Nine To Noon for Thursday 11 October 2018

 

 

09:05 Wastewater drug testing goes national

 A new drug testing regime of our waste water will reveal what drugs are being used in our towns and cities, and in real time.  Wastewater testing is set to be rolled out across New Zealand, with the expansion of the Police and the Institute of Environmental Science and Research's wastewater pilot programme. 38 sites across the 12 police districts will be covered by the end of this month, capturing 80% of New Zealand's population. Kathryn Ryan discusses with ESR Chief Executive, Keith McLea, how extensive the wastewater testing will be..

09:15 Could physical activity prevent mental ill-health?

In the first study of its kind in this country 25,000 New Zealand adults completed an 'Active' survey to examine the link between recreational physical activity and well being. It showed people who do at least two and a half hours of physical activity each week have 51% higher odds of reporting good mental health, while participation in at least 4.5 hours a week increases the odds to 65%. Kathryn Ryan talks to Dr Justin Richards who carried out the Sport NZ research.

09:45 "Hell week" for Theresa May & Gordon Brown wades in

UK correspondent, Gerri Peev has news of another 'hell week' for Theresa May over Brexit with opposition on all sides, the second Salisbury suspect unmasked and former PM Gordon Brown wades into debate over a universal credit.

10:05 The brilliance of Yayoi Kusama

Contemporary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is known around the world for her large bright polka-dotted canvas works, mirrored immersive spaces and large distinctive scultpures. She turns 90 next year, and is still working, exhibitions of her art show around the world and she has a hugely popular dedicated museum in Tokyo. She has experienced mental health issues for many years and since the 1970s has voluntarily lived in a psychiatric institution in Japan. American filmmaker Heather Lenz spent 17 years making a documentary about her life, called Kusama: Infinity.

10:35 Book review - Beautiful Boy by David Sheff

David Hill reviews Beautiful Boy by David Sheff, which is published by Simon & Schuster UK.

10:45 The Reading

Episode 9 of Singing Home the Whale by Mandy Hager read by Simon Leary and  Alex Greig

11:05 Is R&D funding working for NZ?

Tech commentator, Paul Matthews, looks into whether research funding in NZ is moving the country in the right direction, plus how many dial-up connections are still out there? And an update on the Tahi Rua Toru Tech challenge.

Paul Matthews, chief executive of IT Professionals New Zealand,

11:25 Tapping into community activities for children

Looking at what is available for kids in your community, free, low cost and fun stuff. Kathryn talks to Anne Riley, who has just finished up at Auckland's Green Bay toy library after 20 years of service. And also to Lorraine Weston-Webb, who is the library manager for the Gore District. She says community reach out initiatives are vital in rural areas.

11:45 Get it to Te Papa and The 2000s

Tamar Munch reviews a new local show, Get it to Te Papa - The Spinoff's televised quest to get under-appreciated Kiwi treasures into the national museum. She''ll also preview The 2000s, a new series coming to Prime which explores the first decade of the 21st century.