'The Smallest Stage'. He speaks to Kathryn from his home in Western Australia. 

10:35 Book review: Articulations by Henrietta Bollinger

Melissa Oliver from Unity Books reviews Articulations by Henrietta Bollinger published by Tender Press

10:45 Around the motu: John Freer in Coromandel

John Freer speaks with Kathryn from Coromandel, where a new term is being coined: rain anxiety. It relates to people who are still not visiting because they are concerned they may become stuck if there is a rain event. Meanwhile contractors are making progress on repairing a key highway in and out of the tourist hotspot, SH25A. Local council is awaiting a Waka Kotahi board meeting today to see what portion of the $6b set aside for storm road recovery comes to Thames-Coromandel.

11:05 New music with Jeremy Taylor

Music reviewer Jeremy Taylor is in studio with a new Wilco album, plus some choice vinyl reissues from Joni Mitchell, The House Of Love and Millie Small.

11:30 Sports commentator Dana Johannsen

Dana Johannsen discusses how the All Blacks have intriguingly taken a back seat in the public's affections over the past few weeks as the Warriors enthralled us all with their finals run. But it is coming up crunch time for the All Blacks. What appeared to be a straight forward pool match against Italy this weekend has a lot more heat on it. So are the All Blacks a lock for the quarterfinals?

11:45 The week that was with Te Radar and Irene Pink

Te Radar and Irene Pink back at the lighter stories of the week - including a United States chess grandmaster who has been accused of using a vibrating sex toy to cheat against the world’s highest ranked player. Hans Niemann is denying accusations his coach was using a remote-controlled toy to send signals on the next best move.

Music played in this show

Track: Great Balls Of Fire
Artist: Jerry Lee Lewis  
Time played: 10:30am 

Track: Welcome to the Jungle
Artist: Guns and Roses 
Time played: 10:35am

Track: Evicted
Artist: Wilco
Time played: 11:10am

Track: Cousin
Artist: Wilco
Time played: 11:15am

Track: Edith And The Kingpin
Artist: Joni Mitchell
Time played: 11:20am

Track: I Don't Know Why I Love You
Artist: The House of Love
Time played: 11:25am 

Track: My Boy Lollipop 
Artist: Millie Small
Time played: 11:30am