Nine To Noon for Monday 1 February 2016
09:05 Australian 'Buyers Club' helps NZders get cheap access to Hep C drugs
An Australian group which allows Hepatitis C patients to get cheap access to a revolutionary new cure has so far helped more than a hundred New Zealanders get the drugs. A recommended 12 week course of the drugs Sovaldi and Harvoni cost a prohibitive 140 thousand NZ dollars, and is so far unfunded by Pharmac. The Australian 'buyers club', FixHepC allows Hep C patients to get much cheaper access to the revolutionary drugs via India. The group, was set up by Hobart GP, James Freeman and so far 114 New Zealanders have used the service. Hepatitis Foundation board member Ed Gane is a specialist at the Liver Transplant Unit at Auckland City Hospital
09:25 Marc Edwards, researcher who uncovered Flint's lead contaminated water supply
Dr. Marc Edwards is a civil engineer and expert on water treatment and corrosion from Virginia Tech. He and his team went to Michigan and did a series of water quality evaluations and revealed that Flint's water was seriously contaminated with lead, which had poisoned thousands of citizens.
However his concerns were dismissed by Government officials. He continued to lobby for action, and helped mobilise the local community to act.
And finally the government has begun to listen, and just last week Michigan Governor Rick Snyder announced that he was appointing Marc Edwards to the "Flint Water Interagency Coordinating Committee," set up to find a solution to the crisis.
09:45 Europe correspondent, Carsten von Nahmen
10:05 Award winning architect, Tom Kundig
Tom Kundig is principal/owner of the Seattle-based firm Olson Kundig Architects - and is perhaps best known for his isolated cabins, some elevated on poles, others jutting out of hillsides with stunning views of the American wildnerness. The former mountaineer is visiting New Zealand as a judge for the Home of the Year contest. He is the winner of 18 national design awards from the American Institute of Architects.
10:35 Book review:
The Death Ray Debacle by David McGill
10:45 The Reading
11:05 Political commentators Matthew Hooton and Stephen Mills
11:30 Tips on getting a super productive home vege patch
Tim Martin is an ecologist who in his spare time cultivates a magnificent fruit and vege garden at his Mt Wellington home in Auckland. He shares tips on how to get the best out of your vege patch all year round.
Tim Martin also gives gardening tips on his blog.
11:45 Off the beaten track with Kennedy Warne
Cows, rivers and Antarctic crossings