Nine To Noon for Friday 29 July 2022
09:05 Mega Polytech's financial woes. How could staff and students lose out?
Five months out from a deadline to centralise, concern the new single-entity mega polytech won't get over the line without massive staff cuts. Te Pukenga - the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology - is due to be up and running by the first of January - bringing together all our polytechnics, institutes of technology and Industry Training Organisations. But it's facing a deficit of up to $110 million, $53.5 million more than budgeted. Former Otago Polytechnic chief executive Phil Ker, is calling it "a national disgrace". He thinks funding has been wasted on bureaucracy and says Te Pukenga's board is "just not up to the task." Kathryn is also joined by Merran Davis, a former deputy chief executive of Te Pukenga, who supports the new model, but agrees it is being poorly executed.
09:25 Improving baby's chance of good lung health: Matthew Kemp
There's been a breakthrough in the way antenatal steroids are used to help preterm babies develop their lungs in the womb. A new study suggests using lower steroid doses will improve babies' lung development and have fewer side effects for them and their mothers. Among the researchers is expat Professor Matthew Kemp, who's the Acting Chief Scientific Director of the Women & Infants Research Foundation, and Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the National University of Singapore. Matt speaks with Kathryn about his work as a scientist who works with doctors and nurses to improve the health of preterm and extreme preterm babies.
09:40 The rise of walking netball
If you've ever thought about a return to the netball court, but worry about spraining an ankle or not being fit enough - walking netball could be for you. Also known as "low impact netball" - it's the same game, 7 aside, but players cannot run or jump. Netball Wellington has been running a weekly league for a couple of years now at the ASB stadium, and Kathryn speaks with Community Director Sue Geale and Wellington grandmother Robbie Herbison who's been playing for two years.
09:45 Pacific correspondent Susana Lei'ataua
Susana Lei'ataua, RNZ Pacific's news editor, has the latest from the Pacific, including the election in Papua New Guinea, Samoa opening its border for the first time on Monday, and Pacific participation in the Commonwealth Games.
10:05 Cinderella: a modern twist on a classic ballet
A thoroughly modern Cinderella centred around a quest for identity, true love and the courage to be yourself is being staged by the Royal New Zealand Ballet Company. Cinderella is the company's first national tour in more than a year, and the first production performed at its renovated home base, the St James Theatre in Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. The new ballet, three years in the making, has been choreographed and composed by Kiwis Loughlan Prior and Claire Cowan.
10:35 Book review: Joan by Katherine Chen
Martene McCaffrey of Unity Books Auckland reviews Joan by Katherine Chen, published by Hodder
Martene says Chen's Joan is a retelling of a familiar figure in European history. The novel is a fictionalised account of the heroine Joan of Arc, focusing on her life and ambitions, as opposed to her famous end at the stake.
10:45 The Reading
Episode 15 of 'Baby No Eyes' by Patricia Grace.
11:05 Music reviewer Grant Smithies
Freshly remastered and sounding better than ever, Safe As Milk was the first studio album by Californian musical auteur Captan Beefheart (Don Van Vliet). We’ll hear two key tracks from that today, followed by new music from Wellington “underground supergroup” Cookie Brooklyn and The Crumbs and a 40 year old hp hop classic from Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five.
11:30 Will the Commonwealth Games capture our imaginations?
The Commonwealth Games are underway, but will it truly capture the public's imagination? Sam Ackerman joins us to look at why some feel the shine is coming off the Games, as well as the latest controversies embroiling the rugby codes.
11:45 The week that was
Comedians Te Radar and Kathryn Burnett look back on the stories that made them laugh this week.
Music played in this show
Track: Tear Drops
Artist: Womack and Womack
Time played: 10:30am
Track: Come Apart
Artist: Fazerdaze
Time played: 10:40am