Nine To Noon for Monday 22 August 2022

 

09:05 Government buys back Kiwibank

The government is buying back Kiwibank to take full ownership. It has just announced the purchase of Kiwi Group, the parent company of Kiwibank, valuing it at $2.1 billion. Until now Kiwi Group Holdings had been owned by NZ Post, ACC and the NZ Super fund. The NZ Superfund  had expressed an interest in buying a majority holding in Kiwi Group Hodings but the government's pledge to keep the bank fully locally-owned made that impossible. Kathryn speaks with business commentator, editor and co-founder of BusinessDesk , Pattrick Smellie.

09:10 Venue operators say urban intensification is killing live music

Live music venue operators say urban intensification is sounding the death knell for their sector. As more and more people move into apartments and other developments in our urban centres - tension over noise is rising with existing local live performance venues. The Dunedin City Council has recently approved an application for apartments to built next to the Crown Hotel, one of the city's few live music venues, but after a backlash from music fans, has agreed to review planning rules around inner-city noise. David Bennett is spokesperson for the group Save Dunedin Live Music - he says the Crown is a vital part of Dunedin's music scene, and the birthplace of many important bands. He says his group is not trying to stop the development of dwellings in the inner city, but wants them planned well and done right. David speaks with Kathryn Ryan, along with Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkins, and Taylor MacGregor from the group Save our Venues NZ.

 

09:30 Casting a critical eye over development in Auckland's city centre

Auckland's CBD has hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent times. It's been plagued by a number of issues kicked off by the pandemic, a keenly felt absence of international tourists, workers reluctant to return to the office, an exodus of retailers from the midtown and Aotea Square area and ongoing, noisy and ugly disruption caused by the construction of the City Rail Link. The CBD is home to 45,000 residents - but has development been piecemeal and lacking in cohesion and committment to wellbeing?. Julie Stout is an Auckland architect, urbanist and a Professional Teaching Fellow in the masters programme at the University of Auckland's School of Architecture and Planning. Earlier this year, she was the first woman to be awarded the Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Gold Medal for lifetime achievement. Julie Stout sees a troubling landscape in the city centre, but also signs of promise for great design.

09:45 Europe correspondent Seamus Kearney - Has the Ukraine war reached the streets of Moscow?

The daughter of a key political ally of the Russian president has been killed in a suspected car bomb attack in Moscow, with her father thought to have been the intended target. If confirmed as being linked to the war in Ukraine, the explosion would be the first time the violence of the war in Ukraine has reached the streets of Moscow. Senior Russian figures have suggested that Ukraine could be behind the killing, but Ukraine denies that. The woman killed in the Moscow bombing, Darya Dugina, is the daughter of Alexander Dugin, an extreme nationalist often referred to as Putin's 'philosophical guru' who supports Russia taking over Ukraine and the creation of a new Russian empire. 

10:05 Why the NZ Superfund sold its stake in Kiwi Bank

The government  has announced this morning it is taking direct control of Kiwibank, buying the holding company which owns the bank from the Superannuation Fund, ACC, and NZ Post. The Super Fund is being paid 527-million dollars for its 25 percent stake. The Super Fund's chief executive Matt Whineray says it considered buying some or all of NZ Post's stake but the government would not agree to having private money in Kiwibank nor give the Fund a free hand on whom it might sell its stake to. He speaks with Kathryn Ryan.

10:10 Bringing hospitality into the digital age with lessons from a fruit shop   

When third generation greengrocer Sanjay Dayal decided to close his family business after a 63 year run, he was quick to make sure his talents weren't left to wither. The family's shop - Cuba St Fruit Mart in Wellington, had been supplying some of the city's best restaurants including neighbouring Logan Brown. His insight into how wholesale produce is sold, and his relationships with local chefs was the starting point for HospoConnect, a digital marketplace he set up with childhood friend Ramesh Naran, whose family were also Wellington greengrocers. 

10:35 Book review - Seven Sisters by Rikki Swanell

Dana Johannsen reviews Seven Sisters: How a people-first culture turned silver into gold by Rikki Swanell, published by Upstart Press   

10:45 The Reading

Laura Hill with short story,  Like a Good Idea by Pip Adam

11:05 Political commentators Neale Jones & Tim Hurdle 

Neale, Tim and Kathryn discuss the government Kiwibank buy back. Also will the Labour caucus kick Gaurev Sharma out this week - and have his accusations caused lasting damage to the party? Should National's leader Christopher Luxon release the detail of an inquiry into Sam Uffindell? And are this year's local body elections at risk of being overrun by conspiracy theorists?

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 public affairs firm Capital.

Tim Hurdle is a former National party advisor and was campaign director for National at the 2020 election.

 

 

11:30 The key to fabulous cheese scones

The cheese scones are an extremely popular baked item at Wellington's Pravda Cafe. Not only are the scones in demand, but people have been signing up to Cheese Scone Classes at Wellington on a Plate. Pravda chef, Ash Tapsell talks to Kathryn about what makes their cheese scones so moreish.

11:45 Off the beaten track with Kennedy Warne

Kennedy talks to Kathryn about the gravitational attraction of ice, and why the Nepalese government is shifting Everest Base Camp.

Kennedy also mentions a recent visit to a prolific stand of kauri trees in Warkworth.