Nine To Noon for Friday 14 May 2021

 

09:05 Students still being treated like cash cows: Union

A parliamentary inquiry into Student Accommodation has recommended far more transparency from providers, and a stronger voice for students, but has stopped short of giving students in halls rights under the Residential Tenancies Act. The inquiry was started after last year's Covid-19 lockdowns when students were still charged for accommodation that they had been forced to leave.  The New Zealand Union of Students' Associations says the committee has missed a huge opportunity to protect students, who are still being treated like cash cows. Kathryn speaks with Andrew Lessells, the president of the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations.

09:20 Architectural excellence in Ōtautahi
Architectural historian Jessica Halliday tells the story of Christchurch through a few buildings. This weekend the city hosts the inaugural edition of Open Christchurch  - an event to celebrate architectural excellence. 

09:35 Science meets Māori knowledge at an ancient kūmara pit

Some groundbreaking research has dated kūmara in New Zealand back to the 15th century, lining scientific evidence up with mātauraka Māori.  The excavation of an ancient kumara pit just north of Dunedin at  Pūrākaunui is also the most southerly ever to be discovered in Polynesia. The find is valuable to local Māori, aligning with stories, knowledge and place names, as well as an insight into how this taonga was stored over half a millenium ago.  Associate Professor Ian Barber from the University of Otago Archaeology Programme has published the research in science journal Plos One.  Kathryn speaks with Ian Barber and chairperson of the Pūrākaunui Block Nicola Taylor.

09:45 Asia correspondent Ed White

Ed White is a correspondent with the Financial Times.

10:05 Danna Staaf: champion of the cephalopods

Danna Staaf is a marine biologist and science writer who is a champion of the cephalopod, in particular octopus and squid. She says these animals are intelligent, gentle and vital to the oceans with an extraordinary 400-million-year story. Cephalopods can use tools, solve puzzles, open jars to access prey and use extraordinary physical flexibility to mimic shapes and ooze through tiny holes. Danna tells Kathryn cephalopods can be overlooked, but she's on a mission to a bring them the fame they deserve. Her book is called Monarchs of the Sea: The Extraordinary 500-Million-Year History of Cephalopods.

10:35 Book review: Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura

Jenna Todd from Time Out Bookstore reviews Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura, published by Transworld

10:45 The Reading

Elisabeth Easther with 'Spitting Tax' the final part of her story series 'Between The Lines'.

11:05 New music with Jeremy Taylor

Tracks from Jon Savage's curated compilation, which Jeremy says is a fine two disc compilation of tracks from the first half of the 70's showcases the fertility of the era.
 

11:30 Sports commentator Dana Johannsen

The IPL shambles and the further strange twists to the saga with a charter flight put on from India to rescue the stranded Black Caps, as the team looks ahead to the World Test Championship final in the UK next month. Also new dates for the 2022 Rugby World Cup have been released and and MMA star Conor McGregor tops the Forbes list of biggest earnings sports star, netting $252 million.That equates to High Performance Sport NZ's entire annual operating budget.

Dana Johannsen is Stuff's National Correspondent specialising in sport.

11:45 The week that was with

Comedians Pinky Agnew and James Elliott bring a few laughs.