Nine To Noon for Monday 30 August 2021

09:05 Cabinet considers tougher restrictions under Level 4

Cabinet meets today to look at how much longer Auckland and Northland will remain at level four, and also to consider tougher restrictions for businesses under alert levels four and three. The daily case numbers yesterday were on a par with the day before, but essential workers have so far passed on the virus at four separate sites during this Delta outbreak. Meanwhile the strong uptake of the vaccine is causing headaches for the government in terms of supply with the Prime Minister warning it may need to 'reduce demand' in coming weeks. Kathryn speaks with University of Auckland Professor of Epidemiology, Professor Rod Jackson.

09:20 Recycling old tech to help bridge the digital divide

Thousands of old lap-tops are needed to be repurposed to help bridge the digital divide, particularly for people in rural areas and children learning from home.  Supply chain issues and a shortage of computer chips make it all the more crucial to breathe new life into second hand tech right now, according to Tim Findlay, who is Managing Director of Remark-it Solutions which security cleans, recycles, and repurposes IT and electronic equipment. Tim tells Kathryn he's also behind Digital Wings which gets businesses to donate their old IT gear, fixes it up and gives it to charities and community organisations. So far Tim and his team have diverted 400 tonnes of e-waste from landfill. 

If you want to organise collection for items you'd like to donate please call 0800 439-278 or email: donate@remarkit.co.nz

09:30 Nine to Noon Short Story Competition launched. Get typing!

Announcing the first ever Nine to Noon Short Story Competition! The prize? Five winning stories will be produced for radio and broadcast on Nine to Noon in November.  Your story must be with us by 1 October, to be judged by acclaimed authors Tina Makereti and Harry Ricketts.  The competition is open to anyone over 16 years of age and stories should be as close to 2,000 words as possible. Winners will be announced on 29 October.

Kathryn speaks with judges Tina and Harry for tips on getting started, what they think makes a good short story and what they'll be looking for in the winners.

09:45 South America correspondent Katy Watson - Brazil & Venezuala

Thousands of indigenous people have protested outside Brazil's Supreme Court ahead of a decision that could introduce a cut-off date for land claims. President Jair Bolsonaro has long held the belief that indigenous tribes live on too much land and block agricultural growth. And in Venezuala, government and the opposition talks have been underway to try to overcome the political and economic crisis in the oil-rich country.

10:05  Peter Laurenson: my Khumbu connection and passing it on to the next generation

Peter Laurenson is a keen tramper, climber and photographer who has spent three decades maintaining a special connection with the Khumbu region - the gateway to Mount Everest. He first visited the region in 1988 and has returned six times since, having forged a strong friendship with teahouse owners Pasang D and Nima Sherpa and their children. It was at their urging that he brought his eldest son Ben to Khumbu when he was 15, a journey which became a family rite of passage for his other two sons, Ed and Will, when they attained the same age. Peter's documented his three journeys with his sons, as well as the history of the region and his stunning photography in a new book: Khumbu: Gateway to Mount Everest, Pathways to Kinship.

10:35 Book review: The Pink Jumpsuit  by Emma Neale

Anna Jackson-Scott reviews The Pink Jumpsuit by Emma Neale, published by Quentin Wilson Publishing

10:45 The Reading

Our reading this morning is  probably one of the best known of Katherine Mansfield's short stories. It was written in Menton in November 1920. Helen Moulder tells the story of Miss Brill.
 

11:05 Political commentators Mills & Morten

Stephen, Brigitte and Kathryn discuss lockdown levels ahead of the Cabinet considering today how long Auckland and Northland will be in level 4. Also, have there been missed opportunities in the leadup to this outbreak - and what the opposition is saying about the Government's handling of the crisis so far.

Stephen Mills is the executive director of UMR Research , which is the polling firm used by Labour.  He is former political adviser to two Labour governments.

Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks & Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government.

11:30 Homegrown Happiness: Elien Lewis shares seasonal recipes

Lockdown may be giving many of us more time in the garden - but what should we be planting? Elien Lewis, runs a food blog called Homegrown Happiness and has just released a book of the same name. It's focused on how to make the most of what we've got - setting up a garden, composting, foraging and keeping things low-waste. She joins Kathryn with some planting tips, and has shared two of her favourite recipes: Lemon & nasturtium pappardelle and Sticky ginger cauliflower. 

11:45 Off the beaten track with Kennedy Warne - enjoying nature close to home

Kennedy has been exploring his home patch, and enjoying Western Springs, which is an expanse of ponds, wetlands and rock outcrops that he says speaks eloquently of Tamaki Maraurau's volcanic history.

Music played in this show

Track: River
Artist: Leon Bridges 
Broadcast time: 10:35am 

Track: Super Hiro
Artist:  Cassowary 
Broadcast time: 10:45

Track: By the Sea at the End of the World 
Artist: Tommy Guerrero
Broadcast time: 11:30am