Nine To Noon for Tuesday 25 July 2023

 

 

09:05 Motorbiker riders accused of creating a 'wild west' in forest park 

Just north of Wellington is a 15,000-hectare playground full of winding tracks, canyons, and waterways. The Akatarawa Forest Park, which stretches from Upper Hutt to the Kapiti Coast, was once farmland and forestry, but is now a blend of native and exotic bush. Over the years it has become a popular spot for horse riders, walkers, and mountain bikers. However, the growing number of motorbikes on the track has become a point of tension, and is being likened to a 'wild west' by other users, with some now fearing for their safety. Emergency services were called twice to the Forest Park over the recent Matariki weekend for a head-on crash between two motorbike riders, and again after two riders were reported to be missing. Kathryn speaks to a track user, who says the situation is increasingly dangerous, and falling through regulatory cracks. Also joining is Ricky Clarkson, Greater Wellington Regional Councils eastern parks team leader and Geoff Swainson, Upper Hutt City Council director of asset management and operations.

09:25 National promises changes on GE laws - which sectors might move first in response?

National is promising to change the longstanding GE laws if it becomes the government,  so which sectors might move first in response? Yesterday we covered new research showing consumers are still hesitant to support genetic modification and gene editing in New Zealand  -  as the debate re-enters the political agenda. Gene editing involves making a change to the DNA of an organism - differing from genetic modification which involves introducing DNA from another plant or animal. National is promising to change the longstanding GE laws if it becomes the government, a move many in the tech and farming sectors see as overdue. A recently released Plant and Food Research survey we discussed on the programme yesterday shows about 62 percent of New Zealand and Australian consumers would be willing to buy produce grown using controlled environment agriculture, such as vertical farming. But only 43 percent say they would buy genetically edited produce. Kathryn speaks with Agritech CEO Brendan O'Connell.

09:35 Cohousing : how it is working in NZ?

We're checking in with two innovative co-housing initiatives at separate ends of the country. The concept is common in Scandinavian countries, and the first urban cohousing development, Earthsong in West Auckland opened its doors in 2002. Since then two other communities have been established. There are 24 units at the Toiora High St Cohousing community built on the site of an old primary school in Dunedin. Resident and project leader  Catherine Spencer says Toiora is home to young families, professionals and retirees. And residents moved into the multi-unit  Cohaus housing community, in the central Auckland suburb of Grey Lynn two years ago. The 2400 metre site is home to 20 households of 52 people living in units, flats and terraced housing. Architect Thom Gill lives there and says it's so much more than a boutique housing colab project and holds lessons for not pursuing greenfield developments.
 

09:45 USA correspondent Ron Elving

The latest on investigations into Donald Trump's role in January 6 Capitol riot.. He's the first former president in US history to be indicted and is awash with legal trouble as he campaigns to return to the White House, There is an argument in the House over whether to "expunge" his two impeachments.  The movie Barbie brings in $155 million in its first weekend, ahead of Oppenheimer. Ron says together "Barbenheimer" raked nearly a quarter of a billion at the box office one weekend which is good news for Hollywood and the entertainment industry beset by strikes. And the Federal Reserve is expected to bump rates up a quarter point later this week.

Ron Elving is Senior Editor and Correspondent on the Washington Desk for NPR News.

10:05 The Oakland A's, and how sports teams have become major financial assets 

John Fisher, the controversial owner of the Oakland A's is proposing to relocate the nine-time world baseball champions to Las Vegas. The departure of the major league baseball team would be the third, and final, major sports team to leave Oakland since 2019, a loss not only to the city's economy, but for the legions of passionate sports fans. It also points to a growing trend of professional teams and franchises becoming some the of the most coveted financial assets in the world. The Oakland A's were the subject of Michael Lewis' bestselling book Moneyball, and subsequent film starring Brad Pitt, but for journalist Dan Moore, the A's are much more; they're the team he's been supporting since he went to his first game with his dad at the age of six. Dan Moore recently wrote a piece for the website The Ringer, called The Long, Sad Story of the Stealing of the Oakland A's. 

10:35 Book review: The Pole and Other Stories by J. M. Coetzee 

Ralph McAllister reviews The Pole and Other Stories by J. M. Coetzee published by Text Publishing

10:45 Around the motu : John Freer in Coromandel

A  comprehensive look at how Coromandel Peninsula is coping in the face of continuous bad weather. Cathedral Cove which is one of New Zealand's major international tourism destinations has been closed for more than five months due to slips. John says business communities have not always worked cohesively across the region but now this is occurring on the back of the storm recovery efforts. Roading is still a big issue and has commenced on SH25A - the Kopu Hikuai Road - with the construction of a bridge across the summit slip. Meanwhile SH25 still shows its vulnerability with the most recent storm. And Mercury Bay Area School has a new principal and with it comes new initiatives including tackling absenteeism.

11:05 Business: Chinese tourism revolution, oil company mistrust, remittance costs

Business commentator Nikki Mandow joins Kathryn to talk about the return of the Chinese tourism market and how it might look different. She'll also look at how e-commerce to China is booming. Oil companies promised to invest in renewables - but instead have focused on profits and exploration. Is it time to clearly state they can't be trusted? And why are remittance costs still so high?

Nikki Mandow is Newsroom's business editor.

11:30 Citizens Advice Bureau: Car finance and insurance add-ons 

Andrew Hubbard speaks to Kathryn about the troubles the Citizens Advice Bureau sees with car finance, and what to look out for with tricky insurance add-ons.

11:45 Sports-chat with Joe Porter

RNZ Sports reporter, Joe Porter looks ahead to the Football Ferns match against the Philippines tonight after their historic victory against Norway. He talks to Kathryn about the standout results so far and how FIFA Women's World cup ticket sales are going. It's the opening Bledisloe Cup test this weekend, All Blacks versus Wallabies. And swimmer Erica Fairweather's  outstanding bronze medal in the 400m freestyle at the world champs.