Lately for Tuesday 8 March 2022

10:20 Study shows Covid-19 affects brain size and function

A new international study shows that Covid-19 can have a significant effect on brain size and function. The study was carried out by several institutions including Oxford University and the United States National Institutes of Health. It examined hundreds of people aged between 51 and 81 who had tested positive for Covid-19. Brain imaging scans showed some of those infected saw "significant, deleterious" changes to their brains. Maurice Curtis is a Professor of Neuroscience and head of Auckland University's anatomy and medical imaging department. 

10:30 New Zealand aid worker heading into Ukraine
The war in Ukraine is sparing no sector of society. Civilians, children and aid workers have been among the casualties. United Nations agencies are in Ukraine to bring food and medicines. Another who's about to join the relief effort is New Zealander Mike Seawright who founded the humanitarian organisation ReliefAid. He's in the Romanian capital Bucharest and will soon head into Ukraine.

10:39 Random roadside drug testing from 2023

From next year random roadside drug testing will come into force. In both 2019 and 2020 over 100 people were killed in crashes where a driver was found to have drugs in their system. The Minister of Transport Michael Wood explains the changes. 

10:45 Slow Fashion month encourages recycling

If you're an Aucklander or a dog owner you've heard of Westies but what about Wasties? That's what recycling outfit Wastebusters call themselves and they run a couple of op shops in Alexandra and Wanaka. Sometimes cheap clothes don't last or won't be sold and will ultimately end up in landfill. Gina Dempster from Wastebusters says slow Fashion month encourages all of us to take a step back and think about our clothing choices.