Nine To Noon for Monday 11 September 2023

 

09:05 Concerns pyramid schemes operating under guise of mentorships

There are concerns pyramid schemes disguised as mentorships are targeting a wave of young people. RNZ has spoken to more than a dozen people, mostly based in Wellington, who have been approached by strangers on the streets claiming to be 'entrepreneurs' and offering mentorship. Others have friends who have become involved. Once involved, members pay a fee to a mentor, and also pay to attend conferences which promise to teach them leadership skills, and eventually searches for new recruits. One man told RNZ he expressed interest and underwent several calls, with homework given each time. When he questioned the programme his mentor hung up on him. Another says they have several friends involved, who all use similar buzzwords like 'financial freedom' and 'breaking out of the nine to five'. It is not clear whether all were approached by the same scheme or whether several are operating. Massey University business school marketing professor Bodo Lang says due to secrecy around such schemes, getting exact numbers on its prevalence is near impossible.

09:30 Saving the Moriori language from extinction

A petition has been launched to establish an officially recognised Moriori Language Week, in an effort to save the language from extinction. Moriori are the original inhabitants of Rēkohu, the Chatham Islands, although most live on mainland New Zealand. There are an estimated three to six thousand people of Moriori descent, but the language has no native speakers left. The Hokotehi Moriori Trust is hoping to revitalise the language of the Moriori people, as well as celebrate and showcase their traditions. Susie speaks with the petition's creator Chas Taurima,  a Hokotehi Moriori Trustee.

09:30 The website helping people on their grief journeys

New Zealand based Griefity is an organisation with a very specific mission: to make a difference for those experiencing grief and loss. Death and the grief that comes with it is something every one of us will come into contact with at some point in our lives. Despite this - we don't always know the right thing to say or do. Griefity, is an online platform, and soon to be app, helping bridge the gaps in bereavement care. It's founder, Corrine Davies, spoke with Susie Ferguson.

09:45 South America correspondent Katy Watson

Katy Watson discusses growing speculation that Brazils' former president Jair Bolsonaro, known for his tough stance on crime, could be close to arrest following a scandal involving millions of dollars-worth of luxury jewellery which he allegedly did not declare. Also, the latest on the upcoming Ecuador election, which is heading to a runoff.

Katy Watson is a BBC correspondent based in Sao Paulo.

10:05 Righteous entrepreneur: doing right, while doing business 

DC Central Kitchen is America's most ambitious community kitchen, serving up 13,000 meals daily to those in need. Founded in 1989 and located in the heart of Washington, D.C., a city battling some of the nation's highest homeless and poverty rates. The non profit earns a whopping ten million annually and runs social ventures including an award-winning farm-to-school model, a training programme that recruits from prisons, and supplying fresh, affordable produce to corner stores in neighborhoods without supermarkets. Mike Curtin, is the CEO of DC Central Kitchen. He calls himself a "righteous enterpreneur". Mike is the keynote speaker at The Aotearoa Food Rescue Alliance's (AFRA) national Hui being held on September 13th in Christchurch. Mike spoke with Susie Ferguson.

10:35 Book review: House of Odysseus by Claire North

Gail Pittaway reviews House of Odysseus by Claire North published by Hachette

10:45 Around the motu: Todd Niall in Auckland

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown is back in the office today after his longest break since being elected, joining a trade delegation to India. Todd Niall tells Susie what Mayor Brown missed while he was away, including a fairly sobering assessment of the city's progress to emission targets, and staggering numbers out on abandoned road cones.

Todd Niall is Stuff's Senior Auckland Affairs Journalist.

11:05 Political commentators Sue Moroney & Liam Hehir

Sue and Liam discuss the latest from the campaign trail over the weekend, and the array of election promises being made. 

Sue Moroney is a former MP with the Labour Party, and now chief executive of Community Law Centres Aotearoa. Sue is also the chair of the Waikato Labour Electorate Committee.

Liam Hehir is a Palmerston North lawyer, political commentator and a National Party member.

11:30 A taste of the Pacific in Mt Eden

Tupu'anga café is owned and operated by a Tongan family and in amongst the usual café fare there a distinctly Pasifika element in the baked goods such as pineapple pie - and use of taro leaves in other dishes. The coffee is  Pacific-harvested, roasted, and packaged.  The café has been open since July and we're going to check in with owner Emeline Afeaki Mafile'o about how her years of community work and social enterprises help with this latest venture.

11:45 Urban issues with Bill McKay

A few days ago at an Auckland event senior people from Labour, National and the Greens each signed a pledge to build a 1000 more houses a year in Auckland. Bill McKay joins Susie Ferguson to explain why to him, that's meaningless promise - and to break down just how statistics can be spun.

Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland.