Nine To Noon for Friday 12 May 2023

 

09:05 Dozens of "high risk" DOC structures overdue for maintenance: documents

The Department of Conservation has dozens of high risk structures overdue for maintenance and overall has a backlog of maintenance on its huts and tracks network worth over $300 million. The startling figures are contained in documents released originally to Newroom under the Official Information Act, and date from early to mid 2022. The documents also reveal 99 high priority safety critical work orders on other assets  - such as tracks, bridges and huts - have been deferred;  DOC is 70,000 hours behind on scheduled maintenance and an immediate cash injection is required to get on top of the backlog.  DOC says it has a large and ageing visitor asset base and it is methodically working through its asset management programme, but some tough decisions  need to be made on what to replace and maintain. Kathryn speaks with Peter Wilson, former President of Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand, and former Department of Conservation statutory planner.

09:30 New Civil Aviation Act: what support for pilots' mental health?

Questions are being asked about whether airline pilots are properly protected and supported. Particularly whether they feel comfortable reporting mental health issues.The recently passed Civil Aviation Act repeals and replaces its thirty-plus year old predecessor, and the much older Airport Authorities Act (passed in 1966).  The Act enables the Civil Aviation Authority to regulate, support and improve levels of safety and security throughout the  sector. But parts of the aviation community say it has missed an opportunity, by leaving crew without independent support and leaving airlines with the responsibility for instigating pilot support programmes. John Nicholson is the chief executive of industry group Aviation New Zealand.  He thinks the new Aviation Act was a once in a life time opportunity to get things right for crew, but hasn't gone far enough. He speaks with Kathryn Ryan along with international Air New Zealand 777 pilot and Medical and Welfare Officer for the New Zealand Air Line Pilots' Association  Dave Church, who is speaking out against the new law for not adequately protecting vulnerable pilots experiencing mental health problems.

09:45 Asia correspondent Ed White

Uncertainty continues for about 1 million Rohingya refugees who have been stuck in Bangladesh for nearly six years despite the latest attempts to return them to Myanmar. Thailand goes to the polls but there are questions over whether the election can result in the first peaceful transition of power in the volatile south-east Asian nation in a decade. Pakistan appears to be on a knife-edge again after the arrest of popular opposition leader and former cricket star Imran Kahn has sparked a series of violent clashes this week. And ties between the west and China are deteriorating again with Beijing embroiled in a new tit-for-tat diplomatic dispute with Canada, a standoff over Russia sanctions with Europe and signs that even high level meetings between US and Chinese officials are being derailed. 

Ed White is a correspondent with the Financial Times.

10:05  Bic Runga: "I appreciate things more now"

It's 20 years since Bic Runga's second album Beautiful Collision was released. The album was 11-time platinum best selling, with hits such as  Get Some Sleep, Something Good and Listening For The Weather. It followed her debut album Drive, which she wrote in her teens, and which spun-off seven singles, and became one of the biggest-selling New Zealand albums of all time.  Bic Runga has been awarded almost every musical honour in New Zealand, she was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2006,  and in 2016 was the recipient of the Legacy Award at the New Zealand Music Awards as well being as inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.Now- she's embarking on a North Island tour in celebration of Beautiful Collision, which she says remains her favourite album.

10:35 Book review: Fire Rush by Jacqueline Crooks

Martene McCaffrey from Unity books Auckland reviews Fire Rush by Jacqueline Crooks, published by Penguin Random House

10:45 Around the motu : Georgina Campbell in Wellington 

The parents of a young teacher who drowned in Wellington harbour have spoken about their grief. Issac Levings died following a night out at a concert. Georgina says his death is eerily similar to others on the waterfront at night and the Wellington City Council is investigating more fencing in the area. She also talks to Kathryn about eroding trust in Kiwrail after last-minute chaotic disruptions to ferry and train services in Wellington. The Government has launched a rapid review into KiwiRail.

Georgina Campbell is NZ Herald Wellington issues reporter

11:05 New music with Jeremy Taylor

A spectacular fourth album from Tamaki's Tiny Ruins, plus reissues of out of print classics from The Magnetic Fields and Dorothy Ashby.

11:30 Sports commentator Dana Johanssen

The CEO of one of the Warriors major sponsors has created a bit of a stir, Dana breaks down the brouhaha, and also looks at why netball bosses have been slow to address safety concerns in the game.
 

Dana Johannsen is Stuff's National Correspondent specialising in sport. 
 

11:45 The week that was with

Comedians Te Radar and Irene Pink with range of interesting stories, including how Penny Mordaunt coped with holding a 3.6kg sword for 51 minutes at King Charles' coronation.