09:05 NCEA: the stress is "immoral"

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A review of NCEA is set to take place this year: a move some school principals are welcoming as a means of ensuring high school students experience deeper learning, a reduced focus on assessment and lower stress levels. Kathryn Ryan speaks to the principal of Hobsonville Point Secondary School, Maurie Abraham, who claims the NCEA system, as it stands, puts an "immoral" amount of stress on students. PPTA president Jack Boyle also speaks about the possible benefits to students of the review.

09:20 Where's the research? MPI in 'please explain' over kauri dieback

Several scientists and conservation groups spoken to by Nine to Noon say they are baffled by the apparent lack of published scientific research into the kauri dieback tree killing disease, which kills most, if not all, the kauri it infects. Meanwhile, Forest and Bird has sifted through official government documents about the ministry's  approach to the disease and says there seems to be no real plan. Kathryn talks to Lincoln University's biosecurity scientist Dr Amanda Black and Forest and Bird's Dr Rebecca Stirnemann.

Dying kauri trees that are infected with kauri dieback disease.

Dying kauri trees that are infected with kauri dieback disease. Photo: RNZ / Alison Ballance

09:45 US correspondent Steve Almond

The US Senate reaches a deal to reopen the government after a three-day shutdown, and massive protests greet Trump's first anniversary.

10:05 Pa'i Nanai - champion blind powerlifter

Pa'i Nanai is a six-time world record holding powerlifter. Born in New Zealand of Samoan parents, the family moved back to Samoa before settling finally in Australia when he was a child. As a young man, two separate and totally random accidents in the same year left Pa'i blind in both eyes, which lead to a dangerous period of risk taking, alcohol and abuse and depression. It was a training session at a gym that uncovered his potential for powerlifting. He talks with Kathryn Ryan about how the sport has helped him overcome his difficult past.

10:35 Book review - Best of 2017

Hannah August reviews:

Night Sky With Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong, published by Jonathan Cape.

South and West: From A Notebook by Joan Didion, published by HarperCollins Publishers.

Winter by Ali Smith, published by Penguin.

10:45 The Reading

11:05 Business commentator Rod Oram

News from Beingmate, the Chinese company in which Fonterra has invested $750m gets worse, the OIO turns down a request by HNA, a major Chinese financial company;  to buy UDC, an important finance company for NZ businesses; and PGG Wrightson reconvenes a board committee to keep track on the travails of its controlling shareholder, Agria, a Chinese agribusiness company.

11:30 Plants that like it hot with Xanthe White

Landscape designer Xanthe White discusses how to help your garden endure hot weather. She'll also talk about the routine jobs we should be doing after the long break.

Xanthe is volunteering for the Heroic Garden Festival on the10th & 11th of February.

11:45 Media commentator Gavin Ellis

A brief look forward to the year of RNZ Plus, the death of Paperboy: a lively, interesting publication that couldn't succeed financially and The Spinoff's Duncan Grieve hands over the editorial reins to Toby Manhire.

Gavin Ellis is a media commentator and former editor of the New Zealand Herald. He can be contacted on gavin.ellis@xtra.co.nz

Music played in this show

 

Artist: Sylvan Esso
Song: Parade
Composer: Sylvan Esso
Album: Sylvan Esso
Label: Universal
Time: 11:20