Nine To Noon for Wednesday 25 September 2024

09:05 Online diagnosis for Autism no longer accepted by MSD

Autism New Zealand says the Ministry for Social Development is trying to save money by declining funding applications for people diagnosed via telehealth, and many people in the regions will now find it harder than ever to get help. But the Ministry says nothing has changed and it is only following evidence-based guidelines that a diagnosis of ASD should be done in person. However it acknowledges that during COVID-19, distance diagnoses were needed. Autism New Zealand chief executive Dane Dougan says in recent months it has began hearing from those declined funding, and also from psychologists, that MSD is taking a harder line on funding applications. He says there is much international research now suggesting that online diagnoses are robust and taking away this option is unfair and unjust. He speaks to Kathryn Ryan alongside Ashley Cairns, director of the mental health organisation A Change For The Better, which among other things provides remote diagnoses for ASD.

09:30 Breath of fresh air: The case for mandatory air quality standards

Professor Lidia Morawska is an world-renowned expert in air quality, whose work during the Covid pandemic helped recognise the virus' airborne transmission. For that, she was named as one of Time Magazine's most influential people in 2021. But she says the job isn't over - and that all buildings must be designed with air quality in mind. She equates the situation to that in the 1800s when cities began organising for clean water and centralised sewerage systems. Professor Moraswka's most recent research details a blueprint for indoor air quality standards - and calls for them to be mandatory. She's in New Zealand to speak to a summit hosted by the Facilities Management Association of New Zealand, which has this morning released research showing improved air quality in our offices and schools could bring a billion dollar economic boost by reducing sickness.

09:40 The fleet management business in growth mode

After launching an ambitious project two years ago to manage vehicle fleets for businesses and large households, Steph Kennard wants to push her business further. Her business Bonnet has grown to manage more than 50,000 vehicles around the country. The vehicles are typically with businesses that have previously had to manage vehicles' paperwork manually. These are for things like WOFs, registrations, road-user charges and certificates of fitness (COFs). The business is now looking for investment to the tune of $800,000 to further develop its software and work on capturing more vehicles as the Government moves to universal road-user charges. 

09:45 Australia: Phony discounts, no rate relief, miserable Aussies

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton looks at the legal action pending against the country's two largest supermarkets, which are accused of using fake discounts to lure customers. The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has weighed in, and proposed a new grocery code of conduct. The Reserve Bank has left the official interest rate on hold and a new Misery Index has found Australians are the most miserable they've been since the global financial crisis.

Karen Middleton is political editor of the Guardian Australia

10:05 The supergene responsible for human creativity

As part of her life's work, Dr Lynne Kelly has been exploring the source of human creativity. And in so doing explaining why some people are genetically wired for success in the arts - and whether a genetic component is involved. Lynne Kelly is an academic of many hats and the author of 20 books on science. These include - The Memory Code, Memory Craft and Songlines Her latest work is The Knowledge Gene - the incredible story of the supergene that gives us human creativity. Two years ago she was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for significant achievement in science education through writing and research. Dr Kelly describes The Knowledge Gene as the culmination of all her research and experience over many decades.

10:35 Book review: Three Wild Dogs and the Truth by Markus Zusak 

Dean Bedford reviews Three Wild Dogs and the Truth by Markus Zusak published by Macmillan

10:45 Around the motu : Natalie Akoorie in Hamilton

Natalie details the case of a local Doctor who has just been found guilty of prescribing medication to family and friends. Also she has the latest twists and turns in the case of Hamilton City Councillor Andrew Bydder who wrote an expletive-laden rant with ableist slurs to Waipā District Council, where he lives. Hamilton Gardens has introduced an entry fee. Now if you are aged 16 and over and don’t live in Hamilton it will cost $20 to get into the 18-themed gardens. Natalie has gauged reaction. 

11:05 Music with Kirsten Zemke: The la-la-la phenomenon

Music correspondent Kirsten Zemke looks at why non-lexical vocables or nonsense syllables are used in a variety of music genres. Common examples include "la la la" or "da da da" and some go back to the Middle Ages. They're often used as a filler or accompaniment in songs, particularly in choruses. Kirsten shares some tracks with great examples.

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

11:20 Assistive Technology consultant Jonathan Mosen
 

Apple has just released a new version of its operating system for iPhone 18.  Jonathan Mosen has assessed the device for accessibility for people with disabilities. Also Ray-Ban and Meta have teamed up to produce some, glasses that look like regular Ray-bans, but include a camera and AI. Blind people are using them to gain information about the world around them through the AI.

11:45 Science: Metformin's anti-aging promise, pitfalls of misnamed drugs

Science correspondent Allan Blackman looks at new research into metformin, a diabetes drug that's showing promise in slowing aging. He'll also talk about how a drug being misnamed in a clinical trial had a cascading - and concerning - effect. And how a company's decision to produce The Beatles also helped fund research that led to the creation of the CT scan...

Allan Blackman is a Professor of Chemistry, School of Science, Auckland University of Technology.