Canterbury Mornings

A ground-breaking domestic violence bill is being hailed for its focus on children.Parliament passed a world-first piece of legislation last night, allowing victims of domestic violence to take 10 days of paid leave.Children's Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft told Chris Lynch he welcomes the bill, and thinks it will be good for children.He says one of the great opportunities of this legislation is that it gives time for a parent who's the victim of domestic violence, to get help for their children.Becroft says a study done in Christchurch showed almost all youth offenders had experienced domestic violence at home.

Powerful caller into the show Chris speaks about his experience as a male domestic violence survivor and believes we need to recognise that it can happen to anyone regardless of gender.

Pop star Demi Lovato is in stable condition, following a suspected heroin overdose.Law enforcement reportedly told TMZ the singer was taken from her home in Hollywood Hills to hospital. Paramedics found her unconscious when they arrived at her home just before noon Tuesday (7am Wednesday NZ time).The 25-year-old was treated with Narcan - an emergency treatment for narcotic overdoses, TMZ reports.Lovato had apparently been out on Monday night celebrating a friend's birthday.The Disney star has struggled with substance abuse for years and addressed the issue in a song earlier this month.But KTLA entertainment reporter Sam Rubin told Chris Lynch when he recently spoke to her, she was on the road to recovery.    

The hospitality industry is concerned over reports that Immigration New Zealand plans to more than double the cost of a working visa.Chris Lynch spoke to Restaurant Association chief executive Marisa Bidois who says nearly all of their members are against this.She says while they are trying to attract kiwi workers through their ProStart programme but they still rely heavily on migrant workers.

Chris Lynch spoke to Melissa Derby a University of Canterbury academic and spokesperson for the Free Speech Coalition following the news that far right Canadian speakers Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux have been granted visas. Melissa says that while she personally doesn't agree with their views and finds them repugnant we need to be really careful about what we refer to as hate speech as it isn't simply speech we don't like or that we find offensive, the threshold has to be really high so it protects our free speech.Melissa went on to say it’s crazy how some on the extreme left say they’re against racism while making extraordinarily racist comments against people based on their ethnicity and it seems to be acceptable if it’s against white people. She says this is dangerous, and evidence of a real lack of critical thinking in our society.

The people behind the fight to remove religion from public high schools say their bid to do so is looking more promising.The case is being transferred from the Human Rights Tribunal to the High Court.It now could be heard in a couple of months instead of a few years. In opposition to this the Churches Education Commission have been providing Christian Religious Education programmes to State primary schools throughout New Zealand since 1973.Their spokesperson Tracy Kirkley told Lesley Murdoch this is not a new fight. As it stands there is no compulsion there, schools get to choose if they want it or not. Kirkley says the ideal outcome of this case is we get to protect the freedoms we currently have in New Zealand and that a small minority group doesn't get to remove the right and the choice of other people, of schools, of school boards, who have been democratically elected by their community to make these decisions on their behalf.

The battle to provide broader religious education in our schools is heading to the High Court.The case has been transferred from the Human Rights Tribunal - after delays meant it wouldn't be heard for up to five years.Secular Education Network spokesperson David Hines says they're fighting against what they believe is a Christian bias to current religious education.He says only providing Christianity studies is impacting our children's knowledge.

Huge bits of seaweed washing up at Antarctica set off alarm bells for scientists.It proves Antarctica is not as isolated from the rest of the world as previously thought.Research by a team from Otago University has found the kelp had drifted 20 thousand kilometres from the Kerguelen Islands to reach Antarctica.Professor Jon Waters told Tyler Adams it wasn't thought that stuff could actually get across barriers created by polar winds and currents.He says storms have driven this seaweed across these barriers and as a result this idea of Antarctica being isolated suddenly changes and things can get to Antarctica.Jon Waters says if things like seaweed can make it to Antarctica then things like plastic can too.

