Nine To Noon

People around the world are watching Russia's war on Ukraine in disbelief, wondering what's driving Vladimir Putin. Mr Putin calls the onslaught a "special military operation" to "demilitarize and denazify Ukraine." Mr Putin is known to have a deep interest in history, so what can history tell us about his motivation? Dr Evgeny Pavlov is Associate Professor of Russian and History at the University of Canterbury and Vice President of the Australia and New Zealand Slavists' Association. His recent work includes an edited volume on the political narratives in Russia's relations with Post-Soviet Europe 30 years after the breakup of the USSR.

The disabled community is speaking out about distressing waits for personal care and navigating pandemic assistance as Covid adds to the chronic shortage of home carers. The Disability Rights Commissioner is so concerned about reports of people let down by not receiving timely care during Omicron, that she's launched an inquiry using powers under the Human Rights Act. One in 4 New Zealanders has a disability. Bernadette Ingham has a lived disability, her husband uses a wheelchair and she is extremely frustrated that the needs of disabled people are not being addressed in the pandemic response. Kathryn will also speak with Disabled Persons Assembly Chief Executive Prudence Walker, NZ Disability Support Network Chief Executive Peter Reynolds and to Marsha Marshall, the CEO of Manawanui, which is the country's leading provider of Individualised Funding services for people with disabilities.

Comedians Te Radar and Donna Brookbanks bring some levity to the end of the week, including the findings of a new study which shows many people are cheating on their daily Wordle game.

Sam talks to Kathryn about the King of Spin, Shane Warne, his sporting prowess, bowling achievements and the global tributes paid to him this week, following his death in Koh Samui, Thailand aged 52. Also womens world cup cricket, Super Rugby Aupiki, and the social media post that landed NZR in hot water.

Martene McCaffrey of Unity Books Auckland reviews Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez. Published by Little, Brown A bold and funny insight into the complicated familial relationships of Olga, a strong-minded Puerto Rican narrator and guide through a rapidly gentrifying and corrupt New York. Gonzalez's debut novel is a beautiful and hilarious look at identity, family, politics and love.

The Post-It note tacked to your wall, the non-stick frypan in the kitchen cupboard, and even your vehicle's tyres gripping the road... You've probably not given too much thought to what makes things sticky, and others slippery. But Laurie Winkless has. She's a physicist and science writer, based in Wellington, and has just published Sticky: The Secret Science of Surfaces. Laurie Winkless tells Kathryn how we're surrounded by stickiness, and it's shaped the manufactured and natural world around us.

Susana talks to Kathryn about the passage of Covid in the Pacific, including Niue and Vanuatu experiencing their first cases.

Ashburton's Deputy Mayor has been left frustrated after being told it will be two years before the Transport Agency Waka Kotahi could lower a speed limit on a 300 metre stretch of road on the outskirts of Methven. Liz McMillan says developments along State Highway 77 mean the 100-k speed limit is no longer fit for purpose. Frustrated with the length of time it's taken for the agency to act, she's launched a petition which has gained 500 signatures - or a quarter of the town's population.

The Disability Rights Commissioner is so concerned about the situation for disabled people during omicron, she has launched an inquiry.Paula Tesoreiro says she is worried about a lack of targeted, accessible information for disabled people, support for testing, help for those experiencing difficulties self-isolating, and the continuity of essential in-home services for disabled people. She says she has heard multiple anecdotes about people being let down by the current response.

Earlier this week Nine to Noon looked at the big change on the way to how we get fuel into, and around, New Zealand. After nearly 60 years, the Marsden Point Refinery will shut down its processing units and become an import-only terminal from next month. It means New Zealand will be reliant on tankers bringing refined oil products into the country - a report from Z Energy estimated 175 tankers would visit each year. Amid this fundamental change to our fuel processing capability comes Russia's attack on Ukraine, and the impact it's having on global oil supply and pricing. New Zealand is party to an agreement which saw it support the release of 60 million barrels of emergency oil stocks, in order to ease uncertainty in the market. But how we store our own emergency reserves will also have to change because of the transition at Marsden Point. Energy Minister Megan Woods joins Kathryn to discuss.