Nine To Noon for Friday 9 July 2021

 

 

09:05 Australia's Covid transition plan - what is it and can it work?

Australia's four phase pathway to transition from suppressing Covid 19 to living with it - once enough of the population is vaccinated.Prime Minister Scott Morrison outlined the general plan earlier this week, capping incoming passenger numbers in the short term, to relieve pressure on hotel quarantine,  and announcing a trial of home quarantine for vaccinated travellers. Ultimately he says once vaccination rates reach the optimum threshold , Australia will open its doors and live with the virus and reduce serious illness. Meanwhile New South Wales has recorded its highest number of infections in more than a year - and health authorities are looking at recasting the definition of family to prevent the outbreak from exploding. WHO advisor and Professor of Epidemiology at the University of New South Wales, Mary-Louise McLaws.

09:20 New Zealand's $2.85b healthtech sector 

Research has found New Zealand's burgeoning health-tech sector has significant economic potential but access to lucrative foreign markets is being slowed by hurdles in the earlier stages of development. The health-tech sector generated an estimated $2.85 billion in revenue in just the last year - with record growth since Covid-19 struck. But research from Callaghan Innovation has highlighted the key challenges for Kiwi healthtech businesses, including complicated clinical trial regimes, complex regulatory requirements, and difficulties accessing investment and educational support. It's launched a programme to support the sector overcome these challenges and grow businesses. Kathryn speaks with Andrew Clews, the head of Health Technology at Callaghan Innovation and Garth Sutherland, chief executive of The Insides Company. 

09:45 Asia correspondent Ed White

The Olympics will take place without spectators in Tokyo as a Covid resurgence forces Japan to declare a state of emergency in the capital that will run throughout the Games.

Ed White is a correspondent with the Financial Times.

10:05 Menopause and you: Heather Corinna - What Fresh Hell is This?

American health writer and queer feminist activist Heather Corinna is one of the first nonbinary people to publish a book about menopause. What Fresh Hell is This? Perimenopause, Menopause, Other Indignities and You is Heather's menopause memoir - a guide to help anyone going through it. It's also a feminist critique of the history of menopause in Western medicine and culture, and the impact of that on the understanding of it.  Heather, creator of Scarleteen, one of the longest-running online sex education resources, speaks with Kathryn Ryan.

10:35 Book review: Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason

Leah McFall reviews Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason, published by HarperCollins.

Sorrow and Bliss is the second novel by ex-pat Kiwi, Meg Mason, compared to Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Joan Didion and Sally Roone.  The novel features an ensemble cast of memorable characters, a vivid use of searching wit and snappy dialogue to soften the sad bits. It's a tour de force and deserves all the acclaim it's getting. Leah says: "SO clever. SO heart-breaking. SO funny. Recommend!"

10:45 The Reading

11:05 New music with Jeremy Taylor

The quicksilver guitar of Mdou Moctar, a wonderful new track from Anthonie Tonnon, and Tracey Thorn's homage to her friend Lindy Morrison.

11:35 Balloon crash near Queenstown, 11 injured

Eleven people have been injured when a hot air balloon crashed while landing near Arrowtown this morning. The police were told the balloon had come down on Morven Ferry Road about an hour ago. One person has serious injuries, one has moderate injuries and nine have minor injuries. Two have been flown to Dunedin hospital. Kathryn speaks with Mayor Jim Boult, who has just been briefed by police.

11:30 Sports commentator Sam Ackerman

Sam says all eyes are on the England-Italy Euro Cup Final.

11:45 The week that was with Pinky Agnew and Te Radar

Comedians Te Radar and Pinky Agnew bring a few laughs