Nine To Noon for Friday 29 October 2021

 

 

09:05 TikTok tics phenomenon affecting teen girls

A mysterious outbreak of tics in girls and young women in some western countries has now surfaced in New Zealand. The teenagers are presenting with Tourette's-style ticks, but the malady has no medical basis. Neurologists say the    behaviour has surged during the Covid-19 pandemic, and appears to have been spread by social media. Medical sociologist, and senior honorary lecturer at the University of Auckland, Dr Robert Bartholomew believes we're witnessing mass psychogenic illness, particularly attributable to the increased time teens are spending online during lockdown. He says the current popularity of Tiktok videos featuring people with Tourette's syndrome appears to be a contributing factor.  Auckland paediatric neurologist, Rakesh Patel says he's seeing an increasing number of teens presenting with tic disorders.

09:30 Short Story Competition: Winners Announced!

Announcing the winners of the first ever Nine to Noon Short Story Competition!  Judges Tina Makareti and Harry Ricketts have selected five stand-outs among almost 1,500 stories entered into the competition. The five winning stories will be adapted for radio and broadcast on Nine to Noon in November.  Harry and Tina tell Kathryn what stood out for them and why!

09:45 Asia correspondent Ed White

Amnesty International is closing its Hong Kong offices in the latest blow for democratic freedom and the government is doubling down on its zero Covid strategy. In China Xi Jinping is pushing ahead with more reforms, this time a property tax.

Ed White is a correspondent with the Financial Times.

10:05  Former diplomat Peter Hamilton on why it's time NZ became a republic

Peter Hamilton spent 35 years working behind the scenes to advance New Zealand's interests overseas as a diplomat. He held posts in Fiji, Canada, Geneva, Samoa, Germany and Singapore and rose to become deputy-secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He's now written a memoir called New Moons for Sam, which begins with his early life as a British migrant to New Zealand and his experiences as a student teacher in the Pacific, and moves on to his experiences during his overseas postings. It also expands on his long-held view that New Zealand is mature enough to have its own head of state, rather than the British monarch. He joins Kathryn to talk about why he believes such a move would the country a fully independent and sovereign nation.

 

10:35 Book review: Bodies of Light by Jennifer Down

Catriona Ferguson reviews Bodies of Light by Jennifer Down published by Text Publishing

10:45 The Reading

11:05 New music with Jeremy Taylor

Jeremy has tracks from a vinyl reissue for Lawrence Arabia's Taite Prize winning Chant Darling, Canadian singer songwriter Allison Russell, and the 50th anniversary of David Crosby's solo debut.

11:30 Sports commentator Dana Johannsen

Dana talks to Kathryn about the Black Caps Twenty20 World Cup campaign's rocky start with an opening loss to Pakistan, but of bigger concern was some of the fan reaction commentary around the game. Also World Rugby appears to have pulled the pin in the World 12s concept - a pet project of Kieran Read and Steve Hansen. And the Black Ferns imminent 100th test match, taking on England in Exeter. 

Dana Johannsen is Stuff's National Correspondent specialising in sport. 
 

11:45 The week that was 

Comedians Te Radar and Donna Brookbanks bring a few laughs, including a man's horror first date with a woman who brought many family members along.

Music played in this show

Artist: Jade Bird
Track: Different Kinds of Light
Time played: 10:45

Artist: The War on Drugs
Track: I Don't Live Here Anymore
Time played: 10:31

Artist: Al Green
Track: L O V E
Time played: 10:42

Artist: Ledisi
Track: Feeling Good
Time played: 11:45