Nine To Noon for Tuesday 11 June 2024

 

09:05 Mayor suggests reverse mortgage to deal with rates and cost of living 

Central Otago mayor Tim Cadogan did not expect the pushback he got when he suggested pensioners reverse-mortgage their homes to help with the cost of living. Cadogan has been going to public meetings about an average 18 per cent rates rise for the Central Otago district. He says several individual pensioners bemoaned the rates rise, and they doubted they could feed themselves and heat their homes. So, he suggested, for those that owned their homes, to reverse mortgage to get more cash. 

09:20 Former Pharmac chair hits out at government promises over cancer drugs

As the government comes under increasing pressure for backtracking on an election promise to fund 13 cancer drugs, a former head of Pharmac says it's a  problem of their own making. Former Senior Labour Minister Steve Maharey chaired Pharmac for five years till the end of last year. Mr Maharey says the promise made by National on the campaign trail to fund 13 cancer medicines at a cost of $280 million was a mistake. And that if it does come through with funding for the drugs, there will be no money for anything else.

09:35 NZ's smallest bird makes new sounds

A new study shows the tiny titipounamu or rifleman has the ability to learn to make new sounds, just like parrots. University of Auckland scientist Dr Kristal Cain is a co author of the study which has been published in the scientific journal Communications Biology.

09:45 US: Netanyahu addresses Congress, 'double haters' key to election

US correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben joins Kathryn to talk about the bipartisan invitation extended to Israel's president Benjamin Netanyahu to speak to Congress in July. Could "double haters" - the voters who don't like either US Presidential candidate - be key to the election victory? Certainly both campaigns think so, and the candidates are working hard to win them over. And Donald Trump has spent little time or money in swing state Arizona, but last week he went there courtesy of right-wing group Turning Point USA. It's part of a new tactic of directly employing outside groups to canvass and get out the vote.

Danielle Kurtzleben is a political correspondent assigned to NPR's Washington Desk.

10:05 Children's author Julia Lawrinson's shockingly real memoir

Award-winning Australian author Julia Lawrinson has more than 15 books for children and young people to her name, but her latest work is deeply personal. Her memoir tells the almost unbelievable tale of her life, from childhood anxiety and parental dysfunction, to the murder of her best friend by a serial killer and a volatile marriage. It's called 'How to Avoid a Happy Life', but despite the title, there is an unexpected light at the end of the tunnel. 

10:35 Book review: The Night Alphabet by Joelle Taylor

Mandy Myles from Bookety Book Books reviews The Night Alphabet by Joelle Taylor published by Little Brown

10:45 Around the motu: Che Baker in Invercargill

The biggest talk around town is the announcement that a contract has been signed to keep the  aluminum smelter at Tiwai open for another 20 years. Che says this is not only good news for the 750 people employed there, but also great news for the businesses who support the smelter. This includes uniform cleaners and suppliers as well as other manufacturing companies - which is at least another two thousand people. Also there’s excitement about the discovery of some baby tuatara.

Che Baker is the editor of the Southland Times.
 

11:05 Business: Cloud chaos in govt ministries, Fonterra and the ETS

Business correspondent Dileepa Fonseka joins Kathryn to talk about two big IT blowouts within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defence.  He'll look at what's happened and what implications it could have for cyber security. And BusinessDesk has reported an emissions trading scheme announcement is due before Fieldays, likely keeping agriculture out of the ETS. What could that mean for Fonterra in particular?

Dileepa Fonseka is a senior correspondent at BusinessDesk.

11:30 Nicolla Hemi-Morehouse, AKA Miss Nicky Says, on connecting tamariki to Te Reo Māori

Australia-based Nicolla Hemi-Morehouse is better known to thousands of young fans as Miss Nicky Says. Through her YouTube Channel and in-person shows, she's helping them to sing and learn Te Reo. Her popular song 'Because I'm Maori' has just been made into a colourful storybook. And it's a family affair - the book was illustrated by her daughter Story who's a successful artist in her own right. Nicolla talks about her music and language journey and working on with Story on the book. Miss Nicky Says will be performing in New Zealand with Suzy Cato at The Tuning Fork in Auckland in June, you can find details here. 

11:45 Sports correspondent Joe Porter

RNZ's sports reporter Joe Porter gives us the latest on the French Open - is Carlos Alcaraz the next tennis great? - The Black Caps' loss to Afghanistan and who to look out for in the upcoming Super Rugby semi-finals.