Te Radar and Irene Pink look at some of the lighter moments of the week, including the eye-watering amount an old lemon has sold for at auction in England. 

Sam Ackerman looks at New Zealand's winning streak across winter sports this week, including the first ever skating medal of any form at the Youth Winter Olympics. 

After reading Julian Cope's 'Head On' autobiography, Jeremy Taylor presents a selection of songs from Liverpool - not including the Beatles, or Julian Cope.

The Oxford and Kaikoura communities have made big strikes this week in their dark sky journeys. 

Paul Diamond reviews three of his favourite books from last year.

Hussain Shah Rezaie had been stuck in an Indonesian detention centre for nine years when he decided he wanted to become a writer, in English. The young Afghan refugee's search for online resources eventually led him to Helen Sword, an Auckland academic who also ran an online writing community. "Writing has worked yet as a rescuer to the daunting difficulty of my life as a refugee," Hussain wrote to Helen in his introductory email. She invited him to join the writing group and later supported his relocation to Auckland.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been handed a 14-year jail sentence in a case related to illegal selling of state gifts, just days after being given another 10-year sentence. 

After some tough years post earthquakes, road closures and covid, there's an upbeat vibe in coastal town of Kaikōura. 

A new social media app has launched which aims to link up keen fishers with boaties willing to take them out. 

Transpower is signalling there could be power cuts this winter to manage supply and demand of electricity if the wrong conditions combine. 

Culture 101 host Perlina Lau joins Kathryn to talk about One Life (cinemas), the story of Nicholas Winton who organised the evacuation of Jewish children from the Nazis in the late 1930s. 

Judith Hudson studies memory development in children and the development of children's understanding of time. 

Technology journalist Peter Griffin on legislative moves in the US to crack down on non-consensual sexual images generated by AI, following the release of pornographic images of Taylor Swift on X this week. 

The mastermind of a decade long teen prostitution ring will be sentenced in a fortnight, Kelly backgrounds the case. 

Phil Vine reviews two of his favourite books from last year.

It's the circus - but not as you've seen it before! Yamoussa Bangoura is has brought his home country of Guinea in West Africa to the stage in a high-energy circus show called Afrique en Cirque. 

UK correspondent Matthew Parris joins Kathryn to talk about a new deal that aims to smooth post-Brexit trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 

A new collaboration between the BNZ and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei in Auckland means that for the first time, home loans at standard home loan rates, are being made available for building on iwi land.

Finally, there is consensus on recycling, or almost.

US senators have been grilling the chief executives of five of the world's most popular social media firms in a hearing in Washington DC, over concerns they've failed to do enough to keep children safe online. 

School's back for many around the country, and it's hoped a new tool can help boost students' financial literacy.

Sophie Cooper tells Kathryn about her experience in business and a busy and challenging few years.

Music correspondent Dave Wilson joins Kathryn to talk about the moment the harp, as a music instrument, has been having over the past several years.

Libby gives an update on the two-year search for fugitive Marokopa man Tom Phillips and his three children.

Jenna Todd of Time Out Bookstore reviews three of her favourite books from last year.

R.A. Spratt is a best-selling author, who has captured the hearts and imaginations of children around the world.

Correspondent Karen Middleton joins Kathryn to talk about bad behaviour at sporting events, and Southern Queensland's rough summer with repeated downpours.

With Auckland's light rail project officially scrapped, focus is returning to the other pieces of Auckland's road network puzzle.

How is the country's first ever Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey going to tackle the myriad of challenges before him?

Sports chat with Marc Hinton

Landscape designer and gardener Xanthe White has some great tips about what to plant and when to help reduce your grocery bill.

Victoria looks at the latest in the manuka honey industry, with New Zealand scientists saying the country's honey is a different species from the Australian version. It follows several years of genetic studies into the plant. And the Port of Auckland is being challenged to improve productivity as it hikes user charges. The NZ Council of Cargo Owners told BusinessDesk it is positive that the Port is futureproofing operations, but also wants to see containers moved off of vessels faster. Victoria Young is BusinessDesk investigations editor.

Katie Scotcher live from Parliament with Kathryn Ryan

Could Christchurch be a contender to host the next Commonwealth Games?. David says it could be dismissed as silly season fodder if the ramifications for the people of Christchurch weren't so serious. He says there have been recent mixed messages from the city council with Mayor Phil Mauger's calling for a report, by council staff and economic development agency ChristchurchNZ, on the viability of hosting the Commonwealth Games. The 2026 Games has been rejected by Victoria in Australia, and Alberta, Canada, because of escalating costs. David Williams is a South Island reporter for Newsroom.

Louise Ward of Wardini Books reviews three of her favourite books from last year: The Observologist by Giselle Clarkson, published by Gecko Press, Tarquin the Honest: Ocian's Elven by Gareth Ward, published by Bateman Books, Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton, published by 4th estate

Bettany Hughes is a British historian, author and broadcaster who specialises in classical antiquity. She's written and presented over 50 TV and radio documentaries and received awards for her effort in documenting this period in history. 

Donald Trump has been ordered to pay journalist E. Jean Carroll US$83m in damages, in a defamation suit. The former president has defeated rival candidate Nikki Haley in the New Hampshire Primary. Meanwhile, Democratic House candidates are planning to run heavily on abortion this election year. President Joe Biden and vice-president Kamala Harris are both giving major addresses on reproductive rights. Danielle Kurtzleben is a political correspondent assigned to NPR's Washington Desk

Richard Morgan is 93 years old but a late love of indoor rowing has helped him develop into a physical specimen for his age. He spent most of his life spurning fitness and only took up indoor rowing - of which he subsequently became a world champion in his field - in his seventies. Richard is the subject of a recent paper in the Journal of Applied Physiology which looked at his training and diet regimes and has found he has the heart, muscles and lungs of someone less than half his age. His grandson Lorcan Daly is a sports and exercise lecturer at the Technological University of the Shannon in Ireland and he's one of the researchers behind the paper.

The Retirement Income Interest Group which is part of the New Zealand Society of Actuaries has done a stocktake of retirement income policy, concluding that NZ Super doesn't need to be reformed, The report by Finance and Risk Specialist, Alison O'Connell and other actuaries have found that it is much more important to turn attention to Kiwisaver, rather than meddle with NZ Super. Dr O'Connell says NZ Super is an absolute basic requirement relied on by people of all ages - and is a basic need, particularly when previous research has found people actually underestimate how much they have - or will need in their Kiwisaver.

More fishing boats are now required to have on-board cameras to monitor for rare dolphin deaths and other bycatch. Since mid January, surface longline vessels operating near our shore are required to have cameras on board , with the aim of getting a more accurate picture of bycatch, in particular Hector's and Maui dolphins. The Ministry for Primary Industries is part way through rolling out cameras on a range of fishing vessels - so far they are required on inshore vessels, not large deepwater vessels. MPI's Director of Fisheries Compliance, Steve Ham says there are a range of measures and restrictions on set nets and trawling across the North and South Island to protect rare dolphins. But critics, including Zoology Professor Liz Slooten say there are too few cameras, and not enough monitoring of the footage captured.

Bill McKay toured a few Australasian cities over summer; and shares his thoughts from the log industry to public transport. Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland.

Nadia Key and her Mum Elke are behind the social enterprise Husk and Honey and together they have compiled a cook book called Collectively Homegrown. It features recipes from a range of cultures cooking in home kitchens around the motu and profits will go to Women's Refuge.

Neale and Brigitte discuss the latest cigarette controversy, with associate health minister Casey Costello seeking advice on a three-year freeze on the inflation-adjusted tax on smoking tobacco products. And Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has made an appearance at Ratana, promising to "honour" the Treaty of Waitangi. ACT leader David Seymour says he expects Waitangi commemorations will be "more tense" than usual this year. Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of public affairs firm Capital. Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government, a National Party member and currently volunteering for the party's deputy leader, Nicola Willis.

The on-going Cathedral Cove saga is now being drawn out for another eight months with the Department of Conservation announcing it won't have a decision on the future of the iconic walking track until September. CFM local news reporter.John says the opening of SH 25A has been a game changer for the summer holiday season. He'll also talk about Will Fransen's survival tale after falling of his launch and spending almost 24 hours in the water.

David Hill reviews three of his favourite books from last year: Iris and Me by Philippa Werry, published by Ahoy! Cuba Press, Te Wehenga, by Mat Tait, published by Allen and Unwin Children's NZ, and All the Words We Know by Bruce Nash published by Allen and Unwin.

Investigative producer, Nancy Moscatiello, uncovered a scam so outrageous it hid in plain sight for nearly a decade - at the heart of it, a charming, young Christian. Amanda C. Riley started a blog when she was 'diagnosed' with Hodgkins Lymphoma. It was 2012, blogging was just starting to gain traction on the internet and the tragic story of the young mum of two, dying from cancer, soon captured the hearts of a church community, then America. As hashtag Team Amanda went viral, the money for 'treatment' came pouring in, but then an investigative producer received an anonymous tip, and decided to take a closer look. The story of the unravelling that followed became a hit podcast series 'Scamanda'. Kathryn spoke to the investigative producer behind the scenes, Nancy Moscatiello.

Europe correspondent Seamus Kearney is in the Wellington studio this week, looking at some of the bigger stories coming up. An EU summit in Brussels on Thursday is hoping to achieve unity on ongoing financial assistance for Ukraine, but faces opposition from Hungary. And as the second anniversary of the beginning of Russia's invasion approaches, Ukraine is attempting new military tactics. And discussion is building ahead of the EU elections in June, which are are seen as crucial in terms of how Europe reshapes itself for future challenges.

Calls are growing for the new Government to urgently address the hefty bills facing owners of earthquake-prone buildings. Former Wellington owner Hazel Kirkham is warning many simply cannot afford the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed to get their buildings up to code, and will not be able to comply with upcoming deadlines. Much of the issue is condensed in the Capital, which has more multi-owner quake-prone buildings than any other city, as well as shorter timeframes to comply, due to its seismic risk. A review of the regulations was promised in 2022, but it has been pushed forward to 2027. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says he is seeking advice from officials in the coming weeks on what options are available to the Government. Wellington City Councillor Iona Pannett is warning potential buyers not to buy apartments until policy around earthquake strengthening is changed. Hazel Kirkham and Iona Pannett speak with Kathryn Ryan.

Doctors are raising concern about the rise of self ordered medical tests, as a new Australian study finds they have limited usefulness for consumers. If you are willing to pay, a range of medical tests can be ordered from private laboratories without a doctor's involvement - including full blood count, cholesterol, and tests for sexually transmitted diseases. These cost anywhere from $25 to $340. Dr Bryan Betty, chair of the General Practice New Zealand, says many family doctors have noticed the trend toward self-ordered tests, but caution that without expert interpretation, they can cause unnecessary anxiety, and potentially unnecessary medical procedures. A recent Australian study has found the benefits to most consumers are questionable. But the country's largest provider of private tests says it's all about empowering patients.

Our comedic duo look at the brighter moments of the week, including an advertisement for what's being described as the best job in New Zealand - a KFC taste tester. And a British wildlife park has hatched a new plan to rehabilitate eight potty-mouthed parrots, who have picked up several expletives.

Sports commentator Sam Ackerman

Grant Smithies has spent much of the summer holidays rummaging through dusty boxes of 7" vinyl singles. We'll hear some of his favourite finds. Brace yourself for the stoner soul of Donovan/Jeff Beck, some rare garage guitar action from Karen Verros, an affectionate Dylan parody by The Hombres, a hybrid of Middle Eastern melodies and Brooklyn sass from Habibi, and some ice cool rocksteady from Desmond Dekker.

