Nine To Noon for Tuesday 29 August 2023

 

 

09:05 Community assets at the mercy of the elements

Insurance premiums that have jumped by as much as 50 percent in a year, are forcing some councils to reprioritise what assets to protect.The increases have meant some memorial halls - the heart of rural communities - will be abandoned, should disaster strike. Councils say they are juggling the so-called "three i's" - high inflation, high interest rates, and the latest - high insurance premiums. With natural disasters occurring with more frequency and intensity,  the concern is that insurance is needed now, more than ever. But councils say without additional support,  and with no means to increase revenue streams further,  they're left with little choice but to reduce insurance cover on some assets. The Hastings District Council is anticipating its insurance bill for underground assets to reach almost $3 million  at November's policy renewal. While in North Canterbury, Hurunui's mayor says some assets are no longer insured at all  - after the Kaikoura earthquake resulted in a three-fold increase in premiums. The Insurance Council, however, says `not insuring',  is not the answer. Kathryn speaks with Hurunui Mayor Marie Black, Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst, and Insurance Council NZ chief executive Tim Grafton.

09:30 “It’s emotionally fraught”: Muriwai resident responds to buy out package

Muriwai residents are absorbing yesterday’s categorisation of their storm-damaged properties. 27 home owners have been told they do qualify for the buy-out scheme, but decisions have not been made about 41 others.Kathryn speaks with homeowner Kat Corbett, whose home is Category 3, and subject to the buy out.

09:25 What the stress physiology of marine animals tells us about their homes

Marine Biologist Brendon Dunphy explains why the Hauraki Gulf is seeing increasing numbers of stressed shearwaters and albatrosses. He says the food chain for tītī, or sooty shearwaters - also known as muttonbirds - , is being affected by rising water temperatures. Dr Dunphy says some Hauraki Gulf birds are showing some worrying symptoms which relate to the rapidly warming planet.

 

09:45 USA correspondent Ximena Bustillo 

The Republicans have kicked off their first debate of the election season - minus one Donald Trump. The former President was off being booked at a jail in Georgia with his now infamous photo - from which he's making lots of money through merchandise. As the race for 2024 gets underway, there's still three states holding gubernatorial races. Ximena looks at why, just because they're Republican-leaning, it doesn't mean conservatives are a shoe-in for the governor's mansion.

Ximena Bustillo is an NPR politics reporter based in Washington

10:05 Denise Carter-Bennett: Bringing more women & neurodiversity into cybersecurity sector

Preventing state-sponsored attacks from countries such as China, Russia, Iran and Syria is an ongoing battle for cybersecurity engineer, Denise Carter-Bennett. She works at Datacom, and has a background in ethical hacking, open source intelligence and malware analysis. She is autistic and was recently diagnosed with ADHD, and credits her neurodiversity for her success in the industry. She's an advocate for encouraging greater neurodiversity in the tech sector and is set to speak at the International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists, being held in Auckland next week. She's also a trustee of the New Zealand Network for Women in Security, where she's working to bring more Māori and Pasifika women into the industry. Denise Carter-Bennett is Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Ngāpuhi, and Ngāti Hine. 

10:35 Book review: Bad Men by Julie Mae Cohen

Phil Vine reviews Bad Men by Julie Mae Cohen published by Allen and Unwin

10:45 Around the motu : Jonathan Leask in Ashburton

Jonathan Leask is in Ashburton, where the effectiveness of newly implemented 30km/h zones around schools, outside of school hours, is under doubt. And, both major political parties have now committed to a second Ashburton bridge - but there is debate over the best location for it. Finally, the new library and civic centre has been gifted a new name - Te Whare Whakatere.

Local Democracy Reporter - Mid Canterbury Jonathan Leask from the Ashburton Guardian

11:05 Business commentator Victoria Young

Victoria discusses the Mainzeal Supreme Court judgement and the significance for company directors.The Supreme Court rejected an appeal the appeal of the four directors of the collapsed construction firm with $39.8m in damages, plus interest, awarded against them for breaching the Companies Act. Also workplace safety at Talleys is in the spotlight, and she looks at the locking in of some public service Chief Executives to the 2026 election and beyond.
 

BusinessDesk investigations editor, Victoria Young

11:25 Tips for being safe around animals (dogs in particular)

Even the gentlest of family pets can bite - for a range of reasons. Research by Auckland emergency doctor Dr Natasha Duncan-Sutherland has found there are around 25,000 dog-related injuries recorded each year - leaving hundreds of people in hospital. Dr Kat Littlewood is a Lecturer in Animal Welfare and Veterinary Specialist in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics, & Law at the School of Veterinary Science at Massey University. She's says there are some simple steps people can take to ensure they and the dog stay safe. Text questions for Kat to 2101 or email ninetonoon@rnz.co.nz

11:45 Sports-chat with Sam Ackerman

Sam talks record-breaking results and not all of the good kind for NZ sports over the last few days. He looks at the repercussions on reputations and asks, is there ever a good time to lose in professional sport?

Music played in this show

Track: Love is The Way
Artist: Three Sacred Souls 
Time played: 9:45am

Track: King
Artist: UB40
Time played: 10:36am

Track: Who is He and What is He to You
Artist: Meshell Ndegeocello 
Time played: 10:40am