Nine To Noon for Friday 8 March 2024

09:05 Dental Association warns people pulling teeth out at home due to rising costs

The Dental Association warns more people are turning to the toolbox to fix their teeth, due to the rising cost of appointments. New figures from the group show the price of an average visit - that includes general exams, cleans, x-rays and composite fillings - has gone up by $98 since 2020. Half of people surveyed have avoided going to the dentist because of it. The Association's chief executive Mo Asmo says his members have seen dozens of instances where patients have pulled their teeth out with pliers, used sandpaper to file their teeth, or tried to whiten them with bleach. He is calling for the $1000-a-year grant, which can be accessed by beneficiaries and some low-income workers, to be extended to those who don't quite meet that threshold, but still cannot afford dental.

09:15 The Great Pacific Garbage Patch to Kaikoura: Charles Moore's plastic journey

Captain Charles Moore discovered the 'Great Pacific Garbage Patch' in 1997 and he has spent much of his life revealing how pervasive plastic is in our oceans. His search for plastic has since gone much further and he has found it in things like honey, salt, compost and even in placenta and breastmilk. His focus now is on measuring the amount of microplastics in drinking water in his home state of California. Charles talks to Kathryn about that and how a recent visit to a Kaikoura beach has given him hope that we can turn the tide on our use of plastic and its pervasiveness. Charles also spoke to Nine to Noon in 2009 about the discovery of the plastic garbage patch.

09:35 Sheep may be key to reducing hearing loss

Scientists from the University of Auckland medical school are working to developing a device to deliver medication deep into the ear to help prevent deafness. Hearing researcher Dr Haruna Suzuki-Kerr says it is particularly difficult to diagnose and treat issues in the human inner ear. Anatomically the interior of sheep ears are similar to the human ear and they are crucial to the research.

09:45 Pacific correspondent Koroi Hawkins

Samoa's Government is proposing a change to electoral rules to allow citizens living abroad to vote - but there are concerns it will mean eligible diaspora will outnumber those living in the country. Meanwhile, the US Congress could soon sign off agreements for three North Pacific nations which have stalled since October, and led to months-long protests in Micronesia. And Koroi explains why the latest Pacific Economic Update predicts the region faces a lull in the market.

10:05 How Sadler's Wells' Company of Elders is defying age perceptions in dance

 A dance company in the UK is challenging the perceptions that dance is the domain of young people. The Company of Elders is performance group for non-professional dancers aged over 60, that set up by renown dance organisation Sadler's Wells in 1989.Back then it was an arts club for older adults, with workshops held with visiting companies and the odd performance. But as interest grew, it became a performance group in its own right in 1992. Company members will take to the stage next month in a new work called The Exchange, where they'll join in a hip-hop influenced performance alongside members of ZooNation - a company of dancers from the other end of the age spectrum. Kathryn speaks with Elaine Foley, projects manager learning and engagement at Sadler's Wells and Jennifer James, one of the company's members.

10:35 Book review: Kitten by Olive Nuttall

Mellissa Oliver from Unity Books Wellington reviews Kitten by Olive Nuttall published by Te Herenga Waka University Press

10:45 Around the motu: Georgina Campbell in Wellington

Wellington City Council's controversial Reading Cinema deal survives an attempt to stop it. Transport Minister Simeon Brown has refused to commit to a walking and cycling connection in Wellington's second Mt Victoria tunnel after promising there would be one when he was in Opposition. And the Royal New Zealand Ballet has launched an appeal for donations to help restore Swan Lake costumes which are now almost 30 years old.

NZ Herald Wellington issues reporter Georgina Campbell

11:05 Music reviewer Grant Smithies​

Marvellous Melbourne band Cool Sounds is touring Aotearoa during March. Grant Smithies has two of their wonky disco-pop tunes today, followed by long-awaited new work from Port Chalmers band Seafog, and some glorious hazy RnB from North Carolina’s Solomon Fox.

11:30 Sports commentator Sam Ackerman

Sam Ackerman bring all the latest on the test cricket, and looks ahead to the start of the Warriors' season tonight. Also, he looks at the new sponsor for the 14 provincial rugby unions, and the fallout from the Hurricanes' Poua haka, which took a jab at the Government.

11:45 The week that was with Irene Pink and Pinky Agnew

Irene and Pinky wrap up the lighter moments of the week, including the Cambridge academic who escaped a medieval tower using a cotton bud. And a woman who gave birth at a P!nk concert in Sydney - and it's not the first time it's happened.