Nine To Noon for Monday 4 September 2023

09:05 Mandatory rules needed for power retailers to protect vulnerable: Authority

The Electricity Authority says power retailers are not properly applying voluntary guidelines to improve protections for consumers, and it wants to make some of the rules mandatory. In particular,  it says medically dependent consumers, those in financial difficulty and those facing disconnection need better protection. The Authority has just begun public consultation on its Consumer Care Guidelines which were introduced in 2021, but left to the power sector to follow voluntarily. Kathryn speaks with Electricity Authority Chief Executive, Sarah Gillies.

09:20 Water cremation facility poised to open in Christchurch

A Christchurch-based group plans to introduce a new, sustainable method of cremations to New Zealand. Alkaline Hydrolysis, or 'water cremation', is where a body is put into a tube containing 95 percent water and five percent alkaline, and heated up and pressurised for three to four hours. The remains are then given back to the relatives, similar to a cremation by fire, while the water is treated and put back into the water cycle. It's touted as an environmentally friendly option to cremation by fire, which as well as releasing six times more CO2 into the atmosphere, can stink out nearby neighbourhoods. Alkaline Hydrolysis is not currently legal in New Zealand, however Water Cremation Aotearoa has obtained resource consent for a site in Christchurch, and is working with the Ministry of Health to overhaul the Burial and Cremation Act of 1964. Director Deborah Richards speaks with Kathryn Ryan.

09:30  New Arts Laureate, Ladi6

Auckland based singer, songwriter Ladi6 has been described as the local Queen of Hip-hop, Soul and R&B, and she now has a new accolade to add to the many that have gone before. She is one of this year's Arts Foundation Laureates, receiving the Theresa Gattung Female Arts Practitioners Award. Ladi6 has released several critically acclaimed albums spanning multiple genres,  and was recognised in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours, where she was appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

09:45 Europe: Rugby fever in France, Russia hits Danube port

Europe correspondent Seamus Kearney joins Kathryn to talk about the Rugby World Cup fever hitting the continent a week out from the opening match between France and New Zealand. Meanwhile investigations continue into Spain's football federation president Luis Rubiales over his kiss of player Jenni Hermoso just after the team won the Women's Football World Cup. Russian drones have hit infrastructure at Ukraine's Danube River port, which is essential for global grain exports, just a day before Russia-Turkey talks on the grain issue.

10:05 Futurist, engineer and museum director Dr Kristin Alford

The 19th International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists is underway in Auckland with a particular focus on how the STEM sector can become truly diverse and inclusive. Keynote speaker Dr Kristin Alford is presenting on the topic of common cognitive traps constraining the future of STEM. She is a futurist, engineer, President of the Australia Science and Technology Engagement Network, and the Director of MOD, Museum of Discovery, at the University of South Australia - among many other things. She spoke with Kathryn about how we deal with huge issues confronting the world from the speed of machine learning to climate change and more

10:35 Book review: Cousins by Aurora Venturini

Jenna Todd reviews Cousins by Aurora Venturini published by Faber and Faber

10:45 Around the motu: Chris Hyde in Hawkes Bay

There’s a huge buzz in Wairoa after a ticket sold there -  won $10 million in Saturday night’s Lotto draw. Chris says it has all the ingredients for a huge celebration, Wairoa is a a small town particularly hard hit by Cyclone Gabrielle. Mayor Craig Little's advice is for the winner not to tell a soul. He says they've had a lot of tourists through recently and his hope is that the winner is actually someone from the town. Chris also looks at why Hawke’s Bay building fires are on the rise, and he says a decision on what to do with $400,000 of debt owed to the Regional Council is bubbling away. Chris Hyde is the editor of Hawkes Bay Today.

11:05 Political commentators Craig Renney & Tim Hurdle 

Craig and Tim break down the campaign launches of the big parties over the weekend, with National opting not to include any new policies while Labour unveiled its plan to provide free dental care for under-30s. Both parties had to deal with protestors - is that a sign of the times? National's tax policy has been under the microscope by critics, as has both parties' cut to climate change funds. And the 53rd Parliament has adjourned, what major laws has it passed - and not passed?

Craig Renney is currently the Economist and Director for the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, and has held roles as the Senior Ministerial Advisor to the Minister of Finance, and Advisor to the Leader of the Opposition. Craig volunteers for Labour election campaigns in the Wellington area in his spare time.   

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.
 

11:30 Ingredients: stretching some, substituting others

Northland's Veggie Tree Cook School creator Anna Valentine with tips on what substitutes to use when you run out of certain ingredients. Anna Valentine is the author and photographer of three plant based cookbooks and her wild organic garden supports her family. She says there are all sorts of substitutes you can use that will still mean you get a great result. This can also work if say a recipe calls for eggs .. but you are vegan.

 

11:45 Off the beaten track with Kennedy Warne

Kennedy joins Kathryn from Iceland, where the government has lifted a summer suspension on whaling. Just one company still hunts fin and minke whales, and the season is due to end in a few weeks. Meanwhile whale watching has become a huge tourism boon, bringing in millions of kronas a year.