Nine To Noon for Tuesday 6 August 2019

 

 

09:05 New dam rules too onerous, will cost farmers: lobby groups

Farmers are leery about proposed regulations on the structural integrity of hundreds of dams nationwide. Public submissions on the draft regulations close today. Existing safety rules do cover dam construction, but not their maintenance or operation.Farmers say the new rules will cost them a lot as they have to get their dams checked. And Irrigation New Zealand - which represents farmers and growers, says the threshold for what is considered a large dam under the proposed regulations is way too low. Kathryn speaks with CEO Elizabeth Soal, Otago Federated Farmers President Simon Davies and Peter Amos, Managing Director of Damwatch Engineering.

09:20 Treating addiction & depression with LSD  

LSD and psilocybin (better known as magic mushrooms) are still listed as Class A's under the Misuse of Drugs Act, but the idea of using these mind altering drugs as a therapy for alcohol, drug dependence, and depression is gaining ground. Suresh Muthukumaraswamy, an Associate Professor at the University of Auckland's School of Pharmacy, talks to Kathryn Ryan about the scientific research he's undertaking into hallucinogenic drugs and ketamine.

Professor Muthukumaraswamy is giving a public talk on Wednesday 7th August as part of Auckland University's Winter Lecture series on addiction.  

09:45 US correspondent David Smith - El Paso death toll rises

Washington bureau chief of The Guardian David Smith with Donald Trump's response after two mass shootings in the US have left 31 people dead, at a mall in El Paso,Texas and outside a bar in Dayton, Ohio. The President says the US must condemn "racism, hatred and white supremacy" but also blamed mental health problems and "violent" video games.

10:05 It's in your head: Ways to fix insomnia, anxiety and depression

Dr Giresh Kanji has spent a decade exploring stress-related conditions and how to fix them. His interest was piqued by his own childhood trauma that led to nearly 40 years of stress symptoms. He's collated his own, and worldwide research, into a book entitled 'Brain Connections: How to sleep better, worry less and feel happier'. This is his third book, after 'Fix Your Back' and 'Fix Your Neck Pain, Headache and Migraine'. He joins Kathryn to talk about non-medical ways stress-related symptoms can be eased.

10:35 Book review - Outside Looking In by T.C. Boyle 

Jane Westaway reviews Outside Looking In by T.C. Boyle, which is published by Bloomsbury.

10:45 The Reading

A Skate in Town written and told by Max Olijnyk

RNZ Production No Book Listed

11:05 Business Commentator Rod Oram 

The Reserve Bank of NZ will announce its latest interest rate decision on Wednesday, as global conditions darken. Business changes tack and now supports the government's restructure of polytechs and industry training, and Datacom strengthens its position as NZ's leading tech company.

11:30 A haircut - and a friendly ear

Matt Brown is a barber - but he does so much more than cut hair. After the Christchurch earthquakes set up a barber shop - in a shed in his backyard. He doled out some sweet styles and soon developed a reputation as an artist. But his business, My Father's Barbers, evolved into something more than just a barbershop. It's a safe space where men can open up about the issues that are affecting them. Matt talks to Kathryn about what it's like to build such trust with your clients. He's also delivering a talk at TEDxChristchurch on Sunday 25 August at the Christchurch Town Hall. 

11:45 Media Commentator Gavin Ellis - toxic blogs

Gavin Ellis talks to Kathryn about the closure of whaleoil.net.nz, but says this won't be the last we see of toxic blogs. Also, Stuff launches its new video platform.