Nine To Noon for Wednesday 19 February 2025

 

09:05 Keeping the peace in Ukraine: How ready would NZ forces be?

Russia and the US have agreed to press ahead at speed with negotiations aimed at ending Russia's war against Ukraine during talks held overnight in the Saudi capital Riyadh It's the most significant shift since Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine - however Ukraine and its European allies were shut out of discussions. Yesterday the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he's open to deploying NZ Defence personnel to Ukraine as peacekeepers - a stance supported by the Labour leader. But how ready and capable would the NZDF be to contribute to such a mission? Josh Wineera is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Defence Force;  a former defence attaché to the Pacific and served in NZs third contingent of peacekeepers to Bosnia in 1995. He is a visiting fellow with the University of Canterbury's Pacific Regional Security Hub and a director of high-tech defence consultancy firm, Latent. 

09:20 Law expert: Ditch the No.8 wire attitude to privacy

Multiple investigations into the alleged misuse of census and immunisation data for election purposes are still under way after it was revealed yesterday that StatsNZ and the Ministry of Health failed to put adequate safeguards in place. The Police,and the Privacy Commissioner are now investigating claims that Te Pāti Māori misused personal data collected in 2023. The chief executive of the Waipareira Trust and president of Te Pāti Maori, John Tamihere, has countered that no evidence has been found that data was misused. Gehan Gunasekara is an Associate Law Professor at Auckland University specialising in privacy law and co founded the Privacy Foundation and he joins Kathryn to talk about the improvements he says need to be made in our attitude towards privacy.

09:30 Kiwi producer Lizzie Gillett on her Bafta-award winning Superman documentary

He was the "Man of Steel" who suffered a devastating accident and was left paralyzed. The story of 1970s Superman actor Christopher Reeve could've been focused on that one tragic event in 1995  - but a recent documentary shows how he and his family strove to overcome it. Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story was made with the support of his three children and aided by hours of family video footage. It alternates before and after his horse-riding accident, showing how the resiliant actor became an advocate and fundraiser for those with spinal cord injuries. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival last year, played as part of the New Zealand International Film Festival and has had a theatrical release here too. It's won an impressive number of accolades around the world - and on Monday, that included a Bafta. Behind the lens, intimately involved in bringing the film to life, was Kiwi producer, Lizzie Gillett.

09:45 Australia: Media sting gone wrong, insurer crackdown, NZ tourism reaction

Australia correspondent Bernard Keane explores the scandal over the Daily Telegraph's attempted undercover story into "what it's like being Jewish in Sydney". He'll talk about the RBA's latest interest rate move, and Liberals leader Peter Dutton's comments that the Coalition would move to break up insurance companies found to be gouging policyholders. And how has New Zealand's 'Everyone must go!' tourism campaign gone down in Australia?

Bernard Keane is political editor for Crikey.com

10:05 Remembering a life in Sri Lanka through a mixtape

An old mixtape is at the centre of the latest play by writer, director and actor Ahilan Karunaharan. Ahilan, who is of Sri Lankan descent, uses the recorded music to chart a mother's former life in a small coastal village before she came to live in New Zealand. In A Mixtape for Maladies the discovery of the recording opens up the family history - one that's described as bittersweet. The playwright's work has been guided by his own personal heritage and family stories and in this production he delves into the power of song and music. Ahilan talks to Kathryn about the final part of a trilogy that follows Tea and The Mourning After. A Mixtape for Maladies is a collaboration between Agaram Productions, the Auckland Theatre Company and the Auckland Arts Festival. There are 20 shows running throughout March.at the ASB Waterfront Theatre.

10:30 Northern business leaders' 10-pt plan to fix electricity system

Business and energy leaders across the upper North Island have released their plan to overhaul the energy sector. The Northern Infrastructure Forum was created last year after business leaders were concerned the cost of electricity was closing industry and hurting margins. The spot price - what a lot of major industrial users choose to pay, mixed with some forward contracts - soared in August 2024 - and led businesses like Winstone Pulp International to choose to shut their business. The business leaders' 10-point plan includes creating one authority to make key decisions, having sufficient back-up for dry years and allowing for major users to have longer energy contracts than what are available now. Barney Irvine is executive director of the Northern Infrastructure Forum and he will be presenting this plan to the public later this afternoon. The NIF includes major employers in the upper North Island such as Vector, Kiwirail and the Ports of Auckland. 

10:35 Book review: Three Days in June by Anne Tyler 

Elisabeth Easther reviews Three Days in June by Anne Tyler published by Penguin Random House

10:45 Around the motu: Alexa Cook in Hawkes Bay

It has been two years since Cyclone Gabrielle, Alexa talks to Kathryn about what has happened since, as well as the latest events including the art deco festival, a commemoration of the 1931 earthquake and the horse of the year show.

Alexa Cook is a RNZ senior journalist.

11:05 Music with Kirsten Zemke: Songs with siblings

Kirsten joins Kathryn to talk about how siblings have capitalised on their music upbringing and created some famous collaborations and great tracks. She'll play some songs from the Pointer Sisters, INXS, Beach Boys and Split Enz. 

Kirsten Zemke is an ethnomusicologist at the University of Auckland's School of Social Sciences.

11:20 Making friends as we get older

Loneliness is well known as a factor impacting on wellbeing - including mental and physical health. But for many people, making friends as the years go by becomes more difficult. Clinical psychologist Karen Nimmo says there are a lot of factors involved. She joins Kathryn with some ideas for making friends. Text your questions for Karen to 2101 or email ninetonoon@rnz.co.nz

11:45 Health: Can a little exercise before bed actually help you to sleep better?

For a long time the thinking on 'exercise before bed' was - don't do it. But is that changing? Meredith Peddie is a senior lecturer in Otago University's Department of Human Nutrition and was involved in a study that found short bursts of light exercise in the lead-up to bed time might have beneficial effects. So if you're keen for a better kip - what kind of exercises should you be doing? And what should we be doing during our day to minimise the time we spend sitting down? Meredith has some suggestions.