Nine To Noon for Monday 18 September 2023

09:05 Fiji beats Wallabies for first time in 69 years

Fiji has staged a stunning upset at the Rugby World Cup just a couple of hours ago beating Australia 22 points to 15. It's the first time in 69 years that Fiji has beaten the Wallabies. Fiji took the lead in the first half with four penalty kicks from Simioni Kurivoli. They followed that up with an early try in the second half, keeping their lead until the final whistle. RNZ Pacific's senior sports journalist Iliesa Tora was in the crowd in St Etienne.

09:15 Calls to continue Minor Ailments Scheme

Community pharmacists are calling for a pilot scheme which subsidises minor ailment medication to be made permanent, saying without it, hospitals and GP surgeries will face more pressure. The scheme was announced in May as part of 24 initiatives the government hoped would reduce pressure on the health system over winter. The programme pays some pharmacies to consult on a range of minor ailments during winter,  and supply funded medication, in a bid to take pressure off GP clinics and A&Es. That funding is due to end later this month, and a nationwide group of community pharmacists called Prescription Access Initiative, are asking for it to be continued. Vicky Chan is a spokesperson for the group and owner of two pharmacies in Pakuranga. Kathryn also talks with President of the Royal New Zealand College of GPs, Dr Samantha Murton.

09:30 Dunedin company helps global clients verify origin of materials

A Dunedin-based scientific traceability company is helping global brands like Chanel, Ralph Lauren and Victoria's Secret verify the origin of materials in their supply chains. Oritain is a forensic traceability business, which uses a combination of data analysis and forensic science to ascertain the true origins of a product or material. It has recently raised NZ$91 million to expand. Founded in Dunedin by Prof Russell Frew and Dr Helen Darling at the University of Otago in 2009, Oritain now has offices around the world, and former Prime Minister Sir John Key is a director. And it's not just the textle industry wanting to assure customers of its supply chain, Oritain also has many clients in the food sector, including A2 Milk, Primark and Nescafe. Dr Kate Jones is Oritain senior science advisor.

09:45 Europe: Protests in Italy over migration, Ukraine grain dilemma

Europe correspondent Seamus Kearney talks about the protests that faced European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen during her visit to the Italian island of Lampedusa over the surge in migrants. Her message: a "European response" is needed to help Italy cope with the influx. Hungary, Poland and Slovakia have decided to go it alone when it comes to dealing with the dilemma of Ukraine grain exports. And Italian media have published a letter found in the Vatican archives that appears to show that wartime Pope Pius XII knew the details of Nazi death camps as early as 1942.

10:05 Jennifer Beck on her life as a children's book author and a collector

Library shelves and school journals have, for years, been stacked with Jennifer Beck's work. She's an award-winning New Zealand author who's penned more than 50 children's books. Her picture book The Bantam and the Soldier won the Picture Book Category and the Book of the Year award at the 1997 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards. In 2006 she won the Children's Choice Award - voted for by more than 30,000 children. And in 2015 she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to children's literature. But her latest book is quite personal - a memoir of "bits" of her life;  from early years in wartime, travels overseas, and  teaching career to a long marriage to Peter, being mum to four children and a relatively late start to writing. It's called Bits of String Too Short to Use.

10:35 Book review:  Root Leaf Flower Fruit by Bill Nelson 

Airini Beautrais reviews Root Leaf Flower Fruit by Bill Nelson published by Te Herenga Waka University Press

10:45 Around the motu: Jimmy Ellingham in Palmerston North

Jimmy discusses the Rangitikei electorate - it's the third largest electorate in the North Island, stretching from east of Levin in the south, across the central plateau, to above Taumarunui to the north. And it is up for grabs this election, as its four-term National MP Ian McKelvie retires. Also, 250 more staff cuts are on the horizon at Massey University, as the tertiary institution struggles financially.

11:05 Political commentators Neale Jones and Brigitte Morten

Political commentators Neale Jones and Brigitte Morten join Kathryn to talk about how much is riding on the first big leaders' debate, happening this Tuesday night. With more people casting early votes, how important do these early campaign meet-ups become? The PREFU is out, what are the implications for parties' spending promises? National is under growing scrutiny over its tax package, where are Act's candidates disappearing to and is a New Zealand First comeback a sure thing?

Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of public affairs firm Capital.

Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government, a National Party member and currently volunteering for the party's deputy leader, Nicola Willis.

11:30 Niche fruit - finger limes

Described as the caviar of citrus, finger limes are the hot new ingredient you'll find in high end restaurants around the world. They've gained popularity in recent years after being featured on the show Masterchef Australia, but growing them is a prickly business - literally. When Matt and Cath Carter took over a neglected orchard just outside of Gisborne in 2010, the fruit trees were on the brink of death. Matt and Cath spent six years reviving Hill Road Orchard to its former glory, best known for their fresh orange juice. They now also grow finger limes, seedless lemons, and even pink variegated lemons. Matt Carter, owner/director of Hill Road Orchard speaks to Kathryn.

11:45 Off the beaten track with Kennedy Warne

With today's commencement of efforts to remove invasive seaweed from Aotea Great Barrier Island, Kennedy dives into the question of marine invaders and what we can do to control them.