As Wellington severe water shortage intensifies, Victoria University students are being encouraged to half flush toilets and take shorter showers. The Local Government Minister Simeon Brown meets with mayors on Monday about the situation. And Georgina says a team of Wellington zoo veterinarians are going to great lengths to stop a pair of motherless ruru chicks imprinting on them. NZ Herald Wellington issues reporter Georgina Campbell

Mellissa Oliver from Unity Books Wellington reviews three of their favourite books from last year: Articulations by Henrietta Bollinger, published by Tender Press; Happy Place by Emily Henry, published by Penguin Books; and Aria by Jessica Hinerangi, published by Auckland University Press

British journalist Julian Borger has carved a prominent voice in media as The Guardian's world affairs editor, but recently, he's been working to uncover a story close to his heart - his own family history - which has ties to the very newspaper he works for. In August 1938, an advertisement ran in The Manchester Guardian - now The Guardian - reading: "I seek a kind person who will educate my intelligent boy". That boy was Julian's father - Robert Borger - then an 11-year-old Jewish boy living under Nazi rule in Austria. It was only after his dad tragically took his own life that Julian learned of his past. Julian has just released a book, I Seek A Kind Person, following the lives the advertised children of the Holocaust, and where they ended up.

RNZ Pacific Editor Koroi Hawkins

Forecasters are exploring whether they can use AI to help predict the impacts of extreme weather, right down to a street level. Following Cyclone Gabrielle, NIWA has added five million dollars a year in funding for extreme weather research. It's being pumped into several projects which are producing models, showing which properties or infrastructure could be at risk from things like storms, droughts and heatwaves. Climate scientist Nava Fedaeff is spearheading one such project, pulling together a range of data to forecast exactly where any potential slips or flooding may hit. Meteorologist Ben Noll says his team has already been briefing key agencies and authorities, about areas at risk of drought or fire that El Niño may deliver in the months ahead.

Saturday marks one year since Auckland's Anniversary Weekend floods, which caused widespread damage and the deaths of four people. More than 7000 homes were stickered due to damage, and 600 households needed emergency accommodation. While much of the city is back to normal, some people - particularly out west - are still out of their homes. Auckland Council says 1570 properties are still yet to be categorised. Kathryn Ryan speaks with Auckland Council deputy group recovery manager Mace Ward, and West Auckland Is Flooding chairman Lyall Carter.

Film and TV reviewer James Croot joins Kathryn to talk about the fourth season of True Detective (Neon), starring Jodie Foster. He'll also look at new murder-mystery drama Death and Other Details (Disney) starring Mandy Patinkin. The Holdovers (cinemas) is a new movie starring Paul Giamatti, and a new Netflix documentary The Greatest Night in Pop. James Croot is Stuff's Stuff to Watch editor.

Often parents find it tough to set boundaries for any age, but particularly holding firm on where to draw the line for teenagers who are needing more autonomy. 

Technology correspondent Mark Pesce was at this month's CES show in Las Vegas. The trade show is one of the world's biggest tech events, with over 500,000 exhibitors, inventors, entrepreneurs and buyers. He talks to Kathryn about the most interesting and innovative things he saw. Mark Pesce is a futurist, writer, educator and broadcaster.

Tess has the latest on a cruise ship which has run aground in Doubtful Sound, and on Queenstown water woes.

Louise O'Brien reviews three of her favourite books from last year: Victory City by Salman Rushdie, published by Jonathan Cape; The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt, published by Bloomsbury; and Somebody's Fool by Richard Russo, published by Allen and Unwin

Auckland hip-hop artist and academic Mazbou Q is becoming an international authority on the burgeoning science of rap.

Matt Dathan is home affairs editor at The Times.

As wildfires cause millions of dollars worth of damage each year and disrupt lives, researchers are looking at how to more accurately predict the potential burn path of fires.

Sweeping job cuts across financially strained universities are heaping pressure on the science sector. 

Science communicator Allan Blackman on how diabetes patients may soon have a new treatment option that doesn't include needles or insulin pumps. 

After a quarter of a decade making custard squares which are sought after around the country the owners of the Denheath bakery are moving on. 

Two of the Wellington region's mayors are expecting to meet with the local government minister Simeon Brown over how to cope with the water crisis.  

Business Editor Gyles Beckford with the latest on the CPI.

Tauranga City Council is delaying the adoption of its Local Alcohol Policy that would have forced bars to close at 2am. 

Stella Chrysostomou of Volume Books reviews three of her favourite books from last year.

It wasn't until New Zealand playwright Eleanor Bishop was on the New York Broadway scene that she heard about Chris Kraus. 

Australia correspondent Chris Niesche on the Australian government's decision to put an end to the so-called 'Golden visa'.

The capital's into its second week of water restrictions, as the threats of even tougher cutbacks loom.

Australia will become the first country to ban engineered stone benchtops this year, and there are calls for New Zealand to follow suit. 

Glen Larmer looks at the stories which gripped the sporting world over the summer holidays, and also what is coming up in 2024.

Getting a good night sleep can be tough on a sticky summer night. It can be even harder for young kids - and their parents! - whose sleep schedules have been put out of whack by holiday adventures and longer daylight hours. Should parents be concerned if their children aren't getting enough shut-eye? And as the end of the holidays approach and a return to school looms what are some of the ways to get back into a good sleep routine? Professor Sarah Blunden is a clinical psychologist and Head of Paediatric Sleep Research at Central Queensland University in Australia.

Getting a good night sleep can be tough on a sticky summer night. It can be even harder for young kids - and their parents!

The Commerce Commission has opened an investigation into Woolworths, Foodstuffs North Island and Foodstuffs South Island, following an allegation of Fair Trading Act breaches. 

The Invercargill City Council will hold its first meeting of the year today led by Acting Mayor Tom Campbell.

Ralph McAllister reviews three of his favourite books from last year. 

Republican candidate Nikki Haley is getting one last shot at Donald Trump after Ron DeSantis suspended his presidential campaign. 

It's almost a year since kumara crops, which were ready to be harvested in the Kaipara District in Northland were pretty much wiped out by two major weather events. 

In Opposition, Dr Shane Reti said the-then government had ignored a crisis in health. Now he is the new minister in charge of that system. 

Kennedy discusses the future of atolls, ahead of a visit to the Micronesian nation of Palau. He reflects on how the drowning atoll narrative has been a staple of climate-change journalism, though the rhetoric doesn't match the reality he sees.

Siblings Paul and Jane Rangiwahia have teamed up to produce the book Kai and Kindness focusing on food to nourish the body and soul. Jane has come up with no fuss recipes for sharing with friends and whanau, while her artist brother Paul has illustrated the hardback. The pair hope their collaboration will be a conversation starter about emotional wellbeing and healthy living.

Gareth, Ben and Kathryn will discuss Gareth Hughes is a former Green MP and now works for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa. 

Hawkes Bay Today editor Chris Hyde with the latest news from the region. 

Kiran Dass reviews three of her favourite books from last year

Jane Smiley has written close to 20 novels, including the best seller, King Lear inspired A Thousand Acres, for which she received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1992. 

Thomas Sparrow is a political correspondent for Deutsche Welle, based in Berlin

Technology and social media may be helping criminals but it's also being put to use to help retailers stem their losses. 

Tough decisions lie ahead for councils up and down the country, some of which are facing rates rises in the double digits unless they tighten their belts. 

Wellington chamber choir Nota Bene sing Chrismas songs, and - Te Radar, Irene Pink, Kennedy Warne, Sam Ackerman and Kirsten Zemke bid farewell to 2024.

Ardie Savea has had a whirlwind year. Named world rugby player of the year, days after almost taking the All Blacks to world cup glory as the stand-in captain. He is now in Japan after signing for the Kobelco Kobe Steelers for the 2024 season. But the blindside flanker has been reflecting on the foundation years of his career - specifically getting to where he needed to, to train and play for his beloved Ories - the Oriental Rongotai Rugby Club. He and his brother - the former All Black Julian Savea would have to get from south Wellington to places like Porirua and Lower Hutt - and often without a car. Those journeys are at the heart of a new children's book called A One Good Kiwi Story: Ardie Savea. His wife Saskia, who he owns a clothing brand with, and their three kids feature in the book as well. Ardie talks about how he became involved in the project.

Sharon Hastie and Kath Hall have spent the last two years travelling the country in their home on wheels, a housebus named 'Ladies in Red". It was Kath's breast cancer diagnosis that made them revealuate their busy lives and leave behind jobs in IT and communications.In October 2021 after downsizing a lifetime of possessions they sold their house to move full time into the bus, along with their dog Sofia. They talk to Kathryn about how nomadic life is treating them.

Wellington chamber choir Nota Bene sing Chrismas songs, and - Te Radar, Irene Pink, Kennedy Warne, Sam Ackerman and Kirsten Zemke bid farewell to 2024.

As far as ultra-running goes - it doesn't get much bigger than trying to cross Canada. But that's the goal Kiwi Jon Nabbs set for himself all the way back in May. He started the 7500-kilometre journey in St John's Newfoundland, and has run through six Canadian provinces, the equivalent of about 130 marathons and six pairs of running shoes on his way to Vancouver. His uber-endeavour was prompted by losing both parents to cancer. First, he walked the length of New Zealand. Then he settled on an even bigger challenge. He runs in a superman suit - now with a woolly jersey as the temperatures plunge to below-zero. He has no support crew - just a pram he's nicknamed 'Shania'. Along the way he's encouraging people in both New Zealand and Canada to donate to child cancer charities. He joins Kathryn to detail the highs and lows of the journey so far.

Brigitte Morten, Gareth Hughes, Rebecca Stevenson and Alan Blackman look back on a tumultuous year.

Walking across a tightrope suspended hundreds of metres above a lake sounds like a terrifying nightmare for most people. But for Gavin Alexander Lewis it is a way to focus and relax. Alexander Lewis, along with fellow highliner Angelo Swan, both from Queenstown feature in the documentary Flow State, streaming on TVNZ+. The film is the project of three Massey University students, and centres on the two friends pushing each other in the sport, as well as the role it has had in their mental wellbeing.

18 year old Leo Guo is relaxing at a Coromandel beach after stunning achievement in his final year of High School. He was the runner up to dux at Lindisfarne College in Hastings last year, this year he was dux. Along with teenagers from around the country he's waiting for his official NCEA level 3 and Scholarship results - but he probably doesn't have much to worry about after getting perfect scores in some of his school exams this year.

Brigitte Morten, Gareth Hughes, Rebecca Stevenson and Alan Blackman look back on a tumultuous year.

Chris Schulz wraps up his top five shows that were worth viewing in 2023.

If you're the eldest child, the stereotype would have us believe you're responsible, conscientious and a bit bossy. Second born - more chilled out and creative and the youngest? Spoilt! But does birth order really influence personality? The evidence is not really there, says neuroscience educator Nathan Wallis, and personality is more to do with the circumstances into which we are born.

Tech commentator Juha Saarinen joins Kathryn to talk about what's happened in the tech sector this year, including a lot of large staff layoffs - with the exception of Apple. He says that's in contrast to the mind-blowingly large amounts of money being spend on mergers and acquisitions, including $111b for Microsoft to buy Call of Duty developer Activision Blizzard. But the biggest story is perhaps artificial intelligence - its development, commercialisation and even chaos - with the firing and rehiring of OpenAI's founder and CEO Sam Altman.

Todd reflects on the big stories in the City of Sails this year and a rollercoaster ride for the Auckland council as twin rain disasters struck on the region's anniversary weekend in January, closely followed by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Lynn Freeman reviews Day by Michael Cunningham published by 4th Estate.

