Nine To Noon

09:05 ADHD drugs shortages expect to continue in 2026- what does that mean for patients?

Shortages in some  ADHD drugs are expected to last throughout 2026, with Pharmac saying supply remains unpredictable. Pharmac’s Chief Medical Officer Dr David Hughes has told Nine to Noon the impact on ADHD medicines of rising demand and manufacturing constraints has been particularly noticeable .The drug option most  affected is methylphenidate, used in branded treatments such as Ritalin,and Concerta. Pharmac has funded a new brand of methylphenidate along with an alternative medication, Lisdexamfetamine. But these medications differ in the way they work and how long they last - which can be very important for some patients, especially children.There are now suggestions some medication should be prioritised for children. Kathryn speaks to Dr Michael Buckley,  a GP with an specific interest in ADHD

09:20 People still in trouble with Buy Now Pay Later services despite rule changes

A report has found new regulations haven't stopped people from getting into problems with Buy Now Pay Later services. The report by Consumer NZ and Fincap, with assistance from Victoria University, found some people are resorting to withdrawing money from their KiwiSaver accounts to clear Buy Now Pay Later debt. The main providers are Afterpay,  Klarna, Zip and  Payright. Since September 2024, some provisions of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act have applied to such lenders.  But the report says they should be required to do affordability assessments.

09:30 Siva Afi organisers fear fire dance festival could be extinguished

Auckland's annual Siva Afi Festival - which celebrates the art of Samoan fire knife dancing - takes place this weekend, but organisers fear without firm funding it could be the last. The festival kicked off in 2020, following the success and popularity of similar events overseas - even managing to run through the Covid years. The free two-day festival attracts participants from all around the Pacific, with performances, competition and workshops for kids as young as five. But organisers say nearly $80,000 is needed to run the event, and fundraising - as for many arts and cultural organisations - has fallen short. Amo Ieriko helped set up the festival back in 2019 and joins Kathryn to talk about how it's grown, the importance to the Pasifika community and its future generations.

09:45 UK: MP's husband arrested on suspicion of spying for China

UK correspondent Dan Bloom reports on the arrest of Scottish Labour MP Joani Reid's husband David Taylor, along with two other men, on suspicion of spying for China. Donald Trump has criticised Keir Starmer over refusal to permit the use of UK bases for the initial strikes on Iran. Although the position's been reversed, what state does this leave the UK-US "special relationship"? And Rachel Reeves has delivered her biannual forecast - but will rosier future numbers make a difference to voters now? 

Dan Bloom is Political Editor of Politico UK

10:05 Brendan Cullen on conquering the English Channel

Swimming may have saved New South Wales farmer Brendan Cullen from the depths of depression, but it was the courage to walk into a hospital and ask for help that set his recovery in motion. Years of working a 60,000 sheep station, hours and hours alone, combined with challenges like drought and having to move on from the family farm all ahd their toll on Brendan's mental health. Severely depressed, he takes up swimming; and a coach suggests to him to swim the English Channel - the Everest of open-ocean swimming. Brendan achieves the marathon swim, and even comes back and does it a second time. In his memoir, The Desert Swimmer, Brendan chronicles his journey from the isolation of an outback station to the center of the Channel, exploring the healing power of meeting a monumental physical challenge head-on.

10:30 Walking to manage Parkinson's

When she was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's, Jennifer Andrewes took up walking as a way to fend off the condition. This includes a number of European pilgrimages where she has covered thousands of kilometres - which she has written three books about. Jennifer is in the middle of a 150km training walk around Wellington's hills and coastline raising funds and awareness for early onset Parkinson’s as she prepares for a longer trek through Europe later this year. Jennifer talks to Kathryn about the impact getting on her feet has had on her health and life.

Jennifer's latest book, The Only Way is Up: On Foot to Rome, is out on 19th March.  

10:45 Around the motu: Bay of Plenty Times journalist Kaitlyn Morrell

Kaitlyn talks to Kathryn about plans for a 200 unit retirement village, a ban on diving at Bay Venue pools and Mount Brewing celebrates 30 years in business as family owned brewery.

11:05 Tech: What is AI's role in the current conflict in Iran?

Tech correspondent Marc Pesce breaks down the conflict between the Pentagon and Anthropic - the maker of AI bot Claude. Anthropic had been refusing to drop its redline of not allowing Claude to be used in surveillance and fully autonomous weaponry, leading the US Govt to give it a deadline of last Friday to comply or it would be blacklisted. Which it is. So why has Claude had a hand in selecting bombing targets in Iran? And Meta has been given a patent for an AI system that would take over a person's Facebook account after they die...and keep posting.

Mark Pesce is a futurist, writer, educator and broadcaster

11:25 Parenting: Helen Ellis on being a grandchild or grandparent living geographically apart

 

Do you have to video call grandchildren living overseas? Or perhaps you email your grandparents who are abroad? In the modern world it's common for families to be split over countries and continents. The reasons are varied - work, study, lifestyle choice or opportunity. But it brings with it unique challenges for generations of families learning to live, and love, across a geographic  divide. Helen Ellis completed her master's thesis on being a New Zealand distance grandparent. She's written three books on the subject - the latest Being a Distance Grandchild: A book for all generations considers things from the point of view of the grandchild.

11:45 Screentime: Tenor - My name is Pati, Young Sherlock, DTF St Louis

Film and TV reviewer James Croot reviews Tenor - My Name is Pati, which is a new film about Samoa opera star Pene Pati. Young Sherlock (Prime Video) is a new series that focuses on his first-ever case which unravels a globe-trotting conspiracy, and DTF St Louis (Neon/HBO) is a dark, comedic tale of three people engaged in a love triangle, leading to one's untimely demise.

James Croot is a TV Guide and The Press film and television reviewer