Nine To Noon for Monday 12 March 2018

 

09:05 New figures highlight midwife shortages

Figures released to Nine to Noon under the Official Information Act show that there are at least 72 vacant positions for midwives in hospital maternity wards around the country - more than 30 of them in Auckland alone. The College of Midwives believes the shortage is actually higher than the responses suggest, and say community midwives are also leaving the profession in droves, with many women unable to find care throughout their pregnancy. Chief Executive Karen Guilliland says the government simply has to fund the sector properly, and she's concerned at recent comments by the Health Minister questioning the sustainability of the whole model.

09:20 Prezzy Card: 'the meanest in the business'

It's one of the most popular and flexible gift cards on offer, but Consumer NZ says shoppers need to be aware of the high number of fees that aren't easily visible. Earlier this month Kiwibank backed down to consumer pressure and is now extending the expiry date of its card from 12 to 24 months. Kathryn Ryan speaks with Consumer NZ's Head of Research, Jessica Wilson.

09:30 Slashing carbon emissions in healthcare

Counties Manukau DHB has reduced its carbon emissions by 21 per cent since 2012. This has happened through a number of measures including the use of reusable cups, commuter ride share programmes, using different anaesthetic gases and better recycling. That's been a saving of $500,000 in direct costs for CMDHB. Dr David Galler has been part of the team researching how to cut emissions at the DHB and on achieving a carbon neutral status by 2050. He joins Kathryn to talk about how this could be possible for the entire healthcare sector in New Zealand. Dr Galler is a member of the Orataiao the New Zealand Climate and Health Council, which is a group of health professionals calling for urgent action on climate change.

09:45 Africa correspondent Debora Patta

Debora has the latest on the kidnapping of Nigerian schoolgirls in Dapchi; big changes in South Africa with its new president Cyril Ramaphosa; and Cape Town could become the first modern city to run out of water following a severe drought.

10.05 Freddie Highmore: from Psycho to Savant

Freddie Highmore talks to Kathryn Ryan about playing Dr Shawn Murphy, of the massively popular TV drama The Good Doctor, screening on Lightbox. Here he plays a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, who relocates from a quiet country life to join a San Jose Hospital's surgical unit, where one of his many, many challenges is his new colleagues' skepticism. Before endearing himself to audiences as this brilliant doctor, Freddie played Norman Bates in Bates Motel, the TV prequel to Psycho, to much acclaim. As a nine-year-old, he was cast in J.M. Barrie's biopic Finding Neverland alongside Johnny Depp, a year later starring as Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

10:35 Book review

Carole Beu from The Women's Bookshop reviews All The Beautiful Girls by Elizabeth J. Church, published by 4th Estate.

10:45 The Reading

Baby No Eyes by Patricia Grace. The story of a young mother and her young son, both of them haunted by the ghost of his lost sister, read by Nancy Brunning (Ep. 6 of 17)

11:05 Political commentators Mike Williams & Matthew Hooton

A look at National's new front bench following the departure of Steven Joyce; the politics of water; and the aftermath of the signing of the new look TPP trade deal.

Matthew Hooton is the managing director of PR and corporate affairs firm Exceltium. Mike Williams is a former Labour Party president.

11:30 Eating Happy with Melissa Hemsley

Melissa Hemsley, half of sister duo, Hemsley + Hemsley, is all about delicious, nutritious food made with minimum fuss, and not too much to wash-up at the end! She has recipes for fried eggs, avocado & smoky bean tacos; and little chocolate pots. She and her sister Jasmine have their own café at Selfridges in London.

11:45 Off the beaten track with Kennedy Warne

Outdoorsman Kennedy Warne has just come back from 10 days on the road guiding a National Geographic tour group through the country, and is en route to the South Island again to report on the Paparoa Great Walk, currently under construction.

 

 

Music played in this show

Artist: The Veils
Song: Birds
Comp: Andrews
Album: Time Stays, We Go
Label: Rough Trade
Time: 10:32am

Artist: Future Islands
Song: Cave
Comp: Future Islands
Album: The Far Field
Label: Fake Diamonds Records
Time: 11:29am