Nine To Noon for Monday 22 July 2024

 

09:05 GPs concerned cannabis clinics are putting commercial interests first

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners says it is concerned that medicinal cannabis clinics are pursing commercial interests over the medical needs of patients. Medicinal cannabis is legal and readily available following a law change in 2020. Products, ranging from oils to flowers or "buds" must meet minimum quality standards and can be prescribed for pain, sleep and other issues. Patients must consult with a registered doctor who decides whether psychoactive or non psychoactive cannabis products are suitable. While the products themselves are highly regulated, The College of GPs is concerned that there is a conflict of interest where clinics are both prescribing and selling cannabis products. Kathryn speaks with President Dr Samantha Murton.

09:15 With Joe Biden out of the presidential race - what now?

US President Joe Biden today released the pressure that had been piling on him and announced he would quit his pursuit for a second term.  It followed the mounting concerns from within his own Democrat party about his age and ability to win over Republican candidate Donald Trump after a poor debate performance last month. With four months to go until the election, the race for the White House is now in a state of flux.  Shortly after making his statement this morning, President Biden endorsed his Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democrat nomination. But will the party agree? Kathryn is joined by BBC US State Department correspondent Tom Bateman.

09:30 New audiobooks platform welcomed by local bookstores

The launch of a new audiobooks platform in New Zealand is being seen as a boon for Kiwi authors and local bookstores. Seattle-based Libro.fm started out North American ten years ago and is now available in New Zealand, Australia and the UK. The industry has been dominated by the likes of Amazon's Audible and Google Audiobooks - overall the audiobooks market has gone from being worth a US$1 billion dollars five years ago, to US $5 billion last year. But Libro.fm is run as a social purpose corporation which gives consumers the option to select a local bookstore of their choice to receive a commission each time an audiobook is purchased through the site. Local booksellers have welcomed its entry into the market - but are enough New Zealand books making it into the audiobook format? Kathryn speaks with Libro.fm's co-founder Nick Johnson, and Claire Murdoch who's President of the Publishers Association of New Zealand

09:45 Foreign correspondent Debora Patta from Israel

Mideast correspondent Debora Patta joins Kathryn to talk about the drone strike by Israel on the Houthi-controlled Red Sea port of Hodeidah in Yemen, in retaliation for a strike in Tel Aviv. Israel's Prime Minister is getting ready to visit Washington this week, but how will it be affected by Joe Biden's decision to step down? And Gaza has had its bloodiest week in nine months of war.

 

10:05 What happens to the Democrat presidential nomination process now?

The decision by Joe Biden to step out of the US presidential race this morning has left his Democratic Party with a conundrum: who should replace him? President Biden read the room - stepping down from his campaign for re-election after a faltering debate performance against Republican candidate Donald Trump that fueled concerns about his ability to win.  It's less than a month since the party is due to hold its Convention and the traditional nomination process is now up in the air. To explain what happens now, Kathryn is joined by Phil Klinkner - professor of Government at Hamilton College in the state of New York. 

10:15 Pilot Jeremy Burfoot: what really happens at altitude?

For some people, flying involves abject terror. For others, it's pure joy. My guest is one for whom flying was the latter - but his latest book will surely be helpful for those who find it scary. Jeremy Burfoot is a Kiwi pilot who started off with the airforce, flew light planes in Papua New Guinea and ended up flying Qantas A380s before Covid grounded him. Since then he's become a consultant and a writer who's determined to demystify the world of aviation. He notes his release from the cockpit makes him beholden to no one - and free to tell the truth about what's happening at altitude. His book, The Secret Life of Flying, is full of insights - like what those weird noises are on take-off, how well your flight crew really get along, what causes turbulence and why dressing well on a plane might just pay off. Jeremy joins Kathryn to talk about his career and share some tips.

10:30 Latest on Biden's decision to quit

Kathryn speaks to US correspondent Simon Marks for an update on the latest news around President Joe Biden's decision not to seek re-election at the US election on November 5.

10:35 Book review: Sight Lines by Kirsty Baker

Lissa Michell reviews Sight Lines by Kirsty Baker published by Auckland University Press

10:45 Around the motu: Simon Wilson in Auckland

Simon joins Kathryn to talk about the likelihood of Mayor Wayne Brown standing for the job again. His weekend column in Stuff ran through his achievements and talked about three big changes on the cards - but have any gone before Council yet? Simon also looks at where things are at for some 900 homeowners still waiting for an outcome following last year's devastating floods. And why is there a billboard battle between two big personalities, Dame Denise L'Estrange-Corbet and David Jacques?

Simon Wilson is a Senior Writer NZ Herald 

11:05 Political commentators Dale Husband and Liam Hehir

Dale and Liam join Kathryn to talk about how the decision by US President Joe Biden to step down may impact New Zealand. They'll also discuss the third climate budget missing its target and plans for a tree-planting blitz, the release of the Darleen Tana report and the drop in inflation.

Dale Husband is a long time broadcaster and Radio Waatea presenter hosting a Maori focused current affairs programme.

Liam Hehir is a Palmerston North lawyer, political commentator and a National Party member.

11:30 Sustainably-produced haku or kingfish

Jeremy Singleton was a chef  for 16 years, predominantly working in Wellington - including at Ortega Fish Shack and Logan Brown. Then he retrained in marine biology, and now is an aquaculture technician with NIWA and an ambassador for kingfish or Haku.Jeremy will be serving up Kingfish at this weekend's Brew of Islands' Craft Beer Festival in Kerikeri.

11:45 Off the beaten track with Kennedy Warne

Kennedy joins Kathryn to talk about the springtime activity of backyard birds - particularly the song thrush, beloved of poets and musicians. He also looks at an author whose book sparked a major fear of one particular animal, and who spent his lifetime trying to counter what he started!