Nine To Noon for Thursday 9 May 2024

09:05 UN treaty seeks to tackle plastic pollution as health concerns grow

A UN global plastics treaty is being compared to the Paris accord on climate,  but proponents of a strong agreement are raising concerns about the influence of lobbyists on the process.  The fourth of five negotiations concluded in Ottawa last week. The ubiquity of plastics has resulted not only in widespread global pollution, but is raising concerns about human health. Microplastics have been identified in human placentas and breast milk. Kathryn speaks with Professor Steve Fletcher director of the Revolution Plastics Institute at the University of Portsmouth, who attended the UN global plastic treaty; paediatrician and plastics researcher with the Australian-based not-for-profit Minderoo Foundation, Dr Christos Symeonides; and University of Canterbury Toxicology Professor Ian Shaw, who is seeking more funding to investigate a potential link between microplastics and a rise in bowel cancer in people under 50.

09:25 POLi payments: who is at risk and what are banks doing?

Kathryn speaks with finance commentator and bank customer advocate, Janine Starks, on the POLi payments story. Consumer NZ is warning that the POLi payments system - which has been used by nearly half of bank customers to make direct payments online without incurring credit card surcharges - could breach their bank's terms and conditions. The payment system requires users to provide their bank log in details, which could strip a customer of their back protections for internet banking. POLi says in 45 million transactions over the last 15 years, no customer has ever suffered a loss through using its system.

09:45 UK: Another Tory defection as party results sting

UK correspondent Matt Dathan looks at another damaging defection for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to Labour, this time of Natalie Elphicke over the issue of immigration. Matt looks at why her move could also be a blow for Labour. It comes as the Tories try to pick themselves up after their worst results in more than 40 years, following the weekend's local elections. Home secretary James Cleverly has announced a new package of measures against Russia as he revealed new spying activity being carried out by Moscow in the UK. And US anti-Israel protests have inspired a dozen sit-ins at UK universities.

Matt Dathan is Home Affairs Editor at The Times

10:05 US Rock duo Sleater-Kinney talk about their new album

American rock band Sleater-Kinney mark 30 years of playing together this year. During that time they've been crowned America's best Rock band, and become as well known for their feminist politics as their music. The band - now comprised of Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein - has been through several iterations. Their 11th studio album Little Rope - created at a time of trauma - was released at the start of the year. And next week they'll perform their only New Zealand show at Auckland's Tuning Fork.

10:35 Book review: Beasts of Paris by Stef Penney     

Ralph McAllister reviews Beasts of Paris by Stef Penney published by Quercus Books

10:45 Around the motu: John Freer on the Coromandel Peninsula

The cyclones which hit the region last year still have a long tail. Thames Coromandel District Councillors are about to review submissions and develop their long term plan. The Hauraki Rail trail is growing in popularity and John has another chapter in the ongoing saga of Cathedral Cove.

John Freer is a local news reporter at CFM.
 

11:05 Tech: Billion dollar deals, 2degrees charged over roaming, Jack Dorsey backs X

Technology commentator Peter Griffin joins Kathryn to look at two billion dollar tech deals that are worth keeping an eye on - one for Kiwi Alex Kendall and his autonomous vehicle start up Wayve and the Australian government plugging money into PsiQuantum. Microsoft has done a deal with Te Tumu Paeroa, the Māori Trustee to store data onshore - could more Māori organisations follow suit? Twitter founder Jack Dorsey has abandoned the open source Twitter alternative he founded and suggests people just use X and 2degrees has been slapped with eight charges from the Commerce Commission over its "free roaming" was limited to 90 days.

Peter Griffin is a Wellington-based science and technology journalist.

11:25 Parenting: Helping kids with a healthy competition mindset

Melbourne-based provisional psychologist Darren Godwin works with Australia's largest sport and performance psychology practice, Condor Performance. Professional sports teams have the services or psychologists to help players navigate the ups and downs of competition and their own doubts and motivation. He says tween and teens athletes and their parents can benefit from the same sort of assistance.

11:45 Screentime: The Jinx s2, Back to Black, Hollywood Con Queen

Film and TV reviewer Chris Schulz looks at season two of The Jinx, Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black and Hollywood Con Queen, about a scam targeting professionals in the film industry and how those behind it were caught.