Nine To Noon for Tuesday 13 December 2022

 

 

09:05 Long Covid, long tail : long summer of infection concerns

Immunologist Anna Brooks talks to Kathryn about how New Zealand is coping with the pandemic's enduring impact and she looks ahead to what could be a deadly summer of reinfection. With restrictions eased, public health warnings muted, and mask wearing now almost non existent, the risk of contracting covid is still very real, particularly as people come together for Xmas parties and family gatherings. The Ministry of Health is reporting more than 40-thousand new cases over the past week, and 22 deaths. Anna Brooks, is a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland's School of Biological Sciences, and she's gravely concerned at the cavalier approach hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders are now taking to Covid, particularly thinking that if they've already had it, they're not at risk of reinfection. She says vigilance is needed, not just to avoid risks of Long Covid, but also to prevent reinfection, with masking, vaccination and ventilation being important tools.

09:25 Six Labour Ministers and MPs to retire next year

Three Labour Ministers and three MPs are to leave parliament at the next election. The Prime Minister made the announcement a short time ago. RNZ's Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch has the details.

09:30 Auckland's unswimmable beaches - what's going on?

It's warming up,  but swimming is off limits at many of Auckland's beaches after heavy rain at the weekend resulted in high levels of faecal bacteria. St Heliers, Herne Bay, Takapuna, and Titirangi were among the beaches deemed unsafe for swimming with bacteria levels breaching national guidelines for swimming. Kathryn speaks with Auckland Council's Head of Planning Healthy Waters , Nick Vigar and Professor of Civil and Environmental engineering at the University of Auckland, and Watercare Chair for Infrastructure, Kobus van Zyl.

09:45 USA correspondent Ron Elving

Ron says there's lots of talk in Washington about the makeup of Senate majority due to one Democrat who is now an independent. There are ongoing questions about whether Republicans will be able to organise and run the House, the Parties are at odds about the swap of basketballer, Brittney Griner for a Russian arms dealer, and expectations are rising for criminal charges against DonaldTrump on document theft and possibly also seditious conspiracy.

Ron Elving is Senior Editor and Correspondent on the Washington Desk for NPR News.

10:05 Double gold Paralympian Danielle Brown on her new book Run Like a Girl 

Briton Danielle Brown is a double Paralympic gold-medalist and five-time world champion in archery. She was also the first disabled athlete to represent England in an able-bodied category at the Commonwealth Games in 2020 - where she also won gold. Her career was cut short while she was training for the Rio in 2016  when the World Archery Federation said it would no longer recognise her disability. But Danielle pivoted to writing books - she penned One Hundred Reasons to Hope - which was inspired by Captain Sir Tom Moore and his 100 laps of his garden raising money for the NHS. Her new book is Run Like a Girl, which has won the Sunday Times Children's Book of the Year 2022... which features 50 female athletes breaking barriers and achieving great things - including New Zealand's own Dame Valerie Adams.

10:30 Around the motu: Felix Desmarais in Rotorua 

Emergency housing in motels has been a huge issue in Rotorua for three years, starting in the first Covid lockdown and it has proliferated since then. Felix says the main issue is its concentration and the inadequacy of motels as long-term accommodation. He talks to Kathryn about the Rotorua Housing Accord.

Also Mayor Tania Tapsell's position on making the voting age 16 for local election - it's a No

Felix Desmarais is a Local Democracy Reporter based at the Rotorua Daily Post.

10:35 Book review: The Accidental Duchess by Emma Manners, the Duchess of Rutland

Laura Caygill reviews The Accidental Duchess by Emma Manners the Duchess of Rutland, published by
Pan MacMillan. A delightful and entertaining romp through the Duchess of Rutland’s life, loves, challenges and heartaches.

10:45 The Reading

Part two of My Father's Island, written and read by Adam Dudding.

11:05 Business commentator Gyles Beckford

Migration and travel statistics show increasing numbers of tourists and a reduced level of migration loss for the year, since July we've been gaining migrants, reflecting relaxed visa criteria for the year. Gyles also discusses small non-bank institutions, like credit unions and building societies. He says they are getting anxious about their future with law changes going through parliament. And gross domestic product numbers are out later this week.

RNZ Business Editor Gyles Beckford

11:30 New Zealand beach nostalgia 

Writer and artist Terry Moyle's new book, New Zealand at the Beach is a trip down memory lane, with people reflecting on their summers of fun times and Kiwi golden weather. It is full of illustrations by Terry, and his partner Rosie Louise, as well as nostalgic photographs, vintage advertisements and colourful beach towels.

11:45 Sports-chat with Joe Porter

Joe talks to Kathryn about the Football World Cup action on and off field, the Black Ferns Sevens winning the Cape Town leg of the World Series - beating Australia, the White Ferns vs Bangladesh result and the T20 men's and women's World Cups.

RNZ Sports reporter, Joe Porter.