Nine To Noon for Thursday 30 January 2025

09:05 Treasury's chief economist on the state of the books and fiscal unsustainability

The government says driving economic growth is it's number one priority. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will deliver her second budget on May 22, promising "bold steps to support economic growth, including measures to address New Zealand's long-standing productivity challenges." However Treasury has pointed out the now structural deficit in the government's books is currently set to be addressed by cuts to per-person spending virtually unprecedented in modern times. Looking beyond the immediate challenges, Treasury is warning pressure on future governments' budgets, from demographic change,  has worsened on projections from ten or twenty years ago.  Kathryn speaks with Treasury's Chief Economics adviser Dominick Stephens.

09:30 New documentary explores Haka Party incident in depth

It's been nearly 46 years since a capping week stunt turned into a flashpoint for race relations in Aotearoa. Each year Auckland University's engineering students - many of them drunk - dressed up in grass skirts and performed a parody haka around various parts of the campus and wider city. But in 1979 a group of Māori and Pasifika students - later named He Taua - confronted those in the engineering Haka Party - leading to a number of the activists being arrested by police. It was a little-known piece of history until it became of the subject of a play called The Haka Party Incident by writer and filmmaker Katie Wolfe.  She's now directed a documentary of the same name - where former members of both the Haka Party and He Taua discuss what happened that day. Two of them are with Kathryn to discuss what happened that day - Ben Dalton, now Chief Executive of Waitangi, the operating company of the Waitangi National Trust and Brent Meekan, who was a member of the Haka Party in 1979 and is now business director, civil infrastructure for engineering company Beca. 

09:45 UK: Third Heathrow runway push, would-be diplomat 'regrets' Trump remarks

UK correspondent Dan Bloom looks at Chancellor Rachel Reeve's push for a third runway at London's Heathrow Airport as part of a push to move a sluggish economy. Sir Paul McCartney is leading criticism of government changes to copyright law that would let AI developers train it on creators' content unless the rights holders opt out. Labour peer Peter Mandelson is in line to be the British ambassador to the US - but will his previous comments about Trump thwart him? And one of the last remaining gentlemen's clubs has voted to remain men-only.

Dan Bloom is political editor of Politico in the UK

10:05 A former chronic insomniac on teaching yourself to sleep well

We all know we need a good night's sleep to function well, but it can often be elusive - particularly in these muggy nights of summer. Researchers at the University of Auckland found 40 percent of Kiwis get less than seven hours a night, with Māori and Pasifika in particular, reporting higher rates of shorter sleep.  Seven to nine hours are considered optimal, anything less can have a big impact on your health - from immune and cardiovascular systems to psychological behaviour. A study late last year from researchers at the University of California San Francisco found poor sleep quality in the over-40s can age the brain. So if sleep is a struggle - what are your options? Kate Mikhail is a former chronic insomniac who researched her way out of her sleep problems. She wrote a book on her findings called 'Teach Yourself to Sleep: An ex-insomniac's guide' and joins Kathryn with her tips on what works well.

10:30 The global surf movement enriching the lives of autistic kids  

This weekend in Mount Maunganui, over 80 children living with autism will enjoy a day of surf lessons thanks to not-for-profit Surfers Healing. The California organisation uses ocean waves to provide therapeutic experiences for kids, including those whose autism means they can become overwhelmed with simple sensations. There are regular camps in places like Hawaii, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Puerto Rico. Now back in Mount Maunganui for the fourth year — and sixth year in New Zealand — this weekend's sessions will be led by big names in the world of surfing - Sam Willis, Maddy Walton, and Levi Stewart. Ian Reeder, who has spent more than 20 years with the organisation and is responsible for bringing Surfers Healing to Aotearoa, tells Kathryn all about it.  

10:35 Book review: Three of the best from 2024

Ash Davida Jane reviews three of their favourite books from last year: Rock Flight by Hasib Hourani, published by Giramondo, The Chthonic Cycle by Una Cruickshank, published by Te Herenga Waka University Press, and The Garden Against Time by Olivia Laing, published by Pan Macmillan.

10:45 Around the motu: Samantha Gee in Nelson

Samantha discusses the latest in Nelson including speed limit concerns, Lyn Fleming's death and the subsequent police investigation, whale strandings in Golden Bay, and the closure of a Marlborough Sounds jetty.

Samantha Gee is RNZ's Nelson reporter.

11:05 Tech: What is DeepSeek and should you use it?

Technology commentator Bill Bennett discusses the bombshell release of China's DeepSeek AI - what are the implications, should you be using it and is it any good? More submarine cables appear to have been damaged in Europe - why New Zealand would be particularly vulnerable in the event of any disruption and what could the Trump presidency's relationship with the tech billionaires mean for everyone else?

Bill Bennett is an Auckland-based technology journalist

11:25 Back to school - smoothing the transition

Hold on parents - school's nearly back in session and some children may have made the return this week. For many kids, the struggle from exiting holiday mode and getting back to the classroom is real. There might be the added challenge of moving to a new school - or starting school for the first time. How can parents help their kids with the transition? Clinical Psychologist and mum of three, Jacqui Maguire speaks with Kathryn.

11:45 Screentime: A Complete Unknown, We Live in Time, Paradise

Film and TV reviewer James Croot joins Kathryn to talk about Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown (cinemas), starring Timothee Chalamet as the music giant in his early years. We Live in Time (cinemas) stars Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh as a couple who finds their love tested. Paradise (Disney+) is a new eight-part dystopian thriller series from the creator of This is Us and Apple Cider Vinegar (Netflix) is a true-ish series based on the life of Australian wellness scammer Belle Gibson.

James Croot is film and television reviewer for Stuff