Nine To Noon for Thursday 31 August 2023

 

 

09:05 Push for more transparency over companies on the brink of liquidation

Is more transparency needed over which businesses are on the brink of insolvency? Centrix data found nearly 700 companies were put into liquidation in the first five months of the year - up from 539 in the same period last year.  Victoria University of Wellington Professor of Taxation Lisa Marriott believes certain business tax debts could act as an early warning sign, and wants to see this information passed on to credit ratings agencies. But IRD says it can't publish data on tax debtors before it's gone through the courts. Kathryn discusses the issue of how to better protect suppliers, workers and customers with Lisa and Chapman Tripp senior associate Janko Marcetic, who specialises in liquidations.

09:25 Consumer: Gentailers post whopping profits as households struggle

Consumer NZ says nearly a fifth of households have struggled to pay their power bills over the past year, while the big four generation and retail power companies or gentailers have made their largest-ever single-year rise in earnings. Meridian, Contact, Genesis and Mercury made $2.7b in operating profits, but Consumer NZ CEO Jon Duffy says it comes as many Kiwis can’t afford to heat their homes. Kathryn talks to him about how switching companies can only go so far with power savings and why he feels the current market structure isn't providing sufficient competition.

 

09:35 Houses on stilts: The alternative to managed retreat?

As sea levels continue to rise, houses on stilts are being floated as a cost-effective option for homeowners to remain in flood-prone areas. The study, commissioned by Niwa, came after discussions with lower Waikato iwi and the question, 'What can be done if you don't want to leave?' Project lead for Niwa's Future Coasts Aotearoa, Dr Christo Rautenbach, says inland relocation is a last resort for many and the research, which provides cost estimates for raising various buildings, could be an alternative for those living in low-lying coastal zones.

 

09:45 UK: Air traffic chaos, Foreign Secretary in China, Nadine Dorries finally resigns

UK correspondent Dan Bloom joins Kathryn to look at the flight chaos in the UK after an air traffic control glitch caused the cancellation of thousands of flights. He'll also talk about James Cleverly's visit to China - it's the first visit by a Foreign Secretary in five years and comes amid mounting frustration among many Tory MPs that the government's policy on China is too soft. And the Mid-Bedfordshire by-election will finally be held after Boris Johnson-ally Nadine Dorries kept her promise to resign...months late. Could the safe Tory seat fall to the opposition - and in that case, which one? The battle is on between Labour and the Lib Dems.

Dan Bloom is deputy editor of Politico London Playbook

10:05 New Zealand's only specialised space lawyer

Dr Maria Pozza is exploring a frontier of outer space that not many have ventured into before. She is the country's only specialised space lawyer - dealing with the contractual obligations of those leaving earth for both commercial of military intelligence purposes. There's no shortage of work these days but international law in this realm is still not clear. Dr Pozza, the director of Gravity Lawyers, is often fielding calls from international space agencies and legislative development committees. She'll be speaking at this year's International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists, to be held in Auckland next month.

 

10:30 Auckland fog causes travel woes

It hasn't been the best morning for travellers trying to fly into or out of Auckland - or for commuters trying to get around the city. It was a bit of a pea-souper across the City of Sails, and although the thick fog has largely lifted - there's been a knock-on effect for flights to the regions. Ferries have also been affected. And to top it off a glitch has seen Auckland Transport's journey planner down for much of the morning. Kathryn gets an update from Auckland-based reporter Rayssa Almeida.

10:35 Book review: Lady MacBethad by Isabelle Schuler 

Lisa Finucane reviews Lady MacBethad by Isabelle Schuler published by Bloomsbury

10:45 Around the motu: Peter Newport in Queenstown Lakes

Peter Newport joins Kathryn to talk about the ski-field barney over informal lessons that stemmed from a Wanaka builder threatened with losing his season pass because he tried to teach some mates at Treble Cone. He'll also look at the difficulties Queenstown is experiencing with growth, specifically the Silver Creek subdivision for 500 new houses which is bogged down in technical, financial and planning problems. And as the proposed Tarras airport moves forward, Queenstown Airport is planning a $350m expansion - does the district really need two international airports?

11:05 Tech: Biggest hack of the year, breaking AI chatbots, Zoom honesty

Technology correspondent Mark Pesce joins Kathryn to talk about what appears to be the biggest hack of the year so far - the mass exploitation of MOVEit Transfer software which has affected at least 60m people - probably more. He'll look at the Clop ransomware and the gang behind it, the threats they've made and who's been affected so far. There's been a cyber attack that has taken massive telescopes offline in Hawaii and Chile. Thousands of 'white hat' hackers at DEFCON have tried to break the latest AI chatbots in an attempt to point out their vulnerabilities - we should all be a bit worried. And Zoom's CEO has been caught out in a moment of honesty.

11:25 Learning to de-escalate tantrums and other challenging behaviour 

Are you struggling with your child's tantrums? Michael Hempseed is encouraging parents to rethink tantrums and anger, and instead of punishing a child for lashing out, he says it's vital to understand the root cause of the behaviour. Michael Hempseed is the director of Frontiers of Hope, a specialist mental health service in Christchurch, and has worked with Dame Sue Bagshaw for many years at Te Tahi Youth, the youth health centre that she founded. Together they have written Calming Your Child: De-escalating Tantrums, Anxiety, Aggression and Other Challenging Behaviours. Kathryn talks to Michael about their tips for de-escalating tantrums, as well as exploring the possible causes behind problem-behaviour, such as anxiety, sensory processing issues, ADHD, and autism

11:45 Screentime: Far North, Starstruck s3, From

Film and TV reviewer Chris Schulz joins Kathryn to talk about Far North - a New Zealand production about the largely true story of a gang who tried to bring a half billion dollars' worth of meth to market, but were foiled by a Northland couple. Rose Matafeo's Starstruck is in its third season and From is a middle America mystery where a city imprisons all who enter.

Music played in this show

Track: Holiday
Artist: Madonna
Time played: 11:25am