Nine To Noon for Friday 22 September 2023

 

09:05 Auckland Airport passengers warned to expect delays as holidays start

Auckland Airport and biosecurity officials have apologised for the delays passengers have been experiencing at our biggest international gateway. And as the school holidays kick off, they're asking for patience as the pressure ramps up. 15,000 passengers are expected to pass through Auckland airport tomorrow at the start of a very busy two weeks. This week, passengers have complained about long queues to get through the system. The airport and authorities say passenger numbers are back to pre-covid levels and the high number of flight arrivals combined with staff shortages due to illness have caused the delays. Kathryn speaks with Chief Operations Officer at Auckland Airport, Chloe Surridge, and Mike Inglis, Northern Regional Commissioner, Biosecurity New Zealand.

09:20 Queenstown state of emergency

Queenstown has declared a local state of emergency as severe weather continues to affect the South Island. Dozens of people have been evacuated and there are multiple road, business and school closures in the region today. Two evacuation centres have been set up. Kathryn speaks with Crux reporter, Lauren Pattemore, from the Memorial Hall evacuation centre and Principal of Wakatipu High School, Oded Nathan.

09:30 Vintage aircraft of WWI still flying high

Gavin Conroy is the general manager of the Classic Fighters Airshow in Omaka, near Blenheim. He's also a leading aviation photographer and pilot, clocking up 700 photographic flights over his career, photographing aircraft from around the world, with more than 220 magazine cover shots to his name. He's already published two photography books, Fighters & Bombers, and Precious Metal about aircraft used during World War II, but his latest book is Vintage Aviators: Aircraft of the Great War. He's captured 26 replicas, reproductions and original World War One aircraft, all part of the Vintage Aviator collection - owned by Sir Peter Jackson.

09:45 Pacific correspondent Koroi Hawkins

RNZ Pacific Editor Koroi Hawkins looks ahead to the Pacific election debate, hosted jointly by Radio New Zealand and Pacific Media Network from 11am on Monday September 25.

PMN's Khalia Strong will be in RNZ's Auckland studio, joined by:

Labour's Carmel Sepuloni
ACT's Karen Chhour
National's Fonoti Agnes Loheni
Greens' Teanau Tuiono

10:05 The scientific diver removing Undaria by hand

The invasive seaweed Undaria, that's taken over Fiordland, is known as the gorse of the sea. Having come into New Zealand on the hull of an international vessel, it spread and has taken over native species with rapid speed. Courteney Beven is a scientific diver and chef. Though she calls herself a glorified 'underwater weeder'. She's racked up over one thousand hours removing it by hand. She now works as a chef on a charter boat teaching her clients about conservation efforts through food. 

10:35 Book review: Learned by Heart by Emma Donoghue

Jessie Bray Sharpin reviews Learned by Heart by Emma Donoghue published by Picador

10:45 Around the motu: David Williams in Christchurch

Christchurch's mayor Phil Mauger swore he'd never sell the city's council-owned assets, but a new report suggests it might be needed. When asked about the port, the airport, the broadband company, the electricity lines company, Mr Mauger promised none would be sold under his watch. That was pre-election - when asked more recently, he could not rule it out. The public would have a say before anything is sold.

11:05 Music reviewer Grant Smithies​

The Miami Sound double LP was described as "a curatorial masterpiece" when it first came out 20 years ago. It's just been reissued, so music reviewer Grant Smithies gives us two tracks from that today.

11:30 Sports chat with Sam Ackerman

Sam joins Kathryn as The Warriors - officially the Aussies' second favourite team - prepare to play The Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium this weekend. Also kicking off is the Silver Ferns and England series bid for the Tini Jamieson Trophy, meaning all eyes will be on the Ferns coaching job - will Dame Noeline Taurua stay in the role?

11:45 The week that was with Te Radar and Irene Pink

A new mother in Australia has accidentally named her baby Methamphetamine Rules after she decided to test the boundaries of the New South Wales registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. Journalist Kirsten Drysdale never thought the name would be accepted, but it slipped between the cracks. Baby Meth will be getting his name changed... but the story is sure to be a hit at his 21st birthday.