Nine To Noon for Thursday 16 June 2022

 

 

09:05 Govt rules out more support for Chch stadium blow-out

As Christchurch ratepayers have their say on the future of the city's beleaguered new stadium project, the Prime Minister has made it clear there'll be no more money from central government. The 30,000 seat covered stadium was initially projected to cost $533 million, but ballooning costs mean another $150 million is needed, taking the project to $683 million. The government is contributing $220 million to the project, and the Prime Minister yesterday ruled out providing more support to cover the increasing costs. A large chunk will have to be absorbed by Christchurch ratepayers, an estimated extra $39 a year per household would be needed, pushing up rates bills by $144 a year in total for the stadium. In response to the blowout, the council is now consulting the public on three options; accept the $150 million cost increase, delay and redesign it, or stop the project altogether. Kathryn speaks to Sam MacDonald, Christchurch city councillor and Leeann Watson, chief executive of the Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce. 

09:30 Unexpected "swarm" of marine life found beneath Antarctic ice

An unexpected "swarm" of marine life has been found in a newly explored Antarctic river deep beneath the ice. A team of scientists from Victoria University, NIWA, and GNS made the discovery while studying a suspected under-ice estuary, hundreds of kilometres from the edge of the Ross Ice Shelf. When they drilled down into the river, their camera was inundated by dozens of small amphipods - a type of animal from the same family that includes lobsters, crabs, and mites. Kathryn speaks with Professor Craig Stevens, NIWA Physical Oceanographer who was part of the team.

09:45 UK: Deportation plan grounded, Northern Ireland Protocol, Banks loses

UK correspondent Matt Dathan joins Kathryn to look at why the government's plans to send asylum seekers to central Africa were thwarted at the last minute, the EU is launching legal action against Britain over its attempts to change the Northern Ireland Protocol, and businessman Arron Banks loses his long-running libel case against a freelance journalist.
 

10:05 Tanya Bottomley: 600 kms, 26 days unsupported from Fiordland to Oamaru

Dropped off by helicopter into remote Fiordland, Tanya Bottomley embarked on a 600 kilometre journey to traverse
the 45th Parallel, from Caswell Sound to the beaches of Oamaru. Starting at the end of January, Tanya's trip lasted 26 days- 300 kilometres of which was on foot, 22 kilometres of paddling, and around 270 kilometres of cycling. She had no track to follow and multiple mountain ranges and lakes to cross. Tanya Bottomley is speaking at the Mountain Book and Film Festival later this month and will be releasing a film about her expedition next year.

10:35 Book review: Horse by Geraldine Brooks

Louise O'Brien reviews Horse by Geraldine Brooks, published by Hachette NZ

10:45 The Reading

'My Father's Ears', part eight. Written by Karen Goa.

11:05 Economy contracts: GDP down by 0.2 %

It's official - the economy has contracted. Gross Domestic Product fell 0.2 percent in the March 2022 quarter, according to the latest data from Stats NZ, just released. This compares with a rise of 3.0 percent in the December 2021 quarter. The annual rate of GDP slowed to 1.2 percent from 3.1 percent in 2021. Meanwhile the local share market has posted its first substantive gain in more than a week, following the positive mood on Wall Street, after the US Federal Reserve hiked interest rates to get inflation under control. Kathryn speaks with RNZ Business Editor Gyles Beckford.

11:05 Tech: When is Artificial Intelligence not 'artificial' anymore? 

Tech commentator Paul Matthews joins Kathryn to look at why one of Google’s Artificial Intelligence chatbots hit the news this week. One of its engineers went public with big news: he thought it could now feel, perceive and think for itself. What’s really going on and is this the dawn of a new AI era? 

11:25 Raising strong girls

Author and parenting coach, Maggie Dent, talks to Kathryn about her new book Girlhood: raising our little girls to be healthy, happy and heard. She says it is vital that parents enable young girls' voices to be heard, and help girls navigate the challenges of modern times. Maggie is the mother of four boys, and the proud grandmother of four girls. She's a former teacher and counsellor, the host of the ABC podcast Parental as Anything

11:45 Film & TV: Ms Marvel, Umbrella Academy and Time Traveler's Wife 

Film and TV correspondent Laumata Lauano looks at a new offering from Disney and the Marvel universe: Ms Marvel. It scores high on the diversity list, but why was it subject to review bombing on the IMDb site? She'll also look at the long-awaited season three of Umbrella Academy (Netflix) and the TV version of the popular book The Time Traveler's Wife (Neon).

Music played in this show

Track: Treat You So Right
Artist: Rhombus
Time played: 9:45