Nine To Noon for Tuesday 12 September 2023

 

 

09:05 Political parties out of touch with sole traders: survey

The accountancy software firm, Hnry, aimed at sole traders,  says its recent survey of political parties shows how out of touch they are with the needs of the sector. New Zealand has over 400,000 sole traders making up almost a fifth of the country's workforce.  They are independent earners, freelancers, tradies, contractors and the self-employed - working across all industries. Hnry surveyed all the major political parties on their policies affected sole traders and says the results were illustrative and disappointing. Hnry Founder James Fuller says many tradies are experiencing mortgage stress and cost cutting, and expect better from any incoming government.

09:20 Bridging the gap between school and work 

A nationwide youth employment advocacy group fears more and more young people are falling through the cracks between leaving school, and finding their place in education or employment. The most recent data from Stats NZ shows 11.2 per cent of 15-24 year olds are not in employment, education or training, over 72,000 young people. A Ministry of Social Development survey of students found around half of respondents had no exposure to a careers advisor at school. The same survey found 57 percent of employers were dissatisfied with the work-readiness of the school leavers. Youth Employability Aotearoa says common issues for young people are a lack of confidence and feeling unprepared for the workforce, as well as decreasing literacy and numeracy rates. This week, the Good Youth Employment Symposium will bring together the youth sector, aiming to bridge the gap, and help connect school leavers with employers. Kathryn speaks with Shirley Johnson, national coordinator of the umbrella group Youth Employability Aotearoa who is the organiser of the symposium, and Charlotte Bradley-Peni, who runs the Mayor's Taskforce for Jobs for the Westland District Council, which helps support young people into jobs. 

09:30 Budget advisors warn Southland no longer a cheaper lifestyle

A Southland-based budgeting service says it is overwhelmed with calls for support as the cost of living bites. Financial mentors at Jubilee Budget Advisory Service in Invercargill say there has been more than a 30 per cent increase in people seeking one-on-one sessions since last August, when they advised around 550 clients. That number rose to 722 last month, around 135 one-on-one sessions a week. Jubliee Budget Advisory Service General manager Sharon Soper says many clients come through the door unsure how to pay for food or petrol. Others are making decisions on whether to sell their cars and even houses, unable to keep up with their mortgage after more than a decade of meeting repayments. She says while Southland used to boast a cheaper way of living, that is no longer the case.

09:45 USA correspondent

The House comes back to Washington today after a months long recess. Big picture items have to get done within two weeks: namely passing the budget, or risking a government shutdown. But the two chambers have two completely separate spending universes. And Monday is a significant day - 22 years since the September 11 terrorist attacks. As Ximena Bustillo reports, most  new recruits to active duty military service were either very young or not yet born when the attacks took place.

Ximena Bustillo is a politics reporter for NPR News, based in Washington.

10:05 The Vintner's Tale: Peter Hubscher on helping to build NZ's wine industry

Peter Hubscher was a pivotal figure in the fledgling New Zealand wine market after dipping his toes in winemaking waters in Hawke's Bay in the 1960s. He's now written a memoir of his time at the top of the winemaking business, called The Vintner's Tale. But those early days exposed him to some fraudulent practices that were widespread at the time that nearly put him off his career altogether. Travels through Europe with his wife Pam opened his eyes to what could be achieved in New Zealand, and a chance encounter with Frank Yukich landed him at Montana Wines, where he rose to be its Managing Director. Over 40 years with the company, Peter helped establish sauvignon blanc as a seminal Kiwi brand, introduce techniques influenced by European and American vintners and connect the Montana name with Sunday Theatre, Wearable Arts and the national Book Awards. That love of the arts has meant no quiet retirement for him either - he and Pam founded the Tironui Music Trust which supports disadvantaged kids to learn music. He joins Kathryn to talk about his career. 

10:35 Book review: Neither by Liam Jacobson

Ash Davida Jane reviews Neither by Liam Jacobson published by Dead Birds Books

10:45 Around the motu: Georgina Campbell in Wellington

The controversial Shelly Bay housing development has been scrapped, after the land was purchased by Sir Peter Jackson and Dame Fran Walsh. But as Georgina Campbell reports, there's concern it's emblematic of a wider problem Wellington is facing - an incredibly strong resistance to change. And new data is suggesting working from home is impacting the city centre.

11:05 Business commentator Victoria Young

BusinessDesk investigations editor Victoria Young  is looking into the money behind New Zealand Rugby - in particular, exploring the NZ Rugby-Silver Lake deal, and what it means for the All Blacks. 

11:30 Sarah Goodes on directing the psychological thriller Switzerland

Patricia Highsmith was the brilliant, but notoriously prickly best-selling author of many psychological thrillers - including Strangers on a Train - adapted for screen most famously by Alfred Hitchcock - and her Ripliad series sparked by her novel The Talented Mr Ripley. A play imagining the her last few months living as a recluse in Switzerland sees a young man arrive at her door to convince her to pen a last Ripley book. But the reclusive author is living with lung cancer, done with the literary establishment and not inclined to oblige. And thus the scene is set for the play Switzerland, which is being performed by The Auckland Theatre Company, with Kiwi actor Sarah Peirse as Patricia Highsmith. Sarah Goodes directed the play's debut in Sydney back in 2014 and is bringing it to the stage in Auckland from September 19.

11:45 Sports-chat with Glen Larmer

Sports commentator Glen Larmer discusses the All Blacks' loss to France in the Rugby World Cup opener, and what it means for their chances of taking the trophy. Also a big weekend ahead for the Warriors - their first home final in 15 years, against the Newcastle Knights.

Music played in this show

Track: Higher Ground
Artist: Stevie Wonder
Time played: 9:30am 

Track: I put a spell on You 
Artist: Screamin' Jay" Hawkins 
Time played: 10:40am