Nine To Noon for Friday 2 February 2024

09:05 Winter is coming, but how prepared is the country's energy system?

Transpower is signalling there could be power cuts this winter to manage supply and demand of electricity if the wrong conditions combine. There is significant pressure on hydro lakes to deliver the electricity required as well as thermal generation - burning coal and gas - to get through the winter. That's because key power plants like Contact Energy's Tauhara geothermal plant have had delays and the grid has had more intermittent sources - including its first producing solar farm late last year - added in to its electricity supply stack. But plant outages happen every year and combined with a situation where the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't blowing - the grid owner isn't ruling out using power cuts to get through. There are other pressures on the grid operator. It needs to spend billions on creaking infrastructure - a lot of it built in the 1960s and 1970s - and is facing headwinds in recruitment and supply chains. Kathryn talks to Transpower's chief executive Alison Andrew.

09:20 Fishily: New social media app connecting skippers with fishing buddies

A new social media app has launched which aims to link up keen fishers with boaties willing to take them out. After building a profile listing their interests, Fishily users can list or apply for a trip. It's a way to both split the costs, while also forming connections with like-minded people. It's the creation of two next door neighbours in Tauranga, who found themselves discussing what a shame it was to see unused boats on all of the surrounding driveways. Todd Morris and Scott Clark linked up with local software engineer Jackson Currie, who brought the idea to life. Scott Clark speaks with Kathryn Ryan.

You can find the Fishily app here.

09:35 Kaikōura's new zipline adds to upbeat vibe

After some tough years post earthquakes, road closures and covid, there's an upbeat vibe in coastal town of Kaikōura. And a new zipline tourism business is up and running with locals and visitors alike loving it. Ecozip Adventures Kaikōura opened in December - offering five ziplines ranging between 250 and 613 metres in length on a  3,000-acre working farm near Kaikōura. Gavin Oliver is the managing director and co-founder of EcoZip Adventures - he launched a similar business on Waiheke Island in 2012.

09:45 Asia correspondent Elizabeth Beattie

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been handed a 14-year jail sentence in a case related to illegal selling of state gifts, just days after being given another 10-year sentence. In Japan, the space race is heating back up as its moon lander is back in action following technical issues. Elizabeth also looks at a TV series Expats, which is causing a stir in Hong Kong - where it was filmed - because it is not available to view there. There's speculation it is because of scenes of protest throughout.

Elizabeth Beattie is a journalist based in Tokyo.

10:05 The online friendship which helped an Afghan refugee's journey to New Zealand

In 2021, retired academic Helen Sword received an email from young Afghan man who wanted to join her online creative writing workshop. Hussain Shah Rezaie was then stuck in an Indonesian detention centre, after being smuggled out of his home country following his escape from the Taliban. Helen - an emeritus professor at the University of Auckland - had no idea of Hussain's circumstances at the time, or that he had only recently started learning English through YouTube videos. The pair formed a friendship which has recently resulted in Hussain Shah Rezaie arriving in New Zealand to live. Hussain is settling into his new home on Auckland's North Shore, furnished by the generosity of strangers who saw his story on Facebook and reached out to help. Helen and Hussain speak with Kathryn Ryan.

You can read Hussain Shah Rezaie's writing here.

10:35 Book review: Three of the best from 2023 

Paul Diamond reviews three of his favourite books from last year: The Financial Colonisation of Aotearoa, by Catherine Comyn, Self Published, Tongariro National Park, by Des Bovey, published by Potton and Burton, and The Forgotten Prophet: Tāmati Te Ito and His Kaingārara Movement, by Jeffrey Sissons, published by Bridget Williams Books

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

The Oxford and Kaikōura communities have made big strikes this week in their dark sky journeys.     The Waimakariri District Council has just completed its first round of deliberations on its 2024/34 Long Term Plan. And David previews a range of North Canterbury events including Kaikoura gearing up for its A&P show.

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

11:05 New (and sometimes old) music with Jeremy Taylor

After reading Julian Cope's 'Head On' autobiography, Jeremy Taylor presents a selection of songs from Liverpool - not including the Beatles, or Julian Cope.

11:30 Sports commentator Sam Ackerman

Sam Ackerman looks at New Zealand's winning streak across winter sports this week, including the first ever skating medal of any form at the Youth Winter Olympics. And discussion is heating up over who should coach rugby league team the Kiwis. Supercoach Wayne Bennett has openly said he wants the job - drawing an unusual response from NRL boss Peter V'Landys. Sam also looks at new concussion rules being brought in at a grassroots level, with a minimum three-week stand-down period post-injury.

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

Te Radar and Irene Pink look at some of the lighter moments of the week, including the eye-watering amount an old lemon has sold for at auction in England. The 285-year-old citrus fruit went for just under NZD$3000. And a man who will seemingly stop at nothing to get in shape for his upcoming marathon. Daniel Fairbrother was stopped by police for practicing running with a fridge strapped to his back.