Nine To Noon for Monday 7 August 2023

 

09:05 Second Auckland harbour crossing: 'Work with us', mayor tells govt

There's cynicism a planned second harbour crossing in Auckland will actually come to fruition on time. The Government has agreed to the most ambitious of the proposed Waitemata Harbour plans, and will push forward with two three-lane tunnels for cars and trucks, and a light rail connection. As the tunnels are built, the use of the existing bridge would change, with two lanes becoming dedicated bus lanes, and some clip-on lanes for cycling and walking. The goal is to begin construction by 2029. It's marked down to cost between $35 and $44.5b, and it's not clear yet how exactly it will be funded... tolling and public-private partnerships have been pitched as possibilities. Labour and National are both in favour of the idea, but mayor Wayne Brown says it won't happen unless they work in partnership with Auckland.

09:15 New charities law little more than 'tweaks' say critics

A promised shakeup to the law governing charities is being criticised as a missed opportunity to make real changes and has instead delivered additional layers of complication. The Charities Amendment Act was passed in late June, with most of its provisions coming into force from early October.  The history to the changes sought by the sector is long and complicated, and it was taken up by Labour in 2017 when it promised to review how the 2005 Charities Act was working. The government says the just-passed Charities Amendment Act will "modernise" the sector, cut red tape - particularly for smaller charities - and help them get on with their mahi. But those working with charities say that's not what it delivers - and instead of seizing the chance to boost charities' independence,  it's helping to maintain a status quo where they're treated as little more than a delivery vehicle for government social services. Susie speaks to Andrew Barnes founder of trustee company Perpetual Guardian, which operates a Foundation and also owns the Givealittle crowdfunding site. She also speaks to Sue Barker,  a lawyer who specialises in charities and public tax law and who has been following the progression of this legislation extremely closely.

09:30 Has monetising the All Black brand impacted performance?

Top level rugby these days is a billion dollar industry. In this country, the US fund manager Silver Lake has invested $200 million in the All Blacks. New Zealand Rugby also has investors like Britain's richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and multi-national corporations such as technology group SAP, and Japanese pharmaceutical giant Taisho. But as the All Blacks have become commercialised, the tug-of-war between performance and making money has intensified. Gregor Paul is the New Zealand Herald's rugby columnist, who's just published a new book in which he asserts that the lure of monetising the All Black brand has impacted the performance of the players and the coaches. He speaks with Susie Ferguson.

09:45 Europe: China in talks on Ukraine, as battle creeps closer to Russia

Europe correspondent Seamus Kearney joins Susie to look at talks aimed at finding a path toward peace in Ukraine that have taken place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with the surprise inclusion of China. The weekend closed-door meet did not include Russia however, which had labelled them "futile". Meanwhile the war is creeping closer to Russia, with number of daring attacks inside the country - including Moscow's second-largest airport being forced to suspend flights due to an attempted drone attack. And Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has had another 19 years added to his jail sentence, while controversial social media influencer Andrew Tate has been freed from house arrest in Romania.

10:05 Kiwi actress Frankie Adams' new Amazon series

Samoan born Aucklander Frankie Adams discusses her latest role in Amazon Studios new seven-part mini series, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart. Based on the international best selling novel by Australian author Holly Ringland, and directed by Glendyn Ivin, the series is now out on Amazon Prime.

Frankie may be best known in New Zealand for playing Ula, Vasa's teenage daughter, in the drama ridden Shortland Street. Since then she's played a tough martian soldier, Bobbie Draper, in the Syfy channel and Amazon hit space drama series The Expanse and has several film and TV credits, including a part in Mortal Engines, One Thousand Ropes, the television series Wentworth, and mini series The Panthers.

This interview was recorded prior to the SAG-AFTRA strikes.

10:35 Book review: Old Boy: My Dad's Story of Addiction, Resurrection, Dumb Luck and Love by Georgia Tree

Cynthia Morahan reviews Old Boy: My Dads Story of Addiction, Resurrection, Dumb Luck and Love by Georgia Tree published by Fremantle Press

10:45 Around the motu: Chris Hyde in Hawkes Bay

Hawke's Bay Today editor Chris Hyde joins Susie to talk about the region's special visitors: the All Blacks.  The team will do a working bee at Tangoio Marae on Tuesday, before their open training session at McLean Park at 9am on Wednesday, when thousands are expected to show up and wish them well for the World Cup. The collapse of a hillside on farm country behind Ōmahu during Cyclone Gabrielle revealed an astonishing find...in the floodwaters were the bones of five people thought to have lived and died no later than the 1700s. And Chris has more on the mystery of the failing hot water cylinders of Hastings...

11:05 Political commentators Hughes and Hurdle

Political commentators Gareth Hughes and Tim Hurdle join Susie to look at the big promises being made for second Auckland harbour crossing,  continued poll slide for Labour and the left bloc, the battle of the policy costings, minor party manoeuvring and an end to ongoing industrial action by teachers and nurses.

Gareth Hughes is a former Green MP and now works for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa.

Tim Hurdle is a former National senior adviser, was the National Party Campaign Director in 2020. He is a director of several companies, including Museum Street Strategies, a public affairs firm.

11:30 Al Brown with Eat Up New Zealand: The Bach Edition

Renowned chef Al Brown has just released Eat Up New Zealand: The Bach Edition, a collection of nostalgic recipes that celebrate seasonal ingredients, kaimoana, and the occasional sweet treat. All things you feel like when you're kicking back on holiday and staying at a beloved old bach. Al Brown speaks with Susie, and shares a recipe for fried kina on toast. 

11:45 Off the beaten track with Kennedy Warne

Temperature records on land and in the oceans are toppling. Climatic extremes once considered rarities have become the "new normal," but what does "normal" even mean any more? Kennedy discusses recent extremes and considers their significance for planetary life.

Music played in this show

Track: Myth
Artist: Beach House 
Time played: 10:55am