Nine To Noon for Monday 19 February 2024

09:05 Property buyers losing deposits after signing on uninsurable houses

The Law Society is warning some property buyers are losing their deposits after unknowingly entering agreements on flood-damaged houses. Lawyers are seeing an uptick of people entering into legally binding Sales and Purchase contracts, only to find their bank will no longer give them the mortgage, because the house is uninsurable. In some cases where an owner did receive insurance money, Law Society's deputy chair of the property law section Kristine King says there's no follow-up on whether they actually used the money to fix their house. Kristine, of Duncan King law in Auckland, says in many cases the buyer cannot get their deposit back - sometimes more than 100-thousand dollars. She fears this is the beginning of a crisis across Auckland, Northland, Hawkes Bay and Gisborne. The chief executive of mortgage broker Squirrel David Cunningham believes it's indicative of a wider problem looming, of how difficult it may become to get insurance in flood-prone areas.

09:30 The Hollywood music producer helping Kiwis connect

Karyn Rachtman has worked on music for Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs and with Baz Luhrmann for Romeo & Juliet, among others. Now, the Auckland-based American music producer wants to help New Zealand musicians break into screen music. Later this week she will launch Auckland Screen Music at a conference in the city - aimed at helping local artists secure overseas work, and linking international productions with top talent here.

09:45 Foreign correspondent Debora Patta

The International Court of Justice has rejected a South African request to impose urgent measures to safeguard Rafah in the Gaza Strip. Israel says it will press ahead with a ground offensive. And violence is escalating in the Democratic Republic of Congo as the decades-long conflict there moves into a new phase. Finally Debora looks at the 'dark valentine' vigils held across Kenya this week, to protest rising femicide cases in the country. More than a dozen women have been allegedly killed by their partners within a month.

10:05 Game for the challenge: Fish and Game's new chief executive Corina Jordan

In August 2022, Fish and Game announced Corina Jordan as its new chief executive, a role many would have considered a poisoned chalice. The organisation - made up of 12 regional councils and one national body - had been mired in conflict in recent years and subject to a spate of audits, investigations, and resignations. Established under the Conservation Act 1987, Fish and Game replaced the colonial acclimatisation societies and became responsible for managing fish and game hunting licences. In the 30 years since, it had become one of Aotearoa's biggest freshwater advocates, but little else about the organisation had changed. In 2020, accusations of bullying and internal conflict prompted a ministerial review with the ensuing report finding Fish and Game was perceived to be an 'old boys' club', plagued with governance, efficiency, and transparency problems. Included in the report was the recommendation to amalgamate councils and reduce the elected 144 councillors - more than Parliament - to 100. It was clear the organisation needed to change, and tasked with turning it around - its new chief executive. 

10:35 Book review: The Singularity by Balsam Karam, translated by Saskia Vogel 

Cynthia Morahan reviews The Singularity by Balsam Karam, translated by Saskia Vogel published by Text Publishing

10:45 Around the motu: Georgina Campbell in Wellington

The ongoing issues with KiwiRail's Interislander mega ferries, Georgina says KiwiRail has dragged up an old stoush over the location of the Wellington terminal to explain the cost blowout. Wellington's water shortage looks to be over the most high-risk period. And what's happening with pools and libararies in the Wellington City Council's draft Long Term Plan?

Georgina Campbell is the NZ Herald Wellington issues reporter.

11:05 Political commentators Gareth Hughes and Brigitte Morten

Gareth and Brigitte break down the Prime Minister's State of the Nation speech yesterday, the government's repeal of Three Waters, and the race for the Greens' leadership position.

Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government, a National Party member and currently volunteering for the party's deputy leader, Nicola Willis.

Gareth Hughes is a former Green MP and now works for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa. 

11:30 Island Style Kitchen: The Pacific-inspired crowd-puller 

The Taranaki-based Island Style Kitchen has been a love affair from the start. When Marama  Moore and James Ionatona Su'a locked eyes across the touch rugby field, they had no idea they would become life partners, and then business partners. Island Style Kitchen - their Pacific-inspired restaurant began several years ago as a passion project at the Waitara Night Markets. Now, it is a brick and mortar restaurant open five days a week, regularly selling out of Pasifika classics such as chop suey, hangi, and raw fish. Marama Moore speaks to Kathryn. 

11:45 Off the beaten track with Kennedy Warne

Kennedy Warne discusses the newly opened Pike 29 Memorial Track - the last portion of the Paparoa Track to be opened. The new section starts near the portal of the Pike River Mine and meets the main track near the Moonlight Tops Hut. And a look at this year's Bug of the Year contest, organised by the Entomological Society of New Zealand, in which the red admiral butterfly came out on top. Kennedy looks at some of the other 19 contenders, including the more obscure ones such as the Cromwell chafer beetle, the tuatara tick and the Mt Cook flea.

Music played in this show

Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash

Seal - Crazy