Nine To Noon for Wednesday 20 September 2023

09:05 Buy Now, Pay Later - young kiwis at risk of unmanageable debt 

A recent study has shown that approximately 190,000 young adults in New Zealand are at severe risk of unmanageable debt due to frequent use of Buy Now, Pay Later services. A representative number of New Zealanders between the ages of 18 to 34 were surveyed - finding one in five do not identify buy now, pay later as debt, and one in four were constantly repaying debt from delayed payment purchases. Financial literacy is a hot buzz word this election campaign - but will it really make a difference here? Aaron Gilbert is a Professor of Finance and Head of Department at AUT's Business School. He's also one of the researchers behind the recent report on problem debt, buy now pay later, and young adults. He spoke with Kathryn Ryan.

09:20 Source of Cryptosporidium outbreak in Queenstown unknown 

Officials in Queenstown are working to find the source of a cryptosporidium outbreak in the resort town. As of Tuesday evening the known cases stood at 15 and a boil water notice - triggered by those reported cases - was in place while investigations continue. Symptoms of Cryptosporidiosis include diarrhoea and abdominal pain. It can take between one and 12 days to show up, according to official advice. Kathryn speaks to Blair Impey chief executive of the Republic Hospitality Group and Queenstown Lakes District Council infrastructure and planning manager Tony Avery.

09:30 Harnessing the power of sport as we age

Research suggests sport can be beneficial for our health, many years after the final whistle blows. A newly-established Sporting Memories Foundation is hoping to harness the power of reminiscence to create a sense of belonging and improve mental and physical wellbeing as we age. Once up and running, the charitable trust will provide the framework, content and training for volunteer programme leaders to run sessions, where among activities, people discuss current sports, as well as their own teams from back in the day. It's hoping to meet its fundraising goal by the end of the year. Richard Wright is the chair of the foundation, and he's also Co-Director of the Auckland University of Technology Centre for Active Ageing.

09:20 Timaru deputy mayor reports on strong earthquake

There's been a strong earthquake in Canterbury this morning, which struck just after 9am. Reports of a 6.2 magnitude earthquake, centred about 45 kilometres north of Geraldine, was ten kilometres deep and caused strong shaking. Thousands of reports are coming into GeoNet's website - as well as into our text line this morning. Among them Scott Shannon, deputy mayor of Timaru and a John, a Pleasant Point resident.

09:45 Australia: Support for Airbnb crackdown, fire season warning

Australia correspondent Annika Smethurst joins Kathryn to talk about Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's swipe at short-term rental operators like Airbnb for the pressure they're creating on a strained rental market. His comments came as he announced detail of the first build under the federal government's housing acceleration project. There are warnings Australia faces a long hot spring and summer - and the perfect conditions for a bad fire season. And the CEO of Sydney's Airport has told a Senate inquiry into Qantas the airline is an aggressive player that would engage in 'slot holding' - where they'd hold on to flight slots but not necessarily use them. 

 

10:05 GNS Seismologist updates on Canterbury quake

It's been a shaky morning in Canterbury with a quake rattling the region just after 9am this morning. GNS says the quake was magnitude 6.2, centred about 45 kilometres north of Geraldine, was ten kilometres deep and caused strong shaking. Some 14-thousand reports have flooded into the agency. Kathryn spoke with duty seismologist John Ristau.

10:10 Scientists use sound to lure seabirds back to depleted areas

Scientists are experimenting with sound to try and bring birds back to depleted environments. Breeding calls are being played out on Palmyra Atoll, a small island halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa. And it appears to be working… The Nature Conservancy's Island Resilience Strategy Lead, Nick Holmes, says they've already seen some species return and even breed on the island.

10:35 Book review: The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff 

Stella Chrysostomou reviews The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff published by Penguin Random House

10:45 Around the motu: Alisha Evans in Tauranga

Waka Kotahi warns it could be "economic catastrophe" if congestion charges aren't introduced for the country's fifth largest city, Tauranga. Motorists could pay $3 for a peak hour 6km trip from Bayfair Shopping Centre in Mount Maunganui to the city centre. Western Bay of Plenty's Local Democracy Reporter Alisha Evans speaks with Kathryn Ryan. And a community in northern Waihi Beach are at upset at the inaction they feel led to them losing houses in severe May flooding.

11:05 Music with Kirsten Zemke: Songs about nostalgia

Music commentator Kirsten Zemke looks at some real tear-jerker songs from Frank Sinatra to Bob Dylan, and includes Miley Cyrus' recent release that's triggered this theme.

Kirsten Zemke is an ethnomusicologist at the University of Auckland's School of Social Sciences.

 

11:20 Author Gareth Ward on his hilarious new book about Tarquin the Honest

Gareth Ward has held a diverse number of jobs. Among them: police officer, royal marine commando, magician, hypnotist...and zombie. The fantasy writer's first novel The Traitor and Thief netted him the Storylines Tessa Duder Award and Best Youth Novel in the 2018 Sir Julius Vogel Awards. He followed that up with The Clockill and Thief, and two more young-adult steampunk-themed novels. His latest fantasy book is Tarquin the Honest: Ocian's Elven. It's a sequel to Hand of Glodd and once again takes us through adventures with the main character, who's a charlatan wizard with a fiesty gnome for a sidekick. Gareth joins Kathryn to explain more about his passions for books and for steampunk.

11:45 Science: Autoimmune vaccine hope, why cats love tuna, IgNobels

Science correspondent Siouxsie Wiles joins Kathryn to talk about new research into a potential vaccine against autoimmune diseases, why cats love tuna so much and it's IgNobel time - when the best of the weird research is celebrated. It includes a robot study based on dead spiders, a toilet that monitors your health and jamais vu - that feeling when something familiar is suddenly...unfamiliar.

Associate Professor Dr Siouxsie Wiles is the head of Bioluminescent Superbugs Lab at the University of Auckland