Lately for Monday 12 September 2022

10.18 The masks are coming off

The Government is scrapping the Covid protection traffic light system.

Among other things it means masks will only be required in health and aged care settings and household contacts don't have to isolate with cases if they return daily negative RAT tests results. 

Karyn speaks to Auckland hairdresser and Deputy Chair of Hair and Barber NZ Simone Jones who is delighted she can walk through the salon doors tomorrow completely unmasked.

 

10.24 Scheme to recycle used facemasks

Most of us have a mask or two or three in the glovebox, or in coat pockets and shopping bags just in case. What are we going to do with them all now? Chuck them in the rubbish?

Kenneth Leong - co-founder of the country's largest mask manufacturer MEO - joins Karyn to tell her about a nationwide recycling initiative to stop thousands of discarded used facemasks from entering the marine environment and landfill.

 

10.31 Memories of the 1972 Māori language petition 

Fifty years ago the Māori language petition was delivered to Parliament asking for active recognition of te reo Māori. The petition was signed by more than 30,000 people and sparked the first ever Te Wiki o te Reo Māor - Māori Language Week, which is being celebrated around the country this week.

Dr Robert Pouwhare, now a lecturer at Auckland University's James Henare Māori Research Centre, played a pivotal role in getting the petition to parliament. He joins Karyn to share his memories.

 

10.48 BBC World update with Pete Ross

Pete Ross joins Lately with the latest from the BBC World newsroom