Nine To Noon for Wednesday 7 February 2018

 

 

09:05 Farmers in limbo over cattle disease

Southland vet Mark Bryan says farmers are unable to plan for the future while they wait for results of MPI tests for  Mycoplasma bovis – the bacterium causing mastitis, abortion, pneumonia, and arthritis in cattle. He’s part of a support group formed in the area. He says farmers and share milkers need to be making decisions about winter contracts and by the time the test results are back, it could be too late. Mark Bryan also says the cattle disease could be a major setback for efforts to reduce antibiotic use in farm animals.

09:20 Trouble at the track

There's increased scrutiny on thoroughbred racing after an industry crisis meeting last month sparked by a spate of weather related race abandonments, the resulting financial pressures and calls for change. The New Zealand Trainers' Association wants to see a complete overhaul of way the billion dollar thoroughbred business is run, including a new strategic plan, a governance overhaul and a look at rationalising some of the smaller, underused and poorly maintained tracks that the industry's struggling to maintain. Meanwhile, the Racing Minister Winston Peters has identified investment in all weather tracks as a possible way forward, but has also reiterated the need for serious changes within industry structures. Kathryn Ryan talks to New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing CEO, Bernard Saundry, New Zealand Racing Board Chief Executive John Allen, the New Zealand Trainers' Association president Tony Pike and Tony Lepper the President of the Central Otago Racing Club.

09:45 Australia correspondent Karen Middleton

The government’s newest senator, former decorated military officer Jim Molan, has refused to apologise for retweeting videos from the British right-wing extremist/white supremacist group Britain First; Australia has forked out millions of dollars to parade its tourism attractions in the most highly prized timeslot on US television; and one of the worst-kept secrets in Canberra is out with the revelation that 51-year-old deputy Prime Minister and former Kiwi Barnaby Joyce is expecting a new baby with his 33-year-old former media adviser, Vikki Campion.

10:05 Jessica Watson: sailing into the story books

Jessica Watson came to world attention in 2010 when she navigated the world's oceans, on her own, for 210 days, aged only 16. Eight years on and her latest achievement is a debut novel, Indigo Blue, about a schoolgirl who loves boats and sailing. Aimed at pre-teens, it's written with an unashamed ulterior motive in mind. As the then youngest person to sail solo non-stop and unassisted around the world, Jessica tells Kathryn Ryan she wants more young girls to get out on the water. Jessica was named Young Australian of the Year 2011, and in 2012 received an Order of Australia Medal for services to sailing, and for being a role model to the country's youth. Since then Jessica has been busy as a Youth Representative for the United Nations World Food Programme, completed an MBA, and is a partner in marine startup Deckee, which gives the low down on top anchorage sites.

10:35 All eyes on NZX after massive fall on Wall Street

RNZ's Business Editor Gyles Beckford as the New Zealand stock exchange opens for the day - down 2%

10:40 Book review

Claire Murdoch reviews Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan, published by Penguin Random House

NZ RRP $28.00

10:45 The Reading

Puku Up, Puku Down – a short story by Briar Grace-Smith, read by Hana Pomare: A tale from a solitary Tukutuku weaver 

11:05 Music with Kirsten Johnstone

Kirsten Johnstone plays three upcoming local releases by Coco Solid, Marlon Williams & Scott Mannion.

11:20 Angella Dravid - no holds barred

Absurd, unpredictable and down right funny. The Auckland-based comedian Angella Dravid talks to Kathryn Ryan about what makes her laugh and how she turned a spell in a British prison into award-winning comedy.

Angella Dravid is appearing at  'Another Frickin' Festival' which kicks off in Auckland on February 8th, followed by Queenstown on February 9th and 10th, and Wellington at the Opera House on February 11th.

11:45 Science commentator Siouxsie Wiles

This week, scientist Dr Siouxsie Wiles talks about how we might be able to train mosquitos to stay away from us, and explains how bacteria may behind some cases of colon cancer and Elon Musk's Falcon Heavy rocket launches successfully

 

 

Music played in this show

Kirsten Johnston played

Marlon Williams - Come to Me

Scott Mannion (feat) Catalan singer Clara Viñals - Your Kind of Love

Coco Solid - Narratives