Nine To Noon for Thursday 30 March 2023

 

 

09:05 Options for second harbour crossing in Auckland proposed

The Government has this morning put forward five options for an additional Waitematā Harbour crossing, with Transport Minister Michael Wood labelling it a congestion-buster for the city. The options include both bridge and tunnel options and each includes a new walking and cycling link. Feedback on the proposals is being sought and the preferred option will be confirmed in June. Kathryn is joined by RNZ political reporter Katie Scotcher, Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Simon Bridges and Road Transport Forum head Nick Leggett.

09:15 Specialised obesity clinic to open in South Auckland 

A new unit dedicated to helping people with obesity is set to open in South Auckland in June. The clinic, run by Te Whatu Ora, will see patients who have been rejected for bariatric surgery, or young people who have type two diabetes and a body mass index (BMI) over 35. It comes after a report found seven out of ten adults in Counties Manukau are overweight or obese. South Auckland has more people with a high BMI than any other region in the country. Kathryn speaks to University of Auckland endocrinologist Dr Rinki Murphy, who is leading the unit, Te Mana Ki Tua.

09:30 UK: New SNP leader, Corbyn's comeback, laughing gas ban

UK correspondent Matthew Parris joins Kathryn to look at Humza Yousaf's confirmation as Scotland's new first minister and the line-up of his new Cabinet. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has given his strongest hint yet that he'll stand as an independent candidate - and it's possible he could win. And even the government's own advisers think a plan to ban laughing gas to tackle anti-social behaviour probably won't work.

09:50 TodayFM abruptly pulled off air

Mediaworks' Auckland-based Today FM has stopped live on-air programming. Today FM hosts Duncan Garner and Tova O'Brien told listeners a short time ago the station and staff were being cut. The station was facing uncertainty after the recent resignations of Chief Executive Cam Wallace and head of News Dallas Gurney. Kathryn speaks to RNZ Mediawatch presenter, Colin Peacock. 

10:05 Designer and campaigner Portia Lawrie on how to refashion your clothes

It's believed most people only wear about 20 percent of their wardrobe, leaving the other 80 percent just...hanging around. Portia Lawrie has spent over a decade trying to get people to look at their clothes in a different light. She's the founder of The Refashioners, an annual sewing event launched in 2011 that challenges people to remake old pieces into something new. She was Dressmaker magazine's Dressmaker of the Year in 2017 - which she won with a quilted denim coat made from old jeans. And if you're a keen sewer who wants to know how to make something similar, you can find instructions in her new book which is called The Re:Fashion Wardrobe: Sew your own stylish, sustainable clothes. Even if you're not a keen sewer - take heart - Portia's own sewing journey began relatively late in life...she joins Kathryn to explain.

10:35 Book review: Did I Ever Tell You This? A Memoir by Sam Neil

Sonja de Friez reviews Did I Ever Tell You This? A Memoir by Sam Neil, published by Text Publishing

10:45 Around the motu : Che Baker in Invercargill

Ramraids are on the rise in Southland, Former Mayorl Sir Tim Shadbolt's has been receiving respite care in hospital, and a state-of-the-art satellite positioning service in Southland will bring GPS accuracy to about 10cm. Che alsos talks to Kathryn about the inaugural George Begg Festival which is on this weekend, cementing Southland's proud history with motorsport.

Che Baker is the editor of the Southland Times.

11:05 Technology: Vale Gordon Moore, library in chains, call for pause on AI 

Technology commentator Mark Pesce joins Kathryn to talk about the passing of Gordon Moore, the billionaire philanthropist who co-founded Intel - the company that invented the microprocessor. He framed 'Moore's Law' in a 1965 article which stated computer chips would increase in density and decrease in cost. Meanwhile the 'big four' book publishers successful sued the Internet Archive to stop books being scanned and lent for free - but could this go all the way to the supreme court? And 1000 AI researchers and backers have called for an immediate pause on the creation of "giant" AI for at least six months.

Mark Pesce is a futurist, writer, educator and broadcaster. 

11:25 Parenting : How to develop a child's resilience and manage anxiety

Michael Hawton is an Australian registered psychologist, a former school teacher and the founder of Parentshop which is a resource hub for parents, educators and child family specialists.He has two previous books on child behaviour management and his latest is The Anxiety Coach. It's geared to equip children and young people with the skills needed to help them manage their emotions and overreactions.In recent years, rising anxiety level in Australasian children have been linked to the Covid pandemic and school issues, but Michael Hawton says it's been apparent for much longer. He has helped to develop a programme called The Anxiety Project, which has been taken up by 58 New South Wales primary schools, so far. He says it's important not to treat early signs of anxiety as if they were a permanent disability.
 

11:45 Screentime: Dreamland,  Ahikāroa, The Portable Door

Film and TV reviewer Laumata Lauano joins Kathryn to talk about Dreamland (Neon, SkyGo from April 6), about a multi-generational family set in the sun-drenched British seaside town of Margate. She'll also look at the fifth season of  Ahikāroa is the longest running scripted Māori drama show and a new movie starring Sam Neill: The Portable Door.