Nine To Noon for Thursday 24 October 2024

09:05 Fast-track housing in flood risk areas

Several housing projects to be considered under the proposed fast-track law are on potential flood-prone land, despite warnings about any construction there. Projects on the government's fast track list will be able to apply to be considered by an expert panel for assessment and approval, rather than going to through a traditional council consent process. At least three proposed housing developments in Auckland and Canterbury are on land identified by councils as having some flood risk. One such project is in Ardmore, South Auckland: the 5000-home Sunfield development proposed by the publicly listed developer Winton, on land defined by Auckland Council as a 'flood plain'. The company says it is confident in mitigation measures being built in the area, adding it did not flood in the 2023 Auckland floods. Auckland councillor Richard Hills is chair of the policy and planning committee. He says it's frustrating to see such proposals going forward for fast-track approval, and the council feels hamstrung by planning laws. Professor Bruce Glavovic is a natural hazards planning expert from Massey University and says councils need more of a mechanism to say no to developments on unsuitable land.

09:20 Coastal shipping plans get underway in Coromandel 

The Thames-Coromandel District Council is moving to shore up shipping as a viable transport alternative into and around the region should future severe weather events cut off communities' road access. Severe weather frequently disrupts road travel across Thames-Coromandel. Last summer brought six major weather events to the region - two of which were Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle. Numerous roads were closed for short periods of time and many were  reduced to one  lane. State Highway 25A was closed due  to  a large slip until December 2023 - a full closure of a major highway within the district for 10 months. Other sections of the State Highway network, such as the Hikuai-Opoutere section of SH25 was closed, then reduced to one lane and open only to light vehicles for at least 3 months. Following this mass disruption  the Thames-Coromandel District Council commissioned a report into the prospect of shipping being a viable and reliable method of getting goods and people around, should the roads become inaccessible again. It found coastal shipping - a so-called 'blue highway' - could be stood up fairly quickly and form an effective logistics pathway in an emergency response. Len Salt is the mayor of Thames-Coromandel and speaks with Kathryn Ryan.

09:30 Second cohort of iwi-lead plumbing course in the Far North hits the ground running

An iwi-lead earn as you learn programme in the Far North is teaching young people the basics of plumbing as it inches closer to the mammoth task of installing nearly 600 drinking water tanks. Tupu Plumbing is a 1-year pathway programme to a trade apprenticeship, providing hands-on training with wraparound pastoral and cultural support. The first cohort finished a few weeks ago with six participants installing over 130 tanks... and now, the second cohort has hit the ground running with intensive classroom training. The course sits within a wider three-year scheme to improve drinking water access for Māori in Te Hiku, after suffering almost yearly droughts over the last decade. Mihi Harris is the programme director for Puna Wai Ora, and she speaks to Kathryn.

09:45 UK correspondent Matt Dathan

Donald Trump has triggered a major diplomatic row with Keir Starmer's government by filing a law suit accusing the Labour party of interference in the US presidential election and breaking US electoral law. Matt also discusses wide-ranging and long-term reforms to the UK prisons system announced by the government, as it released another 1,100 criminals under the early release scheme. PM Keir Starmer also travels to the Commonwealth summit in Samoa.
Matt Dathan is Home Affairs Editor at The Times

10:05  What I've learned: New York Times Modern Love editor

Dan Jones has been the editor of the New York Times essay column Modern Love for 20 years. Each week he talks to strangers about their relationships - romantic, platonic and familial - and publishes their stories to millions of readers.  He never dreamed he'd still be doing the job two decades and 200,000 submissions later. Or that the Modern Love column would have grown to include a podcast, books, live shows and TV shows in four countries. So what has Dan learned over the years about life and love?

10:35 Book review: Pretty Ugly by Kirsty Gunn 

Cynthia Morahan reviews Pretty Ugly by Kirsty Gunn published by Otago University Press
     

10:45 Around the motu : David Williams in Christchurch

A plan change mooted by Canterbury's regional council, ECan, could lead to a halt to dairy expansion in the province. David has the details. Craig Pauling has been voted ECan's new chair after Peter Scott stepped down under a cloud. And with Canterbury so well served by the Kate Valley landfill, half-owned by the province's councils, David looks into why new ones are popping up. 

David Williams is Newsroom's Te Waipounamu South Island Correspondent

11:05 Tech: AI facial recognition pros and cons & QR code scams

Tech commentator Alex Sims talks through the pros and cons of rapidly developing facial recognition systems. It can be useful and efficient - but everything comes with a cost. Fraudsters are working out ways to circumvent it, and it can also be used for surveillance - including by the New Zealand government.  She'll discuss how New Zealand is rolling out its facial recognition system and who is watching you and how. Alex also shares another example of how convenience can come at a cost; through QR codes that take people to fraudulent sites.

Alex Sims is a Professor in the Department of Commercial Law at the University of Auckland Business School and an expert on blockchain technology, copyright law and consumer law.

11:25 Parenting: how to talk about body image issues with teenagers

When it comes to body image, it's near impossible to escape pressures to look a certain way - and teenagers especially vulnerable to it. Even with body positive movements in recent years, relentless messaging from the fashion industry and social media it still taking a toll. But how can you tell if it's something your teenager is struggling with? And and what's the best way to approach a conversation about it? Answering these questions is Catherine Gallagher, a Christchurch-based clinical psychologist who has worked across public and private sectors for two decades, with a particular focus on children and young people.

11:45 Screentime: The Office Australia, Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara

Film and TV reviewer Chris Schulz joins Kathryn to look at the latest version of The Office, set in Australia with a suite of familiar Kiwi cast members. He'll also look at documentary Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara - where fans of the Canadian indie music duo were scammed for years. Chris also has a look at what's on offer at this year's British and Irish film festival.