Nine To Noon for Thursday 31 October 2024

09:05 Public Trust helps record number of clients with guardianship claims 

Public Trust has revealed it dealt with an unexpectedly high number of applications for guardianship help in the past year - working with 1,443 more clients than it had expected to. That's a 60 percent increase on the department's own forecasts and 20 percent higher than the numbers seen in 2023. Public Trust has clients who it cares for under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act  - many of whom would otherwise be vulnerable to financial abuse or neglect. Those placed under the care of the Trust's managers lack the capacity to manage their own affairs. Decisions made by the Trust cover the full day-to-day management of a person's finances, from selling property, paying bills and buying food to ensuring money isn't spent on unnecessary or harmful items. The Trust has an arrangement with the Ministry of Justice for funding to administer this service. Glenys Talivai is the chief executive of Public Trust and speaks with Kathryn Ryan.

09:30 Which of our biggest organisations are managing to close the gender gap?

Who's in charge at some of our biggest organisations and how are they doing when it comes to gender balance? A new report out this morning from Champions for Change - a group of over 80 CEOs and Chairs - looks at how well 62 of its member organisations have done in achieving that, as well as diversifying the ethnic makeup of its highest levels. The report analysed data from the past seven years, finding six organisations - BNZ, Buddle Findlay, Fonterra, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, PWC and The Treasury - had completely closed their power gaps. A further 22 organisations had achieved gender balance at board, executive or management levels. The report also looked at how well Māori and other ethnicities were represented. To talk about that in detail, and also look at which industries are still struggling with gender diversity and solutions for improvement, Kathryn is joined by Champions for Change co-chairs, Antonia Watson, who is also the CEO of ANZ Bank and Roger Gray, CEO of the Port of Auckland.

09:35 The video game teaching prisoners to manage anger

A New Zealand company will soon begin a pilot for a video game that helps prisoners regulate their emotions. It's a car racing game that works by using wearable technology to measure reactions and give bio feedback to the game. Cool and calm the car drives fast,  but get angry or frustrated, the car slows down and you lose the race. Laetitia Laubscher is the director at creative company Manana Interactive,  previously trained as a lawyer and has experience of the criminal justice system. She saw a gap in access to rehabilitation, and the potential to offer something different. She talks about the concept with Kathryn Ryan. 

09:45 UK: Labour unveils its first Budget in 14 years

UK correspondent Lara Spirit breaks down what's in new Chancellor Rachel Reeves' first Budget, which included a  £40bn package of tax increases to fund the NHS. She'll look at where they've been directed and where the extra revenue's intended to be spent. 

Lara Spirit is a reporter for The Times Red Box, where she covers politics from Westminster.

10:05 Luke Graham's film tribute to his league legend dad, Mark

Filmmaker Luke Graham didn't have to look far for the subject of his latest documentary. He's turned his lens on his father: Kiwi rugby league legend Mark Graham. Mark's outstanding playing career included 29 tests for the Kiwis between 1977 and 1988...including 18 as captain. He also made 150 appearances for North Sydney and was the Dally M second rower of the year in 1981 and 1982. He was the first Kiwi inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame and in 2007 was named New Zealand Player of the Century. Luke's documentary on his dad is called Sharko - which debuted in New Zealand as part of the DocEdge film festival and is out in cinemas around the country next week. The project is a personal one for both father and son  - the film also details a family tragedy and the mental toll that it took. 

10:35 Book review: Kataraina by Becky Manawatu 

Emma Hislop reviews Kataraina by Becky Manawatu published by Mākaro Press

10:45 Around the motu: Natalie Akoorie in Hamilton 

Natalie talks to Kathryn about the ecological cost of a huge fire which tore through 1039 hectares near Meremere in North Waikato affecting the Whangamarino Wetland. A Waikato company and its director have each been fined $85,000 for discharging contaminants into the air after burning through plastic at a landfill fire. And visitors to Te Awamutu can get a touch of movie magic at their local museum through the costumes of New Zealand film Ka Whawhai Tonu, which went on show there last week. The historical drama featuring stars Cliff Curtis and Temuera Morrison retells the 1864 battle of Ōrākau Pā, located between Kihikihi and Arapuni.

11:05 Tech: Is the latest wearable health tech worth the hype?

Technology correspondent Juha Saarinen looks at how wearables are becoming health and wellbeing oriented, particularly Apple's gear. So what does it look at and how - and is it any good? Juha's been taking it for a spin. 

Juha Saarinen is technology editor at Interest.co.nz 

11:25 Parenting: when kids want to quit sport or other activities

What is the right way to deal with your kids wanting to quit a sport or an extracurricular activity? Whether it's their first year doing it, or they've been working at it for a decade, it can be a difficult territory for parents and kids to navigate.
Sport NZ surveys show kids from 5 to 11 are usually the most active participants in sport, while there is a big dropoff once they reach ages 15 to 17. So, keep dragging unwilling kids to their sports or let them let it go? Kathryn Berkett has her Masters in Educational Psychology and runs her practice Engage which she uses to teach others about using neuroscience in everyday life.

11:45 Screentime: Rivals, A Remarkable Place to Die, #Untruth

Film and TV reviewer Tamar Munch looks at the screen adaptation of Jilly Cooper's raunchy novel Rivals (Disney+), new Kiwi drama A Remarkable Place to Die (TVNZ) and #Untruth: The Psychology of Trumpism (DocPlay).