Nine To Noon for Wednesday 27 September 2023

 

09:05 'Our court buildings are a shambles': Victim advocates and lawyers

Victim advocates and court lawyers say the country's increasingly dilapidated court buildings are not fit for purpose and are in some cases,  causing harm. Newly released documents paint a grim picture, with half the country's court buildings failing, some are not safe, many are leaking, and the cost of repairs has blown out past a billion dollars. In these papers, released to RNZ, the Justice Ministry says more than half its assets are failing, with leaks, earthquake and services problems. It puts that down to chronic underspending. In an internal document, it admits to spending just a fraction of what it should have been to keep the buildings up to scratch. Tauranga's court building is so bad it has had to send all High Court sittings to Rotorua. Ruth Money is an independent volunteer Victim Advocate, working daily in the courts assisting victims of serious crime. Kathryn also speaks with Rotorua criminal barrister, Andy Hill.

09:30 Fears falling funding for wilding pine control will fuel fire risk

Last week's fires at Pukaki Downs and Lake Tekapō show the need to keep up the funding in the battle against wilding pines - at least according to one Mackenzie District farmer, who says wilding pines are contributing to the worrying fuel load in the district. The sentiment was echoed by Fire and Emergency New Zealand which said eradication efforts to date likely helped limit the damage from the Mackenzie blazes. Wilding pines have also been implicated in the scale of the Lake Ohau Alpine Village fire three years ago. The National Wildlife Conifer Control Programme (NWCCP) is a partnership between the Ministry for Primary Industries, local government, farming and forestry industries, landowners and others. Established in 2016, its funding received a serious boost in 2020, to $100 million over four years, out of the Jobs for Nature programme. However, the conifer control programme's funding is now down to $10m for this year, and a commitment to every year thereafter to 2030. But will it be enough? Mt Cook Station's Clint Miles and National Wilding Conifer Control Programme Sherman Smith speak to Kathryn.

09:45 Australia: Shock resignation, Qantas crisis, Voice voting begins, Wallabies wipeout

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton talks about the shock resignation of one of Australia's most controversial political figures and longest-serving of all current state premiers: Daniel Andrews. He quit last night without warning, telling media it was better to go when colleagues were still asking you to stay. Qantas' nightmare continues with its chairman facing calls for resignation and the possibility of former CEO Allan Joyce having to payback some of the millions he was paid out. Early voting has begun in some of Australia's most remote locations ahead of the Voice referendum and the knives are out for Wallabies coach Eddie Jones. 

10:05 Angie Morris: Former police diver turned Motueka restaurateur 

T.O.A.D Hall is arguably the jewel in Motueka's crown. What started off as a fruit and veggie shop on the town's main street has been transformed over the past decade into an organic farm-to-table operation and one of New Zealand's best loved cafes. Its owner and founder, however, Angie Morris - a Westport-born and educated former police officer - isn't your typical hospitality guru. She came into the industry after a career as a police diver - one of the country's first women to make it through the gruelling Royal New Zealand Navy selection process.  She speaks to Kathryn about the police force, home schooling four children, and turning TOAD Hall into an institution. 

10:35 Book review: Betrix & Fred by Emily Spurr

Holly Walker reviews Beatrix & Fred by Emily Spurr published by Text Publishing.

10:45 Around the motu: Alisha Evans in Tauranga

Alisha Evans is in Tauranga, where retailers on Maunganui Road and along the beachfronts are concerned at plans to introduce paid parking. Retailers say they’re already doing it tough, and it would be the final nail in the coffin. Also, upgrades at Tauranga's historic village are set to cost an extra $3.4 million.​ Upgrades to the building known as Complex 2 at the village began in December 2022, but “significant structural issues” were found in April.

11:05 Music with Ian Chapman: A selection of Kiwi protest music

One of the essential functions of art – whether it’s visual art or the performing arts - is to comment on society and to highlight issues that require change. Pop music is ideal for this because of its widespread appeal. It’s right there in the name; it's pop(ular). Never did pop music and protest synergise more effectively in Aotearoa than in the 1980s; an era when there was no internet and therefore nothing to dilute popular music’s enormous power as a rallying point for public focus. Today music commentator Ian Chapman revisits four tracks from this golden era of protest.  

11:20 Good as Gold! Matt Elliott looks at the best and worst of the 80s

Ah the 80s! Big hair, bright clothes, and some very risqué advertising. It was also a time of some big political, social and economic changes in New Zealand: The Springbok Tour, Rainbow Warrior bombing, decriminalisation of homosexuality, anti-nuclear movement, the stockmarket crash...It saw fledgling industries take off - and the debut of some big events - the Rugby World Cup and a small show in Nelson founded by Suzie Moncrieff that was WoW. Sports events were brought to you by tobacco companies. There were Telethons...and even a lady reading the news! For a trip down memory lane Kathryn speaks to Matt Elliot, author of 'Good as Gold'.

11:45 Personal finance: Habits, addictions and debt

Money expert Liz Koh looks at the issue of overspending, which has its roots in behavioural patterns ranging from habits to addictions  - all of which make it very difficult for people to curb their spending. What are some of the signs you have a problem, the hurdles to changing behaviour and the benefits from making those changes?

 

Music played in this show

Track: Turn Your Love Around
Artist: George Benson
Time played: 09:45