Nine To Noon for Friday 21 October 2022

 

09:05 Truss gone.  Who's next?

There are calls for a general election in the UK, where a third prime minister could be put in place in under two months. Following what's been described by the Opposition Labour Party as a "revolving door of chaos", out-going Liz Truss (who claims the dubious record of completing Britain's shortest term as Prime Minister, just 45 days in Number 10) resigned in the early hours of our morning. A new Conservative leader is likely to be in place by this time next week.  They need to get the backing of 100 MPs by Monday to enter the race. Pundits are tipping Liz Truss's close contender Rishi Sunak to take over, and Conservative MPs have already openly pledged their support for him. There's also speculation Boris Johnson might tip his hat at it, again.  It's reported he's getting similar backing from Tory colleagues. Lynn Freeman is joined by Hugo Gye, Deputy Political Editor of The iPaper, based in the House of Commons press gallery.

09:20 Researchers working on breath test for bowel cancer

Scientists at Otago University and Callaghan Innovation believe bowel cancer could be detected by a breath test. Their research focusses on identifying a set of compounds in breath that may help identify the presence of cancer or precancer in the bowel. New Zealand has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world with more than 3,000 people being diagnosed and over 1,200 dying from the disease each year.  Currently, diagnosis relies on invasive and expensive colonoscopy, usually once someone has symptoms. Callaghan Innovation Principal Research Scientist Dr Joseph Deere is one of the research team.

09:30  Reptiles and amphibians of Aotearoa : rare, endangered and new discoveries

Sam Purdie is a herpetologist, and wildlife photographer and advocate for New Zealand's lesser known creatures including native alpine lizards. He has a Bachelor of Science in zoology and ecology and post graduate diploma in wildlife management and is currently pursuing an Masters in wildlife management. The 23 year old has a large Tiktok, Instagram and Facebook following - under the handle samuelpurdiewildlife. He also won the overall prize in the 2020 Otago Wildlife Photography Competition, and he's now written a guide book - A Naturalist's Guide to the Reptiles & Amphibians of New Zealand.

09:45 Pacific correspondent Koroi Hawkins

Koroi talks to Lynn about Vanuatu's snap elections results, coalitions are forming but some names are popping up on both sides!. In Samoa, the leader of the Oppostion has been suspended from Parliament for two years.  And Koroi highlights some of the big Pacific community events coming up this Labour weekend.

Koroi Hawkins is a journalist with RNZ Pacific

10:05 Women in Architecture in NZ across the ages

We see their work, but do we know their names? The Kiwi women architects who have contributed to our built environment since the mid 1800s. Wellington historian, Elizabeth Cox highlights the work of hundreds of women in her book Making Space: A history of New Zealand women in architecture. 30 architects, architectural historians, academics and students have collaborated on the finished work which contains more than 400 photos. It tells a story of the barriers women have faced in an historically male dominated profession, and champions the work of women whose careers had not been documented. Lynn talks to Elizabeth Cox and to architect and educator Lynda Simmons who has written two chapters.

10:35 Book review: Liberation Day by George Saunders

Olly Clifton of Unity Books Auckland reviews Liberation Day by George Saunders, published by Bloomsbury

Liberation Day is Saunder's fifth short story collection and first book-length piece of fiction since his Man Booker Prize winning novel Lincoln in the Bardo (2017). As usual, the collection is a playful satire of American life, but with an even keener eye for the unique humiliations of post 2020 living.

10:45 The Reading

Another of the runners up from our Short Story Competition from last year. Native Supergirl by Airana Ngarewa is told by Neenah Dekkers Reihana. 

11:05 Music reviewer Grant Smithies​

From Melancholy, dream-like ballads to post-punk surf instrumentals, Israeli singer/ guitarist Charlie Megira covered a lot of musical ground before his suicide in 2016. We hear two key tracks from him today, alongside an 80s classic from Auckland soul/ ska pioneers The Newmatics and some bracing Kenyan funk from Jimmy Mawi. 

11:30 Sports commentator Sam Ackerman

Sam looks ahead to the FIFA World Cup draw for next year's women's world cup, with New Zealand and Australia co-hosting the event. Meanwhile the Women's Rugby World cup is nearing the business end. The Black Ferns have one last chance to earn a place in the team for the knockout stages this weekend against Scotland. And the best province in NZ rugby is decided this weekend, but Sam ponders -  where is the hype?. Canterbury and Wellington are the finalists. 

11:45 The week that was 

Comedians Irene Pink and Michele A'Court bring a few laughs.

 

Music played in this show

Track:  Hearts in a Cage 
Artist: Natalie Duncan
Time played: 10:35am 

Track: Back to Life 
Artist: Soul II Soul
Time played: 10:45am