Nine To Noon

Robert Kelly reviews Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim, published by Harper Collins

Cardiologist and evolutionary biologist Dr. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz describes herself as an innovator for human health. She is a professor at Harvard University's department of human evolutionary biology and a professor of medicine at UCLA. She's also the co-author of bestselling books Zoobiquity and Wildhood. Dr. Natterson-Horowitz studies a range of wild animals including lions and giraffes in their natural settings, observing their evolutionary adaptations, which then offer clues for potential solutions to common medical disorders in humans. She says the biology of some female animals has evolved over centuries to resist diseases that still claim the lives of women today.

Danielle talks to Susie from Kansas where the state is due to hold a major vote on abortion. The Democrats have reached a climate deal, thanks largely to uber-centralist West Virginia senator Joe Manchin agreeing to it. And an investigation has found Georgia got rid of ballot drop boxes in places they were used the most, in the areas where voters were more likely to be people of colour.

The country's outdated adoption legislation is set for an overhaul by the Ministry of Justice, which admits the law hasn't kept up with modern life and families. Improving access to birth families, cultural heritage and putting the child's interests at its heart are among the proposed reforms. The Ministry of Justice will provide advice to the Government on final adoption law reform proposals by the end of the year. Mark Henaghan is a professor of law at the University of Auckland, specialising in Family Law. he tells Susie that the 67-year-old legislation has failed to meet the needs of a changing society, and does not acknowledge the importance of whakapapa, culture, and identity to a child's wellbeing.

The country's lab workers say they must not be forgotten as the Government looks to boost the health workforce. Many patients, including those waiting for crucial cancer diagnoses, are waiting up to two weeks to get their biopsy results as med labs struggle with short-staffing and huge workloads. Official turnaround times for some biopsies have blown out, and in some areas have more than doubled from a target of five days to over eleven. It's bringing additional anxiety and stress for patients who fear their treatment could be delayed. Susie speaks to Terry Taylor from the Institute of Medical Laboratory Science about the pressures along with oncologist and Cancer Society co-medical director Dr Kate Gregory about the impact on patients.

New Zealand athletes at the Commonwealth Games have had a blinder overnight and this morning - winning five medals - three of them gold. Andrew Jeffcoat won the men's 50m backstroke, bringing the swimmers' medal haul to eight in total - five gold, two silver and one bronze. And the cycling team won another four medals, two of them gold, on the final day of track cycling. Elsewhere squash stars Joelle King and Paul Coll won their singles matches to advance to the semi-finals and the women's lawn bowls fours are in contention for bronze. Susie speaks with New Zealand's Chef de Mission Nigel Avery from Birmingham.

Bill talks to Susie about what we can do about an upsurge of flooding events in suburbs and cities across Aotearoa. He says there's been an increase in frequency and intensity of the downpours that lead to flooding, including on the street where he lives in Auckland. With climate change and increasing temperatures having a disproportionate effect on rain Bill looks at some of the practical strategies that could be employed, including where we build. Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland.

Wellington chef Jonny Taggart has based his Wellington on a Plate event, Kakhwi-io, on his recent discovery of his Inuit heritage. Adopted at birth, Jonny decided during lockdown to find out more about his ancestry; a search with uncovered he is part First Nation. As a chef, the obvious way for him to discover more about his culture was through food, which he is now putting on display at this year's Wellington on a Plate. Jonny Taggart is the head chef of Ltd, and a new Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant, Kisa, in Wellington.

Trish Sherson and Shane Te Pou discuss the week in politics: the fallout from the Green Party leadership vote, National's calls for an independent inquiry into the Reserve Bank's monetary policy response from the time the pandemic began; how Christopher Luxon has come through his Hawaii/Te Puke blunder and a look at the race for the Auckland mayoralty. Trish Sherson is from corporate affairs firm Sherson Willis, and a former ACT press secretary. Shane Te Pou is a former candidate, campaign manager and executive member of the Labour Party, and a former union official. He is no longer a member of any political party. He is a Director and HR Manager for IT Company Mega.

Kim Pittar from Muir's Independent Bookshop Gisborne reviews The Perfect Golden Circle by Benjamin Myers, published by Penguin Random House.