Nine To Noon for Wednesday 23 April 2025

09:05  Bringing talent home - are student loan interest rates and penalties a barrier?    

For those with a student loan and living overseas - the start of the month came with a hit to their bank account. From April 1, an additional 1 percent is being applied to student loan interest rates, which is paid by those living offshore. That takes the base rate to 4.9 percent and the late payment rate -- which is charged on overdue amounts from student loan borrowers in both New Zealand and overseas -- to a steep 8.9 percent. $2.2 billion dollars is owed by former students living overseas. The latest student loan scheme report, published last December says overseas-based borrowers make up an increasingly large amount of overdue repayments. A  tax barrister with the law firm Stace Hammond and a former prosecutor with the IRD, Dave Ananth, who has been successful in helping former students get on top of their loan repayments says the increase in interest rates has come at exactly the wrong time and that we should be encouraging talented New  Zealanders to return home.

09:20  Criminals missing out on potential rehabilitation

An alcohol and drug counsellor says thousands of criminals are missed out on potential rehabilitation options, because an alcohol and drug report has not been sought  for them. These reports, which detail a defendant's history with addiction, and recommendations for treatment, can be requested by their lawyer, sometimes a judge , or if they appear before the Alcohol and Drug-specific court. In 2023, Legal Aid funded a total of 179 assessments. and last year this jumped to 461.  The majority of which were for criminal defendants. But, given the tens of thousands of people who go before the courts every year, with an estimated 80 percent connected to alcohol or drug addiction in some way, the numbers represent only a fraction of people potentially eligible. Roger Brooking has worked as an alcohol and drug counsellor for the past 20 years

09:30 Why air ambulances need doctors onboard 

A world-renowned helicopter emergency specialist is making the case for doctors to be on all air ambulance flights, to save more lives. At the moment this country requires only paramedics to be on fixed-wing or helicopter call-outs. But Dr Tim Parke, who initiated the Auckland Rescue Helicopter emergency medicine service model - says interprofessional teams, led by physicians, have a 20 percent lower mortality rate than those that don't. Health New Zealand and ACC are currently re-writing protocols for emergency flights. Dr Parke wants them to require both a paramedic and doctor for all services. He is based in Glasgow but worked at Auckland Hospital for seven years. 

09:45 Australia: Election latest, tariff twist, Virgin travails

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton joins Kathryn to talk about the latest political polls ten days out from the election which point to Anthony Albanese's government being returned. Australian beef producers have found favour in China in the latest twist to Trump's tariff war. Virgin Australia passengers were stranded in Queenstown Airport overnight at Easter - not great PR as the airline prepares to relist on the sharemarket after a five-year hiatus. And it's been one of the worst Easter weekends for drownings on record.

Karen Middleton is a political journalist based in Canberra

10:05 Addicted to screens: How to use tech without it using you

 Do you sleep with your phone in your bedroom? Always have it with you? Find yourself constantly checking notifications? Do you use use your phone while you watch TV? What about at social gatherings? These are some of the questions Alex Bartley Catt invites readers of his new book to consider, to get a sense of their "digital balance". It's called 'Less Screen, More Life: How I crushed by digital addictions' and it dives into how technology has become a constant battle for our time, attention and data. The book looks at how companies monetise that data, persuade us to spend more time online, perhaps even manipulate our reactions to what we're seeing. So - assuming a great disconnect isn't a realistic option - what can we do build a better relationship with tech? One that we're more in control of? Alex joins Kathryn to share his tips for a less digital life.

10:35 Book review: Audition by Katie Kitamura 

Kiran Dass reviews Audition by Katie Kitamura published by Fern Press

10:45 Around the motu: Alexa Cook in Hawkes Bay

Ariki Rigby's murderer was sentenced to life in prison, Gisborne's forestry sector are looking to replant 100,000 hectares of forestry and pasture back into native bush, Napier's library might be closing for two years, and it's the 125th anniversary of Mahia Hunt week.

Alexa Cook is an RNZ senior journalist based in Hawke's Bay.

11:05 Music with Yadana Saw

Yadana Saw shares some of songs that have been getting a rotate on her stereo - she's been revisiting Emma Paki's debut album, some Prince demos, and the surprise drop from secretive UK collective SAULT. 

11:20 How to choose the best shoes for your feet

Kathryn talks with Christchurch podiatrist Simon Wheeler about how to choose the best shoes for your feet. Simon will take your questions. Text 2101 or email ninetonoon@rnz.co.nz

11:45 Science: Why text abbreviations grate, which farm animal is smartest?

Science communicator Jen Martin joins Kathryn with some quirky new research including the reasons why using text abbreviations in text messages can change the way people feel about the person sending the message - or even the message itself. Which are smarter: sheep, goats or alpacas? And what role to pheromones play when we choose who we become friends with?

Jen Martin founded the science communication program at the University of Melbourne, runs the espressoscience.com blog and is also the author of Why Am I Like This?: The Science Behind Your Weirdest Thoughts and Habits.