Kerre Woodham Mornings Podcast

A new study has found older people can train to prevent their brain to prevent decline,  allowing them to keep up mentally with those in their twenties.The research, a collaboration between the University of Newcastle’s Hunter Medical Research Institute and the University of California, Irvine, used a brain-training game called Luminosity to assess participants’ ability to switch between tasks.With extensive task practice, older people became functionally similar to less-practiced younger people.Distinguished Professor Sir Richard Faull, founder and head of the Centre for Brain Research in Auckland joined Kerre McIvor to discuss the study further.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cancer Society says the government's investment into cancer care is hugely significant.The government is setting up a national cancer agency and has pledged $60 million for Pharmac to fund new drugs.Cancer Society medical director Dr Chris Jackson told Kerre McIvor the high profile nature of it will ensure the government's held to account - by the opposition and the public."I think the most important thing is we've got the strong central leadership, and the director will be reporting not only to the minister but to the public."He says Dr Diana Sarfati, who will head the agency, is highly respected and well-placed to do the job."We have got a strong leader. She will be reporting directly to the minister rather than through the ministry's layers of bureaucracy, so I think that is extraordinarily important too."Dr Jackson says the agency's budget isn't clear - and how it's resourced will be the defining measure.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest political security breach has convinced Kerre McIvor that this Government doesn't know what it's doing.It was revealed yesterday that passport and drivers’ licence details have been exposed on a Government website after a security breach.It affected dozens of young New Zealanders who had supplied their details to the Ministry as part of their application to sail on double-hulled canoe Fa’afaite.It comes just months after the failure of security on the Treasury website allowed National party staff to access secret budget information through a simple search.McIvor told listeners that the two breaches adds to the sense of befuddlement and confusion from this Government. She says that the previous National Government felt more like they were in control of the steering wheel."This Government, I just get a sense they have no idea what they are doing." She also took aim at Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for her refusal to answer questions. "I don't get the sense she's across her job.""You would think even she could set the agenda and put it to him and get the people to brief you. Just one solid answer would be fantastic."You're in charge of the country, act like it!" McIvor says that Labour probably didn't expect to be in Government after the last election, but that was 18 months ago and they should be up and running now."I get the sense that they are still trying to get their heads around the job, but this is their job. This is what they have been training all their lives to do - be the Government - and they aren't doing a very good job of it."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In an article for The Atlantic, science journalist Peter Brannen writes against the idea of the Anthropocene.In the simplest of terms, the Anthropocene is a new, present day epoch, in which scientists say we have significantly altered the Earth through human activity.Brannen says that geological time is deep beyond all comprehension and, using the analogy of running a marathon, he argues that geologically, all of recorded human history is irrelevant.He joined Kerre McIvor to further unpack his theory.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In January 2017, James Hayman was killed in a farm machinery accident on his Canterbury farm.At just 27 years old, he left behind his parents, a brother, a sister and his much loved partner Harriet Bremner.Harriet, now 30 years old, is championing safety on farms and talking about the grief suffered by those left behind in the wake of such incidents.She has written two children’s books, established her own blog called The Raw Truth – discussing the unimaginable grief suffered by those left behind and is ready to speak out on her experience of love and loss.LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand is becoming less religious, exhibiting a sharp fall in the number of people who identify as Christian.A new report, Faith and Belief in New Zealand, says a third of New Zealanders identify with Christianity, down from 43 per cent in the 2013 Census and 49 per cent in the 2006 Census. The results of the 2018 Census are yet to be released.20 per cent have spiritual beliefs but don't identify with any main religion and 35 per cent identify with no religion or spiritual belief.The remainder identify with other religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism.The report was commissioned by the Wilberforce Foundation, an Auckland-based Christian organisation.Meanwhile, in America, 'hip hop churches' are on the rise, with rappers and artists such as Kanye West, presenting a different option for religious congregations. Wilberforce adviser Chris Clarke joined Kerre McIvor to discuss why those churches are on the rise while traditional religion is declining.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With current financial markets all over the place and the Reserve Bank cutting the official cash rate, you would be forgiven for being cautious investing large amounts of money.Sam Stubbs is the founder of non profit KiwiSaver fund Simplicity. He joined Kerre McIvor to share his advice on investing your hard earned money.LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The man dubbed the Sheriff of Ngawi says rural New Zealand needs more police support.The idea of a volunteer rural constabulary is back before Parliament.Labour's obliged to investigate the idea, as part of its coalition agreements with New Zealand First.Garth Gadsby made headlines when he was charged with recklessly discharging a firearm in 2006, for shooting at a car burglars were trying to escape in.He told Kerre McIvor rural New Zealand needs more support.He says it's a good idea if people are willing to do it, as long as they don't take it too far.Documents obtained by 1 NEWS show the police have major concerns with the proposal and are advising the Government not to go ahead with it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is doubt a message board linked to violent extremists will be stamped out completely.The site is struggling to get back online after its cyber-security provider has withdrawn support, after mass shootings in Texas and Ohio.Hate messages were allegedly posted there relating to the mosque shootings and to another at a California synagogue.Herald reporter Matt Nippert told Kerre McIvor that won't be the end of it.He says 8chan will be more disrupted but the conversation will be driven to darker places."Blocking this message board will probably reduce the size of the white supremacist community."LISTEN TO THE AUDIO ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tyler Nii died in a skydiving incident at Lake Wakatipu near Queenstown almost 19 months ago. His family are still waiting for answers.Those answers, according to officials, are still many months away and the family are raising concerns about the way investigations are handled.Chris Jordan is the father of British tourist  Emily Jordan, who died while river boarding in Queenstown in 2008. The company involved was prosecuted but Chris Jordan was appalled by a system he felt treated him as an "interfering Brit".Chris believes there should be common health and safety procedures across all companies. Chris Jordan spoke to Kerre McIvor this morning, listen to the interview above.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.