Nine To Noon for Monday 12 September 2022

 

 

09:05 Is the $44 million Counsellors in Schools programme failing to deliver?

A fundraiser in Mount Maunganui to help the local intermediate school employ a counsellor for the next two years is raising questions about whether the government's $44 million Counsellors in Schools programme is failing to deliver. $83 thousand was raised by the Mount community, after the loss of a student to a suspected suicide in December 2020.  The Counsellors in Schools programme was launched by the Government more than two years ago - in response to Covid related stress. But the Education Minister, Jan Tinetti, admits that only a fraction of the money has been spent so far.  Mount Maunganui Intermediate Principal Melissa Nelson says the programme is not delivering fairly, and schools in her region are completely missing out. She says with staggering levels of mental health need among her students, it's not right her school has to rely on the fundraising efforts of the community and the Government should be providing counsellors in every intermediate across the country. Melissa Nelson speaks with Kathryn,  along with President of the Association of School Counsellors Sarah Maindonald. Jan Tinetti responds.

09:25 Are airline offsetting schemes all they're cracked up to be?

Most airlines now offer passengers the option to offset their share of the flight's carbon emissions with carbon credits. Air New Zealand's scheme is called "Fly Neutral". A one way trip between Auckland and Wellington creates 62 kilograms of CO2 for one passenger,  and the airline says for $1.50, that can be offset by buying carbon credits from "global sustainable energy projects" and contributing to restoration of biodiversity here. But how does this work? And does ticking the box really neutralise the impact of air travel? University of Otago professor James Higham is a sustainable tourism expert who has published several papers on aviation and climate change.

09:45 South America correspondent Katy Watson: Brazil's elections, assassination attempt in Argentina

As Brazil approaches its elections next month, Jair Bolsonaro faces criticism for his campaign events, and former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the front-runner in the election, campaigns on the protection of the Amazon. Plus the attempted assassination attempt on Argentina’s vice-president, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

Katy Watson is a BBC correspondent usually based in Sao Paulo.

10:05 Val McDermid, Michael Robotham, J.P. Pomare on writing crime

Three of the world's finest crime writers;  Val McDermid, Michael Robotham and J.P. Pomare join Kathryn in the studio. The trio are touring New Zealand this week, with an event, Crime after Crime. Val McDermid is crime-writing royalty, with over 18 million copies of her books sold to date and several TV adaptions. Michael Robotham is Australia's hottest crime writer; his Joseph O'Loughlin series was a worldwide bestseller and The Suspect is now streaming on TVNZ. He's well known for The Secrets She Keeps, now an award-winning TV drama, and his latest book Lying Beside You is an international bestseller. Rotorua-born J.P. Pomare is no stranger to Aotearoa's shores - his debut novel Call Me Evie won the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best First Novel, and his second book In the Clearing will soon grace our screens via Disney+.  The Wrong Woman is his fifth book. 

10:35 Book review - Milk Teeth by Jessica Andrews

Kiran Dass reviews Milk Teeth by Jessica Andrews, published by Sceptre.

10:45 The Reading

The first of 12 episodes from Stephanie Johnson's novel  'The Writing Class'.
 

11:05 Political commentators Brigitte Morten and Lamia Imam

Brigitte and Lamia join Kathryn to discuss potential changes to the Covid traffic light system, whether New Zealand should follow Australia and have a public holiday to mark the Queen's passing and the political reaction to police photo collection practices of young people.

Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks & Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government. 

Lamia Imam worked for two years for the Labour Party in the Leader of the Opposition's office under Phil Goff, David Shearer and David Cunliffe. She also worked for the Ministry of Justice, before gaining a Masters in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin. She currently works for a large technology company in Wellington.

11:30 Raising Spirits from Bread: Dunedin Craft Distillers

Like water into wine, two Dunedin women have also been performing miracles; turning bread into gin. Jenny McDonald and Sue Stockwell started Dunedin Craft Distillers in 2020, with the aim to reduce the amount of bakery waste. So far, the pair have diverted four tonnes of bread from the landfill, turning it instead into their Dunedin Dry Gin, and a Cacao Vodka. They use everything from sliced bread, to croissants, raspberry buns, date scones and cheese rolls - but definitely not a garlic naan. Kathryn speaks to owners Jenny McDonald and Sue Stockwell in Dunedin. 

11:45 Urban issues with Bill McKay - Architecture Week

The NZ Institute of Architects in Auckland is celebrating Architecture Week, with discussions focused on Auckland and its issues. Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland.

Music played in this show

Track: Moving On
Artist: Hollie Cook
Time played: 11:35