One of the country's most recognisable officers, Detective Inspector Scott Beard has been a police officer for 43 years and the chief investigator on many high profile cases in the last few decades of New Zealand criminal history. He led the Grace Millane murder inquiry, where the national and international media spotlight was focused on the killing of the young English tourist. As the field crime manager for the Auckland City District he investigates some of the most heinous crimes, including sexual assault, child exploitation. He talks to Kathryn about his upbringing, how he deals with the fallout from human tragedy, surviving cancer, and also his commitment to fitness.

There's fresh debate on whether the UK should change the law to allow assisted dying, sparked this week by well known British broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen, who has stage four lung cancer. She has joined the assisted dying clinic Dignitas. Dame Esther is urging the Government to allow a free vote on assisted dying - as it has been more than eight years since it was last debated by MPs. And the Irish government is to begin a legal challenge against the UK Government over legislation which offers immunity for Troubles-era crimes. The Troubles Legacy Act includes a limited form of immunity from prosecution for Troubles-related offences for those who co-operate with the new Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR). But the Irish government believes the Act breaches the UN Convention on Human Rights.

Pathfinder Asset Management's co-founder John Berry has been helping people concerned about the environment, human rights and animals to put their money where their mouth is. The fund manager and KiwiSaver provider practices ethical investing across its portfolios - it was the first in its field here in New Zealand to achieve B Corp certification. And Pathfinder's continuing to pick up accolades for its work, taking three honours at this year's Sustainable Business Awards: the Communicating for Impact award, Sustainability Superstar award and the big one - Transforming Aotearoa New Zealand award. To talk us through where Pathfinder will - and won't - put investors' money, John Berry joins Kathryn.

The Franklin Rd light display is one of Auckland's Christmas community delights drawing an estimated 150,000 visitors each year. But residents are upset by vendors moving in on the event which they say is set up to be fun and free for parents and others often struggling at this time of the year. Roscoe Thorby is one of the residents and says the vendors are taking advantage of the parents who come to see the lights with their children.

The government's books were opened up yesterday and it's not a pretty picture. Treasury is forecasting an economy facing two years of sluggish growth, rising unemployment and a prolonged contraction in real GDP per capita growth which signals a decline in living standards. Inflation is the one possible bright light - expected to fall to 4.1 per cent next year and 2.5 per cent in 2025, although the Reserve Bank Govenor Adrian Orr says it continues to be a struggle to contain core inflation. A weaker economy since the last update in September has seen the tax take fall by $1.6b over the forecast period, and expenses have grown, mainly thanks to more borrowing and higher interest costs. In response, the Finance Minister Nicola Willis outlined a range of cost savings and new revenue totalling $7.5 billion over the next five years - which she says is the beginning of the fiscal clean up. Kathryn discusses with Stephen Toplis, head of research at BNZ.

Most Kiwis think they won't have sufficient retirement funds and for many, they are right. So says the Financial Services Council in a recently released report from its Money and You research series called Perceptions vs Reality. So when should people ideally start making their retirement plans? Money expert Liz Koh has some suggestions.

Christmas day is nearly here - and with it likely a turkey or ham to be carved, or if you're lucky, a fresh fish to fillet and put on the BBQ. Gareth Hughes knows a thing or two about knives. He's the owner of Victory Knives, which was founded in 1926 in Auckland by Edward Goddard, and is still going strong today. Gareth's got some tips on how to pick the right knife for the job, and importantly, how to look after your knives at home.

Underinvestment in rural Tairawhiti towns is the spotlight with the council deciding how to redistribute $1.4 million of unused funding. A lot of cyclone hammered towns are in need of township upgrades. and Matthew has the latest on Sarge, a dog put down in error by Gisborne District Council.

Harry Broad reviews Life Done Differently by Lisa Jansen published by High Tide

Robin Scholes is a pioneer of the independent film and TV production sector in New Zealand, whose body of work over decades has now been recognised by the screen producers guild. SPADA last month announced Robin Scholes as the recipient of the Industry Champion Award. Robin is the co-founder of independent TV company Communicado, which later merged with Screentime. She has been a creative collaborator and producer for some of this country's most well-known filmmakers, producing acclaimed films such as Lee Tamahori's Once Were Warriors (1994) and Andrew Adamson's Mister Pip (2012). And following Once Were Warriors and 2016 action-western Mahana, she is continuing her involvement with Lee Tamahori three decades on. Robin is on the producing team for Australian-New Zealand co-production The Convert, which launches in cinema next year.

Cyclone Jasper has caused the worst flooding in and around Cairns in far north Queensland. Karen Middleton says the Bureau of Meteorology is facing strong criticism for failing to forecast the massive rain event which dumped a year's worth of rain. Many homes are without both power and water and are completely cut off by now-crocodile-infested flood waters. Meanwhile Sydney is suffering smoke inhalation from a fire burning 400km to the north-west of the city.

Since making her debut for the Black Ferns over a decade ago - Chelsea Semple has racked up 29 tests. But her experience off the field while pregnant with her first child has perhaps been one of the biggest tests of all - and one that will have a lasting legacy. At the time the Chiefs Manawa player discovered she and husband James were expecting, maternity provisions for contracted Black Ferns ended at four months of pregnancy. But Chelsea successfully lobbied NZ Rugby for changes, worked with the organisation on them - and now, following the birth nearly five months ago of baby Cameron - she's back training with her team.

There's a party in Tairua today as the town celebrates the reopening of State Highway 25A - the key road connecting it to the rest of the country. State Highway 25A between Kopu and Hikuai was closed after heavy rain and storms lashed the region in January - causing part of the road to be washed away into a gully. Waka Kotahi has constructed a new 124-metre viaduct bridge which spans the part of the road that was destroyed. It has been a tough year for Tairua residents - with people travelling two hours instead of half an hour to school in some instances - and visitor spending in the wider region has plummeted this year. Peter Hunt is co-chair of the Tairua Business Association and owns a furniture shop in the town.

Farmers in Northern Hawkes Bay and Tairawhiti are concerned that some long awaited, permanent road repairs are failing within weeks of bitumen being applied. Hundreds of roads in the region were damaged in Cyclone Gabrielle and some permanent repairs have now been completed. James Brownlie owns a sheep and beef farm in the Ruakituri Valley inland from Wairoa. He says all the recently applied resealing on his local roads, both new seals and repair seals is failing, while the older seal is sound. Last week he travelled State Highway 2 between Wairoa-Gisborne and says the same is happening on the new seal there, over several kilometres. Mr Brownlie says others in his remote community are also concerned.

Visitors are slowly filling up the country's tourism centres for the busy season, but profitability across the hotel sector is a mixed bag. Hotel data for New Zealand says revenue per available room for hotels country-wide is up 14 percent on last November, and has just inched above 2019 levels. However only hotels in Christchurch, Taupo, Hawke's Bay and the Nelson/Marlborough regions are keeping up with inflation. Statistics New Zealand says international arrivals are rising, but are still down 15 percent on pre-Covid levels (2019). And according to the Department of Conservation, about 100 tourist sites are closed this summer due to damage caused by Cyclone Gabrielle. So what sort of summer season is the tourism sector expecting? Tourism Industry Aotearoa CEO Rebecca Ingram speaks with Kathryn Ryan.

RNZ sports reporter Joe Porter reminisces on some of the standout moments of 2023.

It's that time of year families coming together to celebrate, but spending more time together can also bring its own stressors. Relationship therapist Jo Robertson has some tips for avoiding conflict, and for navigating potential flashpoints.

BusinessDesk investigations editor, Victoria Young looks at new research that alleges the nation's newest and largest solar farm is made up of panels from a supplier that has a "very high" exposure to forced labour in China. And, a rapidly growing number of beer enthusiasts are reaching for alcohol-free options, with two local craft breweries - Garage Project and Good George - reporting their 0% options are best-sellers this year.

Chris wraps up the big stories of the year from his region, from Cyclone Gabrielle devastation and its heroes to the nationwide furore which unfolded when the Ranfurly Shield was broken. Also Hawkes Bay's champion christmas cookie seller and what's going on with a boulder roadblock at Waimarama beach?

Louise Ward of Wardini Books reviews Boy Swallows Universe TV Tie In by Trent Dalton published by 4th Estate

Tamaki Makaurau and Tairawhiti have been thrown some curve balls by Mother Nature this year. Parts of Auckland and Gisborne were particularly hard hit by Cyclone Gabrielle and it's been a long mop up and rebuild since February, particularly heartbreaking for residents whose homes were red stickered.This was preceded by the Auckland Anniversary weekend floods from a major weather event beginning on the 27th of January. Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz and Auckland's Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson talk to Kathryn about the issues facing their cities and look to the year ahead.

Republicans in Congress are demanding concessions on immigration in exchange for allowing more funding for Ukraine and Israel. The White House has started to take part in these negotiations; which could potentially be the biggest change to immigration policy in decades. And former President Donald Trump shows no signs of slipping in the GOP primary, despite the fact that he's under indictment in four cases, and that other candidates poll better against President Joe Biden. Finally, the Supreme Court has agreed to take up a case about abortion drug mifepristone, after a push by anti-abortion-rights advocates. Danielle Kurtzleben is a political correspondent assigned to NPR's Washington Desk

Schools have been holding their annual prizegivings a time to celebrate achievement. But what about the children who don't get to go up on the stage? There are many other ways parents and caregivers can "honour the wonderful human that they are, regardless of prizes", says Ellie Gollum from the Parenting Place.

Humanitarian groups are working tirelessly to get aid into Gaza, as the death toll from Israel's war with Hamas grows. The health ministry of Gaza, which is run by Hamas, says the death toll is now over 19,000 with 52,000 people injured, since the start of the war. Hostilities began on October 7 after a terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas militants where 1200 Israelis were killed and 240 hostages were taken, some of whom were released during a brief pause earlier this month. Médecins Sans Frontières says more than 1.8 million people - around 80 percent of the population of Gaza - have been displaced, with people crowded further south in the 40km long Gaza Strip, in what is described as a humanitarian disaster. New Zealander Katrina Penney is the president of Médecins Sans Frontières Australia.She has a background in nursing, and since joining MSF in 2002, has worked in Afghanistan, Nepal, Yemen, Haiti and Sierra Leone.

Te Whatu Ora is aiming to drastically reduce surgery waitlists for orthopaedic patients, by offering them physiotherapy instead. A trial across Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Waikato, Capital and Coast and Northland has indicated surgery wait times can be reduced by 75 percent. Te Whatu Ora says patients who are waiting for pre-surgery assessments for a range of conditions involving hips, knees and spines, are now being offered preliminary physio appointments in their communities. In some cases, patients are being told physiotherapy is enough - and they're removed from the 'suitable for surgery' waiting list. The programme has since been picked up in other regions and work is underway to roll it out nationwide later next year. Te Whatu Ora Planned Care Taskforce Chair Andrew Connolly speaks to Kathryn Ryan.

The new Government is canning Labour's RMA reforms, but has vowed to cut red tape. So change is coming - but what form could it take? Bill will talk about the options.

Katina Bajaj found herself in the depths of burnout, when she picked up a journal and started writing. For the San Francisco resident it was a hobby she was fond of as a child, but lost touch with - something many adults can likely relate to. The impact of picking up her childhood creative hobby again, on her mental health was profound, and Katina soon realised how flexing her own creativity settled the chaos in her brain. It led to a career change, to training in clinical psychology, and now establishing her platform `Daydreamers.' Katina Bajaj has spent the past two and a half years researching our creative health, a side of the wellbeing spectrum she believes is often overlooked.

