Nine To Noon for Tuesday 23 March 2021

 

 

09:05 Govt housing package announced

The government has announced a raft of changes aimed at curbing the overheated housing market and helping first home buyers.The multi-billion dollar package will see the bright-line test doubled, interest deductibility removed for property investors, and an increase in income caps for First Home Grants and loans. There is also 3.8 billion dollars of funding for roads and pipes to unlock more land for housing development. RNZ Political reporter Yvette McCullough outlines the main points, and Kathryn gets reaction from Infometrics Economist Brad Olsen, and Sharon Cullwick of the Property Investors Federation.

09:25 Learning STEM subjects through sailing

The America's Cup has been a perfect springboard to help create waterwise children, Yachting New Zealand has just launched a new schools programme -  Kōkōkaha - Powered by the Wind. National sport development director Raynor Haagh says Kōkōkaha is aimed at year 5 to year 10 pupils and helps them to learn more about sailing by focusing on the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) associated with harnessing the power of the wind. More than 20,000 children from 250 schools are so far taking part.

09:45 USA correspondent Susan Davis

The rise of hate crimes against Asian Americans in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the $1.9 trillion stimulus is now law and what does President Joe Biden's agenda look like with little indication Republicans are willing to compromise?.

 

10:05 Oscar nominated doco exposed vast health care fraud

A powerful documentary which exposed a vast healthcare fraud in Romania has been nominated for two Academy Awards. Collective, which opens in cinemas here this week,  tells the story of a 2015 nightclub fire in Bucharest, which killed 27 and left 180 injured. When more burn victims start dying in hospitals from wounds that were non life-threatening, investigative journalist Catalin Tolotan uncovers shocking misconduct and fraud within Romania's health sector. When a new health minister is appointed, he offers unprecedented access to his efforts to reform the corrupt system. Kathryn Ryan speaks with journalist Catalin Tolotan and film director Alexander Nanau.

10:35 Book review

Sally Wenley reviews The Auschwitz Photographer by  Luca Crippa and Maurizio Onnis. 

10:45 The Reading

Responsibility, part eight. Written by Nigel Cox and read by Tim Gordon.

11:05 My Food Bag, Tilt Renewables, A2 Milk

Business commentator Rod Oram joins Kathryn to talk about the disappointing stock market listing of My Food Bag, heaps praise on the independent directors of Tilt Renewables and looks at the worrying internal politics of A2 milk.

11:30 Wanaka company's first-of-its-kind freshwater wetsuits

Kathryn speaks to Eddie Spearing, who runs the annual Ruby Swim at Lake Wanaka, and has created a range of freshwater wetsuits to accommodate lower temperatures. The suits are the first of their kind - there's no others on the market anywhere around the world that are designed specifically for freshwater swimming. Eddie kicked off his Ruby Fresh wetsuit endeavour with an initial Pledge Me campaign...and three years demand has surged.

11:45 Media commentator Andrew Holden

The revitalisation of old media with a twist, including SEN, a sports radio network in Australia, buying  the TAB's radio frequencies in NZ to launch here, almost a year since Radio Sport was abruptly shut down.
 

Andrew Holden is a journalist for more than 30 years including five as Editor of The Press (in Christchurch) and four as Editor-in-Chief of The Age in Melbourne.