Nine To Noon for Monday 11 May 2015
09:05 Does increasing herd sizes really get famers any extra money?
Dairy NZ scientist John Roche says between 2003 and 2013 the average dairy farmer added 100 cows to their herd - but he says they're no better off finiancially because they have to spend more on supplementary feed and are damaging the environment in the process. John Roche - Principal scientist at Dairy NZ.
09:30 Workers dying on the job in Qatar
The International Trade Union federation estimates that 4-thousand workers will die by the time the Fifa World Cup begins in Qatar in 2022. Sharan Burrow, General Secretary International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) said this is a global dispute over fundamental workers' rights and modern day slavery in Qatar which must be resolved immediately. The ITUF says they are used as forced labour, denied the right to join a union, live in squalid living conditions and often are not paid the wages they are promised. The head of the union, Sharan Burrows is in New Zealand ahead of the under 20 FIFA World Cup, which is being held here from the end of this month to try and pressure FIFA to do more to protect workers in Qatar.
09:45 Africa correspondent, Debora Patta
Africa correspondent Deborah Patta reports on the rescue of hundreds of girls in Nigeria who had been kidnapped by Boko Haram; and tensions in Burundi.
10:05 Australian children's writer Morris Gleitzman
Morris Gleitzman is the multi-award-winning Australian children's writer, author of more than 30 books. Many of his books have been adapted for film, television and even stage. His career began working for the ABC as a writer on the comedy TV series The Norman Gunston show. He's one of Australia's funniest children's authors, but he also tackles serious and complicated topics such as cancer, the holocaust, and war. Morris Gleiztman says he loves writing for 8- to 14-year-olds who are “starting to see the world individually and developing their own moral landscapes”. He talks to Kathryn Ryan about entertaining and challenging his readers.
10:35 Book review: 'The Soldier's Wife' by Pamela Hart
Published by Hachette. Reviewed by Sonja de Friez.
10:45 The Reading: 'The Global Gardener' by Michael Scott
A Gardening Travelogue that moves from Vegetables in Scotland, to grass in California, and a trans-Tasman garden in Wellington meeting quirky characters along the way. . . told by a botanist who describes himself as having 'a dynamic and romantic relationship with flora and fauna'. Michael Scott was born in New Zealand but lives in Gloucestershire, England where he strives to formulate practical action plans to preserve and revere the natural world. (1 of 10, RNZ)
11:05 Political commentators Matthew Hooton and Mike Williams
Political commentators Matthew Hooton and Mike Williams discuss the standoff between the government and Auckland council over special housing areas , this weeks budget, and the UK election result.
11:30 The bounty of Hamilton Gardens
The award-winning Hamilton Gardens attract around one million visitors each year. Set amongst 54 hectares, the gardens are quite different to the traditional botanical garden model – and include five different garden collections and 21 themed gardens. The council-owned gardens also produce an incredible range of food – honey, eggs, lemon curd, marmalade and kumara. Kathryn Ryan speaks with Gus Flower, Operations Manager for the gardens, who shares growing tips and recipes for lemon curd and marmalade.
Gallery: Hamilton Gardens
Recipes: Sevillle Orange Marmalade and Scrummy Easy Lemon Curd.
11:45 Urbanist Tommy Honey
Tommy Honey discusses the new Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, which recently opened in Wellington.