Nine To Noon

Holly Walker reviews three of her favourite reads from 2021: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath by Heather Clark published by Jonathan Cape; See What You Made Me Do: Power, Control, and Domestic Abuse by Jess Hill published by Black Inc and Skinny Dip: Poetry edited by Susan Paris and Kate De Goldi published by MUP.

The best way to address addiction is a holistic and nuanced approach that involves gentle intervention, says addiction specialist Dr Carl Erik Fisher. In his new part-memoir, part-history The Urge, Fisher draws on his own recovery from alcoholism.

Ed talks to Kathryn about the somewhat muted start to the year of the tiger in China with Xi Jinping continuing with his zero-Covid policy as the rest of the world tries to get life somewhat back to normal. And the crisis in Ukraine looms large on the sidelines of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, including a summit later today between Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's Xi.

ICU specialist Professor Paul Young says it's time to rethink the well-established use of saline intravenous fluids for critically ill patients in hospital. He says extensive research shows an alternative therapy, called balanced crystalloids, saves more lives than saline. Saline has been widely used in medicine for the last 200 years, but has not undergone the rigorous testing applied to new drugs. ICU and emergency doctors have long debated the relative benefits of saline versus balanced crystalloids; a salt-based solution with an electrolyte composition that mimics plasma. Professor Young says the results of new research by the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand is the final piece of the puzzle, and when combined with data from other clinical trials, shows that for acutely unwell patients, using balanced crystalloids rather than saline, saves lives. The results of the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, is expected change clinical practice in intensive care settings worldwide. Kathryn speaks with Professor Paul Young, who is the deputy director at the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand and the leader of the study.

There are urgent calls to prevent our increasingly scarce and prized growing land going forever, under concrete and asphalt. Just 15% of New Zealand's land is highly productive premium food production land. Most of it is on the fringes of our cities. Over the past 20 years, 54% of premium food production land has been lost to urban sprawl, with a almost third of all new developments being built on land potentially available for agriculture during this period. Our horticulture sector is awaiting the imminent National Policy Statement to provide more certainty to fruit and vegetable growers who are being increasingly hemmed in and crowded out. Kathryn is joined by Horticulture NZ Environment Manager Michelle Sands and Richard Gaddum, who heads lobby group Save Our Plains.

Film and TV reviewer James Croot joins Kathryn to talk about Belfast, written and directed by Sir Kenneth Branagh, The Eyes of Tammy Faye and a new series screening on Disney, Pam and Tommy.

RNZ Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch discusses the Prime Minister's announcement that the country's borders will begin to reopen for vaccinated people from 27 February, without the requirement to go into MIQ. She has just announced a staged reopening of the borders starting with New Zealanders in Australia, then extending to kiwis elsewhere, critical workers, foreign students, business travellers and tourists.

Clear boundaries help children mature and families work well, says parenting coach Joseph Driessen. He tells Kathryn Ryan what strong leadership looks like from a parent.

Jacinda Ardern announces that the reopening of the borders will begin with Australia at the end of this month, and outlines a five stage plan to reconnect New Zealand with the world.

Ralph McAllister reviews three of his favourite reads from 2021: Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris published by Hachette NZ, Tenderness by Alison MacLeod published by Bloomsbury and The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman published by Penguin.