Nine To Noon for Thursday 5 December 2024

09:05 Former SolarZero employee speaks out about Blackrock

A former employee of SolarZero says BlackRock, the US private equity firm, whose subsidiary fund put SolarZero into liquidation last week, needs to do right by employees and creditors. SolarZero announced it was going into liquidation last Tuesday - when its major investor -- Blackrock owned GRP111 -- pulled the pin, blaming "unsustainable operating losses and liquidity constraints". The liquidation has left 15,000 customers here with questions about the future of their installations. Hundreds of employees are out of pocket, including contractors, and the Finance Minister is seeking urgent advice about the $115 million loaned by the crown-owned Green Investment Fund. Blackrock is the world's largest asset manager - with NZ$19.6 trillion under management. Eric Pyle was director of public affairs and policy at SolarZero and is a former chief executive of the Wind Energy Association. BlackRock has been approached for comment.

09:25 Watchful: The Kiwi company speeding up CCTV monitoring through AI

As incidents of retail crime continue to steal the news headlines, a Kiwi security company is finding success with its monitoring technology. Auckland-based Watchful's Quill platform allows retail businesses to have their security feeds scanned more quickly for threats, alerting security guards to incidents as they're underway. It aims to reduce the need for a security agent having to watch hundreds of cameras at once - as the tech can pick up on concerning behaviour based on the parameters set by the business. The company is doing particularly well in the United States and has just had a successful capital raise of $4.6 million. Founder and former police officer Joshua Parsons explains how it works and why it doesn't  include face or plate recognition tech.

09:30 Wayne Brown on Auckland Transport and 'taking back control'

Auckland's Mayor Wayne Brown joins Kathryn Ryan to talk about taking back control of transport policy and planning. He's announced Auckland Transport will be stripped of its decision-making powers to focus on running public transport, while a new Regional Transport Committee will tackle policy and planning. Wayne Brown also has his sights set on Auckland's development agency Eke Panuku and its events agency Tātaki Auckland Unlimited. Meanwhile he's concerned that the City Rail Link may not be finished on time, despite assurances from officials. He also talks about Auckland Council moving to sell its remaining stake in Auckland International Airport.

09:45 UK: Army wipeout, ongoing Masterchef row, Scotland scraps 2-child cap

UK correspondent Harriet Line looks at the comments from Britain's Defence Minister Alistair Carns that the British Army would be wiped out in as little as six months if force to fight a war on the scale of the Ukraine conflict. The BBC is engulfed in a row over Masterchef presenter Gregg Wallace and the two-child cap on benefits will be scrapped in Scotland - piling fresh pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to end the policy.

Harriet Line is Deputy Political Editor of the Daily Mail.

10:05 Exploring New Zealand's everyday landscapes with writer, artist and filmmaker Matt Vance 

Forget the Southern Alps in winter. A new book from Banks Peninsula-based author, writer and filmmaker Matt Vance focuses on New Zealand's everyday - or perhaps less interesting - landscapes. Matt's book, Innerland: A journey through the everyday landscape of New Zealand, combines essay and memoir to highlight the ordinary - or run of the mill. Matt Vance is Banks Peninsula-based and has bylines in New Zealand Listener, North & South, and 1964 Magazine. He says landscapes can be both real and imagined. Some landscapes, he says, have a personal resonance to individuals thanks to personal experience. Whereas others, because of our common DNA as human beings, have a collective appeal. Matt Vance joins Kathryn Ryan to explain more. 

10:30 Short story winner: Logbook 

This story is told from the perspective of a worker in a retirement village. Here is Logbook by Hattie Salmon told by Fipe Foa'i. 

10:35 Book review: Woolsheds by Annette O'Sullivan and Jane Ussher 

Gail Pittaway reviews Woolsheds by Annette O'Sullivan and Jane Ussher published by Massey University Press

10:45 Around the motu: Kelly Makiha in Rotorua

Kelly joins Kathryn to discuss the opening of an Iwi-led housing development, the popular Youtuber IShowSpeed visits Rotorua, a runaway rapist finally gets his day in court, and a prisoner reintegration facility wants to move.

Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist with the Rotorua Daily Post.

 

11:05 Tech: Musk's satellite text service gets off the ground

Technology commentator Juha Saarinen was in the US for the latest SpaceX Falcon 9 launch with Starlink satellites that'll be used for the One NZ space texting service. The US FCC recently approved the Starlink direct-to-cell service - so as this technology gets the green light, we look at what it'll provide, how effective it'll be and what concerns there are about its sustainability.

Juha Saarinen is technology editor at Interest.co.nz 

11:25 Being the best dad you can be

While many fathers naturally grow into the job of dad, some new fathers are uncertain what their role should be and how they can best parent their child. Research shows that having an engaged and nurturing father is one of the greatest assets a child can have. Parenting coach and education consultant Joseph Driessen shares his thoughts on becoming the best dad you can be.

11:45 Screentime: Conclave, A Real Pain, Black Doves, Fake

Film and television reviewer James Croot looks at Conclave (cinemas from Dec 7), which stars Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci as cardinals navigating the political machinations of electing a new pope. A Real Pain (cinemas) sees Jesse Eisenberg and Keiran Culkin as cousins undertaking a tour of Poland to honour their grandmother. Black Doves stars Keira Knightly as a spy in a new espionage thriller and Fake (ThreeNow) is an Australian drama about a writer fooled by a man presenting as the perfect guy on a dating app.

James Croot is film and TV reviewer for Stuff