Nine To Noon for Friday 13 December 2024

09:05 Energy crisis cost economy $300m: analyst

A leading energy analyst estimates this year's power crisis cost the economy $300 million in lost exports. The actual cost will be revealed next week when quarterly GDP figures come out. Enerlytica's head of research John Kidd has crunched numbers, including MBIE data, to reach his estimate. Figures just released by the  Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, show a 10 per cent drop in industrial electricity use for the June to September quarter compared to the same time last year. Following the spot price soaring in that quarter, three North Island mills closed, resulting in the loss of hundreds of jobs. John Kidd says the industrial sector contracted production in response to what was happening. Business leaders in the upper North Island met last week, where it was agreed high energy costs were one of the biggest handbrakes on the New Zealand economy.  The group is working on a proposal to reform the electricity sector. Northern Infrastructure Forum executive director Barney Irvine was there and talks to Kathryn, along with John Kidd, about what the sector needs to change. 

09:30 Property developer forced to remediate after clearing potential wetland

Property developer Winton is being forced to remediate a Significant Natural Area after it cleared a potential wetland in the Coromandel town of Matarangi. The Waikato Regional Council has agreed to drop its prosecution in exchange for Environment Court enforcement orders that make Winton clean up its mess. The saga began in 2021 when Winton's contractor told the Thames-Coromandel District Council it planned on some "vegetation clearance" as part of its housing development Beaches which sits on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula. The local council did not recognise the area as significant, even though the Regional Council had designated it a Significant Natural Area. Forest and Bird maintain both councils should have done more to prevent the clearance in the first place, and say it's an example of how precious wetlands and ecological habitats are easily destoyed. Tom Kay is Forest and Bird's freshwater advocate and has been involved in this case since it began, he speaks to Kathryn Ryan.

09:45 Pacific correspondent Koroi Hawkins

Koroi discusses widespread political instability in the Pacific:  Vanuatu, Tonga, and now the Solomon Islands Prime Minister is facing a vote of no confidence.

10:05 Wanaka-based garden guardian Anna Hiatt

Anna Hiatt grew up on a farm in North Canterbury and spent much of her early years in her granny's vegetable garden. Decades later, she's on a mission to help others grow their green thumb through her gardening kit business Hiatt and Co. Anna's had a varied career - from theraputic massage for people with chronic pain, running a weekend home in the Cotswolds in England for a wealthy London family, launching her own flower design business, and running huge international sport events. Covid brought a those events to a halt when the borders closed, which gave Anna a chance to reflect and reset. The result is Hiatt and Co - now three years in - she's selling home vege garden kits to customers around the country from her base in Wānaka as well as consulting to clients about where and how to build a vege garden.

10:35 Book review: The Kingdom of Dust by David Dyer 

Louise Ward of Wardini Books reviews The Kingdom of Dust by David Dyer published by Penguin Books

10:45 Around the motu: Diane McCarthy in Whakatane

Diane discusses the gathering of Whakaari whānau for the fifth anniversary, logging workers are unable to eat due to nauseating odours, a new collaboration seeks to change the tide on water quality, and Santa will be parading through town this weekend.

Diane McCarthy is an Eastern Bay of Plenty Local Democracy Reporter - with the Whakatāne Beacon.

11:05 Music reviewer Grant Smithies

After a period of inactivity, Wellington's The Phoenix Foundation release a new two-track single today, and they're also touring, playing Auckland tonight and Wellington tomorrow. We'll hear both new tracks from the single this morning, followed by a dusty classic from recently reformed Brooklyn hip hop trio Digable Planets and some synth-heavy Nigerian Afrobeat from Etiene T.Boy.  

11:30 Sports commentator Sam Akerman

Form or favour? Black Caps great Tim Southee’s final test appearance is causing great debate among cricket fans, Sam Ackerman looks at the Black Caps chances in the final test against England, the Black Ferns sevens dominating the Rugby Awards and some truly Kiwi sporting events happening this weekend.

11:45 The week that was with te Radar and Michele A'Court

Our comedians have a few laughs over the funnier stories of the past week, including the New Zealander who won Spain's top scrabble title, despite not speaking Spanish.