Nine To Noon for Friday 28 January 2022

 

 

09:05 How will our diagnostic labs cope with omicron surge?

First this morning as omicron takes hold with tens of thousands of cases projected per day - how will our diagnostic laboratoies cope? New analysis from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation suggests Omicron infections in Aotearoa New Zealand could peak at about 80-thousand a day by mid-February,  in an outbreak lasting about 3 months. So how are our labs prepared for such a surge in demand for testing? Dr Juliet Elvy, Consultant Clinical Microbiologist with Asia Pacific Health Group or APHG, by far the country's largest  provider of COVID lab testing in NZ. She's also deputy chair of the Medical Microbiologists network.

09:30 Auckland light rail option announced

The government has chosen a light rail option linking downtown Auckland to the Airport. The plan will see a partially above and below ground rail link from the Wynyard Quarter to the airport, with 18 stops along the way. RNZ Auckland reporter Katie Todd has details.

09:40 Why biodiversity in cities matters

As housing intensification increases in many New Zealand towns and cities, University of Auckland ecologist Dr Margaret Stanley says retaining mature trees is key to having liveable cities, and artificial turf is not an environmentally sound subsitute for green space.

 

09:45 Pacific correspondent Susana Lei'ataua

Susana has the latest on the massive Tongan aid effort in the wake of volcanic eruption and tsunami devastation. Also a look at Covid in the Pacific region - Solomons has community transmission, Fiji's death toll is rising, including a baby and children.

Susana Lei'ataua is RNZ Pacific's news editor

 

10:05  An epic run traversing America multiple times

British ultra-athlete Rob Pope left his job to recreate Forrest Gump's fictional run, traversing America five times.The English veterinarian is the first person to complete the epic run covering 15,600 miles, or 25,000 kilometres. It took him 18 months and raised money for the World Wildlife Fund and Peace Direct. He's no stranger to endurance events and holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon, dressed as a film character. Rob Pope now has a podcast - "How to be Superhuman". And his memoir Becoming Forrest - one man's epic run across America catalogues the ins and outs of his endurance run, the injuries, stamina sapping days, forest fires, wildlife and wild weather, and also a marriage proposal.

 

10:35 Book review: Best of Unity Books 2021

Tilly Lloyd of Unity Books Wellington reviews her favourite books from last year: Manifesto by Bernadine Evaristo published by Penguin; Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge & the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer published by Penguin and Hilma af Klint: The Secret Paintings, edited by Sue Cramer published by Thames and Hudson

10:45 The Reading

11:05 New music with Grant Smithies

Best known for the huge global hit Lean On Me, the late Bill Withers’ second album Still Bill turns 50 this year. We hear two classics from that today, alongside some bracing “garage funk” from 1970’s Cameroon and a fuzz-rock classic from Scotland’s Teenage Fanclub. 

11:30 Sports commentator Sam Ackerman - Hamish Bond retires

Among NZ's sporting elite, the only man to win 3 consecutive gold medals for NZ has called it quits and Sam says rower Hamish Bond has to be considered for a knighthood pretty soon. Also sporting disruptions caused by Omicron and the business end of the Australian Open.

 

11:45 The week that was 

Comedians Te Radar and Michele A'Court bring a few laughs.