Nine To Noon for Tuesday 9 July 2024

09:05 Whakātane mayor concerned over Whakaari lack of monitoring

Whakatāne's mayor is calling on the Prime Minister and Minister of Emergency Management to intervene to allow GNS access to Whakaari/White Island. Mayor Victor Luca is concerned the town will get no warning of a potential major eruption because scientists aren't able to get on the island. The owners of Whakaari White Island, Whakaari Management Ltd, would immediately allow access for GNS if they were legally able to, their lawyer James Cairney says. The Whakaari Management shareholders were found guilty of health and safety charges for granting access to other organisations, in December 2019, when an eruption killed 22 people. They are appealing that verdict. GNS pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the health and safety of helicopter pilots providing transport services for its scientists to and from Whakaari in the three years before the eruption. GNS says on-island monitoring substantially improves the chance of forecasting changes. Whakatane mayor Victor Luca recently wrote to the Prime Minister after concerns about increased activity on the island and speaks to Kathryn this morning.

09:20 Predicting dementia ahead of diagnosis

 Dr Adeel Razi  has been part of an international research team led by Queen Mary University of London, which has found a new and accurate way for identify who might get dementia, years before actual diagnosis. He's a Associate Professor of Computational Neuroscience based at Melbourne's Monash University.  Professor Razi is here to explain the development which goes beyond usual diagnostic tools like memory tests or measuring brain shrinkage.

09:35 Cuts to coastal mapping projects will put communities at risk: scientists

There are concerns among scientists that funding cuts to a coastal mapping project will put communities at risk. Land Information NZ is reducing spending on its coastal mapping, which provides information on sea level rise and natural disasters to help authorities make informed decisions on infrastructure. The cuts mean just 40% of the country's coast will be mapped, compared to the initial target of 85%.  LINZ says mapping coverage will be targeted to more heavily populated coastal areas and areas with vulnerable infrastructure. Otago University Centre for Sustainability director Dr Caroline Orchiston joins Kathryn to discuss.

09:45 USA correspondent Ximena Bustillo

President Joe Biden is out on the campaign trail, as Democrats broadly grapple with whether or not they see him as a viable candidate. Meanwhile Republican frontrunner Donald Trump's criminal sentencing has been delayed. And an extreme heat wave is gripping the East and West coasts.

Ximena Bustillo is a multi-platform reporter at NPR covering politics out of the White House and Congress on air and in print.

10:05  Mediha: The former Isis slave gifted a camera to film her own recovery 

Mediha was just 10 years old when Isis fighters took over the Yazidi town of Sinjar in 2014. The violence and cruelty that followed has been well documented. Less so, the lasting impact on those who survived it. US filmmaker Hasan Oswald looks at a teenaged Mediha's attempts to heal. She was reunited with two younger brothers, while a search for a third - just a baby when taken - is underway. Hasan captures Mediha's attempt to bring her Isis captors to justice, but his film - also sees Mediha film herself and the life she now has, one where former captives are discouraged from speaking about what happened to them. Hasan's film - simply entitled Mediha - opens this week as part of the DocEdge festival.

10:35 Book review: Hine Toa by Ngahuia te Awekotuku

Michelle Rahurahu Scott reviews Hine Toa by Ngahuia te Awekotuku published by HarperCollins NZ

10:45 Around the motu : Kirsty Pickett in Te Anau

The Te Anau community is getting behind local Lulu Sun's Wimbledon tennis campaign. Many are expected to gather at the local tennis clubrooms to watch her quarter-final match overnight tonight. And a review of Te Anau Airport, designed to identify ways to make it commercially sustainable, is nearing completion.

Kirsty Pickett co owner of the Southland App -  Southlandapp.nz 

10:55 Former Green MP Darlene Tana's future unclear: analysis

To parliament now where all eyes are on the former Green Party MP Darlene Tana and whether or not she will resign from parliament, be forced to, or stick it out. Ms Tana has resigned from the Greens after the party's independent review into allegations linking her to exploitation at her husband's bicycle company. But she hasn't resigned from parliament, despite the Greens asking her to. Ms Tana says she doesn't accept the findings about her involvement in the company. Giles Dexter is RNZ political reporter speak to Kathryn.

11:05 Business commentator Rebecca Stevenson

There appears to be growing interest in private equity in New Zealand, as global giant Advent International confirms a new office here, and many other big firms consider the same. Being AI has filed defamation action against investment bank Clare Capital, claiming it made false allegations about the company and tis directors. And the future of Synlait Milk hangs in the balance this week as shareholders prepare to vote on whether to take out a loan from a long-time backer.

Rebecca Stevenson is a senior journalist at BusinessDesk.

11:30  Citizens Advice Bureau: My neighbour is driving me crazy

Disputes between neighbours over things like fences and trees can be fairly common - but what's the best way to get them resolved? Andrew Hubbard from the Citizens Advice Bureau joins Kathryn to talk about how to resolve these types of issues without escalation.

11:45 Sports correspondent Sam Ackerman

Are we watching one of the most memorable and unexpected runs by a New Zealand athlete? Sam Ackerman looks at Lulu Sun’s remarkable Wimbledon streak and what lies ahead, as well as breaking down the All Blacks' start to the Scott Robertson era, and why Warriors fans are blowing up about officiating again.