Nine To Noon for Thursday 19 September 2024

09:05 Kiwibank chief executive on how to grow state-owned bank to compete

In its major report into competition in the banking sector, the Commerce Commission found that Kiwibank was the only player that could be a `maverick disruptor' to the Australian banks. But Kiwibank lacks the scale and capital to consistently drive competition, and the government as owner should consider ways to provide that capital, the Commission said. The Finance Minister said last month she wants Kiwibank to grow to become that competitive disruptor. Nicola Willis said the government is open to outside investment, and has cited the likes of Kiwisaver funds as sources to top up the bank. The minister expects to take options to Cabinet by the end of the year. Kiwibank's chief executive says he's not opposed to some overseas investment coming in for the bank. Steve Jurkovich says the bank, which at the end of June had a market share of 7.6 per cent, could double that with a capital injection. 

09:25 Mentally unwell inmates in solitary confinement unethical and unlawful: psychiatrist

A forensic psychiatrist with 23 years experience says the increasing incarceration of people who are mentally unwell is unethical and likely unlawful. Corrections Department figures show that in 2023 around 62% of prisoners nationwide met the diagnostic threshold for mental health or substance-use disorder, and 91% would meet the criteria during their lifetimes. Dr Erik Monasterio resigned last year as Clinical Director and Director of area mental health services for the Canterbury Region, saying the treatment -- or lack of it -- for prisoners with disabling mental health disorders was ethically intolerable. He says many mental health patients are spending up to 23 hours a day alone in so called Intervention and Support Units within prisons. Dr Monasterio says the situation is getting worse rather than better, and successive Ministers and senior health officials have known about it for years.  The Department of Corrections says all of its ISUs are “supported by specialist mental health professionals”.

09:30 Tramping this spring? Why not clean a hut?

If you're planning on heading out into New Zealand's backcountry this spring - why not adopt a hut? Federated Mountain Clubs is seeking keen trampers to help look after New Zealand's network of public huts. Its 'Love Our Huts and Tracks' campaign aims to give the 900 huts round the country a spring clean and a health check - part of a wider strategy to assess the current status of the country's huts, tracks and bridges. So far 230 huts have someone signed up to check on them - clearly a few more are needed. Mick Abbott is a member of the Federated Mountain Clubs executive and joins Kathryn to explain what's involved. 

09:45 UK: Flexible work rights, migration crackdown sought, end of the pint?

UK correspondent Matthew Parris joins Kathryn to talk about the 800,000 people who have left the labour market since the pandemic, the biggest drop since the 80s. It comes as the government ignores the rules requiring civil servants to be in the office three days a week and plans to give staff more flexible working rights. PM Keir Starmer is holding talks with Italy over how to emulate its successful crackdown on illegal migration, as his predecessor John Major says the previous government's Rwanda asylum plan was 'un-British'. And could making a pint smaller help the nation's health?

10:05 Lynda La Plante : life on page, stage and screen

Lynda La Plante is regarded as the doyenne of British crime drama. The BAFTA and EMMY award-winning writer and producer is the creator of Prime Suspect, Widows and many other TV series. In producing and casting her own series, Lynda La Plante has given many actors their first significant roles including Dame Helen Mirren, Ralph Feinnes, Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan. She's also written over forty bestselling novels. But now at 81 - she's turned to telling her own story in a new memoir : Getting Away With Murder.

10:35 Book review: Chew the Bright Hysteria: Poems & Paintings by Rhondda Greig

Harry Ricketts reviews Chew the Bright Hysteria: Poems & Paintings by Rhondda Greig published by Quentin Wilson Publishing

10:45 Around the motu : Alisha Evans in Tauranga

Plans for a ferry service in Tauranga have been sunk after the Bay of Plenty Regional Council refused to subsidise the fares. Pride advocate Gordy Lockhart's six-year campaign has paid off and Tauranga will have a rainbow crossing by the end of year. And the Western Bay of Plenty District Council has stuck by its decision to keep its Māori ward. Tauranga.

Local democracy reporter Alisha Evans.

11:05 Tech: Salesforce's AI hopes, are Waymo driverless cars any good?

Tech commentator Peter Griffin has been at software giant Salesforce's annual conference where billionaire founder Marc Benioff unveiled his company's plans for AI agents capable of performing some sales, marketing or customer service tasks on their own. Will it really be any better than a chatbot? Peter talks about his experience in a Waymo driverless car and California governor Gavin Newsom has some big decisions to make on legislation to regulate AI.

11:25 Bullying: preventing and addressing

Whether your child is being bullied, or your child is being a bully, Dr Karyn Healy has advice. She is an Australian registered psychologist who has worked with schools, parents and children to prevent and address bullying, and resolve conflict. She co-authored a family programme to address school bullying called the Resilience Triple P program. Dr Healy says parents can help children manage conflict. 

11:45 Screentime: Wise Guy, Location, Location, Location, The Wild Robot

Film and TV reviewer Chris Schulz joins Kathryn to talk about Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos, which has first-hand accounts of the people who brought the popular TV series to life. There's a new local version of Location, Location, Location - is it any good? And The Wild Robot is a new animated children's flick out just in time for the school holidays.