Nine To Noon

Lynn Freeman speaks with Trust spokesperson Tony Stoddard and Chief Executive of the Wellington Cable Car company, Cesar Piotto.

Stella Chrysostomou of Volume Books in Nelson reviews The Hotel by Sophie Calle, published by Siglio Press.

Lisa is a chartered accountant, and runs her own accountancy and business advisory firm, Social Currency. The company donates 10 per cent of its revenue to various charities that support at-risk kids.

Chris joins Lynn to look at the criticism being leveled at the federal government, after it was revealed it initially refused three requests from the New South Wales government for help during the devastating recent floods.

Auckland-based architect Rob Guild is sounding the alarm about the way New Zealand is approaching housing intensification; which risks poor design and a lack of amenity.

The plan is open for one year and will allow Ukrainian-born New Zealand citizens and residents to sponsor a relative and their immediate family to come to this country. But Olha Viazenko,  who has lived in Dunedin with her husband and daughter for three and a half years on a working visa, says her family won't be eligible. She says the scheme is too narrow and only affect a small number. She joins Lynn Freeman, along with Victoriya Pashorina-Nichols from the group Mahi for Ukraine.

Andrew talks to Kathryn the plans for a new public media entity formed from TVNZ and RNZ and the many unanswered questions about the detail. Two critical moments will occur in the next three months: the make-up of the Board, and how much money will be allocated in the May Budget for the new organisation. Andrew Holden is a journalist for more than 30 years including five as Editor of The Press (in Christchurch) and four as Editor-in-Chief of The Age in Melbourne.

Consumer NZ's head of communications and campaigns Gemma Rasmussen joins Kathryn to shine a light on some big issues for consumers. They include new figures on what we're paying for some grocery staples and how we feel about it, and the disappointing final recommendations of the Commerce Commission into the supermarket sector. She'll also talk about Consumer's checks on sustainability claims by The Warehouse.

Pattrick talks to Kathryn about how things look for Jenny Shipley and her fellow directors of Mainzeal after last week's Supreme Court hearings? Also he believes the government's petrol tax and public transport decisions are "good politics" but says they also would appear to herald that for the next 18 months, this is a government that will be poll-driven, short termist, and ultimately highly pragmatic in its desire to win a third term. Pattrick Smellie is the editor and co-founder of BusinessDesk and has reported on the New Zealand economy and business since 1983.

Harry Ricketts reviews Super Model Minority by Chris Tse, published by Auckland University Press