Saturday Morning

 

7.11 The latest from Lebanon

More airstrikes have been reported in southern Beirut and Lebanon, as Israel tells more than 30 villages in the south to evacuate.

Israel says it wants to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure and its leadership. 

Israeli strikes have killed more than 1200 people across Lebanon.

CBS correspondent Imtiaz Tyab gives Mihi the latest.

 

7.21 The big Dunedin clean-up

The Dunedin City Council says clearing slips and reopening roads will be a key focus as the cleanup starts today.

Dunedin and Clutha are still under a state of emergency but a red heavy rain alert for North Otago, Dunedin and coastal Clutha was lifted last night.

A yellow rain warning is in effect until 9am this morning.

Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich talks to Susie about how the region is doing.

 

7.31 Parents refusing to give children smartphones

There is a global movement of parents who are refusing to give their children smartphones.  

It's driven by research showing the link between mental health issues in children, smartphone and social media use.

Here in Aotearoa, a group of researchers at Auckland University say New Zealand kids are among the heaviest users of screens in the world.

Daisy Greenwell from Smartphone Free Childhood and Samantha Marsh, from the University of Auckland's Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences talk to Mihi about where the concern is coming from.

 

7.41 Dr Michael Baker on the 'reckless' cancellation of free RAT tests

Until this week you could get RAT tests for free but now, if you suspect you have Covid-19 you have to pay $6 for a single test, or $30 for a pack of five.

By comparison, the US has reinstated free rapid antigen tests across the country.

Leading epidemiologist Dr. Michael Baker tells Susie no middle ground seems to have been considered to make them available to people who can't afford them.

 

7.47 Growing the ethnic community economy

Next week Auckland will host the inaugural Ethnic Xchange Symposium.

The event organisers want to increase the already significant 64 billion dollars ethnic communities contributed to New Zealand's GDP, as measured in 2021

The idea is to share ideas, find opportunities and unlock new pathways for businesses with several High Commissioners and big players like Google and KPM all going along.

Mervin Singham, Chief Executive of the Ministry for Ethnic Communities speaks to Susie.

 

8.10 Wild Woman Gina Chick

While many people may know Gina Chick as the first ever winner of the survival reality TV show Alone Australia, her life story is full of dips and turns that started long before she entered the competition.

Her memoir We Are The Stars traces her childhood as a self-described "strange child" extremely in tune with nature, to the heartbreak and tragedy in the years that followed.

Gina speaks to Mihi about what she's learned about life and how to embrace grief.

 

8.35 Anne Plamondon - Hope Molecules

World-renowned Canadian choreographer and performer, Anne Plamondon, presents Myokine at the Tempo Dance Festival - Te Rerenga o Tere at Auckland's Q Theatre.

This compelling work highlights the body as a beacon of resilience and hope, inspired by myokines, also known as ‘hope molecules’ which are produced by the muscles throughout the body through movement. Myokines are considered mental stress-busters with influence on brain structure and function. 

Plamondon's dancers explore the transformative power of dance to heal and unite, responding to the pressing demands of our time.

 

9.05 Fine dining's not so fine culture - Ben Shewry

In his new memoir, Uses for Obsession, acclaimed Melbourne chef, Ben Shewry calls out toxic hospitality culture and denounces the 'incredibly problematic' restaurant awards system that helped make his own restaurant famous. 

Originally from a small farm in North Taranaki, Shewry has been the executive chef and owner of Melbourne's award-winning Attica restaurant since 2005.

Uses for Obsession calls for an industry to stop pandering to a failing system and questions the future of the restaurant scene. 

 

9.40 Fighting antibiotic resistance 

Heather Hendrickson is a microbiologist and an Associate Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch.

She's currently studying how phages, the viruses of bacteria, can be used to reduce agrichemical and antibiotic use. 

Heather is the co-lead of a new MBIE Endeavour research programme to test those solutions. 

 

10.05 What does a Death Doula do?

Birth doulas, who support mothers to be physically and emotionally throughout pregnancy and childbirth are fairly common, but what about death doulas? 

'Recovering lawyer' Alua Arthur is one of the most high profile death doulas in America. She's a member of the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance and founder of Going with Grace.

In her book Briefly Perfectly Human, Alua takes a compassionate look at the moments experienced by her clients as they face the end of their lives.   

 

10.35 Center pass - a century of netball in NZ

This year marks 100 years of 'Netball New Zealand', the oldest netball association in the world. Marking the occasion, an exhibition 'Our Game: A Century of Netball in Aotearoa New Zealand' opened on 7th September at the Auckland Museum, showcasing the lesser-known histories and stories of the people who shaped netball on our shores.  

The exhibition traces the evolution of netball, from grassroots beginnings to triumphs on the global stage. Dr Margaret Henley is a Senior Tutor at The University of Auckland, she's also a Marsden Fund recipient for her work researching the significance of netball in the lives of women in Aotearoa.

 

11.05 Playing Favourites with Laughton Kora

Key player in New Zealand's music scene, Laughton Kora is jumping back on stage for Fly My Pretties gigs in Wellington this month.

Laughton started performing at six with his dad’s band. He won Smokefree Rockquest age 17.

In 2001, he formed KORA with his brothers, blending reggae, rock, and funk, earning international acclaim. Since then, Laughton has pursued a solo career and collaborated with various bands, also venturing into acting on stage and screen.

He joins Mihi to share his musical influences.

 

Books on today's show

We Are the Stars
By Gina Chick
Published by Summit Books Australia

Uses for Obsession
By Ben Shewry
Published by Allen and Unwin

Briefly Perfectly Human
By Alua Arthur
Published by HarperCollins