Nine To Noon for Monday 4 October 2021

 

 

09:05 A roadmap out of lockdown

Cabinet will review Covid levels today, but the Prime Minister is already framing today's announcement more as a "roadmap" forward, after vaccination rates fell 87,000 short of a 90 percent goal for any loosening the city's lockdown.  A big chunk of the Waikato is now included in level 3, after cases appeared outside of the Auckland border over the weekend. There is a growing call for a clearer path forward, and more detail about what people can plan for depending on vaccination rates achieved. The government's expert advisory group is also re-working the re-opening plan for next year that it delivered to government in August, just before the Delta outbreak. High vaccination levels are being touted by the government and experts as the way out of lockdowns. But where exactly are we at, and what will be possible at different levels of vaccination?  Kathryn speaks with Covid-19 modeller, Professor Michael Plank from the University of Canterbury 

09:20 Treating Covid-19: Ronapreve explained

The antibody drug Ronapreve is being reviewed by Medsafe to treat covid-19 patients in New Zealand. Described as an antibody cocktail, the World Health Organisation is recommending people who are most at risk of being hospitalised, and those with severe or critical Covid-19, who lack their own antibody response be treated with Ronapreve.  It's already been cleared for use in the UK. Also known as Regeneron, it was previously used by former US president Donald Trump.  Kathryn Ryan speaks with Infectious Diseases Physician and Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Otago, Professor Kurt Krause, who says these antibodies should be given early in the course of Covid to be most effective.

09:30 Wellington City Councillors to vote on expanding bush track network

Wellington City Councillors will vote next month on a proposal to vastly expand the city's bush track network into the Te Kopahou reserve. It's an area of over one thousand hectares that descends from the southern boundary of Zealandia and Polhill Gully to the south coast.   The proposal will see existing tracks upgraded and new tracks built for walkers, trampers, runners and mountain bikers to go from Aro Valley all the way to the South Coast. The area also contains significant habitat for rare and threatened native species and coastal eco-systems, and some among the 300 submissions made on the plan suggest it ought to be left untouched. Kathryn discusses with Craig Starnes of Brooklyn Track Builders - a volunteer group which, for the last 12 years,  has been building trails, planting trees and assisting with predator trapping in Polhill/Waimapihi Reserve - immediately to the north of Te Kopahou. Also Wellington Mayor Andy Foster.

09:45 Europe correspondent Seamus Kearney

A court in Paris has been hearing  harrowing testimony from survivors of the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead and more than 400 injured. Meanwhile, another court in Paris has imposes a one year jail term on former French president Nicolas Sarkozy after he was found guilty of illegal campaign funding when he unsuccessfully stood for reelection in 2012.  And in Brussels there are talks to ease Kosovo-Serbia tensions.

10:05 Geoff Ross & Justine Troy: From Herne Bay to Lake Hawea Station

Geoff Ross & Justine Troy swapped their busy urban Auckland lives to embark on a new adventure on their Otago high country farm, Lake Hawea Station. They founded the vodka brand 42 Below in their garage in Wellington in the late nineties, and sold it to Bacardi in 2006 for over 100 million dollars. Geoff is Executive Chair of Moa Brewing, former director and chair of The Triolgy Group and a Trustee of Pure Advantage.  But two years ago the couple and their two sons made the big move south to Lake Hawea Station where their vision is to lead the way in  carbon positive farming, preserving biodiversity, improving the ecosystem and making a profit.
Lake Hawea Station is the country's first carbon positive certified merino sheep farm.

10:35 Second hand bookshop review: Mort by Terry Pratchett

Matthew Morris from Wellington second-hand book store Arty Bees reviews Mort by Terry Pratchett published by Penguin Random House

10:45 The Reading

11:05 Political commentators Jones & Morten - Covid spreads to Waikato

Neale Jones and Brigitte Morten talk to Kathryn about the Govenment's ongoing plans to deal with the Covid delta outbreak as two positive cases in Hamilton and Raglan see parts of  Waikato move to level 3. Is an elimination strategy still feasible? The Prime Minister is announcing a roadmap today, and National and ACT's Covid plans have been announced 

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 Capsicums from the Matakana food basket

 

For almost 40 years, horticulturalist Hamish Alexander has been growing capsicums in at Omaha Flats and now employs more than 150 people. His business, Southern Paprika is one of many food producers featured in a new book from food writer Lauraine Jacobs. It takes a village, a guide to Matakana and its surrounding districts - showcases the local artisans, food businesses, wineries, breweries, restaurants, cafés and boutique accommodation. Matakana is well known for its Saturday morning market and the area is not just a bounty of food, but is a leisure mecca with beautiful beaches including Ōmaha and Tāwharanui, regional parks and cycle trails.
Hamish Alexander and Lauraine Jacobs talk to Kathryn about all the area has to offer and Lauraine has a recipe for making fritters out of  Mahurangi oysters. 

 

11:45 Is the Future of Housing in our own back yards?

Bill looks at the history of the backyard in New Zealand and how it's changed over the years. As the housing crisis continues, could our backyards be the perfect place to look for a solution?

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

Music played in this show

Artist: Mild Orange
Track: This Kinda Day
Time played: 09:35