Nine To Noon for Thursday 15 August 2024

09:05 "The economy is screaming out for relief " - economist

It look just minutes yesterday for retail banks to begin dropping interest rates for borrowers after the momentous Reserve Bank decision. For the first time in four years the official cash rate was cut by quarter of a per cent with the central bank governor Adrian Orr saying it was time to take the foot off the economic brake. Dr Orr says the cut was warranted because annual inflation is heading back to the target range of 1-3%, and appears to be coming under control in economies around the world. And he says borrowers can expect rate cuts throughout the rest of this year and next. Stephen Toplis is head of research at BNZ.

09:20 New York Times National Security Correspondent David Sanger

David Sanger is the White House and National Security Correspondent for the New York Times, where he's worked for more than four decades and covered five American presidents. His latest book 'New Cold Wars'  examines the relationship between the U.S., Russia and China and looks at how technology, military intelligence and economic sanctions play into the conflict. His book draws on interviews with top officials from those five US presidential administrations - Clinton, Bush, Obama, Trump and Biden.  David Sanger has been in New Zealand this week as a guest of the NZUS Council and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. He tells Paddy Gower about this year's election on the foreign policy front.

09:35 Bring on Dropkicks! Return of Dunedin live music venue welcomed

One of Dunedin's best-known live music venues, which has been closed on and off for years,  is reopening under new management next month.  The former Captain Cook Tavern, a popular venue for students and the place where numerous Dunedin bands got their start, is to make its return next month, called DropKicks. Mili Oxley Lobo is one of the owners and speaks with Paddy Gower.

09:45 UK correspondent Dan Bloom

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has cancelled his holiday plans as the Government continues working on the aftermath of the UK far north riots. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves is seeking investment from US financiers to back UK projects, ahead of her next budget. An new findings reveal more about the origins of Stonehenge’s central megalith.

Dan Bloom is deputy editor of Politico London Playbook

10:05 Felicity Powell : from major surgery, to marathon, to Harvard

It's been a hard road to Harvard University for Felicity Powell. She is in the US on a Fulbright scholarship doing a Masters in Education Leadership, Organisations, and Entrepreneurship. Earlier this year she had brain tumour surgery after battling the health system for two years to get to that point. Felicity says now, life is great,  after some really difficult obstacles, including her dream job at Rocket Lab being disestablished. A keen runner, while awaiting surgery she wasn't able to exercise, but a couple of months ago she ran a marathon.

10:35 Book review: Girl Falling by Hayley Scrivenor 

Gina Rogers reviews Girl Falling by Hayley Scrivenor published by Pan Macmillan

10:45 Around the motu : Georgina Campbell in Wellington

Georgina explains why Te Papa's collection of 860,000 specimens could be disposed of without new storage facility. Wellington Girls' College students held a silent protest at Parliament over their earthquake-prone class block, Georgina looks into the seismic issue. And a talented Wellington teenager has offered a place at prestigious Paris Opera Ballet.

 Georgina Campbell is the NZ Herald's Wellington issues reporter.

11:05 Tech: Farmer blackmail, Cosmos' AI pickle, ChatGPT voice bug

Technology commentator Mark Pesce joins Paddy to talk about a farmer whose milking system was subjected to a cyber attack, resulting in the death of a cow. Mark will also talk about his personal connection to science mag Cosmos' decision to use AI-generated articles after it laid off their freelancers earlier in the year. And imagine a 'bug' that causes the user speaking with ChatGPT to be answered back in their OWN VOICE. Actually, don't imagine - it happened. Black Mirror anyone?

Mark Pesce is a futurist, writer, educator and broadcaster

11:25 Maggie Dent: Queen of Commonsense Parenting

Maggie Dent is known as the Queen of Commonsense Parenting. She's a former high school teacher, counsellor, mother of four sons, grandmother of seven, author of numerous books and the host of the ABC podcast Parental as Anything. Her latest book is called Help Me, Help My Teen. And Maggie's coming to Auckland next month for two public sessions: Mothering our Boys and Calming Today's Anxious Kids. Send questions for Maggie to 2101 on text or email ninetonoon@rnz.co.nz

11:45 Screentime: Alien: Romulus, The Instigators, Douglas is Cancelled

Film and TV reviewer James Croot looks at the seventh installment of the Alien franchise, Alien: Romulus, which is out in cinemas today. He'll also review The Instigators, which sees Casey Affleck and Matt Damon as two robbers who go on the run with the help of one of their therapists when the lift doesn't go as planned. He'll also look at Douglas is Cancelled, starring Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville and a new series of Guy Montgomery's Spelling Bee.

James Croot is the deputy editor of TV Guide