Nine To Noon for Monday 29 July 2024

09:05 Victim blaming more likely to come from family and friends: new research

New research from Victim Support has found most victim blaming comes from friends and family. And the recent qualitative study from the organisation found more than half of the victims they interviewed said they wouldn't report a future crime due to fear of being blamed in some way. The organisation is today launching a campaign called Change the Script to encourage supportive environments for victims of crime. Lead researcher Dr Petrina Hargrave says we are wired to victim blame, because it protects us from the reality that bad things happen to good people. She says it's easier to believe people are responsible for their own misfortunes

09:20 Vector chief wants systemic change to energy system

The chief executive of New Zealand's largest lines company says it's time for systemic change in the sector to meet complex challenges coming. After the Bradford reforms 26 years ago and split the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand into the generator-retailers we know today as Meridian Energy, Genesis Energy and Mercury - with Contact Energy being spun off earlier. It also separated lines companies from electricity supply businesses but generators were still allowed to operate as retail businesses. Electric Kiwi chief executive Luke Blincoe has called it a market failure, saying that the four gentailers are abusing their market power, keeping prices high and reaping excessive profits. His company has stopped taking on new customers because the spot and futures prices of electricity are too high. There's been little change to the country's energy system since the Bradford reforms. Vector chief executive Simon Mackenzie says the country faces significant energy challenges in the coming decades. He wants to see a whole-of-system energy strategy that addresses them.

09:35 Getting young people into jobs and apprenticeships

The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs initiative is leading to apprenticeships, qualifications and employment. Driving the scheme is a network of Mayors around the country helping young people from 16-24 to get jobs, skills and training. It is working particularly well in the Hauraki and Thames-Coromandel districts. Hauraki District Mayor Toby Adams says the scheme has resulted in jobs for 150 young people over the past four years. And Miyah Henley  is one of those young people,  she is an apprentice Reticulation Serviceperson at the Council.

09:45 Europe: Paris Olympic fever, Russia warning over missiles

Europe correspondent Seamus Kearney joins Kathryn to talk about the reaction to a sodden opening ceremony in Paris, which has had widespread praise - but also left the IOC having to apologise to the Catholic Church and others offended by drag queen scenes. There were also some embarrassing glitches. And Vladimir Putin has used a speech today in St Petersburg to warn the west of a Cold War-style missile crisis. 

10:05 Arno Michaelis on turning away from white supremacy and helping others

Arno Michaelis spent seven years in the midst of a racist skinhead organization and was the lead singer in a hate-metal band.  He grew up in a alcoholic household in Wisconsin, where violence was normalised and where he was told he could achieve anything he wanted. At school he channeled his aggession into bullying, and by the time he was 17, was already involved in the white power movement surrounded by skinheads. Arno declared war on the world and alongside his skinhead friends acted violently and remorslessly against others  It was when he became a single parent age 24, that he began to distance himself from his earlier beliefs. He stopped drinking, and in 2007 he wrote a memoir Life After Hate. Today Arno is a speaker, author, and has worked with Serve2Unite, an organisation that engages young people of all backgrounds as peacemakers.

10:35 Book review: The Wartime Book Club by Kate Thompson 

Ralph McAllister reviews The Wartime Book Club by Kate Thompson published by Hodder & Stoughton

10:45 Around the motu: Jimmy Ellingham covering Manawatu 

Jimmy has the latest on Palmerston North early childhood centre Country Kindy, which has been facing closure because of what sector group, the Early Childhood Council, says were alleged curriculum breaches. The inquiry by Massey University into troubles with online supervised exams is due out. And we'll hear about the 65 year old who is still playing club rugby.

Jimmy is an RNZ Checkpoint reporter based in Palmerston North

11:05 Political commentators Gareth Hughes & Ben Thomas

Gareth, Ben and Kathryn discuss the Royal Commission report on the abuse in care and the political response to it. Also, the Health NZ Board being replaced by a Commissioner, and how the Green Party is dealing with the Darlene Tana situation.

Gareth Hughes is a former Green MP and now works for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa. 

Ben Thomas is a former National government press secretary, a columnist and a director of public affairs firm Capital.

 

11:30 Pickles and preserves in Gore  

When Josie Robinson's friends started trying to pay for the pickles and preserves she was giving away, she decided it was time try to start a business of her own. Now, nearly 10 years later with recent major food producer awards Josie - aka Mrs Pickles - has a range of products on offer throughout the country. They include relishes like Nana's green tomato relish, beetroot relish to pickled onions with rum and honey. 

11:45 Urban issues: What if you don't like what's planned for your neighbourhood?

Bill joins Kathryn to talk about what happens if there's a development planned for your town or neighbourhood that you object to? Some residents in Wanaka and Tirau are fighting proposals for fast-food joints. He talks through the consenting process and what people can do if they don't like a particular proposal.

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