Nine To Noon for Wednesday 4 May 2022

09:05 Large US study finds Reading Recovery benefits don't last

A new follow-up study into students who'd gone through the Reading Recovery programme in the US has found that initial gains may not last. The programme, developed in New Zealand in the 1970s, has been exported to a number of other countries including the US, where US$55m was spent in 2010 expanding the programme to over 80,000 first-graders. Professor Henry May, director of the Center for Research in Education and Social Policy at the University of Delaware, has just released findings into how those students have fared two and three years later. Kathryn speaks with him about those results, and to Professor James Chapman of Massey University, who says it backs up research he's conducted into Reading Recovery here in New Zealand.

09:30 Cardiac survival rates down as PPE impairs CPR performance

Fewer New Zealanders are surviving cardiac arrests outside the hospital, and St John Ambulance believes wearing PPE may be impairing officers' ability to perform CPR effectively. Survival rates are down for the second year in a row.  They've dropped from 13 percent in the year to July 2019, pre-pandemic, to 11 percent in the 12 months to July last year.  Survival rates are counted as people still alive 30 days after a cardiac arrest. In the year to July 2021, almost 2000 cardiac arrests were treated in the community, with 25 percent living long enough to get to hospital, down from 27 percent two years earlier. So what's behind the drop in survival rates? Kathryn speaks with Medical Director of St John ambulance services, Dr Tony Smith.

09:45 Australia: Rate hike, election latest, Neighbours' last hurrah

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton joins Kathryn to talk about the Reserve Bank's decision to raise the official cash rate by 0.25 per cent - the first time it's been hiked in the middle of an election campaign since 2007. She'll look at the city-based seats held by moderate conservatives that are under threat from climate-concerned independents - raising concerns about a hung parliament on May 21. And Australia's most famous soap opera Neighbours is ending - but not without a special reunion.

10:05 Helping farmers become Ag-Tech entrepreneurs

Sarah Nolet wants to help farmers become ag-tech entreprenurs. As co-founder of Australia's first specialist agrifood tech venture capital firm, Tenacious Ventures, she's raised $NZ38 million to work with 15 start-ups that make production more efficient, focus on climate solutions and create new business models that enable rapid response to changing consumer demands. As well as the fund, Sarah Nolet is the host of the AgTech...So What? podcast, and co-founder of Farmers2Founders, a national innovation program for primary producers. Sarah Nolet is speaking at at E Tipu: The Boma Agri Summit, being held 21-22 June in Christchurch and virtually.

 

10:35 Book review: Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro, translated from Spanish by Frances Riddle

Melanie O'Loughlan of Lamplight Books in Auckland reviews Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro, translated from Spanish by Frances Riddle, published by Charco Press.

Saddled with advanced Parkinson’s, a fast-dwindling medication supply and only her steely resolve, Elena steadily makes her way across Buenos Aires in an attempt to unravel the murder of her daughter. With an ending that packs a worthy punch, and not a single glass of Malbec in sight, this is a thrilling glimpse of the Buenos Aires not mentioned in the guidebooks. Part mystery and all-round ripping read.

10:45 NZ made homewares startup started during pandemic    
 

Aucklander, Melissa Jackson grandparents were in the fashion industry in the UK. When her father emigrated to New Zealand he started his own business cutting garments for some well known clothing retailers. Melissa has always worked as an accountant, but during the pandemic she's had time to sew and ended up starting an online homewares business - missyjackson.co.nz 

 

11:05 Music with Charlotte Ryan

Music 101 host Charlotte Ryan joins Kathryn to debut a new track by Marlon Williams, play from from Erny Belle and share a new song from Wellington dub band Rhombus. And you've heard of Wordle - now try Heardle! Just in time for New Zealand Music Month.

11:30 Lilliput Libraries: A little project with big community impact

A few years ago Dunedin woman Ruth Arnison came across an unusual idea for a library - little, brightly painted cupboards full of books free for anyone to take, borrow or donate. She called them Lilliput Libraries, and placed ten around the city - wondering whether they'd be used. Fast-forward eight years and you can find Lilliput Libraries all over New Zealand, with #302 newly established in Invercargill. Ruth joins Kathryn to talk about the libraries, and other community-minded projects she's involved with that aim to spread joy.
 

11:45 Science: New Omicron variants, and the longest-recorded Covid infection

Science commentator Dr Siouxsie Wiles joins Kathryn with an update on the new BA.4 and BA.5 variants of Omicron which appear to be behind a new wave of Covid cases in South Africa. The longest-ever recorded case of Covid infection is 505 days - that's not long Covid, but a chronic infection. And researchers have found a way to use smell to make virtual reality more...real.

Music played in this show

Track: Ships
Artist: Cave Circles 
Time Played: 10:40am 

Track: 19th Floor  
Artist: Joy Crooks
Time Played: 11:45am