Kerre Woodham Mornings Podcast

Tyler Nii died in a skydiving incident at Lake Wakatipu near Queenstown almost 19 months ago. His family are still waiting for answers.Those answers, according to officials, are still many months away and the family are raising concerns about the way investigations are handled.Chris Jordan is the father of British tourist  Emily Jordan, who died while river boarding in Queenstown in 2008. The company involved was prosecuted but Chris Jordan was appalled by a system he felt treated him as an "interfering Brit".Chris believes there should be common health and safety procedures across all companies. Chris Jordan spoke to Kerre McIvor this morning, listen to the interview above.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Kiwi organisation is taking a proactive approach to helping young people in crisis. Online Crisis Intervention began three years ago, in response to the massive number of social media posts they saw that spoke about times of distress and crisis.Their aim to get help to every young person in crisis online.Using algorithms to search for certain hashtags, like #depressed or #suicidal, the help locate young people in distress, and with the help of 200 volunteers around the world, get them talking!Elliot Taylor, director of online crisis intervention joins Kerre McIvor to discuss the initiative.LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Genealogy sites have long helped identify criminals, but now, they have helped convict one. William Talbott the Second was sentenced to life in prison last week for killing a young Canadian couple more than three decades ago, in a case that relied on newly-emerged genealogical technology.It was the first time that a murder suspect captured using genetic genealogy was found guilty by a jury trial. CeCe Moore, is a genetic genealogist whose work led to the arrest in the murder case. She joined Kerre McIvor to discuss the fascinating story.LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kristy Shen, an author originally from rural China, and Bryce Leung, a passionate advocate for financial independence, share their inspiring journey toward the FIRE movement. They discuss how escaping fears of job insecurity led them to embrace strategic investing over traditional home ownership. Shen and Leung emphasize the importance of passive income for true financial freedom, encouraging others to rethink wealth and retirement. They also offer practical tips for achieving financial independence while living unique lifestyles, such as world schooling.

The release Sunday of an audio recording has shed new light on the seizure of a British-flagged tanker at the hands of Iran's Revolutionary Guard as tensions flare in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.The audio released by maritime security risk firm Dryad Global shows that a British frigate was too far away from the targeted tanker to keep it from being diverted into an Iranian port despite U.K. efforts to keep it from being boarded.On the recording, a stern-voiced British naval officer insists that the U.K.-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero must be allowed to sail through the Strait of Hormuz even as Iranian paramilitary forces demand — successfully — that the vessel change course.The audio shows how Britain's once mighty Royal Navy was unable to prevent the ship's seizure, which has been condemned by Britain and its European allies as they continue to call for a reduction of tensions in the vital waterway.The free flow of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is of critical importance to the world's energy supplies because one-fifth of all global crude exports pass through the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman.In the recording, an Iranian officer can be heard telling the Stena Impero to change course, saying: "You obey, you will be safe.""Alter your course to 360 degrees immediately, over," the Iranian officer says, adding that the ship is wanted for security reasons.A British naval officer from the HMS Montrose frigate that was patrolling the area around the Strait of Hormuz is heard telling the Stena Impero, which had a crew of 23 on board, that its passage must be allowed."Sir, I reiterate that as you are conducting transit passage in a recognized international strait, under international law your passage must not be impaired, intruded, obstructed or hampered," the unidentified British officer says.The British officer then tells an Iranian patrol boat: "Please confirm that you are not intending to violate international law by unlawfully attempting to board the MV Stena."His words did nothing to deter the Iranians.British officials say the HMS Montrose was roughly 60 minutes from the scene when the Iranians took control of the tanker, too far away to intervene effectively.Iranian officials say the seizure of the British oil tanker was a justified response to Britain's role in impounding an Iranian supertanker two weeks earlier off the coast of Gibraltar, a British overseas territory located on the southern tip of Spain.Friday's seizure comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran stemming from President Donald Trump's decision last year to pull the U.S. from Iran's nuclear accord with world powers and reinstate sweeping sanctions. The U.S. has also expanded its military presence in the region, while Iran has begun openly exceeding the uranium enrichment levels set in the nuclear accord to try to pressure Europe into alleviating the pain caused by the sanctions.European nations, which are trying to save the nuclear deal and keep Iran from isolation, have tried to come up with ways to keep trading with Iran but have run smack into Trump's sanctionsBritish Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt says the government plans to spell out its response in a briefing to Parliament on Monday. Officials have said a military response is extremely unlikely and Britain has taken steps to bolster its diplomatic efforts.The tanker seizure comes at a ticklish time for Britain, which on Wednesday will see a new prime minister replace Theresa May. The two contenders for the job are front-runner Boris Johnson and Hunt, who has a key role in dealing with the shipping crisis.British officials say they have no good military options, especially because the tanker is in a secure Iranian port with a heavy military presence. Defense minister Tobias Ellwood on Sunday reiterated calls for a tamping down of tensions."Well, firstly we need to...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Funny As: The Story of New Zealand Comedy, premieres this Sunday at 8:30PM on TVNZ 1 and goes for five weeks.‘Directors Cut’, which also includes longer interviews with comedians will be available at TVNZ OnDemand. The book, Funny As, is published the same time as the TVNZ series, is also available at all good book stores.Ginette McDonald is a New Zealand actor, television producer and director, best known for her comedic alter ego, "Lyn of Tawa".She joined Kerre McIvor ahead of this Sunday's screening.LISTEN TO THE AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Boot camps for the unemployed are set to double in size. The Limited Service Volunteer programme is a free six-week motivational training course run by the New Zealand Defence Force. Young people are put in an army-style environment and taught life skills to help them go into the workforce. Next year, the programme will be doubled in size to 1600 students, along with a new facility at Whenuapai Airbase. Ministry of Social Development Group General Manager Community Partnerships and programmes Marama Edwards joins Kerre McIvor to discuss the programme further.LISTEN TO THE AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AUT student Grace Stratton has made Instyle Magazine's annual list of "Badass" women, where they recognise those leading the way to a better world. Grace has been recognised alongside names like Mindy Kaling, Anne Hathaway, Lizzo and Rihanna. In March, the 20-year-old launched All Is for All, a speciality e-commerce site featuring clothing and accessories presented in an accessible way for people with disabilities. She joined Kerre McIvor Mornings to discuss her remarkable career.You can visit her website here: https://allisforall.com/LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A University of Auckland study says the islands of Tuvalu, Tokelau and Kiribati can adapt to climate change rather than simply sinking below the waves, which is contrary to what we've been led to believe. Last month, TIME's magazine cover featured United Nations chief António Guterres standing in water off Tuvalu.The cover photo was to illustrate one point — that island nations are sinking in the face of global warming-induced sea-level rise.However, Auckland University's Dr Murray Ford says the islands are more resilient than originally thought.He joined Kerre McIvor Mornings to discuss the issue.LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fireworks retailer says there are enough safety measures for private use.Two thirds of local councils support approaching central government for legislation to ban the private use of fireworks.But Bad Boy Fireworks manager James York says [told Kerre McIvor] there's already strict safety requirements."All the howlers that are imported into New Zealand are tested to make sure that don't fall over, they don't blow up, to make sure the labelling is correct." He says that fireworks have become part of our culture."People enjoy firework and they treat it like a family get-together. They barbecue, light some fireworks in the backyard, it's actually quite a big thing for a lot of people."  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.