Nine To Noon for Tuesday 31 March 2009
09:05 How and why criminals get bail
Garth McVicar, head of the Sensible Sentencing Trust.
The murder of Auckland Grammar student, Augustine Borrell is causing further questions about how an accused killer can be released on bail.
Haiden Davis was yesterday found guilty at the High Court in Auckland for murdering the 17-year-old at a party in the Herne Bay in 2007. Prior to the fatal attack, Davis was on bail for the aggravated robbery of another teenager, that charge was later replaced by an aggravated charge, to which he pleaded guilty.
After he was charged with Augustine Borrell's murder, Davis was bailed again and he then breached his bail conditions by associating with a prosecution witness.
09:20 New OECD figures showing New Zealand graduates get the worst financial reward for their years of study compared with every other country in the developed world
Rod Carr, Canterbury University Vice Chancellor and former deputy Reserve Bank Governor, and former head of software company Jade Corporation.
The statistics, released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - or OECD - brings together for the first time data across all areas of education.
New Zealand tops investment in computers, and is among the top five OECD performers in reading and literacy testing.
Despite this, New Zealanders with a degree-level qualification get the lowest salary premiums of any developed country, earning an average of 1.15 times more than people entering the workforce without a tertiary qualification.
Leading the OECD is Hungary, where graduates earn 2.19 times more than their compatriots who don't have a degree.
09:35 Breakfast in Schools
Sara Williams, Red Cross national community manager. She is in charge of the breakfast in schools programme which has seen a huge increase in the uptake of the programme in the last 12 months.
09:45 US correspondent Jack Hitt
10:05 Alex and Me - The scientist and the bird that changed the way we think about animal intelligence
Irene Pepperberg, a Scientist who teaches animal cognition at Harvard, and is an associate research professor at Brandeis University in Massachusetts. Author of "Alex and Me" about her bond with her African Grey parrot Alex, whom she studied for 30 years. Alex died in 2007.
Irene Pepperberg and her pet parrot Alex became famous as she made amazing discoveries about his capacity for intelligence. Before Alex birds were not considered to have any potential for language, consciousness or anything comparable to human intelligence. But Alex could add, sound out words, knew 100 + words, understood concepts like bigger, smaller, more, fewer and none. he was cabable of thought and intention. He died on 6th Sept 2007, his last words to Irene were "you be good. I love you".
View YouTube videos of Alex:
10:30 Book Review with Jane Westaway
The Mao Case by Qiu Xiaolong
Published by Sceptre
ISBN 9780340978580
10:45 Reading. 'Daughters' by Charlotte Grimshaw read by Brooke Williams
(Part 1 of 2)
A private school-girl gets involved in a life of crime.
11:05 Business with Rod Oram, Business and Economic commentator
11:30 The Topp Twins
New Zealand's national treasures The Topp Twins - aka identical twin sisters Lynda and JoolsTopp - have performed around the world as an original country-music comedy duo for more than 25 years and continue to delight audiences from the alternative to the mainstream.
"The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls" is a documentary about their lives. This is made by acclaimed ex-BBC doco maker Leanne Pooley, shot by cinematographer Leon Narbey. It will coincide with the year of their 50th birthdays on May 14. They say the film celebrates 100 years of The Topp Twins. There's also a long-term plan to write a movie based on their characters Ken and Ken.
In the late 1990's, the Topp Twins created their own top-rating TV series, which ran for three seasons and showcased their popular cast of Kiwi characters, including Camp Mother, the Bowling Ladies and cross-dressing Ken and Ken. The Series won the twins several awards at the NZ Film and TV Awards and has screened on the ABC and Foxtel in Australia.
In 2008 the twins, who are out-and-proud lesbians, were inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.