Nine To Noon for Monday 2 September 2024

09:05  Primary pupils access porn on school devices, schools want better protection

Primary age students have been able to view pornography, sexualised animal content, and information about self-harm on school devices - shocking school leaders and leading to calls for far better online blocking technology. Over the last three months, children's safety advocates conducted experiments at four Auckland primary schools, while staff at two other schools carried out the same test. The results show that despite blocking technology, pupils were able to access serious disturbing content on school issued ipads and laptops. The Ministry of Education contracts the company Network for Learning, N4L,  to provide web filters to schools. N4L says the technology cannot filter specific content within an unblocked website, such as images or videos and that it is the responsibility of platforms like YouTube and Google and social media to monitor, flag and remove content within their sites they classify as inappropriate. Kathryn speaks with Holly Brooker, parenting educator and former High School teacher and principal of Newmarket School Wendy Kofoed.

09:20 Stanford University geneticist on why we age in two rapid bursts

New research has found that humans age in two rapid bursts rather than in a gradual, chronological way. Stanford University scientists have found that the number of molecules and microorganisms in the body dramatically fluctuates around the ages of 44 and 60. Over a hundred adults between the ages of 25 and 75 were tracked as part of the study. Michael Snyder is a geneticist at Stanford University who co-wrote the study.

09:35 Kiwi edtech Kami gets major US investment

A New Zealand business which makes education software used by millions around the world has just received the backing of a US private equity firm. Kami is interactive software teachers can use for presentations and assessments, as well as tools to accommodate a wide range of learners. It was co-founded by Henjie Wang in 2011. Boston Ventures Investment Partners has valued the company at $300 million, with an estimated 40 million users worldwide. Hengjie Wang joins Kathryn to talk about what the company has planned.

09:45 Middle East correspondent Sebastian Usher

10:05 Dr Sea Rotmann: from marine ecologist to looking out for those in energy hardship 

When Dr Sea Rotmann moved to New Zealand as a coral reef ecologist, she did not expect to end up as one of the country's leader researchers in energy hardship. She has appeared at major conferences around the world to discuss her research and insights on the energy poor. Her roles in New Zealand started in Government implementing sustainability policies. She has gone on to create her own behaviour change advisory and held multiple roles on energy hardship panels for the Government. She has also conducted research under the User-Centred Energy Systems TCP by IEA under the umbrella of the International Energy Agency. It was in those roles she realised most of the world was overly focused on making technology more energy efficient, and there was much less focus on human decisions. Sea tells Kathryn many more people and businesses than we think are stressed by their power bills.

10:35 Book review: Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

Phil Vine reviews Happiness Falls by Angie Kim published by Faber

10:45 Around the motu: Simon Wilson in Auckland

Watercare has revealed that 90 trucks a week are carrying waste from 300 homes in a new subdivision because they do not have adequate sewage connections.  And the same thing will happen with another three projects when their homes are built. And, the bridge connecting the Viaduct to North Wharf and the Wynyard precinct is still under repair, and won't reopen until December. But the council agency has established a new ferry shuttle, called Red Boats.  

Simon Wilson is a Senior Writer NZ Herald 

11:05 Political commentators Neale Jones & Liam Hehir

Many topics to discuss including Labour's wealth tax, the newly announced infrastructure agency and the latest in the Greens - Darlene Tana saga.

 

 

Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of public affairs firm Capital.

Liam Hehir is a Palmerston North lawyer, political commentator and a National Party member.

11:30 Chef Ganesh Raj on feeding the family faves for under $20

For a number of years now, chef Ganesh Raj has been teaching people how to eat well for less. It's the title of the book, based on his popular TV show with Michael van de Elzen,  which is about to start filming for a fifth season. Ganesh also runs a YouTube channel called The Humble Yum Yum, promoting global food that doesn't cost the world. He's teamed up with South Seas Healthcare to run the Humble Yum Yum food education programme, focused on creating healthy family favourites on a budget. He joins Kathryn to talk about that - and share his favourite recipes.

11:45 Off the beaten track with Kennedy Warne

Today Kennedy joins Kathryn to talk about how technology is being harnessed in the fight against New Zealand's pests and predators. He's been looking at eradication projects in Northland, including Bay Bush Action, which is trying to free 2500 ha of Opua State Forest of predators, and Backyard Kiwi, which has been targeting stoats - and might be contributing to the health of kauri in the area in the process.