Nine To Noon

09:05 Significant employment law changes ahead

Proposals to change personal grievance laws could see workers fired without an investigation having taken place, and then not be eligible for any compensation if the dismissal is challenged. The plan forms part of the suite of changes to employment laws going ahead under the Workplace Relations and Safety Minster Brooke van Velden. A major change is imposing an income threshold on a personal grievance claim - those earning $180,000 as a base salary will not be able to bring such a claim against their employer. But there are other changes happening for those who are able to take a personal grievance. Among the changes, employees whose behaviour amounts to serious misconduct could lose access to all remedies, while employees whose behaviour contributes in any way to a workplace problem will lose eligibility for reinstatement and compensation for hurt and humiliation. Ministry officials have warned the changes could encourage employers to tempt or encourage bad behaviour from a worker - so that they can then be proven to have contributed to their own dismissal. Brooke van Velden said the changes "strike a better balance and will increase certainty for employers so they can focus on their business." Kathryn speaks to Megan Vant, who is special counsel at Dundas Street law firm.

09:20 The house that One Tree Hill College built 

This weekend marks the official completion of a year-long renovation of an ex-Kainga Ora house by a group of students at One Tree Hill College. The 1970s house was set to be demolished, but instead was transported from Mangere East to the school grounds - for $1 - in May last year. It has been loving restored by the level 3 BCITO Trade Academy students - and now has a higher Homestar rating than most new builds. At a starting bid of $200,000 the buyer will also take home an array of goods donated by the community for the house including a David Trubridge light, an Anna Frances lolly scramble art piece and a one-year lease for an electric vehicle. Charlotte McKeon, the teacher in charge of trade says over $300,000 worth of building material have been donated to make the project possible. She speaks to Kathryn alongside student Alisha Taylor who has been busy doing the hard yards to get the house finished.

09:45 John Johns: NZ Forest's first official photographer

A years-long fascination with the life and photography of a man named John Johns has lead art curator Charles Ninow to make him the subject of his Karangahape Road gallery's second ever exhibition. Born in the UK in 1924, John Johns emigrated to New Zealand as a young man, started as a forestry worker, and ended up being NZ Forest's first official photographer. His broad collection of work conveys the fragility of nature and humanity's impact on it. The exhibition includes a mix of Johns' well-known images as well as some previously unseen ones provided by his family. Gallery owner Charles Ninow speaks to Kathryn.

09:45 Asia correspondent Ed White

Ed discusses the three Chinese naval vessel sailing east of Sydney and a trend that is worrying many Asian countries - a shrinking middle class.

10:05 Champion barbecuer Troy Bilbrough sizzles world champs

Competitive barbecuer Troy Bilbrough has achieved the best-ever result for a New Zealander at the American Royal World Series of Barbecue. Based in Christchurch Troy is a reigning national barbecue champion in the steak and ancillary categories. He competed late  last year coming 69th out of 450 teams - the highest a New Zealander has finished. Troy had to borrow cooking gear but still impressed judges with his grass-fed New Zealand meats. Troy is also the founder of food joints Bacon Bros, Shaka Bros as well as the nano-brewery BEERS. The businesses are also major caterers for weddings and other big events - they go to about 400 a year throughout the South Island. Troy is set on improving his performance in the world barbecue championships, hoping to get as high as a top 10 finish. 

10:35 Book review: Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix 

Martene McCaffrey of Unity Books Auckland reviews Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix published by Tor Nightfire; "Teenage Fern is sent to a maternity home for young, unwed mothers in the summer of 1970. Pregnant, scared, and alone, Fern and some of her fellow teen mothers are drawn in to a murky world of witchcraft in an attempt to claw back some power".

10:45 Around the motu: Tess Brunton in Dunedin

Tess talks to Kathryn about a High Court ruling that found Environment Southland failed to protect wetlands, the partnership with global conservation charities to raise $137 million to re-wild some of our largest islands and a three-strikes system to clampdown on Southland's reckless re-cyclers.

RNZ's reporter in Dunedin is Tess Brunton. She covers Otago and Southland.

11:05 New music with Grant Smithies

Grant plays two key songs today from Chicago trio Horsegirl, from their second album, Phonetics On and On.
After that, a fresh gem from Melbourne psych-rock trio Brown Spirits,  and some bracing West African funk from Benin's T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo. 

11:30 Sports commentator Sam Ackerman

Sam  talks Super Rugby, sublime cricket  - all ahead this sporting weekend

11:45 The week that was with Te Radar and Donna Brookbanks

Our comedians Te Radar and Donna Brookbanks are here to chat about a Portugese resort fining people for showing too much skin, a controversial spaghetti and sausage pie in Waikanae, and the surprising smells of Egyptian mummies.