Neale and Brigitte discuss the 'mini-budget' due to be released on Wednesday, during Parliament's final week of the year. And the first post-election poll showing NZ First overtaking Act. Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of public affairs firm Capital. Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government, a National Party member and currently volunteering for the party's deputy leader, Nicola Willis.

David reviews what the international catamaran race series SailGP meant for Christchurch this year against a backdrop of the The city's economic development agency paying millions of dollars for the hosting rights. And last week, the biodiversity and biosecurity committee of Canterbury's regional council, aka ECan, considered a recommendation to spend an extra $200,000 on the Canterbury Biodiversity Strategy. David backgrounds the issue and also looks at partial asset sales that could boost the Christchurch City Council coffers. David Williams is Newsroom's Te Waipounamu South Island Correspondent.

Dean Bedford reviews Why Memory Matters: 'Remembered Histories' and the Politics of the Past by Rowan Light published by Bridget Williams Books.

Since the release of her first cookbook in 2021 Kelsi Boocock has travelled to more than 20 countries, set up a food app and completed a diploma in plant-based cuisine at Le Cordon Bleu in London. She's also just released a second book, heavily influenced by the places she's been, called Healthy Kelsi Travel Kitchen. In it, she brings the tips she learned from local chefs and street food vendors to the pages. She joins Kathryn to talk about some of her favourites, including pink pasta from Venice, crunch gado gado-style salad from Indonesia and a kumara tangine from Agadir.

Debora wraps up the big stories of 2023 across South Africa and also Ukraine, where she has spent much time. It's been an unstable year for Africa with several coups, and in Ukraine, a counter-offensive has failed to make any headway. Debora also discusses her investigation into child labour in Ghana, on cocoa plants. Debora Patta is a CBS News foreign correspondent based in South Africa.

Amid the increasing cost of living spiraled higher through the pandemic and inflation that followed, Aucklander Roc Wong got to thinking. Maybe there was a way to compare the costs of various products at different supermarkets? So the software developer got to work - building an online tool to do just that. In his spare time. It's called Grocer - and it's free. Roc joins Kathryn to explain how it works.

A new report paints a grim picture of almost every aspect of the lives of intellectually disabled people, finding they die up to 20 years earlier than the rest of the population, and experience more deprivation, unemployment and crime. The advocacy organisation for intellectually disabled New Zealanders, IHC, commissioned the report, frustrated that the last official look at their health status was in 2011. That's despite a call 20 years ago from a national advisory committee for an end to neglect, saying many adults with an intellectual disability have "treatable health conditions, yet receive inadequate medical management." The new report uses data from the Stats NZ's large research database which holds de-identified microdata about people and households. It finds intellectually disabled people overwhelmingly live in more deprived areas, have poor health outcomes, achieve fewer qualifications, experience more poverty, violence and crime, have low internet access and have extremely low levels of employment. IHC says at a minimum, funded annual health checks for people with IDs should be introduced immediately. Kathryn speaks with IHC Advocate Shara Turner.

We wrap up the show with the lighter moments of the week with Te Radar and Michele A'Court - including the mystery of a missing tomato at the International Space Station, which has finally been solved.

Sports commentator Sam Ackerman wraps up the week, and looks at what's on this weekend.

Panda Bear (Noah Lennox) from Animal Collective and Sonic Boom (Pete Kember) from Spacemen 3 released a splendid psych-pop album called Reset last year. British dub producer Adrian Sherwood loved it so much, he rebuilt it from the ground up in dub form, with extra musicians. We'll hear two key tracks from Reset In Dub today, alongside some bracing New Brighton noise-pop from Blair Parkes and a slice of Brazilian funk from Rio's Almir Ricardi.

The Whakatane District Council plans to do up sports and leisure facilities at Rex Morpeth Park have met opposition from some residents who would rather see money spent on a new bridge. Diane backgrounds the situation. And tomorrow the Eastern Bay's biggest annual musical event will be held at Prideaux Park. Kawerau's Christmas in the Park is is a free show organised with funding by a variety of trusts. and usually attended by around 10,000 people. Eastern Bay of Plenty Local Democracy Reporter - Diane McCarthy with the Whakatane Beacon

Gail Pittaway reviews Question 7 by Richard Flanagan published by Penguin Random House NZ

For most, the festive season is a time of joy. But for those who have lost friends or family during the year - it can be a particularly tough time. Nic Russell knows this well. She lost her daughter Kenzie to cancer just after Christmas in 2005. The year following, she founded Kenzie's Gift, a charity that helps children and rangitahi navigate serious illness and death. At the moment it's helping 53 young Kiwis with one-on-one therapy with clinical psychologists - last month alone it had 17 referrals. This Christmas it's running a campaign called In Laughing Memory to encourage Kiwis to share their funny or quirky memories of their loved ones who have passed. Nic has spent the past year recovering from a heart transplant - but says that hasn't slowed her down from wanting to honour her daughter's legacy.

RNZ Pacific Editor Koroi Hawkins is at Whenuapai airbase, about to fly to Fiji with Winston Peters. It's the Foreign Minister's first overseas trip since taking office.

Concern for her five children prompted an Auckland mother to study for a PhD focusing on how vapes are marketed. Lucy Hardie has been in full-time study at the University of Auckland since 2014, when all of her kids were under the age of 10 - and was capped on Thursday. She also has a Masters in Public Health and Bachelor of Health Sciences. Her interest in vaping began as young people started to take it up in 2018, before the industry was regulated. And her kids - now in their teens - are proving to be a useful research tool, right in the thick of an age group greatly affected by vaping.

European leaders have not only decided to begin talks with Ukraine, the door is also open for Moldova and for Georgia to be granted candidate status. The sudden move has come at a summit in Brussels with a spokesperson for the European Council President saying the agreement was unanimous. Hungary which has previously held out - on having talks with Ukraine, did not oppose the move. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says he's delighted with the EU announcement. Freelance journalist Rosie Birchard has been at the summit.

KiwiRail's Chief Executive Peter Reidy is in Picton this morning, talking with staff after the abandonment of the interisland mega ferry project. The government has refused a request by KiwiRail for more than a billion dollars in further funding, and told the State Owned Enterprise to find a cheaper solution. In 2018, the original estimated cost for the two new, larger ferries and the portside infrastructure was 775 million dollars. Within months of the project being announced, KiwiRail was already asking the government for more money, and the requests have kept coming. The latest overall cost estimate has quadrupled to almost $3 billion dollars which Finance Minister Nicola Willis says she will not agree to. So what are the options on the table? Where does the abandonment of this project leave the future of rail? And how much taxpayers money has gone overboard? KiwiRail Chief Executive Peter Reidy speaks with Kathryn Ryan.

Film and TV reviewer Tamar Munch joins Kathryn to talk about Leave the World Behind (Netflix), an end-of-the-world drama that's causing some controversy. She'll also review Scrublands, streaming on ThreeNow, which is an Australian drama based on a book by Chris Hammer, about a priest that murders five parishioners and an investigation by a journalist into the reason why. Tamar will also look ahead to what's coming in January - including the fourth season of True Detective, starring Jodie Foster.

If you've ever asked a young child how their day was, you might have got a couple of responses - either a blank stare, or a list of every single thing that had happened to them that day. Judith Hudson studies memory development in children and the development of children's understanding of time. Professor of Psychology at Rutgers University in New Jersey, she says the way parents interact and talk to their children helps develop the child's memory for the past, and their ability to think about and plan for future events.

Technology correspondent Tony Grasso joins Kathryn to talk about who was likely behind the hacking of Sellafield, Europe's largest nuclear site. New Minister for the GCSB Judith Collins has spoken out about the Russian attacks detected by the UK National Cyber Security Centre. Ransomware as a service is bigger than ever and the number of scams are up - Tony talks about how they can be hiding in places that look legitimate. Tony Grasso is Principal Consultant at cybersecurity firm TitaniumDefence. He worked at GCHQ in the UK and is a former Intelligence Officer in New Zealand.

The economy shrank in the third quarter as households spent less, exports fell, and manufacturing activity decreased. Stats NZ data showed seasonally-adjusted gross domestic product (GDP) fell 0.3 percent in the three months ended September, compared to expectations of a 0.2 percent rise. Kathryn speaks to RNZ business editor Gyles Beckford.

Kelly talks to Kathryn about some of the court cases she's been covering recently, and also the WorkSafe charge the Rotorua Lakes Council is facing. Plus Makuini Warbrick's inspirational story about how she lost 50 kg - naturally.

Quentin Johnson reviews The Freedom of Emma Herwegh by Dirk Kurbjuweit (translated from the original German by Imogen Taylor) published by Text Publishing.

The holiday period can be a lonely one for many people. Around the world one in four adults say they're lonely. and loneliness is associated with increased risk of heart attacks to dementia and premature death. Dr Jeremy Nobel, the founder and president of The Foundation for Art & Healing and its signature initiative Project UnLonely. He is also on the faculty of the Harvard Medical School and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. His new book is also called Project UnLonely. He tells Kathryn about his own experience of loneliness and how art and creativity can reverse the feeling.

UK correspondent Dan Bloom joins Kathryn to look at the reprieve for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak over the government's Rwanda Bill, which passed its first vote without a predicted revolt from MPs in his own party. Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced he's stepping down, sparking a contest for the leadership of the Welsh Labour party and tougher immigration rules have led to warnings from the health sector. Dan Bloom is deputy editor of Politico London Playbook

Teenage ocean swimmer Caitlin O'Reilly's taking a well deserved break over summer after continuing her quest to conquer the Oceans Seven. That's the marathon swimming challenge that takes in seven channel swims around the world, including: The English, Catalina, North, Molokai and Tsugaru channels as well as the Strait of Gibraltar and New Zealand's own Cook Strait. Caitlin already has that under her belt - she knocked it off at age 12 - becoming the youngest Kiwi to swim it. The 19-year-old has also polished off the Tsugaru, North and English Channels. She'll keep training in Auckland over summer, ready to tackle the Catalina Channel in July.

The future of Cook Strait travel has been thrown into turmoil with the government's decision to decline KiwiRail's request for further $1.47 billion for two new mega ferries. To date, $435.1 million of Crown funding has been assigned for the Inter-Island Resilient Connection (iReX) project of which about $63 million remains. The fixed cost of the two ferries was $551 million, which Finance Minister Nicola Willis says makes up 21 percent of the total cost of the project. KiwiRail requested an additional nearly $1.5 billion to address cost blowouts for landside infrastructure in Wellington and Picton. Yesterday, Willis said the government would not pay up, and KiwiRail should go back to the drawing board.KiwiRail CEO Peter Reidy told Morning Report one option could be to continue building the bespoke designed ferries and sell them. Greater Wellington Regional Council chair Daran Ponter tells Kathryn Ryan he's unsurprised by the government's decision.

Never-before-seen supermarket pricing data is revealing just how complicated finding value on groceries is. Back in October, on the same day promising grocery startup Supie collapsed, National Business Review was contacted by a business called Ordain, which had been quietly collecting information on prices for six months. It had taken 13 staple goods, and compared them across Pak n Save, New World, Countdown (recently rebranded as Woolworths), The Warehouse, and Supie, across both the North and South Islands, every single day. What it has revealed, is prompting suspicions that the seemingly random, ever-changing prices are a bid to confuse customers into believing they're getting a good deal. NBR journalists Hamish McNicol and Maria Slade, and Grocery Commissioner Pierre van Heerden, speak with Kathryn Ryan.

Science correspondent Dr Siouxsie Wiles discusses how electric eels may genetically modify organisms around them, and how birds in Europe have been building nests using anti-bird spikes.

