Nine To Noon for Monday 6 September 2021

09:05 LynnMall attacker's deportation awaited appeal 

Following Friday's terror attack, Cabinet will today consider the need for any changes to immigration or anti-terror laws, and a higher level inquiry. Ahamed Aathill Mohamed Samsudeen was shot dead by police after stabbing six people inside Auckland's Countdown LynnMall. In February 2019, his refugee status was cancelled on the basis of fraud. He appealed that cancellation to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal, and could not be deported until that appeal was determined. But two and half years later, why had that appeal not been heard? Kathryn asks Stewart Dalley, Chair of the Auckland District Law Society's Immigration and Refugee Law Committee.

09:20 Covid booster shots: why, when and how much?

The Covid vaccine roll out continues at pace, but at what point should we start planning for covid booster shots? An Oxford University study published last month found Covid vaccines do not protect people as well even after three months. It found the Pfizer vaccine was 75 percent effective in preventing infection after 90 days, down from 85 percent two weeks after the second shot. The study is not yet peer-reviewed. In the United Kingdom, half a million people with weakened immunity are being offered a third dose of the vaccine in order to improve their protection against the virus, and health officials are discussing whether to roll out a booster programme. Our Covid 19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has said New Zealand could have as many as two million doses left over for use as boosters if the science and officials recommend it. Meanwhile the WHO is asking wealthy countries to delay buying excess supplies to ensure poorer countries can at least get their first and second shots. Kathryn speaks with Professor David Hunter is a Professor of Epidemiology at Oxford University and Professor of Medicine, Emeritus at Harvard Medical School.

09:35 Online festival - Ars Electronica Garden Aotearoa

Ars Electronica Garden Aotearoa gets underway later this week. It explores how the digital world connects with the physical world and  is part of global cyber exhibition showcasing installations of art, technology and society. One of the organisers, Associate Professor Uwe Rieger from the University of Auckland's arc/sec Lab for Cyber physical design says all you need to take part is a good internet connection. He talks to Kathryn about some of exhibits including the Light Sense and the Tumour Evolution Project.

09:45 Europe correspondent Seamus Kearney

The EU says the bloc could engage with the Taliban - if certain conditions are met. Italy's Prime Minister says Covid vaccines could be made mandatory, and the trial over the 2015 terror attacks in Paris opens this week.
 

10:05 Jayden Klinac: entrepreneur and environmentalist

Jayden Klinac views problems as design opportunities, and the environment is his target. He's developed New Zealand's first biodegradable and compostable water bottle, made entirely from plants - For the Better Good. It's the lead product for a system he's designing; from production, to collection, to composting. His firm is also composting the packaging of Whittaker's trial of biodegradable Peanut Slab wrappers. And in one year, Jayden Klinac's suburban farm in Wellington has diverted over 40,000 kg of food waste and packaging from landfills. Kathryn speaks with Jayden Klinac - the founder of For the Better Good and Edible Earth and co-founder of Nudes Drinks.

10:35 Book review: Melt by Ele Fountain

Joanna Ludbrook from Chicken and Frog books in Featherston reviews Melt by Ele Fountain, published by Allen and Unwin

10:45 The Reading

11:05 Political commentators Jones & Morten - imminent changes to terrorism law

Neale, Brigitte and Kathryn discuss the call to urgently pass the counter-terrorism law and the government's actions on deportation following the LynnMall Countdown supermarket terror attack. Prior efforts to strip the attacker of his refugee status had been unsuccessful. Also, pressure is on the Government to secure more Covid vaccines as vaccination rates soar with the advent of the Delta strain.

Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of Capital Government Relations.

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 Going bananas about growing bananas

Scores of hectares of bananas are grown here, mainly in Northland. Whangerai farmer Hugh Rose has a banana plant nursery, where he also grows paw paw and sugar cane. When Hugh's not growing tropical fruit he's spokesperson for Tropical Fruit Growers of New Zealand.  He tells Kathryn about growing banana plants and how New Zealand-grown bananas could be in our stores in about five years.

11:45 Urban issues with Bill McKay 

Bill says it's time for a reality check and asks just how unreal is The Block reality series?. The TV  reality show has four couples competing to "renovate" four adjoining houses or apartments. Increasingly these are new builds, by different designers and builders, finished off as part of the programme. Bill ponders - what is real, and what is entertainment?.

Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland.

Music played in this show

Artist: Dan Hauerbach
Song: Waiting on a Song
Time played: 09:35