Nine To Noon for Friday 17 March 2023

 

09:05 Save our green space: new report

A new report warns public and private green space in urban centres shouldn't be optional, as two of our biggest cities' green spaces shrink by up to a third. The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Simon Upton's latest report, Are we building harder, hotter cities? finds green spaces in our cities are dwindling as we densify our cities in line with population growth.  Mr Upton urges planners to weigh the environmental benefits grass and leafy spaces bring, including temperature regulation, storm-water management, air filtration and habitat provision.  He urges green spaces be considered a form of infrastructure every bit as important as pipes and roads  Between 1980 and 2016, green space has fallen by at least 30% in Auckland, and at least 20% in Hamilton.  Nearly all of this loss occurred on private residential land.  Greater Wellington bucks the trend - the proportion of urban green space there has remained the same as the city has grown.  The report points out many councils are struggling to improve the quality and availability of public green spaces to compensate for the loss of private yards and gardens, as infill development and larger houses on smaller sections drive the trend.

09:30 Education system not meeting needs of neurodiverse 

A new organisation to support neurodiverse Kiwis has been created to lobby for a more responsive education system that meets the needs of neurodiverse people. The Neurodiversity in Education Coalition is founded by the Dyslexia Foundation of New Zealand, ADHD New Zealand, Autism New Zealand and the Centre for Gifted Education. They say the education system is failing to meet the learning needs of neurodiverse students, who have had to struggle to get the support they need. And without proper support, they report that neurodiverse people are strikingly over-represented amongst those disengaged from school, the unemployed, offenders in the justice and prison system, and people with poor mental health. The coalition met with parliamentarians yesterday to gather support, accompanied by a group of "champions" - young people who shared their personal experiences of being neurodiverse. Kathryn speaks to one of these champions, Jas Mcintosh, and Justine Munro, the chief executive of the New Zealand Centre for Gifted Education who is the leading charge behind the Neurodiversity in Education Coalition. 

09:45 Asia correspondent Elizabeth Beattie

Violent protests have again broken out in Pakistan as police attempt to arrest opposition leader Imran Khan who has continued his political standoff with the current government.  The courts have intervened, ordering police to halt the arrest operation in part due to security concerns around a planned cricket match. The leaders of South Korea and Japan have resumed ties, the first such meeting in 12 years, following years of disputes. Taiwan  is losing one of its few diplomatic allies with Honduras announcing plans to establish more formal relations with China. And a Japanese YouTuber GaaSyy is the first Japanese lawmaker to be expelled from the legislature in more than 70 years.

Elizabeth Beattie is a journalist based in Tokyo

 

10:05 What Matters Most - two friends talking: Jacqui Maguire & Antonia Prebble

In new podcast What Matters Most friends Jacqui Mcguire and Antonia Prebble discuss everyday life issues. With a new episode released each Tuesday, the first episode takes aim at our relentless pursuit of happiness. Later episodes explore how to have those awkward conversations to try to resolve conflict; how we can make new friends as adults, and the need to do that.  Kathryn sits down for a cuppa with actor and presenter Antonia Prebble ( Loretta West on Outrageous Fortune) and clinical psychologist Jacqui Maguire.

10:35 Book review: Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

Laura Caygill reviews Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano, published by Penguin Random House: "A heartbreaking, life affirming story of four sisters. Love, loss, grief and family combine in this stunning new novel from the writer of Dear Edward".

10:45 Around the motu : Kirsty Pickett in Te Anau

Kirsty chats to Kathryn about the Milford Opportunities Project aimed at reorganising the way people experience and benefit from Milford Sound Piopiotahi and the Milford corridor. It grew from conversations between the Southland District Council and Department of Conservation about issues around congestion at particular times. Also the lengths Te Anau School principal Grant Excell has gone to to raise money for a new school hall. And Manapouri residents are concerned after the vandalism of several trees on public reserve land overlooking Lake Manapouri.

Kirsty Pickett co owner of the Southland App. Southlandapp.nz 

11:05 New music with Jeremy Taylor

The return of Portland based Kiwis Unknown Mortal Orchestra is an epic double album, another Jon Savage compiled collection from the post punk years, and soon-come tourist Kurt Vile.

11:30 Sports commentator Dana Johannsen

The Breakers couldn't quite pull off the win in Wednesday night's grand final series decider, but Dana talks to Kathryn about why the team should be celebrated anyway, and the Sail GP finally arrives on New Zealand shores 

Dana Johannsen is Stuff's National Correspondent specialising in sport. 

11:45 The week that was with 

Comedians Te Radar and Kathryn Burnett

 

 

Music played in this show

Track: Colder and Closer
Artist: TOPS
Time played: 9:30am