Nine To Noon for Monday 27 February 2023

 

 

09:05 How to rebuild with in-built resilience?

Post Cyclone Gabrielle, roads and bridges as well as homes, factories, and farms are all in ruins. Many key roads across the North Island are still closed, with long detours. On the East Coast alone, fifty-nine local roads are still closed in the Gisborne region and 17 bridges are either broken or washed away.  Towns, villages and cities across the top of the North Island are crying out for long term solutions, not quick fixes.  Isolated vulnerable communities, some who say they feel ignored are asking how they can be served better. Association of Consulting and Engineering New Zealand represents over two hundred consulting and engineering firms.  Chief Executive of ACE New Zealand, Helen Davidson speaks with Kathryn about the immediate opportunities of rebuilding with resilience after Cyclone Gabrielle.

09:25 Can a native mushroom can help whānau addicted to meth?

Fungi botanists, local health professionals,  rongoā practitioners and medical researchers are planning a clinical trial this year into the therapeutic benefits of psychadelics. The projec out of Rangiwaho Marae South of Gisborne. involves the cultivation, testing and use of Weraroa, an indigenous fungi known to contain psilo-cybin, the compound found in 'magic mushrooms' and classified since the 1970s in New Zealand as a Class A drug. The project coordinator is biotechnology innovator Manu Caddie, has a background in pharmaceuticals and natural health products based on other native species including kānuka, kīna and mosses. He talks to Kathryn along with Rangiwaho Marae trustee and one of the project leaders Jody Toroa.

09:45 Europe: Putin tries to reframe Ukraine war, dozens drown off Italy

Europe correspondent Seamus Kearney joins Kathryn to talk about how Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to recast the war in Ukraine as a battle for Russia's survival, as the invasion hits its one year anniversary. His remarks come amid increasing division in Russia about how the war has been managed and why the 'special military operation' has dragged on for so long. And just days after Italy passed a tough new law against charities that rescue migrants at sea, a shipwreck off the coast has killed at least 60 migrants.

10:05 Daylight essential for our sleep, health and mood

Anna Wirz-Justice is a world leading researcher in circadian rhythms, or chronobiology. Much of what we understand about the importance of sleep and light can be attributed to the research Anna has carried out with her team at the Centre for Chronobiology, in Basel, Switzerland. During her career spanning from the 1970s, Anna Wirz-Justice has introduced light therapy to Europe, and has studied sleep disorders, Seasonal Affective Disorder, depression and non-pharmacological treatments such as light therapy, sleep deprivation, melatonin. She's Emeritus Professor of Psychiatric Neurobiology at the University of Basel, and is the former head of the Centre for Chronobiology at the Psychiatric University Clinic.

10:35 Book review: Still Pictures: On Photography and Memory by Janet Malcolm

Shaun Barnett reviews Still Pictures: On Photography and Memory by Janet Malcolm; introduced by Ian Frazier; afterword by Anne Malcolm, published by Text Publishing

10:45 Around the motu: Peter Newport from Queenstown, Lakes & Central Otago

Peter highlights two recent situations where visitors have caused local problems and then headed overseas. Also, questions being raised about some of the Queenstown Lakes District Council's procurement and spending. And a shortage of bus drivers is resulting in some services being cancelled and locals pulling over at bus stops to give stranded passengers a lift. But Peter says the local council doesn't approve and is refusing to waive fines for good samaritans.

Peter Newport is the Managing Editor, Crux, based in Arrowtown

 

11:05 Political commentators Jones & Hehir

Parliament resumed last week, with Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins going head to head for the first time. Neale Jones and Liam Hehir also discuss the political response to Cyclone Gabrielle, the question of law and order arises after the floods,  the government's forestry slash inquiry and how National shut down Maureen Pugh over climate change.

Neale was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of public affairs firm Capital. Liam is a Palmerston North lawyer, political commentator and a National Party member

11:30 Saving "wonky" fruit and veg from waste 

Wonky Box is a fresh fruit & vegetable subscription service which delivers produce to consumers, that would otherwise go to waste. Produce which is an unusual size or shape, or has a slight blemish often won't meet supermarkets or export standards, but is perfectly good to eat. Rather than wasting the "wonky" fruit and vegtables, Wonky Box collects the odd-looking and otherwise surplus produce from local growers, boxes it up, and delivers it straight to households in the Wellington, Manawatū and Auckland regions. Kathryn speaks with co-founders Angus Simms and Katie Jackson, who came up with the idea after working a summer on produce farms around Nelson. They say they met the farmers who weren't able to sell their fruit and veg based on appearance - at a time when it was getting harder to eat healthy at an affordable price. 

11:45 Urban issues: After the flood, how do we actually build back better?

Bill McKay joins Kathryn to look at the gap between the desire to build back after a natural disaster and the political will to do it. He says a fundamental problem is the lack of a proper, nationally-agreed strategic direction - something that's going to be vital for a world with a changing climate where overseas-owned insurers, banks and credit ratings agencies won't be keen to invest here if New Zealand doesn't do things better.

Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland.