Nine To Noon for Friday 3 May 2024

09:05 Auckland pensioners worry for their housing scheme

Pensioners who bought their homes under an Auckland Council affordable housing scheme are worried for its future, as units stay empty amid a housing shortage in the city. The Own-Your-Own Unit scheme was set up in the 1970s and designed to provide an affordable housing option for superannuitants. It allows the council to buy back the flats and on-sell them at 80 percent of the market value. But in 2022 Auckland Council said, after assessment, that the scheme was "no longer fit for purpose" and that new retirement homes and villages were "more appealing". It decided it wanted to divest itself of the scheme - but hasn't had any luck finding an operator who wants to buy in. Through the process, sales of units across the 14 villages were stopped, leaving half of them empty and some in a state of disrepair. Residents Pauline Sheddan and Lorraine Moon say that's having an impact on the community they've built in these villages, and the Council has a  moral obligation to look after its residents.

09:30 Turning the tables on truancy: Schools devise own solutions

The government has introduced new measures to increase school attendance and tackle the "truancy crisis". However, neither the recently announced Attendance Action Plan, nor future proposals signalled, include school truancy services. The latest attendance figures, released last month, show a reduction both in non-attendance, and in truancy. But regular attendance remains stubbornly lower than it was pre-pandemic restrictions, with just over half of students attending school at least 90 percent of the time. Regular school attendance has been declining since 2015, but Associate Education Minister David Seymour says the situation is a "crisis" and among other measures, is proposing a traffic light system, that could track attendance, and lay out clear and escalating consequences for students and families. The Associate Minister confirmed to Nine to Noon that changes to the Ministry of Education's Attendance Services and contracted providers were not currently on the table for consideration, and the Ministry and Education Review Office were looking into the system. Meanwhile, some schools have devised their own initiatives to boost attendance, with one such successful programme initiated in Masterton looking to expand. Kathryn speaks to the programme's founders - former principal Frazer Mailman and Wairarapa Boxing Academy's Laurence Titter - and the New Zealand Principals' Federation president Leanne Otene. 

09:45 Pacific correspondent Koroi Hawkins

Jeremiah Manele has been elected as the Solomon Islands' new Prime Minister. Meanwhile police in Honiara are on high alert with the capital having a well-documented history of public unrest around political events.

RNZ Pacific Editor Koroi Hawkins 

10:05 Manase Latu's journey from school choir to New York's Metropolitan Opera

Manase Latu first discovered a love of music as he grew up surrounded by it in his South Auckland community and church. It's a passion he carried all the way to New York, as the first Tongan singer to make it to the prestigious Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. The tenor has just landed on home soil to take the leading role in New Zealand Opera's latest comedy, Le comte Ory by Rossini, with touring to begin later this month.

A University of Auckland graduate, Manase Latu was talent spotted by The Met while on scholarship with London's Royal College of Music. He has performed various roles with NZ Opera, and has won several allocades including the top gong at the NZ Aria, one of the biggest singing competitions in Australasia.

10:35 Book review: You Are Here by David Nicholls 

Lisa Adler from Unity Books Wellington reviews You Are Here by David Nicholls published Hachette

10:45 Around the motu: Jimmy Ellingham in Palmerston North 

Work on the almost-completed Palmerston North cycleway has paused as arguments rage. Jimmy outlines the issues there and also why ratepayers are facing an eye-watering bill for a new sewage treatment plant. Then the beleaguered Chateau Tongariro which closed last year needing earthquake strengthening -  is now found to have weathertight problems. And Jimmy has details about charity fundraising walker, Hamilton Logan who turns 100 in November. Mr Logan wants to walk 100km before then 

11:05 Music reviewer Grant Smithies​

British label Ace Records has just released a new series of genre compilations, and Grant Smithies says the funk collection in particular is a doozy. Grant brings two tracks from that, followed by a rediscovered classic by Bill Callahan and a new single from Auckland trio Half Hexagon.

11:30 Sports commentator Dana Johannsen

Qatar has made a surprise bid to host the finals of the new Rugby Nations Championship from 2026. The 12 team competition will pit the best Northern Hemisphere sides against the top Southern Hemisphere sides.The bid is reportedly around 800 million pounds over eight years. And NZR has just announced  that two governance reform proposals - one designed by the NZR board, the other by the provincial unions - will be voted on at a Special General Meeting at the end of the month. And in Mini-Golf news, Kiwi Matt Ansley finished second in the world adventure golf tour final in Czechia.

11:45 The week that was with Michele A'Court and Irene Pink

Comedic duo Michele A'Court and Irene Pink bring this week's lighter moments, including the cat who climbed into a postage box and travelled more than 1000 kilometres across America.