Nine To Noon

Lee Scanlon, chief reporter for the Westport News, shares insights into pressing local issues on the West Coast. He highlights the Buller Declaration's push for improved health services, driven by a powerful hikoi with 60,000 signatures. Lee also discusses recent hospital closures and staffing challenges impacting care. Additionally, he reviews unexpected local election outcomes and the new Buller mayor's pledge for transparency amidst media tensions. Lastly, he notes the community's recognition of heroes in the recent civic and sporting awards.

In this engaging discussion, Lynn Freeman, a seasoned radio reviewer and broadcaster, dives into Grant Hodgson's Rangatiratanga and Gentlemanship. She reveals her family connection to Hodgson, sparking her interest in genealogy and micro-histories. Freeman highlights the pivotal 1825 Kere Kere meeting aimed at avoiding war, exploring the challenges of translation and interpreting nuance in historical records. She discusses the missionaries' knowledge of te reo and mutual respect between cultures, concluding with a thoughtful appraisal of the book.

Eric Haagh, co-director of boat rental firm Skiperi and a dedicated mentor with Big Buddy, shares his journey living with stage four bowel cancer. He discusses how his experience of losing his father at a young age drives him to mentor fatherless boys. Highlights include the joy of teaching kids about boating and marine appreciation, and the powerful impact of simply being present. Eric emphasizes that turning up matters more than perfection, inviting others to join him in nurturing these vital connections.

Bestselling author and historian Simon Winchester delves into the fascinating world of wind in his latest book. He recounts how listening to the BBC Shipping Forecast sparked his curiosity. Winchester recalls his visit to Mount Washington, humorously noting an absence of wind on a birthday there. He explains the basics of wind, shares the story of the Apollo flag on the moon, and traces the origins of sailing. The discussion also spans the cultural significance of regional winds, the Wahine disaster, and the impact of climate change on wind patterns.

Bernard Keane is the political editor at Crikey.com, specializing in Australian politics. He discusses the Liberal party's internal conflicts over climate policy, highlighting a movement to challenge the net zero by 2050 commitment. The conversation also touches on Australia’s upcoming bid to host COP30 and its credibility issues concerning fossil fuel exports. Finally, Keane evaluates Sussan Ley's leadership prospects amid potential challengers, reflecting on the sensitivities of replacing the first female leader of the party.

Raewyn Poulsen, a pharmacology researcher at the University of Auckland, discusses her groundbreaking findings on how male and female cells respond differently to osteoarthritis. She reveals that male cells focus on tissue renewal while female cells opt for a protective strategy during joint stress. Poulsen argues that menopause isn’t the sole instigator of osteoarthritis in women. Her insights pave the way for tailored treatments that could leverage these sex-specific responses, offering new hope for many sufferers.

Joining the discussion are Ellie Moore, a dedicated journalist and founder of Tika, a charity advocating for sexual harm survivors, and Lani Evans, co-founder of FundSorter, which helps community organizations secure funding. They uncover alarming statistics showing only 0.8% of funds prioritize support for family and sexual violence initiatives. Ellie shares Tika’s unique reporting model, while Lani reveals insights from analyzing funding trends, emphasizing the funding gap for this critical cause and the burdens placed on survivors when grants are overlooked.

Louise Nicholas, a National Sexual Violence Survivor Advocate, shares her insights on a damning IPCA report revealing serious police misconduct. She stresses the importance of careful implementation of the report's recommendations to avoid a rushed response. Louise highlights how victims' disclosures were ignored due to bypassed processes and how allegations were mishandled through informal channels. She accuses police leadership of attempting to obstruct inquiries and protect high-ranking officers, calling for thorough external oversight to ensure justice.

The All Blacks chase a fifth Grand Slam while the Black Caps test their T20 World Cup form against the West Indies, and the Silver Ferns look to move past the Noeline Taurua saga.

The story of the Redcoats, as they were known, has been told in a new book Garrison World by Victoria University history professor Charlotte Macdonald.