Nine To Noon for Thursday 22 February 2024

 

 

09:05 Plastic fraud: Report claims industry knew for decades recycling wasn't viable

A new report has found the majority of plastics can't - and never will - be recycled. It comes from the US-based Center for Climate Integrity, which also says the world's plastics industry knew for decades that their products were unable to be recycled for technical or economic reasons. The Center's report, called The Fraud of Plastic Recycling, says industry leaders continued to promote recycling as the best way forward - in 1988 rolling out the familiar "chasing arrows" symbols which has become the globally recognised sign for recycled plastics. This report comes just weeks after all New Zealand district and local councils moved to standardise recycling - with only plastics 1, 2 and 5 now accepted in kerbside recycling bins. The report's lead author Davis Allen, joins Kathryn.

09:25 Combo of drugs could be used to treat leukaemia patients instead of hospital chemo

A medicine regime that can be taken at home could mean patients suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia will be much less likely to need hospital chemotherapy. About 320 people are diagnosed in New Zealand each year with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia - referred to as CLL. It is the most common form of leukaemia in this country. But two major leukaemia studies presented at a recent global blood cancer conference in December, the American Society of Haematology, have shown the use of the drug IMBRUVICA in combination with venetoclax can be successful as a first option of treatment for CLL patients. The drugs have been used to treat CLL separately but the two recent studies - named CAPTIVATE and GLOW - found their combination was highly successful in treating patients. Patients took the drugs over 15 months and 97 per cent in one study and 84.5 per cent in the other were still alive after five years. The studies involved New Zealand doctors and patients - including haematologist Dr Sharon Jackson from Middlemore Hospital and patient Kylie Soo, now in remission.

09:35 Overseas demand for NZ deer meat driving record farmgate prices 

Since the 1970s New Zealand has been running large-scale commercial deer farms and exporting the meat overseas. However, it's a particular type of deer that has made headlines recently. Elk and the Fiordland specific species, wapiti, have been fetching record prices on South Island farms. Vendors have attributed the high prices to an increased appetite for bigger cuts in North America. However, industry members maintain better marketing and almost year-round supply is helping New Zealand elk make inroads. Another factor adding to the demand is chronic wasting disease - known as the 'zombie deer disease' - which has decimated the local market in North America. British Columbia in Canada has just released a strategy to combat the spread of the disease across the continent. Grant Hasse owns Hasse Elk Farm in mid-Canterbury and is the Deer Industry New Zealand elk  / wapiti president. Innes Moffat is the chief executive of the Deer Industry of New Zealand.

09:45 UK: Commons chaos on Gaza, Trident missile fails, Wootton investigation dropped

UK correspondent Harriet Line reports on the chaos in the Commons today after Penny Mordaunt accused Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle of "hijacking" the Gaza ceasefire debate. She'll also look at the failure of a Trident missile and government assurances Britain's nuclear deterrent remains "dependable". The immigration watchdog David Neal was sacked for leaking critical reports and police have dropped an investigation into criminal allegations against NZ-born broadcaster Dan Wootton.

Harriet Line is Deputy Political Editor of the Daily Mail

10:05 L.A.B to perform live, discuss new album out tomorrow 

They are one of New Zealand's most successful and well-known bands in recent years - including having their song 'In The Air' sit as top of the domestic singles charts for three of the last four years. And after two years of writing, recording and tweaking, the group releases their sixth album on Friday. Like the previous five - the album is named in the Roman numerals of its edition, VI. The group is led by frontman Joel Shadbolt and made up of members Miharo Gregory and Stuart Kora who all join Kathryn from the Auckland studio. They're going to perform one song and then play two more from the new album. Bassist Ara Adams-Tamatea and Brad Kora on backing vocals and drums, are the remaining members of the band.     

10:35 Book review: Lovers in Auschwitz by Keren Blankfeld 

Quentin Johnson reviews Lovers in Auschwitz by Keren Blankfeld published by Penguin Random House NZ

10:45 Around the motu: Kate Green covering Gisborne

The recovery of a stolen motorbike in a gang affiliated house is unlikely to result in charges. Kate also has details of the trialing of electric harvesting equipment at a local horticulture business as part of Leaderbrand's push for sustainable horticulture. And how Gisborne has honoured those who went above and beyond during Cyclone Gabrielle

11:05 Technology: How law enforcement took down the Lockbit ransomware gang

Technology correspondent Tony Grasso looks at how Lockbit, the world's largest ransomware gang, was taken down by law authorities. The gang had conducted attacks on over 1700 organisations, including some in New Zealand. Meanwhile a Ukrainian national credited as the first to create malware-as-a-service has been charged in the US and could face an 80-year prison term. And is 2FA or two factor authentication as safe as we think?

Tony Grasso is Principal Consultant at cybersecurity firm TitaniumDefence. He worked at GCHQ in the UK and is a former Intelligence Officer in New Zealand.

11:25 Healthy brain development and how to promote it

Neuroscience educator and parenting coach Nathan Wallis discusses the incredible development of the human brain - particularly in the early months and years. He talks about research which identifies critical or sensitive periods in early childhood which can impact brain development. What are these "windows"?  And once closed, can they ever be re-opened?

11:45 Screentime: The Zone of Interest, Shogun, Boiling Point, Miles from Nowhere

TV and film reviewer James Croot talks about The Zone of Interest (cinemas), which looks at the beautiful home run by commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig, right beside the Auschwitz concentration camp. Shogun (Disney) is a new mini-series based on the best-selling novel by James Clavell. Boiling Point (TVNZ) is a UK drama focused on a chef at a top restaurant and Miles from Nowhere (Neon) is a local comedy about a young Kiwi-Muslim songwriter who forms a dangerous friendship with an SIS agent sent to keep tabs on him.

James Croot is Stuff's Stuff to Watch editor