MyWellaBee lets users can enter any combination of dietary requirements to filter out products with certain additives and ingredients, to show which foods are available and where.

Che recaps some of the biggest stories of the year in Southland.

Carole Beu of the Women's Bookshop reviews Doppelganger by Naomi Klein published by Penguin Random House.

Professor David Strayer says humans function better in the great outdoors because our brains and bodies evolved in, and with, nature.

Australia correspondent Annika Smethurst discusses moves to tighten visa processes, and also why an Australia Day event in London is not going ahead.

Over the past eight years Wanaka's waterfront has been getting an upgrade - and the results have drawn praise from an international design body.

Kathryn talks to deputy political editor Craig McCulloch about the legislation being pushed through the House under urgency.

Moko Tepania has been mayor of the Far North for just over a year, and in that time district's civil defence team has been activated 14 times - for ex-tropical cyclones and other weather events.

Higher interest rates and living costs are forcing more property owners with mortgages over $500,000 into arrears, according to new data.

The new Super Rugby board has officially formed with marketing whiz Kevin Malloy the new chair - and the hunt for the new CEO has already seen them indicate the role is more centred on someone with marketing experience than sports or admin background. Sam gives his take on this. The quality of cricket pitches has been high in sporting conversations recently. Sam says the Black Caps salvaged a series draw against Bangladesh on a dog of a pitch - the worst captain Tim Southee has seen in his career.

Angela Lim is a doctor and tech entrepreneur who founded the mental health and wellbeing platform Clearhead five years ago. In the past year, it has supported 180,000 New Zealanders, through some of the country's biggest workplaces. These are in-person and on-line therapy sessions with qualified clinicians around the country. Clearhead boasts a two to three day wait time for a session, and offers therapy times outside of normal working hours, to suit the client. Dr Lim says Clearhead has never been funded by Te Whatu Ora, nor has it shown any interest. She says it's frustrating to see how little has changed in the publicly funded mental health sector. RNZ news is reporting today that most of the staff recruited to the 664-million-dollar scheme putting mental health advisers into GP clinics and other primary care settings have come from within the mental health sector, creating gaps in other areas. Clearhead has just released statistics from the past year - showing what the key concerns of its users are. Not surprisingly perhaps, anxiety is number one.

Dileepa discusses a China Business forum which he attended this week, as well as newly appointed trade minister Todd McClay's upcoming trips to Singapore and India, to establish deeper trade relationships. Dileepa Fonseka is a Senior Correspondent with BusinessDesk

The Westport News has just turned 150. It is believed to be the oldest independently-owned paper in New Zealand and was set up in November 1873 by politician Eugene O'Connor. Lee talks to Kathryn about the company behind the West Coast's new heavy mineral sands industry which says it's a world class resource with the potential to create about 300 jobs. And the Buller District Council is trying to pull back a potential rate rise of over 30 percent. Lee Scanlon is the Westport News Chief Reporter.

Gina Rogers reviews Behind the Seams by Dolly Parton with Holly George-Warren; Curated by Rebecca Seaver published by Penguin Random House

Kathryn speaks with Ana Heremaia, Felicity Brenchley and Jo Walsh from AKAU studio in Kaikohe, in the Far North. They have designed marae, learning centres, civic spaces and housing developments in the region. But AKAU Studio is far more than an architecture practice. They also have a design school for rangitahi that takes them through NZQA accredited courses to Level 3. Since they founded the studio nearly a decade ago, their mission has been to do something about the high rates of truancy, drug and alcohol abuse, youth offending and high unemployment in the Far North. AKAU Studio has just won this year's Institute of Architects' John Sutherland Practice Award.

Donald Trump has changed his mind about returning to the witness stand to testify in his own defense at his civil fraud trial in New York. And in Texas, the Supreme Court has temporarily halted a lower court's order that would have allowed a pregnant Dallas woman, whose fetus has lethal abnormality, to get an abortion. Ron Elving is Senior Editor and Correspondent on the Washington Desk for NPR News.

It's shaping up to be a hot dry summer in the City of Sails and Aucklanders are being urged to be mindful of their water use. With the El Niño climate pattern upon us, there's confidence from weather forecasters that warmer and drier conditions lie ahead. With that in mind Watercare is appealing to residents to be selective about how much water they use. Water demand in Auckland usually skyrockets on hot dry days. Watercare head of production Peter Rogers talks to Kathryn about the various ways people can be careful about their water use.

Would-be EV owners are flocking to dealers around the country and rushing to get their applications in for the clean car rebate, ahead of its demise on December 31. Anyone applying for the rebate on the Waka Kotahi website is met with a message that it could take up to 20 working days to process, but the agency says applications file before the 31st will be processed. The end of the Clean Car Discount, although not unexpected, has disappointed advocates - including lobby group Drive Electric - which wrote to new Transport Minister Simeon Brown about the expect effect of ending the policy and urged a staged phase-out. Kathryn speaks to Drive Electric chair Kirsten Corson, director of Auckland City EVs Nick Jackson and Aimee Wiley, CEO of the Motor Industry Association.

Kennedy is in Northland, where he recently took a visit to the Waitangi Treaty grounds on his recent National Geographic voyage.

Wellingtonian Lis Cowey is dedicated to ensuring her adult sons remain well nourished. Her book 'A feeling for food' had its genesis in including recipes in her letters to her sons who left home. There's a story behind every recipe which are cross cultural and intergenerational.

Neale Jones and Tim Hurdle take a look at how the opposition is challenging the new Government. And, how the three-way coalition makes seating in the House a little different. The panellists also discuss the mini-budget, due to be released on December 20. Neale Jones was chief of staff to Labour leader Jacinda Ardern, and before that was chief of staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of public affairs firm Capital. Tim Hurdle is a former National senior adviser, was the National Party campaign director in 2020. He is a director of several companies, including Museum Street Strategies, a public affairs firm.

Georgina talks to Kathryn about the rumour mill being in overdrive surrounding Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau admitting that she has a problem with alcohol. Also local reaction to Wellington's road cone Christmas tree, and an update on what's happening at Shelly Bay since Peter Jackson's recent land purchase. NZ Herald Wellington issues reporter Georgina Campbell

Harry Ricketts reviews Landfall 246: Spring 2023 Edited by Lynley Edmeades published by Otago University Press

Few of us live out our childhood dreams, let alone meet the hero that set us on our life path. Chadden Hunter, Australian biologist and wildlife filmmaker, has spent the better part of two decades in pursuit of the perfect shot. From living in a Bornean bat cave for a month, to scuba diving under Antarctic ice shelves and dodging death on the Arctic tundra - his mission is to tell nature's weird and wonderful stories. As a kid growing up in Northern Queensland, he was fascinated by Sir David Attenborough documentaries and the tropical world around him. Every dollar he earned went to dives on the Great Barrier Reef, and after graduating with a degree in Zoology, he pursued a PhD in Ethiopia. There, high in the Simian mountains, he had a chance encounter with an Attenborough film crew, and the man himself.

Seamus Kearney discusses the EU's political deal on the world's first legislative rules governing the use of artificial intelligence, which comes after months of legal wrangling. And in Russia, Vladimir Putin is seeking a fifth term as president. Finally, in France, six teenagers have been given suspended jail terms in connection with the beheading of French history teacher Samuel Paty in 2020.

Since November 2021 terminally ill New Zealanders have had the right to seek a medically assisted death, provisioned by the End of Life Choice Act. Since then, from more than 1400 applicants, 565 people have had an assisted death. Not everyone with a terminal illness meets the criteria, but for those who do, researchers say access can be difficult to navigate. The Ministry of Health is required to review the law in November next year. Dr Jessica Young, a sociologist and senior research fellow at Victoria University, is leading a team of researchers examining the experiences of people who are using the assisted dying pathways. And fellow team member Dr Jeanne Snelling, a senior law lecturer at the University of Otago, is zeroing in on legal aspects of the legislation.

What's in store for the massive patch of land in Carrington Road's residential development. Over the next decade more than 4,000 homes are destined for the almost 40 hectares site which is seven kilometres, or approximately 15 minutes from the CBD. Three Tamaki Makaurau ropu of Marutuahu, Ngati Whatua and Waiohua-Tamaki are leading the project facilitated by the Crown. Two urban design advocates discuss the huge undertaking to create homes for tens of thousands of people in a coveted part of the city, next to the Unitec campus on the Mt Albert, Point Chevalier border. Matt Lowrie from Greater Auckland, and housing expert and urban strategist, Greer O'Donnell who is the managing director of the Urban Advisory talk to Kathryn.

Comedians Te Radar and Donna Brookbanks with a few laughs and reaction to what's been hailed as the world's smelliest cheese going on sale in the UK.

Rain washed out day two of the second test Black cups versus Bangladesh, but Sam says there's still plenty of heat being directed towards selectors. The home summer of cricket has started with a fizzle - with the T20 series against the Pakistani women's side already lost with a game to go. Are the White Ferns just not as good as we think they are now? And Tauranga is the centre of the squash universe this week with the festival of squash. Paul Coll is top seed and into the quarterfinals of the NZ Mens Open.

Jeremy plays tracks off debut solo albums from Harp and Andre 3000, plus the epic prog-folk of Dublin's Lankum.

It's the beginning of a hot, dry, El Niño summer for the top of the South Island and water restrictions have been introduced in Nelson and Tasman already, Sam talks to Kathryn about a group of Nelsonians tired of hearing that the city centre is dying - they have joined forces in a bid to change the narrative.Te Whatu Ora has briefed councillors from Nelson and Tasman on the progress of the Nelson Hospital upgrade, it is still 10 years from being finished. And Greymouth's Pounamu Pathway opened this week - it is one of four new Maori-lead tourism ventures on the West Coast.

A wounded NZ fighter lies in a crowded ward in a makeshift hospital as the Ukrainian/Russian war rages outside . He is being cared for by a Ukrainian medical team and develops a faltering connection with a local doctor with quite good grasp of the English language. It is the doctor's literal interpretation of the narrator's kiwi idiom that highlights the pathos of the situation they are living through. All Things Considered by Tim Saunders is one of the 2023 Nine to Noon Short Story Competition winners, and is told by Alex Grieg.

Martene McCaffrey of Unity Books Auckland reviews Crooked Plow by Itamar Vieira Junior published by Verso

Elizabeth Cracroft is the creator of the theatre show REHAB which aims to break down the stigma of addiction. The show was on at Auckland's Basement Theatre last month, and had it's first showing in 2021 during the city's Fringe Festival. She speaks from personal experience, she has now been sober 14 years. She says her own drinking story represents the full buffet of the idiosyncrasies of alcoholism. The stage play which is improvised, is set in a residential treatment centre and has a range of characters from a variety of backgrounds getting help for their addictions. From the age of 16, alcohol was her substance of choice, and her drinking escalated over the next few years until she was 24 and sought help. Elizabeth Cracroft has recently completed a law degree and intends to practice law, and hopes REHAB will be staged in other centres.

Arrests have been made in Nepal after a gang was accused of smuggling people and forcing them into the Russian military to fight in Ukraine. The people trapped in the scheme and extorted were young unemployed Nepalis, who thought they were being granted a travel visa, but instead they were being trafficked to fight for Russia. And Elizabeth has details of a family's dramatic escape from Covid-era North Korea. Elizabeth Beattie is based in Tokyo.

It's an end-of-the-year dilemma for many parents - how to say thank you to their child's teacher. As the school year grinds to an end, what gifts are appropriate for the person who's been guiding your child along on their educational journey? Alternatively - what presents aren't so appreciated? Is there such a thing as too many chocolates or coffee mugs? Maiana McCurdy, a teacher on Auckland's Hisbiscus Coast, kindly joins Kathryn with her thoughts on what's a hit - and a miss - in the staffroom at Christmas.

