Nine To Noon for Tuesday 14 November 2023

09:05 The impact of birth centre closures on mums-to-be

As the number of birthing centres around the country declines, there are concerns limited choices are pushing women into birthing interventions they don't want or need. Birthcare in Huntly announced last month it would be closing down after 30 years, St George's Hospital maternity services in Christchurch shut in June, and Waihi Birthing Centre is being turned into an aged care facility. Meanwhile Nga Hau Birthing Centre in Mangere is fighting to keep its doors open amid funding issues. So what happens to mums-to-be if their local centre is no longer an option? Kathryn speaks to Brenda Hinton, a liaison coordinator with the Maternity Services Consumer Council who's been keeping across the closures and Nicky Pealing, a midwife who's long operated in the Southland region and is concerned about what's happening in the area.

09:20 Fonterra's plan to cut on-farm emissions by 30%

Fonterra has announced a plan to reduce its on-farm emissions by 30 percent, by 2030. Fonterra produced the equivalent of 12.8 million tonnes of greenhouse gas in the year to June, and 86 percent of emissions come from on-farm. The plan includes encouraging farmers to plant trees, treat cow pats and introduce new technologies to cut methane and nitrous oxide. It follows moves from some of its biggest customers, incuding Nestle and Danone, to introduce climate goals. Andrew Kempson, general manager of Global Climate Policy at Fonterra, speaks with Kathryn Ryan.

09:40 AgShow turns 160, shows off sheep milking for first time

It's Cup and Show week in Christchurch and this year attendees of the New Zealand Agricultural Show will be able to see sheep milking in action. The three-day event, which kicks off tomorrow, is also marking its 160th anniversary and organisers are hoping to surpass last year's attendance number of 125,000 which was the biggest-ever. In among the family favourites of woodchopping, dog trials and show-jumping will be Matt Jones and a few of his 600 sheep. He and his family made the switch to sheep milking thanks to food intolerances and allergies. Jones Family Farm now make milk, cheese and skincare products. Matt tells Kathryn it's still a relative novelty for people to see sheep being milked, but there's enormous benefits to what's produced.

09:45 Hamas militants ready to release 70 hostages for truce

The armed wing of Hamas says it is ready to release up to 70 children and women held in Gaza, for a 5-day truce. Hamas' negotiators have told Qatari mediators the truce should include a ceasefire and allow aid relief everywhere in the Gaza Strip. It comes as fighting has raged close to Gaza's biggest hospital Al Shifa where bodies are piling up inside and outside as the sick can't be treated due to a lack of power. The US says it remains in active discussions with Israel about pauses to the fighting in Gaza and President Joe Biden says the Al Shifa hospital must be protected. The BBC's Middle East correspondent Sebastian Usher joins Kathryn with the latest in Gaza.

10:05 USA correspondent Ron Elving

The United States is vowing to defend itself against a barrage of attacks on its military bases across the Middle East. Over the last three weeks, Iran-backed militia groups have attacked US bases and facilities in Iraq and Syria 41 times. And Congress has just four days to pass a stopgap spending bill to keep the federal government from shutting down, as yet another deadline for doing so appears likely to be missed. Aid money for Israel and Ukraine and some Asian allies of the US is likely to be caught in the crossfire.

Ron Elving is Senior Editor and Correspondent on the Washington Desk for NPR News.

10:15 Why Liz Mitchell wants us to love wool again    

Liz Mitchell wants to revive the wool industry by reminding us of all the great things about the material. She says wool is enduring, versatile and breathable - and not just as a clothing product. One of New Zealand's leading fashion designers, she has an exhibition celebrating wool until December. Liz also has plans to create a textile hub at the Corban Estate Art Centre in Auckland - where her ongoing exhibition is taking place. The hub would be a space where people could come and learn how to work with wool. She has already secured a wet felting machine and a dry felting machine to work with there. The Wool Revolution - Powered by Liz Mitchell, and her exhibition This Raw Material, is on at the Corban Estate Arts Centre until 9 December.

10:35 Book review: Guy Wilson Creating Golf Excellence: The Genesis of Lydia Ko & More Stars by Bruce Miller 

Mark Leishman reviews Guy Wilson Creating Golf Excellence: The Genesis of Lydia Ko & More Stars by Bruce Miller published by Pacific Trust Holdings NZ 

10:45 Around the motu: David Hill from North Canterbury

David is in Kaikoura today where an old go-kart track south of the town is attracting petrolheads from around the South Island, causing trouble and upsetting residents. Environment Canterbury is in town as part of the "Pick a Path" summit, David explains the initiative. And he talks to Kathryn about some local tourism ventures.

 Local Democracy Reporter David Hill is with North Canterbury News, based in Rangiora
 

11:05 Business commentator Rebecca Stevenson

There's been a flood of annual general meetings on the NZX of late, and Rebecca says this week will be no different with Fonterra Shareholders Fund, Contact Energy, and Michael Hill Jeweller, to name just a few. She talks about some of the AGMS she's attended so far this year, including pet supplies and health care company Ebos, Sky Network Television which was last week, and Skellerup. AGMS are usually held where the firm has its headquarters, with Sky and Ebos in Auckland and Skellerup in the South Island

Rebecca Stevenson is a senior journalist at BusinessDesk

11:30 Gardening with Xanthe White 

 Landscape designer and gardener Xanthe White talks about one of the most popular - planting flowers.

11:45 Sports-chat with Sam Ackerman

Optimism is growing that the Black Caps can cause a monumental upset and end India's undefeated record to earn a place in the Cricket World Cup final. Sam also discusses a couple of big wins for New Zealand golfers, and looks ahead to one of our biggest days for racing - the NZ Cup.

Music played in this show

10.30am

Otis Redding - Try a Little Tenderness

10.35am

Eurythmics  - Here Comes the Rain Again