Nine To Noon for Monday 3 March 2025

09:05 Europe's leaders rally around Ukraine after brutal White House meeting

European leaders have met in London in support of Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky following his confrontational encounter with Donald Trump at the White House at the weekend. British PM Keir Starmer hosted the summit, saying leaders had agreed to draw up a Ukraine peace plan to take to the US - he described it as a "moment to act". Kathryn speaks to the BBC's James Waterhouse about the extraordinary weekend events and how they've been received in Ukraine.

09:20 Solar contractor dismayed BlackRock invited back  

Contractors out of pocket for work done for liquidated SolarZero are dismayed BlackRock is being invited back into the country to an investment summit next week. The multi-trillion dollar investment giant and the world's largest asset manager bought SolarZero in 2022 and further invested in it, with others, including the government's own green bank - before putting the solar company into liquidation late last year. About 170 people lost their jobs and overall, SolarZero owes more than $40 million to creditors and staff, the first liquidators' report shows. Among that figure, $4.1 million is owed to unsecured 'trade creditors'. BlackRock has confirmed it will be at the New Zealand Infrastructure Investment Summit to be held in Auckland next Thursday and Friday. Josh Martin, who is leading a group of 33 former Solar Zero contractors, says it's unfair that a company managing $11.5 trillion has left workers and contractors unpaid. He says his business had done two installations every day for the month of November and is owed about $70,000. He tells Kathryn he's sold property to pay his staff redundancies as he went from a team of almost 10 to a 'one man band'. BlackRock says despite its significant $250 million investment into Solar Zero, it was not viable and it recognises the hardship of affected creditors.

09:35 Prima Facie: How one play questions the fairness of justice systems around the world

When the one-woman play Prima Facie made its debut in Australia in 2019, there was little indication of the global impact it would grow to have. But it's since been translated into 25 languages and performed all over the world. It's about a defence lawyer who specialises in helping men accused of sexual assault, but comes to understand the justice system on an extremely personal level when she is sexually assaulted herself. Prima Facie's West End and Broadway performances by actress Jodie Comer won a number of top awards  - including two Tony's. The show has also been performed around New Zealand, including by actress Cassandra Woodhouse - and she's about to take it on tour again. She joins Kathryn to talk about why it's resonated with women around the world.

09:50 Saving on the cost of dying: flat pack coffins

Putāruru engineer Mike Nelson and his wife Marisa have set up a flat pack coffin business to help bring down the cost of funerals. The inspiration for Carried Away came when Mike was organising his mum's funeral nine years ago, and was shocked at the price to fulfil her wish of a bright yellow coffin with a smiley face drawn at either end.  Mike talks with Kathryn about the role their coffins can play in the grieving process,  and why he believes conversations about death should be a natural part of life.  

10:05  Unveiled: Theophila Pratt's story of surviving Gloriavale

At age 18 Theophila Pratt was dropped at a bus stop in Greymouth - bound ultimately for a place called Auckland, that she'd heard of, but couldn't place on a map.  As her mother drove away, she told her the decision she'd just made had "damned her soul to hell for eternity". Theophila had just fled Gloriavale. Born 'Honey Faithful' in the fundamental Christian community on the South Island's West Coast, she later changed her name - one of a number of small rebellions over the years that set her at odds with Gloriavale leaders. She's now written a book called Unveiled about those experiences and the challenges that she's faced since leaving. They include trying to help her sister Precious, stuck with six children in India, as part of Gloriavale's expansion plans.   

10:35 Book review: Fire by John Boyne     

Ralph McAllister reviews Fire by John Boyne published by Doubleday

10:45 Around the motu: Georgina Campbell in Wellington

The new design for a revamped Courtenay Place has been revealed, filmmaker James Cameron joined a panel discussion for Vision for Wellington, and a rusting oil tank has the same heritage protections as Parliament, the council is proposing new delisting legislation.

Georgina Campbell is a NZ Herald Wellington issues reporter.

11:05 Political commentators Brigitte Morten and Gareth Hughes

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

Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government, a National Party member and currently volunteering for the party's deputy leader, Nicola Willis.

11:30 Vutter: The vegan butter that's sweeping NZ's top food awards

Love butter, but worried about what it could be doing to your health? Aline Fonseca and Patrick Malloch are the founders of Feliz Wholefoods, and the creators of Vutter - or vegan butter. It's based on a recipe developed by Aline, who's a chef herself, and has evolved into a number of different flavours; hemp seed oil, one with slow roasted garlic and one that's made from avocado. Their Avo Spreadable Vutter has been the surprise success - despite only coming out 6 months ago, it carried away the chilled award category and the Supreme prize at the New Zealand Food Awards last year. Aline and Patrick are passionate vegans - and say they just wanted to make something that was healthy, honest and sustainable.

11:45 Urban Issues with Bill McKay

When money is tight, what becomes of 'nice to have' public art pieces. Bill McKay discusses what protections, and place, public art has. One such example is the BJ Ball Building in Auckland, which is the canvas for the Mrkusich mural. The building was at threat at one stage when building development was in the air but BJ Ball, who had vacated the premises, weren't interested in saving the mural. The BJ Ball Building and mural do have Auckland Council heritage listing but as Bill explains, it took a surprising amount of persistence to find that out.

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