Nine To Noon for Monday 19 May 2025

09:05 Learning Support in schools "at breaking point" : report

Learning support in New Zealand schools is at breaking point, and the status quo is failing many vunerable learners, according to a new report. Learning support is for neurodivergent children, or those with disabilities, health needs or experiences of trauma. Services may include speech language therapists, psychologists, occupational therapists and teacher aides. The report by the Aotearoa Educators' Collective highlights broken funding systems, families battling bureaucracy and children who have extra needs denied access. An estimated 15-20 per cent of the population is neurodivergent, but only 6-7 per cent of students receive any publicly funded learning support. The report finds Maori and Pasifika students, those attending rural schools and neurodivergent students are most affected by chronic underfunding, fragemented provision and inconsistent access. Kathryn speaks with report author Dr Sarah Aiono

The Beyond Capacity: Learning Support in Crisis report is being launched at parliament tomorrow   - Minister Erica Stanford has been invited.

09:20 Spreading a council scheme using office blocks for affordable housing   

A Wellington developer is keen to promote a council affordable housing scheme that is cost neutral to ratepayers. Te Kāinga is a Wellington City Council scheme aimed at people on medium to lower incomes - and those with disabilities - who may otherwise find it difficult to access appropriate housing in the city. It involves partnering with building owners and developers to convert unused office buildings, with the council taking on the lease and acting as manager. The plan was first floated by then mayor Justin Lester in 2018, and since then it has delivered  290 apartments with a goal of reaching 1,000. Paul McCorry, Wellington City Council's Manager of Housing Development and Ian Cassels a director of the  development firm The Wellington Company - that has been involved in the conversions - talk to Kathryn about the scheme.

09:30 A scientific breakthrough for flea and tick treatment 

Agritech firm Bontia Bio has patented world-first technology which could bring a massive shakeup to the billion-dollar global animal treatment market. The technology allows naturally forming anti-parasitic compounds, used to create flea and tick treatments, to be synthetically replicated, meaning they can be produced in commercially viable quantities. Veterinarians and pet owners are increasingly noticing problems with existing flea and tick treatments, including emerging drug resistance, adverse side effects and negative environmental impacts. But treatments created via these compounds - which form on fungi - have so far shown no signs of toxicity and can be reproduced sustainably. The scientific breakthrough for the New Zealand company has been years in the making. Two of the company's directors are Matthew Nicholson and Emily Parker.

09:45 Europe correspondent Seamus Kearney

Three EU countries go to the polls in "Super Sunday" elections; European leaders will attempt to talk to Trump ahead of Putin talks, and dozens of world leaders & royalty attend Pope Leo's inaugural mass.

10:05 History from a Marlborough graveyard    

 An interest in his family's history led Don Auckram to the Havelock Cemetery in Marlborough. But it was his fascination with the early settlers buried in the graveyard that led him to research not just his own family, but many of the others laid to rest there. Kathryn talks to Don Auckram about his book  "History from the Grave" and the rich history of Havelock and the Pelorus District in Marlborough that he brings to life.

"History from the Grave"  - A History of Havelock and the Pelorus District of Marlborough written and published by Don Auckram.

10:30 NZDF staff to wear locally made socks

From this month on, our defence force staff will standing to attention with locally made socks on their feet. That's because The New Zealand Defence Force has struck a deal with Hawke's Bay apparel company Norsewear. The socks were previously brought in from the United States. Norsewear owner Tim Deane says it's also a real boost for his close-knit team of sock engineers based in the small Hawke's Bay town of Norsewood - population of just 150.  Tim says the socks have been through "rigorous" testing involving real soldiers, sailors and pilots and are made using certified traceable fibre from Norsewear's farm partners. Norsewear owner Tim Deane joins Kathryn. 

10:35 Book review: AUP New Poets 11 by Xiaole Zhan, Margo Montes de Oca and J. A. Vili, Edited and introduced by: Anne Kennedy 

Claudia Herz Jardine from Scorpio Books in Christchurch reviews AUP New Poets 11 by Xiaole Zhan, Margo Montes de Oca and J. A. Vili, Edited and introduced by: Anne Kennedy published by Auckland University Press

10:45 Around the motu: Tom Hunt in Wellington

Tom discusses how a independent review of Wellington Electricity's security is being called for, the Cambridge Terrace bus lane camera is proving to be very profitable, a local man is on track plant 12,000 native trees in Mt Vic and the area's strange link to Charlotte Bronte.

Tom Hunt is a journalist with the Wellington paper The Post.

11:05 Political commentators Gareth Hughes and Tim Hurdle 

Gareth Hughes is the Director of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa is a former Green MP and is no longer a member of any political party.

Tim Hurdle was an adviser in previous National governments. He works in strategic communication and advisory, and is currently campaign director for Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown.

11:30 Wellington hospo stalwart shakes up bakery business

Tough economic conditions have forced the closure of dozens of capital city hospitality stalwarts, but some green shoots are starting to show through. One success story is a new bakery, which has opened four stores in ten months. Volco is the creation of businessman and former professional tennis player Tony Parun, along with his son Anthony. They started by rebranding their German bakery, Brezelmania, in Kelburn midway through last year. They've since opened up three more stores throughout the city, each with slightly different menus. The latest is only a few weeks old, offering a full-blown brunch menu alongside their wide selection of pastries and pies. Business lead Anthony Parun and head chef Kirran Buckland speak to Kathryn.

11:45 Lest we forget our heritage halls

Bill McKay looks at council plans all over the country to get rid of community halls and war memorials.