Nine To Noon for Thursday 10 December 2020

 

 

09:05 Legal action: rugby head injuries downplayed for decades

Landmark legal action is being taken in the UK on behalf of former rugby players who are suffering brain injuries, believed to be as a result of concussions suffered during games. Central to the claim is an accusation that rugby authorities failed to protect them from the risk of concussion. Kathryn speaks to Richard Boardman, a London-based lawyer leading the legal action and Irene Gotlieb-Old, wife of former All Black Geoff Old, who has Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and needs help with everyday tasks.

09:20 Rising star conductor, Gemma New    

33-year-old Gemma New has been described as a "rising star" in a new generation of musical conductors.
The New Zealander will lead the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra for its annual performance of Handel's masterwork Messiah in Wellington on Saturday night. She talks with Kathryn about her musical beginnings and how Covid has impacted the orchestral world.

09:45 UK: Boris heads to Brussels for Brexit talks with EU chief

Kathryn talks to UK correspondent Matt Dathan about the looming Dec 31 deadline for the European Union and UK to reach a trade deal, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson flies to Brussels for talks with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen. Among the sticking points: fishing rights, business competition rules and how a deal will be policed. And the Covid vaccine is being rolled out, but the NHS has a warning for people with allergies.

10:05 Has Covid-19 killed the office?

There's no question that COVID-19 has disrupted work life, in some countries and among some people, far more than others. Now questions are being asked whether working from home during lockdown was actually a glimpse into the future for many workers. In his second book exploring the mores of office life Australian journalist, Gideon Haigh   asks whether the office as we know it has been irrevocably changed by the pandemic and what  role offices as physical spaces will play in the future. Gideon Haigh has been a journalist since 1984, and The Momentous, Uneventful Day is his fortieth book. His The Office: a hardworking history won the 2013 Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-Fiction.

10:35 Book review - Begotten Not Made by Pat Higgins

Elisabeth Easther reviews Begotten Not Made by Pat Higgins, published by Tara Press.

10:45 The Reading

A cup of tea, a short story from Frances Cherry's book Gate Crasher. Read by Nancy Brunning.

11:05 The top 10 in tech for 2020

Tech commentator Sarah Putt looks back at some of the biggest stories in the tech world this year, including some Covid-forced innovations in health IT acceleration, increase in cyberattacks, 27-year wait for an update to the Privacy Act and a new appreciation for the IT department after most of us had to work from home.

11:25 How the brain heals from trauma

Neuroscience educator and parenting expert, Nathan Wallis talks to Kathryn about how the brain heals from trauma, and the latest research around neuroplasticity.

11:45 Taranaki Hard, Crazy, Not Insane, DocPlay's summer season

Film and TV correspondent Tamar Munch looks at the local documentary series Taranaki Hard, which focuses on young people growing up in the small town of Waitara. She'll also look at Alex Gibney's latest feature documentary Crazy, Not Insane, which follows Dr Dorothy Otnow Lewis, who's dedicated her career to studying the psychology of murderers. And what's on the DocPlay platform for December and January?

Music played in this show

Artist: He Waka Kotuia

Song: Huia Te Aroha

Played: 10.05

 

Artist: Anika Moa

Song: My Son

Played: 11:30