The Department of Conservation believes professors who are criticising their Predator Free 2050 programme aren't looking at the bigger picture.A Victoria University study by Associate Professor Wayne Linklater criticised the programme for focusing solely on predators, and not other issues.Predator Free 2050 Programme Manager Brent Beaven, told Tyler Adams if you look at Predator Free 2050 by itself, then there would be some improvements to be made.He says their argument becomes flawed when you realise the programme doesn't work by itself.

Richard Green was joined by Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration Dr Megan Woods and National MP Nicky Wagner for a discussion on the political issues affecting Canterbury this week.

Richard Green was joined in studio by National Party Deputy Leader Paula Bennett to discuss the governments spending, working groups, Kiwi build and more.

Christchurch District Health Board's Medical officer of Health Dr Ramon Pink joined Richard Green in studio to discuss the winter flu and how Canterbury is faring so far this winter. 

Christchurch City Council has announced that minor remedial works are being carried out on 23 above ground well heads, at seven pump stations, to enable these well heads to be signed off as a secure.The council expects the works to be completed and inspections undertaken by the end of this month. An isolation procedure has been agreed for the remaining below ground well heads which will allow chlorination to cease, early in August, at these pump stations:Burnside, Grampian, Thompsons and Farrington in the North West supply zone.Hills and Lake Terrace in the Central zone.Woolston in the Ferrymead zone.Richard Green spoke to Helen Beaumont, Christchurch City Council Programme Manager of Water Supply Improvement, about this. 

 Primary school teachers are set to go on strike next month for the first time in 20 years as the NZEI bid for better pay rates and conditions for their teachers.But for some education experts it’s not about the money, they want a change of infrastructure by having more specialist teachers in subjects like music, PE and language which would allow the core teachers more time to plan their class time.Lesley Tait is a former primary principal in New Zealand, and has been a principal at an international school in Tunisia for the last six years where they have these specialist teachers.She published her feelings on social media recently on a NZ teachers group, with her post getting more than 1000 likes.

Mayor Lianne Dalziel says Council CEO Karleen Edwards takes full responsibility for the costings and secrecy around the $1.2 million digital wall. The mayor told Richard Green she feels embarrassed about the situation and says councillors and herself were unaware of the Official Information Act request for costings relating to the wall until the final recommendation from the Ombudsman that the information be released.Dalziel is promising to review and change processes involved so this sort of thing never happens again.

A Christchurch mother who was diagnosed with postnatal depression more than seven months ago is still waiting for help.Advocates say Amy Payne's story is one of many showing a nationwide gap in support for mums seeking help for maternal mental health.Richard Green spoke to Erin Manning from Postnatal Depression Canterbury who says unfortunately this is a common story they are hearing.Of the 11,000 women experiencing postnatal depression and anxiety each year, about three-quarters were affected by delays in diagnosis and treatment. 

Richard Green was joined by Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration and National MP Nicky Wagner to discuss the political issues facing Canterbury this week.

The Christchurch City Council is under the pump to release the cost of a digital touch wall in its new library.Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier is calling on the Attorney General to intervene, while the Taxpayers Union is also looking at taking legal action against the council.Taxpayers Union director Jordan Williams told Chris Lynch that ratepayers deserve better.He's asking Mayor Lianne Dalziel to release the cost today, rather than pour money into lawyers' pockets.

The Christchurch City council’s multicultural subcommittee has asked staff to look into the potential of offering women-only swimming sessions at particular times, so women of other cultures can feel comfortable swimming.City Councillor Glenn Livingstone spoke to Chris Lynch about why he thinks it's a good idea for Muslim women in particular to be allowed the chance to swim without men in the pool. 

The Court Theatre will have a new home in Christchurch's new Arts Precinct. The City Council voted on a number of options behind closed doors last week.The Court was chosen over a 19 million dollar Andromeda theatre and a Black Box Theatre.The council will contribute 30 million dollars towards the project with the Crown providing the land.Court Theatre Artistic Director Ross Gumbley told Chris Lynch they are very excited about the potential move but it's not quite a done deal yet.A Theatre Working Group has until until the end of March to present a business case and concept design.