Nine To Noon for Thursday 21 April 2022

 

 

09:05 Wellbeing in NZ: better if you're older

New research shows New Zealand is a good place to be if you're over 65, but not so good if you're young.  New data previewing the Treasury's first ever Wellbeing Report takes a look at the state of wellbeing in New Zealand, identifying trends and challenges to the sustainability of well being here.   Key trends identified so far show that on average over-65s have a higher sense of belonging, are less lonely, are more politically engaged, volunteer more and have more leisure time.  At the other end of the age scale there are relatively high levels of bullying and the highest youth suicide rate compared to other OECD countries. Disability, ethnic and gender-related differences are also reported in this paper.  Lynn Freeman speaks with Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, and Former Westpac chief economist, Dominick Stephens for analysis.

09:20 Darwin's 'stolen' notebooks returned to Cambridge University

Two of Charles Darwin's notebooks have been returned 22 years after they went missing from Cambridge University Library. The small leather-bound books are worth many millions of dollars and include the scientist's "tree of life" sketch. Lynn speaks with Professor Jim Secord, a world authority on Darwin,  and Director of the Darwin Correspondence Project at the Cambridge University Library.

09:30 Teen rugby players in major study into concussion

A group of schoolboy rugby players in Gisborne are at the forefront of a study into concussion that could make its detection more speedy and accurate - and help patients better manage their recovery. 33 players from Gisborne High School's first and second fifteen rugby teams were wired up with high-tech mouthguards to monitor head impacts, with data gathered from 11 games and 30 training sessions. The study into concussion, also known as mild traumatic brain injury, is lead by Gisborne's Matai Medical Research Institute  - but also has input from other groups. Lynn talks to Dr Vickie Shim at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute about how the data will be used in a simulation model she's working on and Dr Samantha Holdsworth, CEO and director of research at Mātai who explains why they hope to set up a gold standard - and objective - test for concussion.

09:45 UK: Partygate apology, Archbishop row, Boris' India trip

UK correspondent Matt Dathan joins Lynn to talk about the increasing pressure Boris Johnson is facing over Partygate, despite his apology. He now faces a vote on whether he should face an inquiry for lying to Parliament. Meanwhile he's got into a row with the Archbishop of Canterbury over plans to remove asylum seekers to Rwanda. The PM is on his way to India in the hopes of securing a trade deal, and a stronger stance from India against Russian aggression in Ukraine.

10:05 Delia Ephron: loss, love and second chances

Novelist and screenwriter Delia Ephron is best known as co-writer of the hit rom-com You've Got Mail along with her filmmaker sister, the late Nora Ephron. Her latest book chronicles a time of extreme loss in her life: the deaths of her beloved sister and her husband of 32 years, both to cancer. Just months after her husband's death, Nora met and fell in love with Peter. But again with in months, she herself was diagnosed with leukaemia. She speaks with Lynn Freeman about her Left on Tenth: A Second Chance at Life.

10:35 Book review: The Museum of Whales You Will Never See by Kendra Green

Quentin Johnson reviews The Museum of Whales You Will Never See by Kendra Green, published by Penguin Random House   

10:45 The Reading

Episode seven of 'Let me Sing you Gentle Songs' by Linda Olsson.

11:05 Inflation tipped to hit 30-year high

RNZ business editor Gyles Beckford joins Lynn to discuss the new inflation figures, released this morning. 

11:10 Tech: Union moves grow, Google exec plugs into NZ solar project

Technology commentator Peter Griffin joins Lynn to talk about moves in the US by Apple and Amazon workers to unionise and the resistance they're facing from Silicon Valley. He'll also talk about the investment by Google executive Urs Holzle in Kiwi company Helios' solar farm projects, and why his experience in clean energy could be invaluable. And finally, why does Elon Musk want Twitter?

11:25 Building boys into men: Navigating the tricky teenage years

Being a teenager is hard enough, even before the problems of the modern era are thrown into the mix. Lynn speaks to Garth Wynne, who's been involved in educating teenage boys for decades and is now executive principal of Christ's College in Christchurch. How can we shore up boys' positivity, resilience and confidence, while helping them navigate issues like porn, consent and what Garth calls the "third parent" - social media?

11:45 Film & TV: How I Met Your Father, The First Lady, Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed

Film and TV correspondent Laumata Lauano joins Lynn to talk about new comedy series How I Met Your Father (Disney+), political drama The First Lady (Neon) and documentary Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed (Sky, Channel ID).

Music played in this show

Track:  No Prizes
Artist: Kae Tempest
Time Played: 10:40

Track:  In Between and Overseas
Artist: Sampha
Time Played:11:30