Nine To Noon for Wednesday 23 October 2024

09:05 Medicinal cannabis doctor on concerns sector is becoming too lax 

The head doctor of a medicinal cannabis clinic responds to concerns his sector has begun to look more like a recreational market. A senior Massey University researcher says the medicinal cannabis scheme in New Zealand has transformed dramatically since it was implemented in 2020. Marta Rychert says the supply of cannabis products has increased fourteen times what it was four years ago. She says most products are now dried cannabis flower rather than oils or oral liquids and prices have dropped to become comparable to the black market. Marta and co-author Chris Wilkins say private cannabis clinics have improved access and care for patients needing medicinal marijuana. But they are concerned about the commercial imperative for those clinics to sell just the products they are set up to offer, while patient care may be narrowed. That comes after the Royal College of General Practitioners earlier in the year raised concerns about the conflict of a clinic set up to prescribe one type of product. Dr Afraz Adam, chief medical officer at Cannaplus, and Marta Rychert speak to Kathryn. 

09:20 New organisation launched to advocate for serving military personel

A new organisation has just launched to advocate for serving military personel it says are underpaid and living in mouldy unsafe housing. Mission Homefront is co-founded by Erin Speedy, an Army spouse, and by recently retired Lieutenant Colonel Hayden Ricketts. Serving sailors, soldiers and aviators are prohibited by law from unionising. The new organisation aims to be their voice, saying military families are struggling to pay their bills,  living in substandard housing and need representation at the highest level. Hayden Ricketts spent 26 years in the Army , serving in the Middle East, Asia Egypt and Lebanon as well as 10 years at Defence Headquarters. He says even as a Senior Officer, his decision to retire was influenced by the low salary of the NZDF and he is determined to improve conditions of service for personel across the services.

09:35 Ans Westra's family try to track down any living subjects

Ans Westra documented New Zealand life through her photography for more than six decades, taking an estimated 320,000 images; 160,000 of them feature people. Now her family, and the managers of the Ans Westra archive, are trying to track down those who feature in her work. Over the coming months, Suite Gallery on Wellington's Cuba St is holding a series of exhibitions and community initiatives to celebrate the breadth and diversity of Westra's work, and a citywide campaign to connect with any living subjects. Ans Westra's daughter Lisa van Hulst and Suite Gallery director David Alsop who together are guardians of the Ans Westra archive join Kathryn.

09:45 Australia correspondent Karen Middleton

King Charles and Queen Camilla have been shouted at by an Indigenous senator, danced at by a bunch of students outside the Sydney Opera House and spat on by Hephner the alpaca. The royal tour now moves on to  CHOGM in Apia, Samoa. And Former right-wing Catholic union leader Joe de Bruyn has sparked a walkout at the Australian Catholic University after he used the platform afforded him by the bestowing of an honorary doctorate to advocate against abortion in Australia. 

Karen Middleton is political editor of the Guardian Australia

10:05 Michael Mansvelt on creating beautiful spaces, no matter the place or budget

Michael Mansvelt has spent 30 years creating beautiful spaces. As a home, interior and landscape designer he's left his mark on any number of homes and gardens around the country. Now his book, Everyday Opulence, looks at how his style's been influenced by his life experiences: from humble beginnings in Hāwera -  a haven for charming homes, he says - to working at Britain's largest privately-owned estate, Welbeck Abbey. The "opulence" in the title, doesn't have to mean expensive. Instead, Michael tells Kathryn he hopes his book will encourage people to think about the things or items they connect with - that might help create a little bit of paradise at home.

10:30 Sports clubs struggle as volunteer numbers continue to fall

Community sport is under pressure with fewer volunteers putting their hand up to help run local clubs. A survey undertaken by the New Zealand Amateur Sport Association has revealed the average number of club volunteers, who volunteer for at least 3 hours per month, is down to 18, compared with an average of 31 recorded in 2019. Sport codes negatively affected include athletics, football and rugby union, while others including cricket and netball have seen an increase. Gordon Noble-Campbell is the chair of the Amateur Sport Association and joins Kathryn to discuss the findings. 

10:35 Book review: Friends of Dorothy by Sandi Toksvig 

Gina Rogers reviews Friends of Dorothy by Sandi Toksvig published by Hachette

10:45 Around the motu : Jimmy Ellingham in Palmerston North

Figures released to RNZ show Health NZ MidCentral spent over $100,000 each on two coronial cases over deaths at Palmerston North Hospital. Meanwhile,the families of the people who died had to represent themselves. They couldn't afford lawyers, but don't qualify for legal aid, which has tight criteria for civil cases, as these are classed. And Massey University's online exams have been plagued with problems, Jimmy has some new information on the issue.

RNZ Checkpoint reporter, Jimmy Ellingham.

11:05 Music with Kirsten Zemke: The whistle

Music correspondent Kirsten Zemke is along to look at why whistling is such a popular inclusion in songs. How and why do we do it? And why do whistlers always seem so damn happy?

11:20 Author Jodie Shelley on finding the humour in difficult family situations

Coming out to family can be really difficult, but what happens when it results in someone being disowned? Jodie Shelley explores this in her latest book, A Thousand Paper Cups. It was inspired by an agony aunt podcast, in which a young gay man came out to his family and was cut out of his father's will. The book is a feel-good read, with a lot of lighter moments, even while dealing with more serious issues that plague New Zealand families.  It's the second book from Jodie; her first, The Tui Has Landed was a finalist in the 2023 Wishing Shelf Awards. She joins Kathryn to talk about striking a balance

11:45 Science: Liquid cats, fast fat internet and fruit fly brains

Science correspondent Allan Blackman looks at a new study into whether cats are really liquid (just search the internet). A researcher in Hungary wanted to understand why cats seem to be squeeze into the smallest of spaces - and how he tested that is fascinating. Is faster internet also making us fatter? And the fruit fly has now had its brain mapped more than any other organism.

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