Nine To Noon for Wednesday 8 February 2023

 

09:05 Australia softens its controversial "501" deportation policy

From next month, Australia is to soften its controversial deportation policy - described by our government as "corrosive" and by human rights groups as "draconian" and "inhumane". Under Section 501 of the Australian Migration Act, amended 8 years ago by the former Liberal government, someone sent to jail for 12 months or longer can have their visa cancelled, and be deported to the country of their birth - even if they have barely lived there. Former Home Affairs Minister, now opposition leader, Peter Dutton famously referred to the policy as "taking out the trash". More than 2500 people born in New Zealand have been deported back here, many without any family connections here. So what will the new approach mean? Greg Barns is a Melbourne based Senior Council barrister and spokesman for the Australian Lawyers Alliance.

09:30 Green Hydrogen: Why NZ's in the box seat

The inaugural New Zealand Hydrogen Symposium (NZHS-1) took place recently.  It was a multidisciplinary forum for the latest research on hydrogen, and will involve local and international experts, iwi, universities, government research agencies, policy and industrial partners. Kathryn speaks with one of the symposium's convenors, Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Otago, Sally Brooker, who says New Zealand should take advantage of making green hydrogen to produce chemicals, provide energy, and reduce emissions, and German engineer and professor at Hamburg University of Technology, Professor Martin Kaltschmitt.

09:45 Australia: Oz-NZ PMs meet, Green MP quits, Boochani back

Australia correspondent Annika Smethurst joins Kathryn to talk about the meeting yesterday between Chris Hipkins and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese, the decision by Green MP Lidia Thorpe to quit her party over divisions on the Voice to Parliament and the return to Australia of award-winning author and refugee advocate Behrouz Boochani.

10:05 Tim Bateman: From rugby professional to children's book author

When Tim Bateman played professional rugby, he was well aware of the toll anxiety could take on his performance. It's something he's hoping to help children with, through his new "Fruit Salad" series of books he's penned with cartoonist Jeff Bell. The first two are out now: The Lonely Lemon and The Sad Banana. Tim played for the Crusaders, Hurricanes, Maori All Blacks and the Coca-Cola Red Sparks in Japan. He retired last year to spend more time with his family and support his wife Laura through her battle with MS. That experience has seen him move into the well-being space - he and Laura operate two wellness centres in Christchurch: Cloud9 Float Club and O-Studio. Tim joins Kathryn to talk about how there's so many books to help adults with how their mental health, but not many for children.

10:35 Book review: The World We Make by N. K. Jemisin

Luke Finnegan reviews The World We Make by N. K. Jemisin, published by Hachette

10:45 Around the motu : Matthew Rosenberg in Gisborne

Ministers and key stakeholders have met in Gisborne to discuss land-use practices as forestry slash has again been an issue following storms. Matthew says a review will begin later this month. And the Gisborne District Council has sent a clear message to the Department of Internal Affairs over issues its experiencing in addressing problem gambling in the region.

Matthew Rosenberg is a Local Democracy Reporter based with The Gisborne Herald.

11:05 Music: Kirsten Zemke's Italiano favourites

Music commentator Kirsten Zemke gives us a flavour of Italy with some classic songs by musicians from that country, including some that have been remixed into even bigger hits, covered by well-known artists, made it high on the Eurovision rankings and turned into a hymn for freedom and resistance in many languages.

11:20 How well do swimmers spot rip currents?

It's been a dreadful summer for water related deaths with almost daily drownings over the busy new year period. In one 48 hour period in Auckland last month - five people lost their lives in the water. Otago University Masters student Rachel Irvine is researching how well or otherwise beach-goers can spot dangerous rip currents. She has spent the summer surveying swimmers at Dunedin's St Clair and St Kilda beaches. She joins Kathryn along with Adam Wooler from Surf Lifesaving New Zealand.

11:45 Science commentator Laurie Winkless

Science commentator Laurie Winkless looks at how planting more trees in cities can save lives, the new layer of partially-molten rock discovered under the Earth's crust and why putting decals on your windows to prevent bird strike isn't particularly effective.

 

Music played in this show

Track: We Must be in Love 
Artist: The Impressions
Time played: 09:25

Track: A Dream of You and Me  
Artist: Future Islands
Time played: 10:06