The new government says its tougher-on-crime approach will see up to 400 more people sent to prison in the coming year. But the union representing corrections workers says it is already facing chronic staff shortages, and can't keep up with this year's more than 10 per cent rise in the prison population. There are currently just under 9000 inmates. The Department of Corrections says it is short about 370 staff right now - meaning the country's 18 jails can't use all of the 11,000 beds across the system. But the Corrections Association says the number needed is closer to 500. Association President Floyd du Plessis says recruitment and retention is really challenging and the situation poses safety issues.

The Minister for Tertiary Education says the super-institute Te Pukenga will be gone within six to eight months, replaced by 8 to 10 institutions. Yesterday Penny Simmonds instructed the organisation to stop progressing the centralisation of vocational training and education. She says the new government will introduce legislation to get rid of Te Pukenga, which she says has been a total failure, and led to a blow out in costs. Kathryn speaks with former chief executive of Otago Polytechnic Phil Ker.

Film and TV correspondent Laumata Lauano has been working her way through the new Christmas offerings so you don't have to!

Speech and Language Therapist Christian Wright on what NOT to say to parents concerned about their child's speech and language development. And he'll share strategies for dealing with these questions if they do arise.

Technology correspondent Bill Bennett joins Susie to talk about a report that Europe's most toxic nuclear site, Sellafield in the UK, has been the target of a cyber attack. Not only that, it happened in 2015 and the malware may still be present. He'll also talk about the impact that satellites have had on New Zealand's telco sector, and the continuing cost to X (formerly Twitter) of owner Elon Musk's outburst at advertisers.

The Hamilton City Council has been considering its draft long term plan budget, with the Mayor, Paula Southgate saying tough decisions will need to be made. The beach-side community of Raglan, in Waikato, needs a new plan for its treated sewage with the current treatment plant operating under an expired consent for the last three years. Limits have been placed on Waikato River wake boats to help stop spread of invasive clam and Libby will talk about the iconic Wellington Street Beach in Hamilton.

A six year old recalls an incident that happened many years ago while on a fishing trip with his father on the Tongariro river. A contemplation on life and how a good fisherman might navigate the currents as the light of the day fades to black. The Wanderer (a Ghost Story) is written by Richard Benefield and told by Peter Hambleton. It is one of the 2023 Nine to Noon Short Story Competition winners.

Paul Diamond reviews Reconnecting Aotearoa: Loneliness and Connection in the Age of Social Distance Edited by Kathy Errington and Holly Walker published by Bridget Williams Books.

Phillipa Gregory is best known for her works of historical fiction which have sold many millions around the world. The Other Boleyn Girl and The White Queen are among her almost 40 novels. Her new book is a big departure - a work of non fiction which celebrates previously invisible women at the centre of history. Philippa Gregory is a recognised historian - she has a PhD from University of Edinburgh, where she was made Alumna of the Year in 2009. She tells Susie Ferguson that Normal Women: 900 Year of Making History is the culmination of her life's work.

UK correspondent Matthew Parris looks at what former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told the Covid inquiry - including that he "should've twigged" about the seriousness of the virus sooner. The Home Secretary James Cleverly says a new treaty with Rwanda addresses some concerns of the UK's Supreme Court, which ruled the government's deportation plan unlawful last month. Rules for couples wanting to settle in UK have changed, with a big jump in the amount they will have to earn from £18,600 to £38,700. And a change at Ryanair has some customers seething.

DB Breweries' plant at Washdyke in Timaru is not only churning out beer - it's also making its own compost. Three years ago the company started a project that would see it treat its own wastewater, instead of using the city's treatment system. The byproduct is used as compost and diverted from landfill. Brewery manager Adrian Finlayson talks about how the project came about, what it involves and his own interesting career brewing beer in unusual places.

The Police union says the new Minister's expectations are very clear, but it's less clear how they can be achieved, while having to make cost savings.Mark Mitchell met with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster yesterday and released a letter afterwards setting out what he expects, including more of a focus on core policing with a back-to-basics approach. Mr Mitchell says he wants a more visible police presence and new legislation used to crack down on gangs. But he also told the Police Commissioner that police would still have to find cost savings, just as other government agencies and departments do. President of the Police Association, Chris Cahill, says police are already struggling to retain officers, and it's going to be tough to deliver what the government wants without more resources.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council is on the brink of lifting its boil water notice. After a breakout of the cryptosporidium parasite in the resort town back in the middle of September 2023 residents and businesses were required to boil their tap water. That boil water notice has remained to today for those in and around the CBD as the council worked to install UV water treatment equipment at its Two Mile water supply. The council says that work is now done and it is awaiting confirmation from water regulator Taumata Arowai that it can lift the boil water notice.

It's that time of year that can really put the squeeze on your finances. Lisa Dudson joins Susie to talk about how to budget for the season and reduce your stress levels. Lisa Dudson is the owner of Acumen.co.nz. Her advice is of a general nature

The population looks set to grow between 2.4 and 2.6% this year, and Massey University demographer Professor Emeritus Paul Spoonley says it looks like we'll end the year with the highest net population gain in the OECD. Meanwhile New Zealand citizens are departing in droves - equal to the high years during 2011 and 2012. Professor Spoonley says a Productivity Commission report last year highlighted the need for more services and infrastructure to keep pace with migration, but has had little impact on policy. Professor Paul Spoonley is Distinguished Professor Emeritus and Honorary Research Associate in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Massey University.

Peter talks to Susie about the cost of bringing non-compliant water supplies across the district up to scratch. Also the massive community reaction to news that Takahe chicks have hatched in the wild near Glenorchy in Greenstone Valley. And a professional hunter has been hired to kill over 50 rabbits in Queenstown's main public gardens. Peter is the Managing Editor, Crux, based in Arrowtown.

A Kiwi farmer is startled by a strange light coming under his door one night. It's aliens who have come for the world's rabbits, as they think that rabbits are cute and they have built a moon for them.

Phil Vine reviews The In-Between by Christos Tsiolkas published by Allen & Unwin

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton joins Susie to talk about new legislation for illegal migrants that break the law, l'amour between Australia and France and postal changes.

The Reserve Bank wants to try bringing back cash services in rural communities next year. 

Community pharmacists say they're baffled by the government's decision to put pseudoephedrine back on the shelves, and are worried about a return to co-payments for prescriptions.  

Kiwi teens have slipped down the international rankings of reading, maths and science again. To explain what this means for students beginning NCEA - founder of the Education Hub, Dr Nina Hood.

New Zealand's Paul Coll has won the Hong Kong Squash Open by beating Egyptian Ali Farag in the men's final. And the Black Caps face unwanted history after their first test loss to Bangladesh. So can the New Zealand side bounce back? Finally, a wrap of the Dubai 7s tournament.

It's not too late to craft some Christmas presents, soaps, salves and food items. Naturopath and medical herbalist, Jane Wrigglesworth has a raft of ideas on how to fashion useful presents that don't cost much to produce. If you have a herb garden at home, it can be put to good use to use in a selection of home made items suitable for gifting. Jane is the author of Everyday Herbalist and writes for numerous publications including NZ Gardener and Lifestyle Block.

BusinessDesk investigations editor, Victoria Young has been looking at audit firms and the NZX50 companies that use them. And SkyCity's multi-million dollar carpark spat, and why a judge ruled in the casino operator's favour. Finally, mounting criticism over the shelf-life of gift cards, as Consumer NZ warns shoppers are losing about 10 million dollars on unspent cards every year.

Paid parking plans in Tauranga have been delayed after a public outcry, Western Bay councillors have defended their use of closed-door workshops,Tauranga stores have been barred from selling alcohol before 10am and seven flood damaged pensioner flats in Waihi Beach are to be demolished . Western Bay of Plenty Local Democracy reporter Alisha Evans based in Tauranga with SunLive.

A man is puzzled by the new lodger that has moved in with him and his wife. In trying to build a picture of the mysterious lodger, the man is confronted with a bitter incident from the past and comes to understand a little more about love and acceptance. Love Like Lemons is written by Sam Reece, and told by Gavin Rutherford.

Louise O'Brien reviews A Memoir of My Former Self by Hilary Mantel published by Hachette

It was a story of love and deception so extraordinary it became a hit Netflix documentary. 'The Tinder Swindler', the story of Simon Leviev - a prolific romance scammer - was shocking in scale, with one woman conned out of more than $400,000. But the victim, Cecilie Fjellhøy is far from alone. Globally romance scams are on the rise, and dating apps, such as Tinder and Bumble - recording billions of 'matches' a year - have become fertile ground for fraudsters. New Zealand's Netsafe recently reported a 39 percent increase in online romance scams, with the average loss per victim a staggering $18,667 - according to Netsafe, the tip of the iceberg. Since 'The Tinder Swindler' Cecilie has teamed up with Anna Rowe - another romance scam victim. Together they have launched an online think tank: LoveSaid, with the aim to remove the stigma around such scams and campaign for better legal protection and recourse.

George Santos has been expelled from the house, making it the first time this has occurred without a conviction. Ximena discusses what this means for the upcoming house elections. And former President Donald Trump's civil lawsuit continues in New York. Ximena Bustillo is a multi-platform reporter at NPR covering politics out of the White House and Congress on air and in print.

Tough decisions are looming for Auckland's flood recovery as affected residents head into the holiday season. It's been around 10 months since the Auckland anniversary weekend floods, and Cyclone Gabrielle, hit the region within weeks of each other. 3000 properties were damaged by the floods, with many still awaiting categorisation. And buyout negotiations are beginning for the first lot of properties which have been deemed level three - meaning they pose intolerable risk to life, and owners will not return. Auckland Council will be discussing the Recovery Plan next Thursday, which formally sets out the next phase of response, and looks at how to improve resilience for future weather events. And progress is being made on Blue-Green Network planning - a host of community-level projects to support properties in high-risk areas. Group Recovery Manager Mat Tucker joins Kathryn to look back on what has been a tough year for many.

The country's first community based Depression Recovery Centre is set to open in Wellington early next year, established by a not-for-profit charity. It will offer a therapeutic day programme for people with moderate to severe mental health issues, and hopes to serve 300 people per year, at purpose built premises in Cuba Street. The centre, to be known as "Whakama Tutu: A place of recovery" will have a team of 20 staff, including a GP, psychiatrist, eight psychotherapists, a trauma treatment specialist as well as art, music and massage therapy. It will begin assessing its first participants from the 15th of January to begin the first course in February. The driving force behind the centre, and it's director, is Wellington mental health advocate and lawyer Brent Williams - who has found funding from the private sector and got backing from ACC, the Social Development Ministry and private insurers, but so far Te Whatu Ora has not given any support. Brent Williams is in our Wellington studio, along with Psychotherapist Karen Begg, who is part of the new centre.

Bill discusses a new exhibition at Auckland's Objectspace gallery called 'The Chair; a story of design and making in Aotearoa'. It showcases more then 110 New Zealand designed and made chairs spanning 170 years, all loaned by individuals and institutions. Bill hones in on three chairs in particular, and what they tell us about our attitude to design. Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland.

Christmas and cookies have become intertwined in recent years - something Auckland-based biscuit makers Molly Woppy know only too well. The company still handmakes its products - everything from sticky date, walnut and chia biscuits to dark chocolate caramel popcorn, lemon moments and ginger almond brazil biscotti. Molly Woppy was co-founded by Hayley Molloy and her partner Alistair Parker 21 years ago. Many of their products have taken top honours at the New Zealand Food Awards. Alistair and Hayley Kathryn to talk about how they strive for authenticity by using traditional home-baking methods.

