Nine To Noon for Wednesday 3 May 2023

 

09:05 'Vulnerable can't access justice': Law firm calls for pro bono system

A major law firm is pushing for a centralised pro bono system, saying too many people cannot afford access to justice. A number of lawyers and legal firms around the country provide legal advice at no cost, but there is no formalised structure for this. Legal aid is government funded for some low income clients, but there has been a steady decline in the number of lawyers registered to provide legal aid, due to low remuneration rates and the administrative burden. Laura Scampion is the Country Managing Partner for the law firm DLA Piper. She says as inflation sticks and recession looms the number of people without the means to pay for legal representation is increasing by the day. She believes it's time for New Zealand to have a centralised pro bono system, similar to that in Australia, to help bridge this gap to justice.

09:30 Too many patients can't afford prescriptions: pharmacists' survey

Patients around the country are routinely not taking prescribed medication for serious medical conditions - because they cannot afford the five dollar co-payment prescription fee. That's according to a new survey of 150 community pharmacists around New Zealand, just released. Prescriptions cost $5 per item up to $100 per year per family, for people aged 14 and over. But the survey finds that many patients cannot afford to pick up their medication, contributing to even more serious health issues including stroke, heart attack, sight loss, failed kidneys, breathing problems, mental health crises, and amputations. The survey echoes a recent Otago University study which found the prescription fee significantly increases the number of days people stay in hospital every year. Kathryn speaks with Vicky Chan from the pharmacist group Prescription Access Initiative, which conducted the survey. She owns Unichem Pakuranga Pharmacy and the Pakuranga Life Pharmacy. Also with Otago University health researcher Professor Pauline Norris.

09:45 Australia: Interest hike (again), vape ban, MasterChef shock

Australia commentator Annika Smethurst joins Kathryn to look at the surprise move by the central bank to raise the official cash rate for the 11th time in a year. Australia's to introduce a ban on recreational vaping as part of what experts describe as an "epidemic". And the death of MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo has shocked fans of the show.

Annika Smethurst is political editor at The Age

10:05 Global demand for Kiwi golf course designer Kristine Kerr

Landscape architect  Kristine Kerr has been involved in planning and designing new championship courses around the world. Her work has taken her to many places, including Borneo, Saudi Arabia, Italy and China. She has also been the architect of courses in Australia and designed Pegasus Golf Course, near Christchurch, which was her first solo course design effort. During some projects Kristine has worked with professional golfers in the planning and design stages. This includes retired South African golfer, Gary Player, who is considered one of the greatest golfers ever. Kristine Kerr has her own business, Kura Golf Course Design and she's is now based in Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands.

10:30 Meka Whaitiri defects to Te Pāti Māori

The government minister Meka Whaitiri has formally announced her defection from Labour. She will stand for Te Pāti Māori in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate, which she currently holds. Speaking at Waipatu Marae in Hastings, Ms Whaitiri said the decision to cross the floor was not an easy one, but was the right one. She said her resignation from Labour is effective immediately, and she will sit with Te Pāti Māori when it returns to parliament. RNZ's Maori news editor, Jamie Tahana speaks with Kathryn.

10:45 Book review: Girl in a Pink Dress by Kylie Needham

Ray Shipley from Scorpio Books in Christchurch reviews Girl in a Pink Dress by Kylie Needham, published by Penguin

10:45 Around the motu: Diane McCarthy in Whakatāne 

In a bid to make the most of Whakatāne's high sunshine hours, the Whakatāne District Council is considering investing almost $16 million on solar energy generation discussing the possibility of establishing a 7.2-megawatt solar farm at Whakatāne Airport and installing solar panels on the rooftops of eight council-owned buildings. Meanwhile Diane talks to Kathryn about Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki townships facing future inundation and flooding, while Kawerau is looking at increased fire risk according to a climate change risk assessment commissioned by Bay of Plenty Regional Council. The Ōpōtiki district will find out next week how its council plans to meet a 15 percent increase in costs in its annual plan. And Ōhope the bronze kiwi has disappeared from his perch on the Whakatane riverfront  - only his foot has been left behind.

Eastern Bay of Plenty Local Democracy Reporter, Diane McCarthy is with the Whakatane Beacon 

11:05 Tex Mex Music with Kirsten Zemke

Kirsten joins Kathryn to look at the Tex Mex genre of music, also known as Tejano. It's a blended music mix developed in Texas and Northern Mexico, influenced by waltzes and polkas brought by the European migrants to those areas in the 1800s. 

Kirsten Zemke is an ethnomusicologist at the University of Auckland's School of Social Sciences.

11:20 Communicating science well particularly to vulnerable communities

Immunologist, Dianne Sika-Paotonu has just been named Science Communicator of the year in the Prime Minister's Science prizes. She was a prominent voice during the Covid-19 pandemic - explaining the technical aspects of immunology, vaccines and contributing to hundreds of media stories. She is an associate professor and the associate Dean, Pacific at the University of Otago in Wellington, teaching and supervising undergraduate and postgraduate students over many years. Dr Sika-Paotonu is also a leading researcher in drug design for rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease prevention, heart health equity and infectious diseases, and early cancer detection for vulnerable communities. Adept at collaborating with Pacific and Māori communities in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific Region, she says one of her main drivers is engaging multidisciplinary teams from different cultures to improve health outcomes

 

11:45 Science: Lost elephant habitats, glass brick revival, mighty mosses

Science commentator Laurie Winkless joins Kathryn to talk about a big study that's looked at the scale of loss of elephant habitat in Asia. Over three centuries two thirds of suitable habitat - an area about the size of India - has been swallowed up by human land use. Glass bricks were all the rage in the 80s, but their thermal performance isn't very good. Now researchers have designed a new brick that can let light through while also acting as a form of thermal insulation. The trick? 'Frozen smoke'.  And a global study led by researchers in Australia has found mosses growing on topsoil absorb massive quantities of carbon dioxide.

Laurie Winkless is a physicist and science writer.

11:55  RNZ's Political Editor Jane Patterson on Meka Whaitiri crossing the floor

In a surprise move Customs Minister Meka Whaitiri has announced she has resigned from Labour and will stand instead for Te Pāti Māori. RNZ's Political Editor Jane Patterson speaks with Kathryn.

Music played in this show

Track: Time and Time Again
Artist: Everything But the Girl
Time played: 10:12