Nine To Noon for Tuesday 20 February 2024

 

09:05 Transport Minister Simeon Brown on fuel tax feud, future funding

It's been dubbed "Brown v Brown", as the mayor of Auckland and the Transport Minister grapple for control over the supercity's transport direction. It's been a busy first 100 days for Minister Simeon Brown - who's also Minister of Local Government, and Minister for Auckland - and who has scrapped Auckland's light rail project, and then its Regional Fuel Tax. In response, Mayor Wayne Brown paused work on remaining projects funded by the Regional Fuel Tax, saying it's not ratepayers' bill to pick up. Then the minister threatened to legislate. Last week Mayor Wayne Brown told us he's hopeful closer collaboration with central Government is on the cards with plans for an integrated transport plan. Simeon Brown speaks with Kathryn Ryan the future of transport for Auckland and the rest of the country.

09:30 Octopus Energy wants to pay consumers to turn the power down  

Every winter New Zealand's energy system faces a tricky balance - the system operator Transpower struggles to make sure it has enough electricity to keep the lights on in winter. Enter Octopus Energy. The company is a new player among New Zealand electricity retailers having arrived in 2022. But it is a major player in the UK market. It started operations there in 2016 and has become one of the biggest retailers. The company uses a demand management tool - where it incentivises customers to turn power down and profit by way of payments or cheaper power bills. During the UK's 2022 winter energy crisis Octopus worked with the UK's National Grid to get hundreds of thousands of customers to turn down their power usage. They shifted at tight peak moments close to 200 megawatts - the equivalent of a major power station. The company wants to start doing more of that here but says regulatory changes are needed to allow for more of its innovations. Margaret Cooney - chief customer officer at Octopus - talks to Kathryn. 

09:45 USA correspondent Ron Elving

Congress is taking a 12-day winter break but there's a long list of unfinished business on Capitol Hill. When the House returns it will have just three days to pass legislation to avert a partial government shutdown. And all eyes are on the Supreme Court cases testing former President Donald Trump's eligibility to run again. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden is rallying his allies to defend his memory, after a special counsel report criticised his mental sharpness.

Ron Elving is Senior Editor and Correspondent on the Washington Desk for NPR News.

10:05 How to design sustainable skyscrapers and affordable housing 

Acclaimed American architect Jeanne Gang is well known for the expansion of New York's American Museum of Natural History, and Chicago's Aqua Tower  - a mixed use 82 story mixed use building downtown. Whether it be affordable housing or downtown skyscrapers, her design is innovative and environmentally sustainable, with a focus on decreasing urban sprawl, and connecting people with their communities. Jeanne Gang is the founder of international architecture and urban-design practice Studio Gang - based in Chicago, a distinguished alumna of the Harvard Graduate School of Design, where she was recently appointed Professor in Practice. She's in demand for her work in the US, South America and Europe and is in Auckland for the NZ Institute of Architects conference tomorrow, where she’ll give the keynote speech.

10:35 Book review: Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon 

Carole Beu of the Women's Bookshop reviews Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon published by Penguin Random House NZ

10:45 Around the motu: Robin Martin in Taranaki

A South Taranaki iwi is vowing to continue its fight against seabed mining even if the government introduces a fast-track consenting regime for significant infrastructure and development projects. Meanwhile, Trans-Tasman Resources (TTR), which is the company behind a proposal to mine ironsands off the coast of Taranaki has welcomed the proposed bill to fast-track consenting. And an exhibition in New Plymouth is taking its inspiration from a famed Taranaki show band to transport visitors on a journey back in time through the fashion, music and technology of the 60s, 70s and 80s. 

11:05 Business commentator Rebecca Stevenson

Results season is in full swing with two starkly different results for two companies. Rebecca unpacks the surprisingly good year for A2 Milk, which took place amid a sharp decline in China's infant milk formula market. Meanwhile Fletcher has dominated headlines after posting its $120m six-month net loss last week, and the exit of its chief executive Ross Taylor.

Rebecca Stevenson is a senior journalist at BusinessDesk.

11:30 Pregnancy and pets: what you need to know

Dr Kat Littlewood, a veterinary specialist and Massey University lecturer in animal welfare talks with Kathryn about pets and pregnancy - what should mums-to-be avoid doing with pets while pregnant. Also, how to prepare to bring a new baby home to a household with pets. Text your questions to 2101.

11:45 Sports correspondent Joe Porter

RNZ sports reporter Joe Porter discusses the Black Caps' win over South Africa, and the bigger challenge still looming with an upcoming test series against Australia. Super Rugby Pacific starts this weekend, but there are issues facing the competition before it starts with the Melbourne Rebels entering voluntary administration. In basketball, the Breakers have made the NBL playoffs - but only just - what are their chances in the elimination round?

Music played in this show

My exploding Head - SJD 

The Wind Cries Mary - Jimi Hendrix

Salt Sand Sea - Ebony Lamb