Nine To Noon for Wednesday 21 October 2020

 

09:05 Surgeons call for action on bowel cancer screening for Māori

The Royal College of Surgeons says it is dismayed the Health Ministry has gone against its own expert advice and refused to lower the age for bowel screening for Maori. The National bowel screening programme being rolled out nationally will cover those aged 60 to 74. This is despite the Minstry's expert advisory groups reccomending that the age for Maori and Pasifika be set at 50 to 59, because these groups have a higher incidence of bowel cancer younger. The Ministry says lowering the age would require about 10 per cent more screening colonoscopies, and services are already struggling. Kathryn speaks with Northland-based General Surgeon and Chair of The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons' indigenous health committee, Dr Maxine Ronald and Chief Executive of the Cancer Control Agency, Diana Sarfati.

09:20 Changing kids' perceptions of science and maths

A programme to inspire future scientists and engineers has already reached 30 thousand school children around the country from years 5 to year 13. The Wonder Project is an initiative of Engineering New Zealand, funded by Callaghan Innovation, which seeks to change young people's perceptions of science, technology, engineering and maths through a schools-based programme, delivered by career "ambassadors" alongside classroom teachers. The Rocket Challenge focusses on physics and engineering design. The newly launched Plant Challenge focusses on biochemistry, measurement, statistics and sustainability.  Kathryn speaks with Engineering New Zealand's General Manager, Bridget Sissons and Api Nathan, a teacher at Wellington's Otari School whose class participated in the Rocket Challenge last year.

09:45 Victoria's Premier's judgment questioned over travelling Kiwis

Australia correspondent Bernard Keane looks at the latest numbers in Victoria and New South Wales, as Daniel Andrews is criticised for not letting businesses reopen. He's also faced criticism after it was revealed all states were informed of the risk New Zealanders would leave their "bubble" states and travel to others. Bernard will also look at the investigation into the sale of a parcel of land next to Sydney's second airport to the government at an inflated price.

10:05 Author Ayad Akhtar on identity in a post 9/11, Trump America

Award-winning playwright and novelist Ayad Akhtar was born in America to Pakistani immigrants, much of his work invokes themes of religion, economics, identity and the American-Muslim experience. He won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2013 for his play 'Disgraced', which addresses what it was like to be Muslim in America following the September 11 attacks. It's a theme drawn on in his new novel, Homeland Elegies, which opens with the main character's father developing a short and unlikely "friendship" with Donald Trump after treating him once for a heart condition. Ayad insists the book is a novel - but draws heavily on his life. He was last month named the new president of PEN America, the human rights and literary organisation. He joins Kathryn from New York.

10:35 Book review - The Tunnel of Dreams by Bernard Beckett

Harry Ricketts reviews The Tunnel of Dreams by Bernard Beckett, published by Text.

10:45 The Reading

The Mesmerist, episode 13. Written and read by Barbara Ewing.

11:05 Music with Kirsten Johnstone

Music correspondent Kirsten Johnstone joins Kathryn to talk about a new podcast she's been working on with Melody Thomas that celebrates 10 years since Brooke Fraser's album Flags. She'll also play some music from Icelandic artist Jonsi.

11:20 Youth Worker Talei Bryant: Find Your Fish

Bay of Plenty youth worker Waimana-based Talei Bryant founded the Find your Fish Movement to help rangatahi find their passions and face life's ups and downs.  She has, she says big dreams for transforming her community, and tells Kathryn about inspiring other young people to chase their dreams. Talei's story is featured on Maori TV and RNZ podcast series The Outliers.

11:45 John Snow memorandum, tough tardigrades, foul fish

Science commentator Siouxsie Wiles joins Kathryn to talk about the John Snow Memorandum, put forward in response to the herd-immunity Great Barrington Declaration. Tardigrades were always known to be tough, but now it seems they can survive exposure to UV light. And fish smells strong and unpleasant to many, but it seems there's a gene mutation in some Icelandic people that can make it smell less intense.

Associate Professor Dr Siouxsie Wiles is the head of Bioluminescent Superbugs Lab at the University of Auckland.

 

Music played in this show

Artist: David Kilgour & the Heavy Eights
Song: Smoke You Right Out of Here
Broadcast time: 09:34

Artist:   Ane Brun
Song: Make You Feel My Love
Broadcast time: 10:36

Artist:   Sarah Jarosz
Song: Orange & Blue
Broadcast time: 11:50