Nine To Noon

Kathryn speaks with Leeann Watson, Chief Executive of the Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce about the reopening of the border and the immigration changes announced yesterday. She says it's a boost for tourism, hospitality and retail as well as for exporters and manufacturers. But she says it'll be a challenge to get the 10,000 additional workers per year needed in the Canterbury region to fill gaps.

Nurses are astounded and angry that the profession has been left off a new list for a fast-tracked path to residency, that allows overseas doctors, scientists and engineers to apply from September. A new 'green list' was announced at the same time the government revealed the border will fully reopen from the end of July. The green list aims to make it easier for employers to hire highly-skilled migrants in hard-to-fill jobs. A second list, offering 'work to residency', allows other listed occupations to apply for residency, but only after being in New Zealand for two years, and registered nurses are on that second list. Anne Daniels, President of theNurses Organisation says the policy is sexist and discrimatory.

Arts commentator Julia Waite talks about two exhibitions of textile art, The Search Party on now at McCahon House in Titirangi, and There Is No Other Home But This at Govett-Brewster Art Gallery. Julia Waite is Curator, New Zealand Art at the Auckland Art Gallery.

Most of us have something precious tucked away, an heirloom inherited from a family member; your grandmother's wedding dress, an old family photograph or a special piece of jewellery passed down the generations. You've most likely packed it away in a safe place, preserving it to pass onto your own children, but how can you best store it, to protect it from environmental conditions and the general wear and tear of life? Kathryn gets advice from Darryl Pike, collections manager at the Maritime Museum in Auckland.

The Government is expected to announced soon that our border will reopen in July - as opposed to October.The Prime Minister and the Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi will address a Business NZ lunch in Auckland this afternoon. RNZ immigration reporter Gill Bonnett explains.

The Automobile Association says a data breach has affected hundreds of thousands of customers.

Ruby Brunton reviews Easy Beauty by Chloé Cooper Jones published by Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand.

New Zealander Arama Kukutai is the Chief Executive of Plenty - a California based indoor, vertical farming technology company. Plenty grows leafy greens and will soon be growing strawberries in tall columns, under LED lights in a fraction of the sapce required for a traditional farm. It has recently constructed a massive - 8800 square metre warehouse in Compton, California, with 2.9 metre-high ceilings, a secure truck court and access to truck routes. Arama Kukutai who is Ngati Tipa, (Tainui), Maniapoto and Te Aupouri on his father's side; and Scottish on his mother's side, grew up in Waikato and attended Victoria University of Wellington. He says California is only one really bad fire season away from having major disruption of its fruit and produce, and indoor growing is part of securing that supply. He will be speaking at E Tipu: The Boma Agri Summit, being held 21-22 June in Christchurch and virtually.

Australia's election campaign is in full swing, with early voting already underway. Kathryn speaks with pollster Stephen Mills from Talbot Mills about the issues defining the campaign and what the polls are saying.

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Auckland transport planners want more people commuting on bikes and scooters. Auckland councillors voted last week to endorse a $306 million plan to roll out more cycleways in the city. The funding was allocated from Auckland's 10-year Regional Land Transport Plan towards a cycling and micro-mobility programme. But transport planners want political support for a further 1-point-seven billion dollars to deliver 260km of new cycleways and extra cycling connections in 14 areas by 2030. What's being planned? How will it be achieved and what will it mean for cyclists and drivers? Kathryn speaks with Courtney Groundwater, Auckland Transport's Manager Active Modes Planning.