Nine To Noon for Wednesday 30 August 2023

 

09:05 Tech companies are evolving into military contractors: Google whistleblower

Dr Jack Poulson is a Silicon valley whistleblower shining a light on the link between tech companies and the military. Five years ago, he quit as a Research Scientist in Google's AI division, over plans the tech giant had to build a censored search engine for the Chinese market. That plan was shelved, but Jack Poulson felt strongly that tech company employees should have the right to know when they are working on projects they may find ethically unacceptable. He and several other tech defectors founded a non profit organisation called Tech Inquiry, with a mission to crunch data and map out relationships between big tech and governments. Dr Poulson says increasingly tech companies are evolving into military contractors.He's in New Zealand from New York, to speak at a Canterbury University workshop this week, and will deliver a public talk this evening.

09:30 Massey University to axe nursing programme

As the government promises a range of initiatives to boost nursing numbers, Massey University is scrapping its Bachelor of Nursing at its Auckland campus. From next year, the programme will be available at the Manawatu and Wellington campuses only. Massey University says discontinuing the course will "reduce the duplication of resources". The announcement comes a month after the government revealed a plan to address the nursing workforce shortage, including a 'significant increase' in the number of nurses trained domestically. The plan has been described as 'short-sighted' by both the nurses union and the Tertiary Education Union. Kathryn speaks with Kere Nuku, Kaiwhakahaere (president) of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation and TEU Organiser Ben Schmidt.

 

09:40 Migrant worker advocates: Open visa the 'right thing to do'

Advocates for migrant workers who have been turned around at the border, or told not to travel here because they're at risk of exploitation, say they should instead be given open visas. Ten migrants have been turned around upon arrival in New Zealand, and up to 200 others warned not to come because they're caught up in visa scams - paying thousands of dollars for jobs that don't exist. A handful of employers are being investigated by Immigration New Zealand over the mistreatment of 115 migrant workers from India and Bangladesh. Last week Immigration Minister Andrew Little said the Public Service Commission would review the accredited employer visa scheme following whistleblower claims that checks on employers weren't being made. Anu Kaloti, Migrant Workers Association President, says the right thing to do now would be to allow those affected workers who'd already been granted visas to be given an open visa instead, that doesn't tie them to any one employer.

09:45 Australia: Qantas anger, Voice date, women with the whistle

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton joins Kathryn to talk about how the country's 'national carrier' is feeling the wrath like it rarely has in the past, following it posting a $2.4b profit this week off the back of a shambolic post-pandemic performance and ultra high airfares. Retiring Qantas CEO Alan Joyce revealed to a parliamentary committee this week that travellers hold $500m in credit from cancelled Covid-era flights but the airline's giving them till Christmas to use it or lose it. Australia will learn today when the proposed indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum will be held, two women will referee NRL matches this weekend and former deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has backed a recent call from retiring NZ Labour MP Jamie Strange to merge Australia and New Zealand.

Karen Middleton is chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper.

10:05 The Mitis: A Pacific twist on country music

Brother and sister country duo, Sonny and Tiana Miti, weave their Pacific heritage into country music melodies. The siblings grew up in Cannons Creek, Porirua, where alonside their proud Samoan heritage, they had a musical diet of Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. As kids, they and their sister Justina joined the North City Country Music Club based at Porirua Club. They've won numerous trophies at the New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards in Gore, and Tiana has competed on Star Search Samoa, a TV talent quest. Now Sonny and Tiana are set to release their first single "See You Again". They talk to Kathryn Ryan about putting a Pacific twist on country music.

10:35 Book review: Strong Words 3: The best of the Landfall Essay Competition

Ash Davida Jane reviews Strong Words 3: The best of the Landfall Essay Competition Selected by Lynley Edmeades and Emma Neale published by Otago University Press

10:45 Around the motu: David Williams in Christchurch

David has been keeping track of where the Christchurch mayor stands on asset sales, and he outlines the conversation about light rail for the city. Also, David highlights an intervention from a local body politician. Peter Scott, the chair of Canterbury's regional council, has penned an open letter calling out half-baked election policies ignoring the province.

David Williams is a South Island reporter for Newsroom

11:05 Music with Ian Chapman: Feelin' sheepish

This week music commentator Ian Chapman presents the highs and lows of sheep music; that is, music either inspired by, or partially performed by, sheep. Running the full gamut from the raw electric blues of Stevie Ray Vaughan to the sublime melodic mastery of J S Bach, listeners will be invited to make up their own minds about whether sheep and disco should have ever - or should ever again - become entwined.

11:25 New novel details the history of the unsavory trade in preserved Māori heads

Author Saige England has taken on a rather uncomfortable subject in her new book about the early days of colonial New Zealand. During research for Ngai Tahu's land and fisheries claim before the Waitangi Tribunal, she came across details of the trade in body parts - specifically, the preserved heads of  Māori. Saige says it was a history that shocked her and she's woven a young  Māori woman's resistance to it in her new novel The Seasonwife.  Saige has an MA in Creative Writing from the International Institute of Modern Letters, and has worked as a journalist both here in New Zealand and in conflict zones overseas.

11:45 Personal finance: What to do with a windfall?

So you didn't win $37m on Lotto - but that doesn't mean you won't get lucky. Every week some Kiwis receive large inheritances or relationship property settlements or find themselves with large amounts of cash after selling a business. But that doesn't mean your worries are over - they might just be different. Large sums of money can create fear and uncertainty; how should it be spent or invested and who do you trust? Money expert Liz Koh joins Kathryn to talk through some of the things to consider.

Liz Koh is a money expert specialising in retirement planning. The advice given here is general and does not constitute specific advice to any person.