Nine To Noon for Thursday 12 December 2024

09:05 Is new lending drying up for petrol stations?

New Zealand fuel retailer Waitomo says the writing is on the wall as banks move to wind up new lending to petrol stations. At the select committee enquiry into banking yesterday,  the BNZ acknowledged it is pulling back from lending to some petrol stations, describing  it as a "credit decision".  Alongside this,  Federated Farmers says similar decisions are being made about lending to farmers. It wants the Commerce Commission to investigate what it calls cartel-like, anti-competitive behaviour by banks.  Federated Farmers says this is being driven by a UN-convened alliance which requires clients to meet emissions reduction targets to get lower interest rates.
All the major banks here or their parent companies are part of this Net-Zero Alliance. Kathryn speaks with the chief executive of Waitomo Simon Parham and Federated Farmers banking spokesperson Richard McIntyre.

09:25 TradeMe vs Facebook Marketplace, the state of online trading

With the growth of Facebook Marketplace, analysts are sounding a warning to Kiwi online marketplace pioneer TradeMe, over prices. The company,  now owned by private equity firm Apax, just reported revenue of $370 million for the year to June - slightly up on last year.  Net profit had nearly doubled to 9.1 million. But, over the years the price of listings has increased, with recent commentary highlighting the cost of listing jobs and property now around ten times what it was when Trade Me launched. The price of listing cars for sale has also increased. Success fees on general items are 7.9 percent of the sale price, up to a maximum of $499. But many are reporting frustrations with TradeMe's listing prices, at a time when people can list on Facebook Marketplace for free. Peter Griffin is a regular technology commentator on the show. Jessica Walker acting head of research and advocacy at Consumer NZ. Another group reporting frustration is the imported car sales industry - the chief executive of the Vehicle Industry Association, Greig Epps, explains some of the changes to listing prices this year. 

TradeMe's head of consumer and marketplace Lisa Stewart says the company is proud to be Kiwi-founded and employs hundreds of New Zealanders in offices in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. She says the company invests in reducing scams and protecting buyers and sellers - in ways not offered on unregulated marketplaces. There is a 'nominal' fee for selling on the website, she adds, but that helps to keep it a safe and trusted experience for members. 

09:45 UK: Syria asylum claims paused, house build overhaul, Post Office prosecutions

He'll look at the UK's resounding welcome to the toppling of Bashar al-Assad, while it assesses the implications of the coup and pauses asylum claims. The government has announced more details on how it plans to overhaul planning rules to ramp up housebuilding, it's also set out a 10-year prison capacity plan. And police say they're to pursue dozens of people for prosecution over the Post Office scandal.

Matt Dathan is Home Affairs Editor at The Times

10:05 The filmmakers and the man dedicated to the donkeys

Two young Auckland filmmakers are getting plaudits for a film putting the spotlight on a man caring for donkeys in a beachside reserve north of the city. After discovering Peter Caccia-Birch and his work as the primary carer at Highfield Garden Reserve in Algies Bay, Katie Bilbrough and Tiana Marsh decided they should make a film about him as part of a project towards their film degrees at AUT. The film - called Sound in Wind and Limb - is about how Peter first got involved with the donkeys in 1995 and his devotion to them and the land they live on. The short film is now up for a number of awards - including at the East Village New York Film Festival. The reserve was gifted to the public in the 1990s by Alison Roberts and her husband Ted - who wanted the community to enjoy it as well as the donkeys. Peter soon took it over and along with his wife Val, they have transformed it into a vibrant reserve - working alongside many volunteers over the years. It was a chance meeting that Katie and Tiana found Peter, after a decision from the university students to take a day trip out of the city to visit the donkeys. They wanted to tell his story - and how he had retired as a farm worker, only to discover his true calling in life.

10:35 Book review: The Crash by Kate Furnivall 

Gina Rogers reviews The Crash by Kate Furnivall published by Hachette

10:45 Around the motu: Lee Scanlon in Westport

Lee talks to Kathryn about changes to the air service between Westport and Wellington, the death of Frank Dooley, and the ongoing battle for the Westport News.

Lee Scanlon is Westport News' Chief Reporter.

11:05 Tech: AI personality replicator, viva voce and where Pokémon Go data went...

Technology correspondent Mark Pesce looks at research from Stanford University which harnesses AI to make a 'deepfake' of someone's personality - how easy is it to create and what are the implication? Meanwhile Panasonic's founder Kōnosuke Matsushita may have died in 1989, but his company has created an AI version of him using more than 3000 recordings, as well as his writing and lectures. The University of South Australia is going old school viva voce to combat AI cheats and it turns out the company behind Pokémon Go has used users' data to train its new 'spatial data model'.

11:25 What to do if your child has a 'toxic friend' 

What should parents do when they're concerned their child has a mean or 'toxic' friend. Granted these things are not always black or white - but it can be a tricky territory to manage for a parent, especially if a child is suffering. But how do we know when to intervene, or what strategies can help the situation? Jackie Riach, psychologist and manager of parenting organisation Triple P New Zealand, talks to Kathryn about her suggestions for parents worried about their kids' friends.

11:45 Screentime: Breath of Fire, Juror #2, ADHD: Not Just Hyper

Film and television reviewer Tamar Munch joins Kathryn to look at new documentary series Breath of Fire, which explores how YouTube astrologer Katie Griggs reinvented herself as Guru Jagat and won a heap of followers. At 94, Clint Eastwood's latest endeavour is just hitting the big screen - a courtroom drama, Juror #2. And part of TVNZ's documentary series is  ADHD: Not Just Hyper.

 

Music played in this show

Track: Ninety Three 'Til Infinity and Beyoncé

Artist: André 3000

Album: New Blue Sun (2023)

 

Track: Grace (Bill Frisell & Herlin Riley)

Artist: Ambrose Akinmusire

Album: Owl Song (2024)

 

Track: The Wounded Need to be Replenished

Artist: Shabaka

Album: Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace (2024)