Nine To Noon for Monday 17 March 2025

09:05 GP academic warns of possible risk to patients and doctors in new nationwide telehealth service

One of the main planks in the announcements by the Health Minister, Simeon Brown, to improve access to GP services is a new 24 hour 7 day a week digital service for people to be able to book online medical appointments. He described the government as being relentlessly focused on improving health outcomes and ensuring New Zealanders have access to timely, quality healthcare. While the attention on improving primary healthcare has been welcomed, there are worries about possible risks to both patients and doctors if primary health moves too far from in-person treatment and if online consultations are delivered without the medical notes needed. But digital health providers insist this is a much needed step and that the suggested problems are unlikely to materialise. Kathryn is joined by Emeritus Professor in the Department of General Practice at Otago University, Les Toop, who is also a Christchurch GP, and Tony Wai, the chair  of the Digital Health Association, an advocacy organisation for the digital health sector.

09:25 Gene Technology Bill debated 

Hearings are underway on the government's Gene Technology Bill, which overhauls the regulatory regime governing the use of gene technology and genetically modified organisms to enable their safe use. If passed, it will end New Zealand's nearly 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab, with the government citing `health, productivity and climate gains.' The bill has received about 15,000 submissions with 400 are being heard orally by the Health Select Committee. Detractors of the bill say it will exempt gene edited organisms from risk evaluation, and threatens to destroy the country's GE-free export reputation. GE Free New Zealand's president Claire Bleakley is one of those leading that argument and speaks to Kathryn about her organisation's position. Jack Bobo is a proponent of GMO's in food and is in the country as a guest of the Kiwifruit Breeding Centre, a joint venture between Zespri, and crown research institute, Plant and Food Research. Jack Bobo is chief executive of Futurity Food, and a former vice president of Intrexon, which has brought GMO apples to market. He is now Executive Director at the Rothman Family Insitute for Food Studies at UCLA. He is speaking at a BioTechNZ conference this week.

09:45 Foreign correspondent Thomas Sparrow in Germany 

European countries to spend more on defence, Germany plans to amend its constitution to spend more on defense and infrastructure and latest on the brewing trade war between the US and the EU.

10:20 Financial capability educator recognised with global award 

Financial wellbeing researcher Dr Pushpa Wood has spent her life delving into financial capability and what people need to make better economic decisions. She was recently named as named by the Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards (MAIA) as one of 50 Money Changers globally. The award recognises individuals and organisations who have made significant strides in reshaping the landscape of financial literacy and inclusion. Dr Wood was previously the Education Manager at the Commission for Financial Capability and has worked in financial literacy across the school, tertiary, and industry sectors. Her research interests include identifying what motivates people to change their financial behaviour, preparedness of women in planning for their future, and testing culturally appropriate evaluation tools. She is currently director of Massey University's Financial Education and Research Centre. 

10:35 Book review: The Boy From the Sea by Garrett Carr 

Laura Caygill reviews The Boy From the Sea by Garrett Carr published by Pan Macmillan; “A charmingly wry tale of a struggling family in an Irish fishing town in the 70s and 80s.”

10:45 Around the motu: Tim Brown in Christchurch

It's the sixth anniversary of the Christchurch terror attack, a prolific predator has been sentenced to a long stint in jail, and there's been controversy over the $400,000 chalice artwork renovation.

Tim Brown is a RNZ Christchurch reporter.

11:05 Political commentators Ben Thomas and Dale Husband 

Dale Husband is a long time broadcaster and Radio Waatea presenter hosting a Maori focused current affairs programme

Ben Thomas is a former National government press secretary, a columnist and a director of public affairs firm Capital.

11:30 The preserve maker bringing old favourite ingredients back into jams, jellies and chutneys

Providing delicious jams for guests was the initial inspiration for Nathan Lewis' preserve making endeavours when he was running a bed and breakfast in  Auckland. He now runs a side business making jams, jellies and chutney's using seasonal fruits and vegetables. His Dovecote House brand specialises in using goods normally associated with the home garden such as rhubarb, gooseberry and quince. The range of sauces, relishes  and marmalades stretches into the dozens of  flavour combinations.  Nathan Lewis joins Kathryn to talk about evenings spent with the preserving pan boiling up his products. 

11:45 Urban Issues with Bill McKay

Bill takes a look at the announced amendment to the Public Works Act. Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland.