Nine To Noon for Thursday 8 December 2022

 

 

09:05 Does the country have adequate fuel reserves?

A dud batch of aviation gas has sent ripples through the airline sector - they've been told they'll be supplied with less fuel than usual in the coming weeks - right at the busiest travel time of the year. Last month, the government announced an increase in the amount of petrol, jet fuel and diesel that importers and wholesalers must hold and that it would boost its own reserves of diesel in an effort to improve the country's ability to weather fuel shocks. Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods says the government is still investigating storage facility options and the stocks are unlikely to be accumulated until late 2023 or early 2024. Are the new minimum storage requirements adequate when one dud batch of av-gas can have such an impact, and when Marsden Point no longer has refining capability? Kathryn speaks with Simon Terry, Executive Director Sustainability Council, who has serious misgivings about the way the government has approached the issue.

 

09:20 Scientific explanation for why some people are mosquito magnets

With summer upon us, so comes outdoor living, barbecues .. and mosquitoes. Dr Maria Elena De Obaldia from Rockefeller University and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute is the lead author of a study into why mosquitoes specifically seek out some people. 

 

 

09:30 Psychedelic therapies for mental illness draw closer

The potential of psychedelic therapies in helping treat some mental illnesses is being recognised around the world. A number of trails and studies have found that when used alongside psychotherapy,  drugs like psilocybin (found in 'magic mushrooms') and MDMA have shown benefits for a range of addiction and mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. So how far along is the research, and what would need to be in place in the mental health sector for the potential of psychedelic therapies to be realised? Dr Paul Liknaitzky is the head of Clinical Psychedelic Research at Monash University in Melbourne, and chief principal investigator on a programme of psychedelic trials at Monash University.

09:45 UK: More strikes for Xmas, Matt Hancock resigns and more Harry & Meghan

UK correspondent Harriet Line joins Kathryn to look at the series of strikes happening across the UK this month - the latest to join are border force workers who will walk off the job for eight days over Christmas. Matt Hancock, the disgraced Health Secretary turned reality TV contestant has resigned as an MP - but did he go voluntarily or was he pushed? And the latest in the Harry and Meghan saga...

 

10:05  Godwits and shorebirds from the Firth of Thames to the world   

 Keith Woodley's fascination with shore birds is decades long, and includes following the the epic migration of godwits from Aotearoa to China, North and South Korea and Alaska. His book, In Pursuit of Champions, is in part, a memoir and it tells the story and the history of Pūkorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre, which has been instrumental in inspiring interest in coastal wetlands and their biodiversity, Keith has been the Centre  Manager of the voluntary organisation for 29 years. He tells Kathryn that the story of the godwit is a gift that keeps giving, with more being known about them each year.

10:30 Around the motu : Robin Martin in Taranaki

It's been the subject of lengthy legal battles, but progress is being made on the 280 million dollar Mt Messenger bypass project in North Taranaki. Motorists are now able to see a 1.1km cableway being erected at a former rest area,  at the top of Mt Messenger on State Highway 3. Robin Martin is RNZ's Taranaki reporter,  based in New Plymouth. 

10:35 Book review: The Next Girl by Pip Drysdale

Catriona Ferguson reviews The Next Girl by Pip Drysdale, published by Simon & Schuster

10:45 The Reading

Part nine of Rebecca K Reilly's debut novel Greta and Valdin.

11:05 Tech: OpenAI's new chatbot, facial recognition in supermarkets

Technology correspondent Dr Mahsa Mohaghegh joins Kathryn to discuss the latest mind-blowing AI chatbot from OpenAI, the use by Foodstuffs of facial recognition technology in North Island supermarkets to address security concerns and why Raspberry Pi would make a great Christmas present. Dr Mahsa Mohaghegh is Senior Lecturer, School of Engineering - Computer and Mathematical Sciences and  Director of Women in Technology at the Auckland University of Technology.

11:25 Protecting teens from excess alcohol and drugs

Kathryn talks with parenting coach and education consultant Joseph Driessen about how to protect teenagers from the dangers of using drugs and excess alcohol.

11:40 Fire and Emergency "deepening trauma for complainants" : review

A damning independent report has found Fire and Emergency's workplace culture is poor and its complaints process deepens trauma experienced by complainants. The report was conducted for the Public Service Commission by Belinda Clarke. It finds FENZ hasn't changed enough since the 2019 Judge Coral Shaw report which found harassment and bullying was endemic throughout the organisation. RNZ reporter Ruth Hill is at the new conference where the review has been released.

11:45 Screentime: Educators 3, Love, Lizzo, Zootopia+

Film and TV correspondent Laumata Lauano is along to talk about the third season of Educators, which is on TVNZ+. She'll also talk about the new documentary about Lizzo and Zootopia+ - six episodes based on characters from the 2016 movie.