Nine To Noon for Tuesday 23 August 2022

 

 

09:05 Plunket CEO "We're selling off the family silver and cutting services"

The outgoing Chief Executive of Plunket says the organisation is having to sell off the family silver and cut services because of inadequate funding. Amanda Malu is about to leave the top job after six years. In that time, she's presided over the controvertial sale of Plunket assets and the shutting down of services - in order to balance the books. She says before the financial year even begins, Plunket is already in deficit to the tune of $3 million, and if it were to pay Plunket nurses the same as DHB nurses, the shortfall this year alone would be over $9 million. Amanda Malu speaks with Kathryn Ryan.

09:20 Who's in and who's out of the Auckland mayoralty?

With local elections just over six weeks away, it's time to check in with the race to lead our biggest city. Twenty-three people are contesting the Auckland mayoralty, with polling showing it's a tight race between two-term Manukau councillor Efeso Collins, Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck, businessman and former Far North Mayor Wayne Brown and freelance media operator Craig Lord. Outspoken publican Leo Molloy pulled out at the 11th hour. For a closer look at who's in the running, and some of the big issues they're campaigning on, Kathryn is  joined by the New Zealand Herald's Super City reporter Bernard Orsman.

 

09:30 Strawberries all year round: The potential of vertical farming

Vertical farming company 26 Seasons is one of just a handful of companies worldwide that has successfully grown strawberries year-round, in an indoor vertical farm. An industrial site in Foxton houses vertically stacked beds, with optimal conditions set for growing strawberries 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. The controlled indoor environment removes external factors that can affect growth such as weather, seasons, pests and disease. Kathryn speaks with Grant Leach, the chief executive of 26 Seasons.

09:45 USA correspondent Ron Elving

Congress is out for summer but news about Donald Trump's legal woes is filling the void. Polling shows the Democrats are doing a bit better in the lead up to midterms and there's concern about where-to next on Taiwan and Ukraine.

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

 

 

10:05 How fostering and deepening male friendship can benefit mental health 

In his academic and professional career Australian Clinical Psychologist Zac Seidler has focused on understanding men's mental health and masculinity, reducing male suicide and the benefits of mateship. Through his research, he advocates for a change in the way we think about treating men's distress, and also stresses the need to create mental health services that account for masculinity. This has lead to the groundbreaking training program Men in Mind  for mental health clinicians, aimed at better understanding and responses to men's anguish and suicidality. Dr Seidler  is currently the Director of Mental Health Training at Movember and a Senior Research Fellow with Orygen at the University of Melbourne.

10:30 Protestors gather at Civic Square

Supporters of the Freedoms and Rights Coalition - associated with Destiny Church - are preparing to march through central Wellington to Parliament this morning. A counter protest is planned also - at the Cenotaph. RNZ reporter Rosie Gordon is at Civic Square.

10:35 Book review - Billy Wallace: A True Rugby Legend by Denis Dwyer

David Hill reviews Billy Wallace: A True Rugby Legend by Denis Dwyer, published by Bateman books

10:45 The Reading

A short story by Pip Adam from her collection Everything We Hoped for.  Alison Harper with Everything.    
 

11:05 Business commentator Rebecca Stevenson : TikTokers turn against Amazon

Rebecca says TikTokers, who are atop the social media hierarchy, are flexing their power in a new way and have a huge foe in their sights, and it's not another content platform or other influencers. Creators all over TikTok are joining together to stand in solidarity with Amazon workers and union organisers by refusing to monetise platforms for Amazon, including all direct Amazon sponsorships and usage of Amazon’s storefront. Rebecca also looks at incorporated societies getting into strife for failing to file financials.

Rebecca Stevenson  is a senior writer at interest.co.nz

11:30 The meaning of the word iwi

Social Anthropologist and Museum Ethnographer Dr Paul Tapsell talks to Kathryn about how connection to ancestral marae relates to indigenous wellbeing, and also the pathways to connecting and belonging to iwi. He founded the digital web service Māori maps.com to help urban-raised Māori youth reconnect.

11:40 "Freedom & Rights" march through parliament

Supporters of the Freedoms and Rights Coalition - associated with Destiny Church - are marching through central Wellington to Parliament where they will rally. Along the way, theyt are passing a counter protest at the Cenotaph. RNZ reporter Hamish Cardwell has been following  the march.

11:45   "I've been expelled" - Gaurav Sharma

The Hamilton West MP Gaurav Sharma says he has been expelled by the Labour caucus. Dr Sharma was suspended from the caucus last week for what it says were his repeated breaches of trust. The Labour caucus has just met, Dr Sharma was there.He's just spoken with reporters at parliament.  RNZ political reporter Katie Scotcher was there

11:50  Money expert Liz Koh : home ownership in a falling market

Liz talks to Kathryn about whether now is the right time to buy a home and what it means when you have negative equity in your house or apartment.
 

Liz Koh is a money expert. This discussion is of a general nature, and does not constitute financial advice.

 

Music played in this show

Track: Escaping 
Artist: Margaret Urlich
Time played:  10:40am