Nine To Noon for Monday 21 October 2024

09:05 Retirement village residents fuming at delays to 'urgent' law changes 

A group representing residents of retirement villages is furious about delays to changes to the 20-year-old law. The Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka has confirmed a long-awaited review of the Retirement Villages Act will progress but says any amendment Bill won't be introduced until the next Parliamentary term. The review began under the previous government with consultation last year attracting more than 11,000 submissions. A range of issues had been raised in an earlier White Paper by the Retirement Commission in 2020. The Retirement Village Residents Association say the current law gives residents a raw deal, with fine print forcing them to pay ongoing maintenance costs for units they don't own, even after they move out. The Retirement Villages Association, which represents owners, has welcomed the ministers' announcement on the timeline and process, saying the review is focusing on the right things and "balances the rights and responsibilities of operators and residents, and ensuring the ongoing viability of the sector." Di Sinclair, the vice president of the Retirement Village Residents Association, speaks to Kathryn before she is then joined by Associate Minister for Housing Tama Potaka. 

09:25 Controversial waste-to-energy scheme on the fast-track list

Opponents of a Waimate waste-to-energy project are worried it won't get proper scrutiny as the company behind it seeks consent through fast-track legislation. South Island Resource Recovery, a joint venture between a Chinese and a New Zealand company, plans to build a plant that will burn 365,000 tonnes of solid municipal and construction waste into steam, water and electricity. It will be done at a 15 hectare Waimate site the company received permission from the Overseas Investment Office to buy earlier this year. It is now one of the Government's chosen 149 projects to go into the Fast Track Approvals Bill this month. Once the bill is passed, the company behind it will be able to apply to the Environmental Protection Authority where an expert panel will assess the project. The prospect of trucking 20 per cent of the South Island's waste to the town of Waimate has drawn protests from some locals and environmental groups. Why Waste Waimate spokesperson Robert Ireland and South Island Resource Recovery director Paul Taylor speak to Kathryn.

9:35 Gaming industry hits half a billion dollars in revenue

The New Zealand game development industry body says the sector's revenue is up nearly a quarter on last year and has breached half a billion dollars. The New Zealand Game Developers Association says the strong performance of the industry during tough economic times shows its resilience and potential. The organisation held its annual conference in Wellington over the weekend where it awarded both long time studios like PikPok, and newcomers to the game development scene. The NZGDA's executive director is Joy Keene.

09:45 Europe correspondent Seamus Kearney

In what would be a major escalation of the war in Ukraine, South Korea is backing claims by Ukraine that Russia has started the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers on the battlefield in Ukraine. While mercenaries from various countries have been fighting for Russia in Ukraine, this would be the first time a third country has sent troops to fight in the war. Also, the EU is getting tougher on migration amid rise of far-right parties. And Italy has passed controversial legislation making it illegal for people to go abroad to have a baby through surrogacy.

10:05 Dr Askar Kukkady on a career operating on children across the Pacific

Dr Askar Kukkady is a Waikato-based paediatric surgeon who has performed surgeries on children across the Pacific who could otherwise not access care. He was just 17 when he witnessed surgery on a newborn, which ignited a passion for paediatrics. He trained India where he was born, and moved to New Zealand in the late 90s. In 2004, he led a 22-hour operation to separate conjoined twins from Rotorua… girls only months old… the first operation of its kind in Australasia.

10:35 Book review: The Mess of Our Lives by Mary-anne Scott 

Louise Ward of Wardini Books reviews The Mess of Our Lives by Mary-anne Scott published by One Tree House

10:45 Around the motu: Peter de Graaf in Northland

Dargaville Hospital staff are under pressure. For many months they're struggled to find doctors to work there, especially overnight. And Peter says often after 5pm there's no doctor on duty in the ED or in the 12-bed ward.     If there's some kind of crisis and nurses need support or advice they have to rely on telehealth. Peter also looks at whether buy-outs are on the way for flood-hit Far Northerners, 18 months on from Cyclone Gabrielle. And is Kerikeri about to lose its gum tree skyline?.

11:05 Political commentators Gareth Hughes & Ben Thomas

Gareth, Ben and Kathryn reflect on the coalition government’s first year, their policies, promises and what’s been delivered on. Also public sector cuts continue, a new State Service Commissioner has been appointed and the Finance Minister has doubled down on calling Wellington City Council a "shambles”.

Gareth Hughes is the Director of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa, a former Green MP and is no longer a member of any political party.

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

 

11:30 Paua fritters, creamy paua and kai moana

We're heading north in the food slot today, where locally farmed paua is on the menu at the Savour Northland festival. As part of the October event, restaurants, cafes, bars and food trucks across the region are showcasing regional produce this month. Tony Rean from Tasty Tucker has kai moana on his menu. Tasty Tucker is a small family business from Ruakaka, and has stalls at markets and also caters at a wide range of events.

11:45 Urban Issues with Bill McKay

There has been a lot of discussion and protest about the environmental impact of the Fast-track Approvals Bill. Bill McKay focuses on housing and a couple of urban projects rather than the mining and quarrying, aquaculture and farming, energy, and infrastructure - which are are actual categories for projects.

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