Nine To Noon for Friday 24 November 2023

09:05 Concerns raised about powerful synthetic opioid 

A warning is out that an opioid even more potent than fentanyl is circulating the country. The Drug Foundation says Nitazenes, a family of synthetic opioids, were first reported in Aotearoa in October last year. Kathryn speaks to Drug Foundation executive director Sarah Helm and psychiatrist and addiction specialist Sam McBride.

09:25 NZ Super Fund on 20 years of investing

It is the multibillion-dollar fund set up to help pay for the extra costs of the retirement of the large baby boomer generation, that peaks mid-century. Now the New Zealand Superannuation Fund has released results to mark the 20 years since it began investing and it has surpassed its three benchmark targets. The Super Fund, the brainchild of former Labour Finance Minister, the late Sir Michael Cullen, has been built up from contributions from government surpluses and investment returns over those two decades. The Super Fund, currently at $64.4 billion, has bettered its rolling 20-year performance benchmark of 7.93 percent per annum, reaching 9.53 percent, after costs and before New Zealand tax. Its chief executive Matt Whineray says the government's finances are $40 billion better off than they would have been had those government contributions been used instead to pay down debt.

09:45 Asia correspondent Elizabeth Beattie

Tokyo based journalist Elizabeth Beattie gives us the latest on deteriorating relationships at the North and South Korean border, Taiwan's presidential election campaign heats up, and the Philippines government cancels Christmas for soldiers in the South China Sea.

10:05 Epic: Adventures across Aotearoa

Ray Salisbury is an author and photographer with a lifelong love for the New Zealand backcountry. In the 1990's he completed a solo 80-day traverse of the North Island mountain ranges, and wrote a book about the epic journey, called 'Cape to Cape'. With 50 years of tramping experience behind him, he's now turned his attention to documenting some significant adventures of other kiwis in his new book 'Epic: Adventures across Aotearoa', published by Exisle Publishing. The book is a tribute to the spirit of adventure, sharing the stories of a dozen memorable Kiwi explorers epic journeys. Ray is a regular contributor to Wilderness Magazine. 

10:35 Book review: Rambling Man My Life on the Road by Billy Connolly 

Lisa Adler from Unity Books Wellington reviews Rambling Man My Life on the Road by Billy Connolly published by Hachette

10:45 Around the motu: with Jimmy Ellingham

RNZ Checkpoint reporter based in Palmerston North, Jimmy Ellingham has been speaking to Ruapehu businesses following another rocky season, Massey University staff and students are still facing uncertainty about the future, and the high school students building Kainga Ora houses.

11:05 Done deal: Government announced

The coalition government is confirmed. Kathryn gets the immediate analysis on the policies and ministerial positions from RNZ political editor Jane Patterson and political commentator Tim Hurdle.

Tim Hurdle is a former National senior adviser, was the National Party Campaign Director in 2020. He is a director of several companies, including Museum Street Strategies, a public affairs firm.

11:45 The week that was with Te Radar and Pinky Agnew

Comedians Te Radar and Pinky Agnew discuss the UK's ban on Toyota SUV adverts, the mannequin hair which prompted calls to the police, and a death-defying fish. 

 

Music played in this show

Robbie Williams - 'Feel'

Take That - 'A Million Love Songs'