Nine To Noon for Friday 7 February 2025

09:05 Auckland dog walking association believes proposed new rules not the solution to problems 

The dog walking  business in Auckland has boomed, in particular pack walking that can involve groups of as many as 15 dogs being walked at once. But this has come with an increase in problems - from fighting in the pack, to lost dogs and in one case an attack on a pet by off leash dogs being pack walked.  Auckland Council has proposed regulations to restrict the number of dogs being walked at any one time and where all dogs can be walked. But the Professional    Dog Walker's Association in Auckland says the plans are not the right way to fix problems in the industry.  We talk to   Auckland  Councillor and chair the Regulatory and Safety Committee Josephine Bartley and a council member of the Professional Dog Walkers Association and owner of Auckland pack walking  business, The Dog Squad, Cassie Jefferies. 

09:20 Wellington jeweller's new tech on world stage with Tiffany & Pharrell

Technology developed by Wellington jeweller The Village Goldsmith has been picked up by the global luxury brand Tiffany,  in a new range designed by American musician and fashion designer Pharrell Williams. The tech has been 17 years in the making, and allows a diamond to appear to "float", unimpeded by clasps. Ian Douglas, co-founder of The Village Goldsmith, says he and the team have doggedly pursued the latest advances in science and engineering from outside the jewellery industry to achieve their goal. Now Tiffany diamond jewellery - owned by the mega global luxury house Louis Vuitton - and featuring Floeting® Diamonds, will be sold around the world.

09:30 Wanted to live at the pool as a kid? This couple turned one into a home

Who didn't want to live at the pool as a kid? One family in Whanganui is lucky enough to do just that - their home is the former site of the Gonville Pool in Whanganui.  Originally opened in 1912 the pool was closed in 2006. The site was bought first by Ross Mitchell-Anyon, and later sold to Frank Stark and Emma Bugden. The couple asked Ross' architect son Ben and his co-director at Patchwork Architecture Sally Ogle to turn the pool into a home. The result is pretty stunning - it also netted Sally and Ben an honour  at last year's New Zealand Institute of Architects Awards.

09:45 Asia correspondent Elizabeth Beattie

A mammoth sinkhole that has opened up in Saitama Prefecture in Japan is spreading, leading to evacuations in the area, Philippines Vice President Sara Duterte has been impeached over corruption allegations and Thailand cuts power to parts of Myanmar to stop scammers.

10:05 The power of the tech bros and an emerging information oligarchy

As Donald Trump was last month sworn in for a second time as US President, he had some extremely high profile guests. Among those sitting on the dais in seats usually reserved for political dignitaries and family members were the world's powerful tech bosses - who also happen to be among the world's richest men. There was Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. But of them all, Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk stood closest. After ploughing quarter of a billion US dollars to help get Donald Trump elected, he's now the head of the Department of Government Efficiency with a mandate to slash US government spending. So is there an information oligarchy emerging in America? A frat-riarchy? A bro-ocrasy? Someone watching closely is UK-based technology journalist James Ball.  He's the author of several books, including 'The System: who owns the internet and how it owns us', 'Post-Truth: How Bullshit Conquered the World' and 'The Other Pandemic: How QAnon Contaminated the World'. 

10:35 Book review: Three of the best from 2024

Louise O'Brien reviews three of her favourite books from last year: Caledonian Road by Andrew O'Hagan, published by Faber, Juice by Tim Winton, published by Hamish Hamilton, and James by Percivall Everett, published by Macmillan

10:45 Around the motu: Diane McCarthy in Whakatāne

Diane discusses the latest in Whakatāne including updates in the local health sector, the mystery remains over bad smell, the Molly Morpeth Canaday Award, and the dethroning of Ōhope and Otarawairere from the Best Beach competition.

Eastern Bay of Plenty Local Democracy Reporter - Diane McCarthy is with the Whakatāne Beacon.

11:05 New music with Grant Smithies

 The latest "double single" by New Brighton musician Blair Parkes was 23 years in the making, with songs started in 2002 finally finished and released just two weeks ago. We'll hear both those songs today, followed by a new single by Marlon Williams,  and some Mali funk from Les Ambassadeurs du Motel de Bamako

11:30 Sports commentator Sam Ackerman

The Wallabies are on the hunt for new coach, Sam Ackerman discusses what Joe Schmidt’s departure means for international rugby,  rumours about Steven Adams heading to the Lakers and what lies ahead for under-performing Breakers and Phoenix.

11:45 The week that was with Te Radar and Michele A'Court