Nine To Noon for Tuesday 3 May 2022

 

 

09:05 Armstrong Downes Commercial: more building companies could collapse

The Chief Executive of one of the country's biggest commercial construction companies warns more building companies could collapse. Wellington-based construction company Armstrong Downes Commercial was put into liquidation yesterday, having suffered large losses from fixed price contracts, also procurement challenges, and labour shortages. Armstrong Downes Commercial has eight projects underway in the capital. Liquidators have taken control of construction sites, which are temporarily closed, and builders are locked out. Kathryn speaks with Rick Herd, also spokesperson for the Vertical Construction Leaders Group, which is made up of fifty of the biggest commercial construction companies in NZ.

09:30 Fonterra's capital restructure: what does it mean for farmers?

The government has backed Fonterra's capital restructure, after initially raising concerns about the proposal and whether they were in the best interests of the industry. Changes will be made to the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act to allow Fonterra to change its shareholding rules and limit the size of the related investment fund. Fonterra wants to make it easier to join the co-operative, while maintaining farmer ownership amid falling milk supply. Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor says the Fonterra proposals will be supported, but the government will ensure greater official scrutiny in the setting of milk prices, outside management of trading in Fonterra's shares and units, and more transparency. So what does this all mean for Fonterra, for farmers, and for milk prices? Kathryn finds out from Arie Dekker, the head of research at Jarden. 

09:45 USA correspondent Ron Elving

Ukraine seems to be hanging on, against all odds, signaling a longer war which means more permanent changes in Russian relations with the West. Ron says the sanctions regime is hardening, much to the amazement of NATO/EU critics, and the strong US-led response of the West still has bipartisan support in Congress, general support in US opinion.

Ron Elving is Senior Editor and Correspondent on the Washington Desk for NPR News.

10:05 Pirate Queens, Rebecca Simon: the women who ruled the waves

Dr Rebecca Simon's research and writing charts the rise and fall of pirates, from ancient times to a "golden era" spanning the 16th and 17th centuries, which, together with Treasure Island spawned a romantic Captain Jack Sparrow-eque image.  Rebecca' s new book Pirate Queens: The Lives of Anne Bonny and Mary Read is a history of female piracy in the Caribbean and the Atlantic. Anne Bonny and Mary Read were infamous pirates who swore and fought with pistols and cutlasses at a time when few women rose above servitude and wifely duties.
They weren't alone. Further afield, in the South China Sea, female pirate leader Ching Shih presided over a fleet of some 80,000 men.  By contrast, Captain Blackbeard had a crew of three hundred.  Both he and other notorious pirates make cameo appearances here.  Dr Simon teaches history at Santa Monica College, and joins Kathryn from LA.

10:35 Book review: French Braid by Anne Tyler

Catriona Ferguson reviews French Braid by Anne Tyler, published by Penguin Random House NZ   

10:45 The Reading

11:05 Business commentator Rebecca Stevenson - Is it time to chuck the growth economy in the bin?

Rebecca talks to Kathryn about whether modern economic focus on growth and gross domestic product (how much we make minus how much we buy) as a measure of a nation's success isn't sustainable - and whether it might be destroying our environment, and also not fairly compensating people for living lives dominated by work.
 
 

11:30 The bank of mum and dad gets bigger + how to get more bang for your winter buck

Gemma Rasmussen, head of communications and campaigns at Consumer NZ joins Kathryn to talk about new research that shows families are playing an increasing role in financing young people into the housing market. And winter is coming - what's the best way to heat your home, check you're with the right power provider and get more out of your streaming service?

11:45 How to Build Wealth for Retirement

Everyone knows they need to save for retirement, but Financial Planner, Liz Koh says saving is only part of the story. She says we need to think more broadly than that, because our goal should not be saving but building wealth. Liz talks to Kathryn about the difference.

Liz Koh is a financial planner and specialising in retirement planning. This discussion is of a general nature, and does not constitute financial advice.

 

Music played in this show

Track: The Bray
Artist: Yumi Zouma
Time played: 9:25

Track: Got it bad
Artist: Leisure
Time played: 10.30

Track:  B-Side
Artist: Khruang Bin
Time played: 11:30