Nine To Noon for Tuesday 30 August 2022

 

 

09:05 Body camera trial to protect frontline supermarket staff

Countdown supermarkets is considering trialling the use of body cameras for some staff in a bid to address chronic verbal abuse directed at staff and as physical assaults become more common. Body cameras, if introduced, would be able to capture detailed evidence of abuse. Violence towards supermarket workers has become an urgent issue since a stabbing attack at Dunedin Central's Countdown store in May last year, and a terror attack at Auckland's LynnMall Countdown last  September. Kiri Hannafin is the manager of corporate affairs at Countdown.

09:15 UK moves to allow gene-edited crops for first time

The UK government is working to change the law on gene-edited food, allowing it to be sold in the country for the first time. The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill, being introduced to Parliament, will allow gene-edited crops to be developed and grown in England and sold in Great Britain.  That's despite the fact that polls indicate the vast majority of the UK public are opposed to the move.  Supermarkets remain unenthusiastic and campaigners argue that gene-editing is just genetic modification by a more palatable name.  Kathryn speaks with Adam Vaughan, chief reporter at  New Scientist.

09:30 Ukraine, six months on: Kiwi Petra Straight on what families need

In the past week Ukraine has marked two significant events - 31 years of independence, and six months of holding off an invasion by its giant neighbour. It's a conflict that's had an enormous cost in a very short timeframe: tens of thousands dead, millions displaced, billions spent on military equipment - let alone the final total to rebuild shattered towns and cities.  One immeasurable cost is the toll on the country's children. Unicef estimates two die every day in this conflict. Almost two in three children in Ukraine have been displaced by fighting. New Zealander Petra Straight has been in-country for Save the Children and joins Kathryn to talk about where the needs are greatest

09:45 US correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben

The US President is offering some student loan leeway with his administration announcing it will forgive up to $10,000 for most borrowers ($20,000 for some who were low-income students). This comes after more than two years of a pause on student loan payments that started as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. And regarding the FBI search of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, the government has released a heavily redacted version of the affidavit in the investigation. And Danielle says there's more evidence of the abortion issue's potential importance in this year's midterms.

Danielle Kurtzleben is a political correspondent assigned to NPR's Washington Desk
 

10:05 Unravelling the mystery and history of Charlotte Badger

Not much is certain about the life of Charlotte Badger, one of the first Pākehā women to live in New Zealand, but many stories have been woven about her over two centuries. A young Charlotte was arrested for the crime of 'housebreaking' in her native Worcester, sentenced to death and sent to the penal colony of New South Wales in the early 19th century. Upon her release, she's aboard a ship when its crew mutinies - and ends up living among Maori in the Bay of Islands. Through some excellent historical detective work Jennifer Ashton has unpicked what we know for sure about Charlotte from the legends that have sprung up about her. Her book is Thief, Convict, Pirate, Wife: The Many Histories of Charlotte Badger and Jennifer joins Kathryn to explain what she managed to learn about Charlotte.

10:35 Book review - The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell

Catriona Ferguson reviews The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell, published by Tinder Press

10:45 The Reading

Argentina by Breton Dukes from his collection Bird North, read by Simon Leary

 

11:05 Business Commentator Pattrick Smellie

Pattrick talks to Kathryn about why the announcement by Qantas that it is going to fly direct to New York from Auckland represents a serious competitive threat to Air NZ. Also why coal-fired electricity will be with us for a bit longer yet, with Genesis putting up for tender a so-called "swaption" contract that allows renewable generators to buy insurance cover to keep Huntly available. And one to watch - this week's Ports of Auckland result
 

Pattrick is is the editor and co-founder of BusinessDesk and has reported on the New Zealand economy and business since 1983.

 

11:30 Denis Dwyer on New Zealand rugby's 'grand old man' Billy Wallace

He's described as the "grand old man of New Zealand rugby", now the life and legendary status of Billy Wallace has been detailed in a new book by author Denis Dwyer. A member of the The Original All Blacks selected for the 1905 tour to the British Isles, France and North America, he was the first  New Zealander to score 500 points in first-class rugby and held the New Zealand record for the most points in an All Blacks match for 46 years. He went on to hold a distinguished coaching career at club, provincial and national level and also served as a national administrator. This is the eighth book for Denis - but not his first foray into writing about New Zealand's rugby history. He joins Kathryn to explain his passion for the sport's legendary players.

11:45 Media Commentator Andrew Holden

Andrew looks at the Google deal for NZ media collective, Sky back in the black, and the fascinating Crikey v Lachlan Murdoch stoush.

Andrew Holden, a journalist for more than 30 years including five as Editor of The Press (in Christchurch) and four as Editor-in-Chief of The Age in Melbourne. 
 

Music played in this show

Track: Debbie
Artist: Your Smith
Time played: 9:35

Track: Buttercup
Artist: Hippo Campus
Time played: 10:33

Track: Time Flies
Artist: Ladyhawke
Time played: 10:45

Track: Gettin' To The Point
Artist: Panda Bear and Sonic Boom
Time played: 11:28

Track: Space
Artist: Bacao Rhythm and Steel Band
Time played: 11:47