Nine To Noon

Grape waste from the wine industry is being turned into carbon-soaking biochar - which also enriches the soil.  Kathryn speaks with Professor Stephen Joseph, an internationally renowned expert on biochar, and Central Otago grape grower James Dicey - who's been making and using biochar from grape vine cuttings for eight years.

InternetNZ has released the findings of a systemic review into racism in the organisation, following an incident last year involving a video threatening violence against Maori. Kathryn speaks to Dr Karaitiana Taiuru, an academic and Maori digital rights expert. She is also joined by InternetNZ's chief executive, Viv Maidaborn.

Kennedy talks about his recent visit to the Antarctic Peninsula and he also has an update on the Australian man aiming to the youngest person to row solo across the Pacific Ocean.

Seeing the first fresh asparagus of the season land in the supermarket is a treat for most of us. Alongside strawberries it's the taste of summer on the way. Asparagus is versatile, goes with any meal, and can be cooked and ready to serve in minutes. During the height of the season, the spears can literally grow right before your eyes - up to 15 centimetres a day. Waikato asparagus grower Andrew Keaney says while asparagus is easy to grow, harvesting is done by hand making it not only back-breaking but incredibly labour intensive. At the height of the season, one million spears are handpicked each day in Waikato alone. He shares his favourite ways to eat asparagus and tips on how to choose the tastiest, most tender bunch.

We talk about the Reserve Bank's projections for recession - will it see the government rein in spending and will it impact Labour's election chances? We look at the compromises made over the hate speech law and how political parties reacted to the voting age judgement. Gareth Hughes is a former Green MP and now works for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa. Liam Hehir is a Palmerston North lawyer, political commentator and a National Party member

Ray Shipley from Scorpio Books in Christchurch reviews The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty, published by Penguin Random House

Jacob McSweeny talks to Kathryn about the sudden closure of the Ohakune Courthouse, the challenges facing the Whanganui pilot academy, the rescuing of plant material from the historic Bastia Hill garden and does Marton have a mystery parking warden?.

It was an email from a friend offering a investment opportunity he couldn't turn down that transformed Christchurch man Danny de Hek into a self confessed Crypto Ponzi Scheme buster. Since that email de Hek has produced more than 130 videos taking apart the crypto currency investment, which he calls a dangerous and deceptive scheme. Recording from his Christchurch home he has caught the attention of the those pushing the scheme, including death threats, and his efforts have also been profiled in the New York Times. Danny says the whole thing is a typical multi level marketing scam, but because it uses the blockchain it makes it much harder to track down who is in charge, leaving those on the bottom, some of who have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars, with nothing.

As freezing weather sets in, Ukraine is racing against the clock to repair damage to electricity and water infrastructure across the country after a relentless wave of Russian missile strikes. European Union leaders gathered in Kyiv for the commemoration of the Holodomor famine that killed millions of Ukrainians in 1932 and 33....they were also there for a summit to launch a new initiative to help developing countries facing famine and drought. And rescuers are searching for about a dozen people still missing after a deadly landslide on the southern holiday island of Ischia near Naples.

Are we ignoring some of our most critically endangered species because they're not cute and charismatic enough? While native birds like the Kakapo and Kiwi get the lionshare of public attention and conservation money may endemic plants, fungi, marine invertebrates and algae are on the brink of extinction. Biologist Sophie Fern has recently finished a thesis which looks at the role charisma plays in conservation priorities. She talks to Kathryn about why New Zealand's conservation effort needs to be more equitable or else risks pushing those less glamourous species to the brink of extinction.

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