What's on the Christmas wishlist from the Hawke's Bay's mayors as their cyclone ravaged regions are still in recovery mode. RNZ's Napier based reporter, Lauren Crimp also has the latest on emergency housing in Flaxmere. And the iconic Hastings water park, Splash Planet reopens for the summer after $2.4 million of repairs in the last six months.

A man in his 50s volunteers to drive the hearse with his father's body to Auckland. During the journey the son reflects on who his father was and his relationship with him, and comes to understand that he and his father are more alike than he had previously thought. Some Other Richard is one of the winners of the Nine to Noon 2023 Short Story Competition. It was written by Andrea Pollard, and is told by Jim Moriarty.

David Hill reviews Wish I Was Here by M. John Harrison published by Serpent's Tale

Born in Hawera, South Taranaki, to parents who had immigrated from Sri Lanka, Dr Anu Anandaraja dreamed of one day planting her feet on the African continent. Convinced that medicine was her ticket to get there, she embarked on a medical degree at the University of Auckland and upon graduating, headed to the United States' most prestigious medical school to train in paediatrics - New York's Mount Sinai. Anu says in her more than a decade and a half in the system, she met "the best and the worst of people". The tipping point came while she was director of Public Health, and in 2019, Anu and several colleagues filed a lawsuit against Mount Sinai alleging age, sex, and race discrimination. It spurred hundreds of other healthcare professionals at Mount Sinai, and across the United States, to reveal similar experiences. In 2020, Anu left the institution for good, but the lawsuit drags on. Mount Sinai has denied all allegations. Anu is currently dedicating her time to Women Together - the organisation she founded seven years ago to help empower women and girls to achieve economic independence - and had just returned from a trip to Malawi when she spoke to Kathryn.

Sebastian Usher brings the latest from the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Each year the National Excellence in Teaching Awards honour four early childhood, primary and secondary school educators from around the motu. This year Nga Hau e Wha Resource Teacher of Learning and Behaviour Amie Roberts won both the Apple Award, and a Teacher Mentor Special Award, for her work in implementing Structured Literacy into schools around Wellington. Her own journey into specialising in teaching structured literacy came from watching her own son struggle to read. She tells Kathryn her story.

The boss of Auckland's City Rail Link is giving no guarantees it will hit its opening deadline of 2026. Preliminary work on the 3.4km track, spanning four underground stations, from downtown's Britomart to Mt Eden, began in 2016. But CRL chief executive Sean Sweeney says reaching that deadline of 2026 - 10 years later - is not guaranteed. The latest cost projection of the build is 5.49 billion dollars - and once it is up and running, it's is set to cost Auckland ratepayers an estimated 220 million dollars a year to maintain. It will serve as connecting link between existing rail services , making most of the central city accessible by train. An engineer ,Sean Sweeney has spent four decades working across the world overseeing such big construction jobs. But as he tells Kathryn Ryan, he believes Auckland is the most expensive place in the world for infrastructure projects.

The president of the United Nations Climate talks COP28 in Dubai says there is "no science" indicating that a phase-out of fossil fuels is needed to restrict global heating to 1-point-5-degrees celsius. As well as running Cop28 in Dubai, Sultan Al Jaber is also the chief executive of the United Arab Emirates' state oil company, Adnoc, which many observers say is a serious conflict of interest. As weather disasters and heat intensifies around the world, over 60 thousand people are gathered for the latest talks. The main task is an assessment of countries' progress towards meeting the 2015 Paris Agreement's goal of limiting the global temperature rise to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius, while aiming for 1.5C. So far global efforts are lagging. Kathryn speaks with the Guardian's Environment Editor Fiona Harvey from Dubai

Comedians Te Radar and Elisabeth Easther chew over why many schools are banning Crocs from students' feet.

Sports commentator Sam Ackerman

Something of an indie "supergroup" containing past and present members of The Bats, The Clean, Tall Dwarfs and Toy Love, the Sundae Painters have just released a cracker debut LP. Grant Smithies brings us two key tracks from that today, alongside the first new songs in 11 years from Auckland hip hop crew Home Brew and an early reggae classic from Alton Ellis.

Something of an indie "supergroup" containing past and present members of The Bats, The Clean, Tall Dwarfs and Toy Love, the Sundae Painters have just released a cracker debut LP. Grant Smithies brings us two key tracks from that today, alongside the first new songs in 11 years from Auckland hip hop crew Home Brew and an early reggae classic from Alton Ellis.

The Dublin Street Bridge needs replacing and it's going to cost $62.5 million. Mike says Waka Kotahi will come to the party but the council will still need to stump up 40-odd per cent of the cost. 

Sonja de Friez reviews Secret Gardens of Aotearoa by Jane Mahoney and Sophie Bannan published by Allen and Unwin

Historian Andrew Smith has been running walking ghost tours around Dunedin for 25 years now, and admits even he still gets spooked. 

RNZ Pacific Editor Koroi Hawkins is in the Solomon Islands, where the 2023 Pacific Games is wrapping up. 

Genesis Energy wants to install a grid-scale battery at its Huntly Power Station as part of a shift to a renewable energy based electricity generator. 

A major case brought by 268 former players against World Rugby and other authorities is to start tomorrow at the London High Court. The players say they were exposed to head injuries that led to disorders such as motor neurone disease and early onset dementia among others. 

Film and TV reviewer James Croot joins Kathryn to talk about the first of three 60th anniversary specials for Doctor Who (Disney+), starring David Tennant and Catherine Tate. The new series of Fargo (Neon) stars Jon Hamm and Juno Temple and Under Pressure (Netflix) breaks down the US women's football team and their time at the World Cup in New Zealand this year. James will also look at Brollie, a new free Australasian streaming service. James Croot is Stuff's Stuff to Watch editor

A new podcast that's helping parents of disabled children navigate the tricky issues of sexuality, sex and sexual harm. The Courage Club brings parents of medically disabled or neuro-divergent kids together with experts over five episodes, seeking to encourage conversations that might normally be taboo or down the pecking order in terms of things to worry about. It's designed as a resource to help keep disabled kids safe. Kathryn is joined by Emily Writes, the Courage Club's host and mother to two high needs children. Also with me is Kathryn McPhillips, from Help - an organisation that supports Aucklanders who have been sexually abused and is one of the podcast's partners.

Tech correspondent Mark Pesce joins Kathryn to look at a report in Nature that notes ChatGPT can be used to generate fake, but reasonably good-looking, scientific data to support a hypothesis. What does that mean for reviewers in how they approach data sets? And evidence presented at a court case suggests Tesla engineers - and the company's CEO Elon Musk - were aware of flaws with their auto-pilot system but failed to fix or update it. And a Spanish AI model is earning thousands from her "work" - and getting asked out by celebrities who don't realise she's not real.

Susan Botting is in Northland, where authorities are gearing up to throw money and time at the region's busiest tourist lake as the threat of a new invasive freshwater pest - the gold clam - grows. And Northland Regional Council has elected a new chair, Geoff Crawford, at an explosive meeting which saw both tears and accusations.

Dean Bedford reviews Rugby League in New Zealand: A People's History by Ryan Bodman published by Bridget Williams Books

A South Auckland church community is rallying around people whose homes have been destroyed by fire early this morning. Firefighters were called to the major fire, at the Akoteu Faka-Kalisi-tiane Ko Namoa church complex, on Coronation Road in Māngere Bridge at about 3am. Nobody was injured in the blaze but at least four homes have significant damage. The Tongan church and pre-school nearby have not been damaged. Nearby Mountain View School has closed for the day due to asbestos possibly being in the burned buildings. Spokesperson for the church Frank Koloi speaks with Kathryn.

Until 2014 St David's Memorial Church sat on an unassuming spot on an ever-busier Kyber Pass Road in Auckland. But it was up for demolition after failing stronger earthquake regulations. Paul Baragwanath's family had been involved in running the church across two generations, and the news spurred him into action. Over the next nine years with the Friends of St David's Trust he helped the building secure heritage status, and then the funds to be bought from the church. Kahui St David's has secured another lease on its life as a centre for music. On Monday night a series of commissioned works by artist Sara Hughes will be unveiled inside the Great Hall and North Chapel, with more details available here.

UK correspondent Matt Dathan looks at the trouble facing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak over immigration as he tries to find a way of reviving the Rwanda plan and slash migration figures. Relations with Greece are in a slump after comments by the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis over the infamous Elgin Marbles, which prompted Mr Sunak to cancel a planned meeting. Michael Gove has given evidence at the Covid inquiry that the UK should've gone into lockdown sooner, and a new book on the royal family has been pulled over libel concerns.

An Auckland food scrap collection service has saved nine million kilograms of organic food waste from landfill, with the scraps converted into renewable energy and liquid fertiliser at New Zealand's only anaerobic digestion facility. The first food scraps begin in Waitakere in April - with 440,000 bins delivered to residents so far. Parul Sood is Auckland Council's waste solutions general manager.

The motor industry is warning there are not enough mechanics trained to service and repair a surging number of electric and hybrid vehicles on our roads. Pure battery electric vehicles make up about 1.5 percent of the country's total fleet - with 68,853 EVs on the roads as at the end of October. There are a further 230,000 hybrids. The Ministry of Transport is forecasting the pure electric fleet to more than double to up to as much as 150,000 by the end of next year. The Motor Trade Association says the number of mechanics being trained is not enough to keep up. Hamish Miller, automotive and engineering academic leader at Otago Polytechnic, says he wants a nationwide framework similar to what he has seen in Australia.

Science correspondent Laurie Winkless joins Kathryn to look at a new study into the effect sitting in traffic can have on your blood pressure - but it's not what you think. Inhaling unfiltered air pollution while you go nowhere can up your blood pressure and, more concerningly, keep it there. The mystery of how dolomite is formed has been answered by researchers at the University of Michigan and new technology is bringing a 'sense of touch' to robots and prosthetic limbs. Laurie Winkless is a physicist and science writer

Being in a relationship with an emotionally immature person can be a nightmare says Wellington psychologist Karen Nimmo. But how do you tell if they're the problem - or you are? And is it worth trying to save your partnership, or should you head for the hills before Christmas?

Music commentator Kirsten Zemke joins Kathryn to talk about Hawaiian music and how it emphasizes the voice. She'll talk about why many songs feature falsetto or leo ki'eki'e (high voice) and where the slack key guitar originated from. Kirsten Zemke is an ethnomusicologist at the University of Auckland's School of Social Sciences,

Kirsty joins Kathryn to talk about Te Anau recently hosting one of the largest and most complex emergency rescue exercises in the region, the weekend's annual Kepler Challenge mountain run and the axing of a highly controversial $1 charge to pee in the public toilet. Kirsty Pickett is co-owner of the Southland App

Hannah August reviews Went to London, Took the Dog by Nina Stibbe published by Pan Macmillan

135 years on from Jack the Ripper's heinous and brutal murders in London's Whitechapel, the case still fascinates. Sarah Bax Horton's ancestor worked on the case, and her research led her to new theory of who Jack was.

Australia correspondent Chris Niesche joins Kathryn to talk about the government's plans for a major crackdown on vaping, including banning single-use vapes from importation as well as tighter rules around flavours, nicotine levels and packaging. New South Wales has become the last Australian state to introduce voluntary assisted dying and China is recruiting expat influencers to spread the government's word to their communities.

A report out this morning makes the case for urban cable cars to help ease congestion in our biggest cities. It was commissioned by aerial lift manufacturer Doppelmayr - which has made gondolas and ski-lifts all around the globe.

