Nine To Noon for Friday 9 February 2024

09:05 School's back: What's on the Education Minister's lesson planner?

National campaigned on 'Teaching the Basics Brilliantly' - and one of the central planks of that policy was an hour each day of reading, writing and maths for all primary and intermediate-aged children. That's now in play - having kicked in at the start of this term - and will also include two assessments per year of how students are doing in Year 3 to 8, with clear reporting to parents. The new government also set a goal of getting 80 percent of Year 8 students at or above the expected level for their age in reading, writing, maths and science. It also wants to see Kiwi students back in the top 10 for those subjects in the international PISA rankings. Education Minister Erica Stanford joins Kathryn to outline how she sees those goals being met.

09:20 Gaming industry growth slowing as Australia entices senior staff away

Fierce competition from Australia's gaming industry has seen seen growth in the sector wane, and key talent lost. The Game Developers Association (NZGDA) says revenue grew by just 7% last year, compared to 47% growth in the previous year. From July 2022, qualifying developers across the ditch could secure rebates of up to 45c per dollar of eligible spend - for example, if they spent $1m on game development, they could potentially get $450,000 back. Last year our Government announced a 20% tax rebate for the sector, with returns for the first year of the scheme to be processed by July 2024. PikPok is a game developer and publisher who lost 17 senior staff to Australia last year. PikPok CEO Mario Wynands and NZGDA chair Carl Leducq speak with Kathryn Ryan.

09:45 Pacific correspondent Koroi Hawkins

RNZ Pacific Editor Koroi Hawkins updates us on the latest Pacific news, including cyclones passing the Cook Islands and pre-election buzz in the Solomon Islands.

10:05 From meth addict to building apprentice: How a mother of two turned her life around

It was after mother of two Bex Chapman went through a hard break-up, that she turned to a drug she swore she wouldn't try again. And just as soon as she started smoking methamphetamine, something she'd tried once as a teenager six years earlier, life began to unravel. She became involved with gangs and even started dealing the drug. But if you meet Bex now, a building apprentice in Upper Hutt, you'd likely never pick her past as an addict, which she sought help for in 2020. She's sharing her story now in hopes of inspiring others who are on their journey to recovery.

10:35 Book review: Killer Rack by Sylvan Spring

Melissa Oliver from Unity Books Wellington reviews Killer Rack by Sylvan Spring published by Te Herenga Waka University Press.

10:45 Around the motu: Diane McCarthy in Whakatane

The issue of vehicles on beaches is dividing seaside communities thoughout the Eastern Bay of Plenty, Diane unpacks the tensions. The Opotiki District Council has been workshopping ways to bring down early estimates of a rates increase - from 34 percent to 27.8 percent. And two beaches in the Whakatāne district have won Best Beach awards - with Ōhope Beach named the Best Family Beach while Ōtarawairere Bay winning Best Hidden Gem.

Eastern Bay of Plenty Local Democracy Reporter - Diane McCarthy with the Whakatane Beacon speaks with Kathryn.

11:05 Music reviewer Grant Smithies​

Today Grant brings two soft and whispery tracks today from Reverie, the debut album by Les Imprimés, aka Norwegian soul singer Morten Martens. After that, musical gems from Manhattan Murder Mystery and Tennessee jazz poet Sarah Webster Fabio. 

11:30 Sports commentator Sam Ackerman

Sam looks at the latest in cricket, including a blunder which saw Australia take credit for some of our greatest batsmen. And more sport is set to be shown on free to air TV, raising hopes it will bring new fans to rugby and league. In the US, Superbowl fever is taking over, and there will likely be more than just NFL fans watching on Monday thanks to Taylor Swift.

11:45 The week that was with Donna and Irene

Donna Brookbanks and Irene Pink bring some of the lighter moments of the week, including an Indian woman who has set the record for the most teeth, and another world record attempt in France - a man who painstakingly built a model Eiffel Tower using more than 700,000 matchsticks - only for it to be rejected.