Nine To Noon for Tuesday 5 September 2023

 

 

09:05  Frustrated trans patients turn to DIY treatment  

Some transgender patients are turning to the internet to buy gender-affirming hormones, saying they are not getting the support they believe they need from the health system. They say taking unprescribed hormone treatment is risky, and they would prefer to receive treatment under medical supervision. Demand for gender affirming healthcare has increased significantly in recent years, but some in the trans health sector say work is still needed to upskill doctors around the country. Kathryn speaks to August Ward who resorted to DIY treatment, Avery Zavoda from the University of Auckland group Trans on Campus, and GP Cathy Stephenson, who co-authored the national guidelines around gender-affirming healthcare.

09:30 Big changes on the cards for Milford tourism operators

Tourism operators in Milford Sound face radical changes to the way they operate under a new proposal. Government-funded initiative The Milford Opportunities Project, which is overseen by the Ministers of Conservation, Tourism and Transport alongside Ngāi Tahu, are pushing for a ban on all overseas drivers within the area. They're also looking to ban fixed-wing aircraft in the area, going as far as removing the airstrip, and also banning cruise ships from the inner sound. Milford Opportunities Project chair Bill Day says the current model is not working. 870,000 visitors go to Fiordland each year, often causing congestion on the single road in and out of Milford Sound. Kathryn speaks with Bill Day, and Glenorchy Air co-owner James Stokes, whose company operates flights to Milford, and who fears it will turn visitors away from the area altogether.

09:45 USA correspondent

Ron Elving joins Kathryn form the US, where record rains in the Nevada desert has cut the Burning Man festival short. Thousands of fans are now leaving the muddy grounds. On the political front, Speaker Kevin McCarthy has announced he will not commence an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden without a vote of the whole House. Meanwhile there is growing concerns about the health of Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who froze for around 30 seconds while speaking to reporters, for the second time in a month.

Ron Elving is Senior Editor and Correspondent on the Washington Desk for NPR News.

10:05 Writer Tim Voors on his time walking Te Araroa Trail

On the trail, he's known as Van Go. Off the trail, Tim Voors - works as a creative director, artist and writer based in the Netherlands. He's also a long-distance hiker. His latest book is called 'Not Alone: Walking the Te Araroa Trail through New Zealand' - something he achieved in five months and four million steps back in 2018. It followed his epic journey along the 4264km Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada through the United States, which he documented in his earlier book 'The Great Alone'. His adventures on Te Araroa include impromptu Lord of the Rings photoshoots atop mountains, forging rivers and friendships, the hardship of being away from from family and New Zealand's "micro monsters" - sandflies. It was also the summer of Cyclone Gita....He joins Kathryn to talk about his time in what he describes as his "wet paradise".

10:35 Book review: Holly by Stephen King

Sally Wenley reviews Holly by Stephen King published by Hachette 

10:45 Around the motu: Matthew Rosenberg in Gisborne

Matthew is in Gisborne where a controversial East Coast barge has been cut from the Government funding list. Te Rimu Trust was spearheading a marine facility at Te Araroa which would have allowed logs, metal aggregate and other products to be transported to other coastal ports. And, Matthew takes a look behind-the-scenes look at Gisborne's fragile water supply. It relies on three dams in the backcountry, about 40km out of town, but two were hit badly by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Matthew Rosenberg is a local democracy reporter based out of the Gisborne Herald's newsroom.

11:05 Business commentator Rebecca Stevenson

Rebecca discusses how the surge in popularity of Ozempic, a drug heralded for its weight loss properties, has made Novo Nordisk one of Europe’s most valuable companies. In 2022, US sales of Ozempic contributed to 65% of the firm’s global sales. And a roundup of the Icehouse showcase, where New Zealand entrepreneurs pitched their startups to around 900 well-healed potential investors.

Rebecca Stevenson is a senior writer at interest.co.nz

11:30 Consumer news: Health insurance costs rise, Disputes Tribunal 101

As the cost of living continues to rise - some are finding health insurance cover is being priced out of reach. Kathryn is joined by Consumer NZ's Investigative Team Leader Rebecca Styles to talk about which insurers are hiking their premiums and by how much. What are some of the things you need to consider before you get health insurance - or before you cut it? She'll also give Nine to Noon a crash course in Disputes Tribunal and how it works.

11:45 Sports-chat with Joe Porter

Hype is building ahead of the All Blacks' Rugby World Cup opener against France on Saturday morning. And Kane Williamson has been selected for the one-day Cricket World Cup, despite being injured. Joe Porter also discusses 21-year-old Liam Lawson, a New Zealand motor racing driver who is having an impressive stint at Formula One.

Music played in this show

Track: Homerton
Artist: Loyle Carner 
Time played: 10:35am 

Track: Cool Cat 
Artist: Queen 
Time played: 10:37am 

Track: Gold
Artist: Sigur Ros
Time played: 11:30