Nine To Noon for Wednesday 16 August 2023

 

09:05 White gold: central North Island businesses celebrate snow

Businesses in the ski towns of Ohakune and National Park say recent snowfalls have been a lifesaver - they've gone from worrying about going under, to being busier than last year, and they're stoked about it. Ruapehu Alpine Lifts which ran the Whakapapa and Turoa ski areas, went into liquidation in June,  owing tens of millions of dollars, after a two bids to buy the ski areas failed. The government stepped in just before the July school holidays, with a five-million-dollar loan to the liquidators to allow the season to go ahead, but negotiations about who will ultimately own the two ski areas continue. Central North Island iwi Ngāti Tūwharetoa has reportedly confirmed it is also now in the bidding to buy RAL and is conducting due diligence. A decision on the ski fields' long-term future could be months away. Meanwhile the snow's been falling and visitors have been pouring in. Susie speaks with Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton, and James Bell, a bootfitter with TCB ski rentals in Ohakune.

09:15 Could mandatory reporting help close the pay gap?

The latest figures on how much more money men earn relative to women is out, with women 8.6 percent behind this quarter. Those figures from Stats NZ measure median hourly earnings - with a rise for women of 7.7 in the year to June quarter to reach $30.15. Men were up 7.0 percent  - making their median hourly take home pay $33. The gender pay gap has dropped from 16.2 percent when figures looking at the issue were first reported  - in 1998. But pay gap campaigners say these stats only paint part of the picture - because it doesn't take ethnicity into account. For every dollar a Pakeha man makes, a Pakeha woman earns 89 cents, a Māori or Asian man 86 cents, Asian woman 83, Pasifika man or Māori  woman 81...and a Pasifika woman earns just 75 cents. Last week the government announced an intention to get 900 entities with over 250 employees to publicly report their gender pay gap - widening to those over 100 workers ...after four years. Susie speaks with two people who are very concerned about the pay gap and public reporting of it are Dellwyn Stuart, co-founder of Mind the Gap and Latayvia Tualasea Tautai, Pasifika advocate and project manager at YWCA Auckland.

09:30 New Zealand's first kids TV show made by and for the rainbow community

New Zealand's first kids show made by and for the rainbow community is now available to watch on the TVNZ website. Little Apocolypse is an eight part supernatural comedy/drama series, aiming to break the stigma of how queer characters are portrayed on screen. It was filmed entirely in Wellington, at Truby King House and Gardens in Melrose, with a diverse local cast and crew. Thomas Coppell, is the series co-creator, writer, and producer, He tells Susie how the project came about.

09:45 Australia: Plane drama, Qantas says 'yes', go Matildas!

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton joins Susie to talk about charges laid against a 43-year-old man following threats made on a Malaysian Airlines flight from Sydney on Monday, which caused several hours delay after the plane turned back just an hour into its flight. Qantas has weighed into the national debate on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament - unveiling new livery with a big 'Yes23'. The nation has gone bonkers for the Matildas ahead of today's semi-final and was the "end" of Neighbours just a giant publicity stunt?

Karen Middleton is chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper.

10:05 Labour of Love: 50 years of midwifery

Joan Skinner has been a midwife for 50 years, and during that time it's fair to say, she's seen it all. Since starting in the profession in 1976, midwifery has undergone extraordinary change; both in terms of the social and political context here in New Zealand, but also the way women are supported to give birth. She's seen a growing reliance on technology, the re-acceptance of birth at home, and the return of midwifery autonomy. Joan Skinner has recently written a book, Labour of Love, which is part social history of midwifery in New Zealand, but also part memoir about her incredible career. Beyond her time working here in Aotearoa, Joan has also consulted for the World Health Organsiation and the United Nations, including in Afghanistan, North Korea and Cambodia. 

10:35 Book review: Far North by David White and Angus Gillies 

Lynn Freeman reviews Far North by David White with Angus Gillies published by Upstart Press
 

10:45 Around the motu : David Hill in North Canterbury

With the election a couple of months away, Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon has been reminding politicians of the district's wishlist, particularly concerning roading. David discusses the changing nature of protests in the area which has been highlighted by Canterbury Rural Area Commander Inspector Peter Cooper. Former red zone land in Kaipoi has been identified as a possible future urban development area, and rural property owners near Rangiora have seen a large hike in their latest rates bill

11:05 Music with Dave Wilson

Dave takes a deep dive into hip hop tracks, with the music genre hitting 50 years old this month. He'll talk about the interconnectedness of hip hop with other styles and genres, and with worlds outside its origins in the Bronx.

Dave Wilson is musician, composer, and ethnomusicologist, a senior lecturer at the New Zealand School of Music at Victoria University of Wellington

11:20 Hannah & Huia: A novel aimed at demystifying mental health

Author Charlotte Lobb's debut novel details life in a mental health unit - and the impact a stranger can have on someone's life. She drew on her own experience to write Hannah and Huia, after she spent some time in an institution. In the book Hannah has suffered an unspeakable loss and admits herself when she can no longer cope. There, she comes across Huia, an old Māori lady who speaks only in seemingly incomprehensible three word sentences.  Her curiosity about Huia and her history helps Hannah find a path through her grief. Charlotte says her intent in writing this book was to demystify mental illness and flesh out the myriad of reasons why someone might be struggling. 

11:45 Credit card rewards: Are they worth it?

Many credit card providers offer rewards as an incentive for signing up, but how do they measure up? Simran Kaur joins Susie to talk about how much you have to spend in order to get any real benefit and what fees you could be racking up without you even knowing.

Simran Kaur is the co-host of the podcast Girls That Invest. This discussion is of a general nature, and does not constitute financial advice.

 

Music played in this show

Track: Hellhound On My Trail 
Artist: Robert Johnson
Time played: 10:39am

Track: Dancing Queen
Artist: Abba
Time played: 10:42am

Track: The Revolution will Not be Televised
Artist: Gil Scott-Heron
Time played: 11:10am

Track: Planet Rock
Artist: Afrika Bambaata and Soulsonic Force 
Time played: 11:18am

Track: Reverse Resistance 
Artist: King Kapisi 
Time played: 11:24am