Pharmac is seeking clinical advice on whether weight loss medication should be funded in New Zealand. 

One in three people over the age of 15 are classified as obese and one in eight children aged between two and 14.

Pharmac received two applications to fund Wegovy or semaglutide - a GLP-1 receptor agonist for weight loss.

Auckland University Professor of Molecular Medicine Peter Shepherd told Andrew Dickens despite it being a short-term fix, it's like any other medicine. 

He says it's the same as heart disease or blood pressure medication - as soon as you go off them, they lose their effect as well.

Pharmac is seeking clinical advice on whether weight loss medication should be funded in New Zealand.&nbsp;
One in three people over the age of 15 are classified as obese and one in eight children aged between two and 14.
Pharmac received two applications to fund Wegovy or semaglutide - a GLP-1 receptor agonist for weight loss.
Auckland University Professor of Molecular Medicine Peter Shepherd told Andrew Dickens despite it being a short-term fix, it's like any other medicine.&nbsp;
He says it's the same as heart disease or blood pressure medication - as soon as you go off them, they lose their effect as well.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Peter Shepherd: Auckland University Professor of Molecular Medicine on Pharmac funding weight loss drugs

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/f0a4a0ea-66f9-43b0-b56b-b3d6011d6179/transcript

The business sector will want to know how the Government will support them - as the Prime Minister prepares for his State of the Nation speech. 

Chris Luxon will give the address at the International Convention Centre in Auckland this afternoon - the first event to be held at the new centre. 

Newstalk ZB understands he will try to draw attention away from turbulent affairs overseas - and to the Government's successes back home. 

Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive Simon Bridges told Andrew Dickens that he will question if economic relief is set to continue. 

He wants to know what fresh Government ideas are coming through which will keep business confidence up. 

LISTEN ABOVE

The business sector will want to know how the Government will support them - as the Prime Minister prepares for his State of the Nation speech.&nbsp;
Chris Luxon will give the address at the International Convention Centre in Auckland this afternoon - the first event to be held at the new centre.&nbsp;
Newstalk ZB understands he will try to draw attention away from turbulent affairs overseas - and to the Government's successes back home.&nbsp;
Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive Simon Bridges told Andrew Dickens that he will question if economic relief is set to continue.&nbsp;
He wants to know what fresh Government ideas are coming through which will keep business confidence up.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Simon Bridges: Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive questions extent of economic relief ahead of State of the Nation speech

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d052c40b-66a9-43ae-a14a-b3d601303539/transcript

Europe may be on the cusp of implementing a never-before-used law, to turn up the heat on the United States. 

President Donald Trump's announced increasing tariffs on eight countries starting next month, unless a deal allowing him to buy Greenland is reached. 

European leaders have condemned the decision, with France now set to urge the EU to enact its anti-coercion instrument,  if the tariffs go ahead.

Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens that the international economic counter-measures will enhance their retaliation, within international law. 

He says no one quite knows what it means as it's never been needed until now, adding things are getting very serious. 

LISTEN ABOVE

Europe may be on the cusp of implementing a never-before-used law, to turn up the heat on the United States.&nbsp;
President Donald Trump's announced increasing tariffs on eight countries starting next month, unless a deal allowing him to buy Greenland is reached.&nbsp;
European leaders have condemned the decision, with France now set to urge the EU to enact its anti-coercion instrument, &nbsp;if the tariffs go ahead.
Gavin Grey told Andrew Dickens that the international economic counter-measures will enhance their retaliation, within international law.&nbsp;
He says no one quite knows what it means as it's never been needed until now, adding things are getting very serious.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Gavin Grey: European correspondent discusses growing tension around Trump's demands for Greenland

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/f06a088d-43d6-4b4f-b502-b3d6012e257b/transcript

On Friday just before most of us came back to work Auckland Transport announced that public transport fares on the rise from February 1st. 

They’re going up by 5.1% which is higher than inflation, but they claim transport costs have risen by up to 16%.

Meanwhile parking costs in AT controlled buildings and areas are going up by 50 cents an hour. 

For adult commuters, this means a 10 to 25 cents increase per bus or train trip, and 40 to 60 cents more per ferry journey.

Now I understand prices go up but I’m not sure that AT realise the consequences.

I use a ferry. In fact, I used one on Saturday to go to a Sail GP watching party. 

That meant I spent $15 return. From February 1st it’ll be 16 bucks.

That’s all very well if it was just me. But if I took A partner that’d be 32 bucks return.

And that’s getting very close to a price point that says I can’t justify using public transport. If there three of us I might as well just get an Uber. 

But that defeats the purpose of public transport which is to get cars off the road.

I also wondered what the thinking was that meant the Southern line from town to Ed Sheeran was closed for maintenance. This was a chance to let people experience alternative transport options.

Instead, people ended out in buses clogging up the motorway and some North Shore residents were still trying to get home at 2am and it reinforced the idea that not just trains are unreliable.

AT get a load of bad press, but it’s not helped if they keep shooting themselves in the foot with their decision making. 

On Friday just before most of us came back to work Auckland Transport announced that public transport fares on the rise from February 1st.&nbsp;
They’re going up by 5.1% which is higher than inflation, but they claim transport costs have risen by up to 16%.
Meanwhile parking costs in AT controlled buildings and areas are going up by 50 cents an hour.&nbsp;
For adult commuters, this means a 10 to 25 cents increase per bus or train trip, and 40 to 60 cents more per ferry journey.
Now I understand prices go up but I’m not sure that AT realise the consequences.
I use a ferry. In fact, I used one on Saturday to go to a Sail GP watching party.&nbsp;
That meant I spent $15 return. From February 1st it’ll be 16 bucks.
That’s all very well if it was just me. But if I took A partner that’d be 32 bucks return.
And that’s getting very close to a price point that says I can’t justify using public transport. If there three of us I might as well just get an Uber.&nbsp;
But that defeats the purpose of public transport which is to get cars off the road.
I also wondered what the thinking was that meant the Southern line from town to Ed Sheeran was closed for maintenance. This was a chance to let people experience alternative transport options.
Instead, people ended out in buses clogging up the motorway and some North Shore residents were still trying to get home at 2am and it reinforced the idea that not just trains are unreliable.
AT get a load of bad press, but it’s not helped if they keep shooting themselves in the foot with their decision making.&nbsp;

Andrew Dickens: Auckland Transport needs to get it together

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/f54c8a29-d5d2-490d-9029-b3d6011c7691/transcript

Peter Shepherd: Auckland University Professor of Molecular Medicine on Pharmac funding weight loss drugs

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