Nine To Noon for Tuesday 5 March 2024

09:05 ED staff safety not fixed by security guards say nurses

Extra funding to boost the security of emergency room staff ran out last week - but nurses say more guards at the door was never going fix the underlying issues of staff safety. The new government stumped up $5.7m for an extra 200 security guards to work at hospitals around the country over the summer months. That ended on February 29 and its effectiveness is now under review by Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand. Assaults in hospital settings jumped from just over 1100 in 2021 to 5000 reported incidents last year. New Zealand Nurses Organisation president Anne Daniels talks to Kathryn.

09:25 Decreasing bone fractures in people with osteoporosis

The condition Osteoperosis, where new bone growth doesn't keep up with the loss of old bone, affects men and women of all races - but Pakeha women, post menopause, are those at highest risk. It's known as a 'silent' disease, as there's typically no symptoms until an individual fractures a bone. Ian Reid is an endocrinologist and Distinguished Professor at the University of Auckland. He was part of the Bone and Joint Research Group who were awarded the Prime Ministers Science Prize in 2015 for their work revealing the widely held belief of needing extra calcium for bone health is a myth. He has the latest results of a study which finds an injectable treatment for osteoporosis reduces fractures by a third in women over 65 years.

09:45 Why you should consider becoming a park manager

New Zealand has a "critical" shortage of park managers, according to the Park Leaders Forum. Park managers typically work for a city, regional or district council and manage a portfolio of land and recreational facilities. The type of work involved has developed over the years to involve more relationship management such as with local iwi - who are now often co-managing public lands in post-settlement agreements, businesses and elected officials. The need for more park managers has led to the creation of a new course at Lincoln University - the Master of Parks Management - which kicked off last summer. Geoff Canham from the Park Leaders Forum tells Kathryn why people should give park management a go - and why "generalists" are what's needed. 

09:50 USA correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben

Tomorrow is Super Tuesday in the United States and Donald Trump's chances at a victory as the Republican candidate are looking firmer than ever. The US Supreme Court has ruled in Trump's favour, agreeing that he can stay on the ballot in Colorado, overruling the top court in the state. Meanwhile Presdient Joe Biden is running relatively unopposed for the Democrats. Both Biden and Trump made visits to the southern border last week to take starkly different stances on immigration policy.

Danielle Kurtzleben is a political correspondent assigned to NPR's Washington Desk.

10:05 Anders Hofman: surviving the worlds deadliest race in Antarctica

In 2020, Anders Hofman became the first and only person in history to complete a long-distance triathlon in Antarctica. It involved a 3.9 km swim in ice water, a180 km bike on a glacier, and a 42.2 km run in ice and snow. Many believed it couldn't be done due to the brutal and unpredictable weather conditions. The Danish management consultant, Anders Hofman, was by all accounts, just an average guy until he set himself a goal to prove that 'Limitations are perceptions' and that the ordinary can achieve the extraordinary. The feat was captured in a documentary called 'Project IceMan', which is now available to watch on Youtube.

10:35 Book review: Take Two by Caroline and Vivian Thonger 

Stella Chrysostomou of  Volume Books reviews Take Two by Caroline and Vivian Thonger published by CB Editions

10:45 Around the motu: Kelly Makiha 

Kelly has covered the conviction of a couple at the centre of a prostitiution ring and now she has spoken to a teenage girl about how she came to be groomed and entangled in the operation. Also Rotorua search and rescue crews have a difficult task on their hands involving a missing man and a geothermal pool. 

Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist with the Rotorua Daily Post

11:05 Business commentator Rebecca Stevenson

Rebecca looks at South Korea's low birthrate problem and why it is becoming a problem for business. Some companies are offering financial incentives to employees who have children. And fast food company Wendy's new plan for dynamic pricing has sparked debate about price surging. Finally, a look at how the changes at Fletcher Building are playing out behind the scenes.

Rebecca Stevenson is a senior journalist at BusinessDesk

11:30 Singer song-writer and speaker Julia Grace on how to cope with 'wobbly days'

Julia Grace was just four years old when she embarked on her performing career, by belting out 'Send in the Clowns' at a big birthday celebration.  As she writes, there was little sign  - even while singing what many consider to be a sad song - that she'd end up dealing with depression. Julia went on to have a successful music career, both with electronica band Elevator in the early 2000s and later as a solo artist, winning a New Zealand Music Award in 2006 for Best Gospel/Christian Album. She also found another voice, as a professional mental health speaker and has now compiled what she's learned into a new book, 'Be Kind to Your Mind'. 

11:45 Sports chat with Glen Larmer

Glen looks at New Zealand's success at the World Indoor Athletics Championships, with two golds medals, in high jump and the 1500 metres. And worrying signs for the Black Caps after a heavy defeat in the first test against Australia at the Basin Reserve.