Nine To Noon for Thursday 14 October 2021

 

 

09:05 New report: working from home and taking sick leave

Employers are urged to update their health and wellbeing policies and make sure they're fit-for purpose, as a new report addresses the blurred lines between working from home and taking sick leave. The just released Workplace Wellness Report recognises the traditional single work place no longer exists for many people.  It signals businesses need to provide good support and be clear around staying at home, or not working at home if unwell. There's some indication in this survey employers are recognising the importance of employees taking sick days rather than soldiering on. Southern Cross and Business NZ are behind this report.  Kathryn speaks with Chief Executive of Southern Cross Health Insurance Nick Astwick.

09:20   Could dinosaurs wag their tails?

Computer simulations of dinosaurs has yielded an accidental discovery, their tails wagged when they walked. Historically it has been accepted that the giant creatures' tails were a counterbalance, helping to keep them steady.   Studying locomotion in fossils has always been tricky, but a research team at the  Royal Veterinary College in London has found dinosaurs' tails actually moved and helped them to walk efficiently. Dr Peter Bishop, who is currently a research fellow at Harvard University, says high tech simulations have revealed their tails could actually swing up and down

09:35 Katherine Mansfield: A woman in love 

Katherine Mansfield was a writer who had a lot of feelings, and had a lot of love to give. It's her birthday today! Katheleen Mansfield was born on the 14th of October in 1888 in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. To celebrate her birthday the Katherine Mansfield House & Garden has published a book titled Woman in Love - a collection of her love letters of all sorts. It includes romantic love, but also lots of other types of affection. The book's foreword is by British filmmaker Richard Curtis of Love Actually fame, and his daughter Scarlett. It turns out that Richard Curtis was actually born in Wellington and he and his daughter have both been long fascinated by Mansfield. The editor of the collection is president of the Katherine Mansfield Birthplace Nicola Saker. 

09:45 Industries' energy squeeze, Treasury squabbles, sex claims hit police, dirty rivers

UK correspondent Matthew Parris joins Kathryn to talk about the demands from large energy-reliant industries as costs spiral and the claims by Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng that have led to a public bust-up with the Treasury. Amid the energy crisis, the PM has been holidaying at a luxury villa in Spain owned by one of his wealthy ministers. The Police Force is facing criticism over the sheer number of sex claims against officers, and there are concerns over the state of polluted British rivers.

10:05 Breathing well: Dr Tania Clifton-Smith

Kiwi physiotherapist and breathing dysfunction specialist of some 30 years, Dr Tania Clifton-Smith is co-founder, along with Dinah Bradley, of the first independent Breathing Pattern Disorders clinic in Australasia, and co-developer of the BradCliff breathing method to reduce stress, improve sleep, think clearly and improve performance in sports and at work.  According to Tania "Your breathing is the conductor of the orchestra. If you're not breathing well nothing will work in harmony."  Dr Tania Clifton-Smith speaks with Kathryn about her new book How to Take a Breath.

10:35 Book review: Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney

Phil Vine reviews Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney, published by Allen and Unwin   

10:45 The Reading

The Larnachs, part one of 12. Written by Owen Marshall.

A  tale of scandal and intrigue from the days when Dunedin was the wealthiest city in New Zealand.

11:05 Uber court case could rock gig economy, Facebook invests in undersea cables

Tech commentator Peter Griffin joins Kathryn to look at the legal action being taken by Uber drivers to try to force the company to treat them as employees, not contractors. It follows similar, successful, moves in the UK. He'll also look at investment by Facebook in undersea internet cables, including the massive 2Africa which snakes around the whole continent.

11:25 Rapid antigen test imports approved 

Some of the country's biggest businesses have been granted an exemption to import and introduce rapid antigen tests for Covid 19 on work sites. A coalition of 25 firms went to the government last week, pleading for clearance to import the quick tests immediately. Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall says the Director-General of Health has given clearance for the businesses to bring 300,0000 rapid antigen tests into the country. The businesses include Auckland Airport. Kathryn speaks to chief executive Adrian Littlewood.

11:30 Parents' phone notifications interfere with language development

 A new study has found that parents who turn off the audible notifications on their mobile phones have the best chance of expanding their child's vocabulary.University of Auckland Doctoral candidate , Maria Corkin led study which observed parents interacting with their children aged just under two.

11:45 The Pact, The Problem with John Stewart, Chatham Islanders

Film and TV correspondent Tamar Munch joins Kathryn to talk about The Pact (TVNZ OnDemand), which follows a multi-generational New Zealand family traversing life's big issues, The Problem with Jon Stewart (Apple TV+) and Chatham Islanders (Maori TV), a new seven-part series which introduces us to those living on the Islands.

Music played in this show

Track: Latter Days
Artist: Big Red Machine 
Broadcast:  9:35am