Hundreds of conservation projects hang in the balance as the clock ticks down on government funding. What happens to NZ's predator-free goals.

Palliative care doctors are warning of a difficult five months ahead as stocks of the most used liquid morphine run out. 

Glen will look at the Black Caps being action today, this time with the first of two tests against Bangladesh. The Kiwis coach Michael Maguire has resigned and is off to New South Wales as State of Origin coach - so who's in the running to replace him? The Phoenix men's and women's teams are having a ripper start to the season - but where are their supporters? And who will be representing New Zealand in Sport Climbing at the Paris Olympics next year?

Citizens Advice Bureau deputy chief executive Andrew Hubbard joins Kathryn to look at a new report done by Otago University's Civil Justice Centre into the most common legal problems experienced by Kiwis and what kind of help they need. Citizens Advice Bureau data fed into the report, with researchers looking at it in the context of wider concerns about access to justice and potential barriers to it. So what did they find - and what could make a difference to helping people? 

Andrew Bayly is the new Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister - so where does he stand on the big issues in that portfolio? Business correspondent Rebecca Stevenson joins Kathryn to look at what's happened to the OpenAI board in the wake of the Sam Altman sacking debacle. She'll also talk about Andrew Bayly's new role as Commerce and Consumer Affairs minister - what can we expect from him on issues like open banking, financial institution conduct and market competition? Rebecca Stevenson is a senior journalist at BusinessDesk

Todd looks at the biggest issues facing our biggest city - including Auckland Council selling the Downtown carpark to Precinct Properties, despite a last-minute flurry of opposition and threat to sue. So what's planned for the site? Mayor Wayne Brown has taken a trip to India, against official advice, and one to Melbourne that his own councillors didn't know about. And how much of a blow to the city is the loss of the Sail GP series? Todd Niall is Stuff's Senior Auckland Affairs Journalist

Kiran Dass reviews The Stirrings by Catherine Taylor published by Weindfeld and Nicholson

Helen Beaglehole is a Wellington writer, editor, and historian whose family has been collecting contemporary New Zealand art for over two generations.  Nine to Noon spoke to her last year when she published her book One Hundred Havens: A History of the Marlborough Sounds. Helen has now opened her red front door for her latest book: Light and Reflections, published alongside photographer Matthew O'Reilly, to share her life of collecting work from the now-prominent names, who were then up-and-comers.

Ron joins Kathryn to talk about how the Hamas-Israel conflict continues to have an impact in the US, including the weekend shooting in Vermont of three college students from Palestine. Democrats are badly divided about Israel's response to October 7 - as well as that of President Joe Biden. And as lawmakers return to Congress after the Thanksgiving break - there's a lot to get through, as the latest financial numbers suggest the economy will end the year on a good note. Ron Elving is Senior Editor and Correspondent on the Washington Desk for NPR News.v

The results of a recent survey paints a surprising picture for Asian New Zealanders - a community often referred to as a 'model minority'. The nationwide survey - commissioned by Asian Family Services and the New Zealand Drug Foundation - found higher levels of drug use in Asian communities than previously thought, with some groups exceeding the national average. The organisations are now calling for more services that cater specifically to Asian New Zealanders to try and combat harm. Kelly Feng - chief executive of Asian Family Services - speaks to Kathryn.

New Zealand needs more seasonal workers from the Pacific, but regional leaders are sounding the alarm about the impact on their economies. The number of Pacific Island seasonal workers coming to Aotearoa has doubled in the last decade and has jumped by almost a third in the last three years. National pledged during the election campaign to double the cap on seasonal workers from 19,000 to 38,000 under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme. In the year to June 2023, 48,000 people left the Pacific to participate in New Zealand's RSE scheme and the Australian equivalent - but Pacific leaders in Samoa, Vanuatu, and Fiji have expressed concern, saying their own economies are being impacted. Samoa's Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa said countries like hers should not be seen merely as `outposts' which `grow' labourers for developed nations, and has since brought in legislation to try and exert some control over labour movements. Meanwhile, New Zealand's National and Act parties have signed a coalition agreement to increase the cap but did not specify by how much. Kathryn speaks to Massey University's Dr. Apisalome Movono and Professor Regina Scheyvens about the implications.

A large cruise ship has turned around from Wellington this morning because of the wind. The Ovation of the Seas arrived from Australia but turned around a short time ago. Kathryn speaks with Wellington Harbourmaster Grant Nalder.

Kennedy Warne speaks with Kathryn Ryan from a National Geographic ship offshore of Marahau, the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park. He is on a coastal voyage which began at Milford Sound and will travel as far north as Waitangi. the voyage has taken him back to Rakiura Stewart Island, where he spoke to Nine to Noon a month ago from another ship visit.

Tracey Moffitt had a rough ride with gut issues in her 20s, but without that experience - she may not have found her passion: to blend. Tracey is the founder of Naked Nectar, a company that makes ready-to-blend smoothies. They're 100 per cent natural ingredients, all pre-blended and packed into cubes then frozen. The simple and nutritious idea led her 'Morning After' smoothie to be a finalist in this year's New Zealand Food Awards. That flavour, along with three others - Macro Muncher, Energizer Bunny and Happy Chappie - all netted bronze at the 2023 Inspire+ NZ Artisans Awards.

New cabinet ministers are being sworn in by the Governor General at Government house. National leader Christopher Luxon was first and is now officially New Zealand's 42nd Prime Minister. RNZ's Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch with the latest.

Political commentators Tim Hurdle and Neale Jones discuss the recently formed government. Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of public affairs firm Capital. Tim Hurdle is a former National senior adviser, was the National Party Campaign Director in 2020. He is a director of several companies, including Museum Street Strategies, a public affairs firm.

Newsroom South Island reporter David Williams unpacks the situation at Christchurch City Council, amid high-profile resignations and successive staff surveys revealing gripes about pay and toxic behaviour. And, a review revealing 26 roles were created either without a budget, without documentation, or without approval between 2019 and 2023.

Bel Moneypenny from Scorpio Books in Christchurch reviews The Conversion by Amanda Lohrey published by Text Publishing

Auckland will have an A-League mens football team in next season's iteration of the premier Australian football competition. The long awaited entry of an Auckland A-Legaue team was officially confirmed last week with a full A-League licence granted to American billionaire Bill Foley. The club will enter a team in the 2025/26 season of A-League Women. Foley owns Bournemouth's English Premier League club and in 2017 launched the ice hockey team Las Vegas Golden Knights who went on to win the Stanley Cup earlier this year. Foley also owns Foley Wines and the Wharekauhau lodge in Wairarapa. Nick Becker talks to Kathryn about what the next steps are after the licence was secured.

When Tim Li was growing up in Taupo, his parents owned a fish and chip shop and he spent many, many hours looking at the Seafood New Zealand poster, and drawing the different fish. He and the family would trout fish in the Waikato river, and later go on regular fishing trips to Te Kaha on the east cape, where Tim's love of the ocean began. He went on to study art and design at university, and after a teaching art in high school for years, has drawn together his love of marine life and art into a career. His hyper-real, larger than life, graphite drawings showcase and celebrate the underwater world. Tim also practices the ancient art of Japanese Gyotaku printmaking where ink is applied to the fish and the image transferred to rice paper.

Seamus looks at a shock election result in the Netherlands, with the right-wing PVV Freedom Party scoring about 25 percent of the vote. Anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders would still need to build a coalition with at least two other moderate parties to govern. And in Dublin, Ireland, a heavy police presence remains after a rare outbreak of riots linked to far-right, anti-immigrant groups. Authorities say the violence, which followed a knife attack targeting children, saw the largest ever deployment of riot police in the history of the Republic of Ireland.

Access to the digital world is now a necessity - however one hundred and twenty thousand Kiwi kids can't access a learning device at home. The 'Quadrent Green Lease' scheme is helping to close the digital equity gap by supplying school pupils in need of tech with refurbished ex-lease machines that otherwise might end up in waste. Since 2022 400 high quality ex-lease laptops have been donated. Rob Downie, is the Head of Health & Physical Education at Auckland's Tangaroa College, whose pupils are among the recipients of this scheme. The scheme is run by Quadrent, BNZ, and Te Puni Kokiri. Gary Nalder, the General Manager of Quadrent New Zealand joins Rob Downie and Kathryn Ryan.

The ability to identify rare diseases in critically ill babies is being rolled out at Auckland Hospital, allowing for quicker diagnosis and treatment. There are around five deaths for every 1000 live births in New Zealand each year, and at least one of these is due to an undiagnosed genetic disorder of a baby in intensive care. There are 150,000 children with rare diseases, with fewer than half of them are diagnosed by the time they turn one - and some families can wait more than 10 years for an actual diagnosis. A new genetic sequencing facility, established by the Liggins Institute means DNA sequencing for neo-nates who are critically ill, and will no longer need to be done overseas, making the process less costly and quicker. Liggins Institute Director Justin O'Sullivan says the cutting edge genome sequencing technology will revolutionise the ability to diagnose rare diseases in infants. He says this will empower clinicians and whanau to deal with more than 300 known rare diseases where there are readily available treatments - an exciting development according to clinical neonatologist Auckland Hospital director for new born services Dr Mariam Buksh.

Comedians Te Radar and Pinky Agnew discuss the UK's ban on Toyota SUV adverts, the mannequin hair which prompted calls to the police, and a death-defying fish.

The coalition government is confirmed. Kathryn gets the immediate analysis on the policies and ministerial positions from RNZ political editor Jane Patterson and political commentator Tim Hurdle. Tim Hurdle is a former National senior adviser, was the National Party Campaign Director in 2020. He is a director of several companies, including Museum Street Strategies, a public affairs firm.

The coalition government is confirmed. Kathryn gets the immediate analysis on the policies and ministerial positions from RNZ political editor Jane Patterson and political commentator Tim Hurdle. Tim Hurdle is a former National senior adviser, was the National Party Campaign Director in 2020. He is a director of several companies, including Museum Street Strategies, a public affairs firm.

RNZ Checkpoint reporter based in Palmerston North, Jimmy Ellingham has been speaking to Ruapehu businesses following another rocky season, Massey University staff and students are still facing uncertainty about the future, and the high school students building Kainga Ora houses.

Lisa Adler from Unity Books Wellington reviews Rambling Man My Life on the Road by Billy Connolly published by Hachette

Ray Salisbury is an author and photographer with a lifelong love for the New Zealand backcountry. In the 1990's he completed a solo 80-day traverse of the North Island mountain ranges, and wrote a book about the epic journey, called 'Cape to Cape'. With 50 years of tramping experience behind him, he's now turned his attention to documenting some significant adventures of other kiwis in his new book 'Epic: Adventures across Aotearoa', published by Exisle Publishing. The book is a tribute to the spirit of adventure, sharing the stories of a dozen memorable Kiwi explorers epic journeys. Ray is a regular contributor to Wilderness Magazine.

Tokyo based journalist Elizabeth Beattie gives us the latest on deteriorating relationships at the North and South Korean border, Taiwan's presidential election campaign heats up, and the Philippines government cancels Christmas for soldiers in the South China Sea.

It is the multibillion-dollar fund set up to help pay for the extra costs of the retirement of the large baby boomer generation, that peaks mid-century. Now the New Zealand Superannuation Fund has released results to mark the 20 years since it began investing and it has surpassed its three benchmark targets. The Super Fund, the brainchild of former Labour Finance Minister, the late Sir Michael Cullen, has been built up from contributions from government surpluses and investment returns over those two decades. The Super Fund, currently at $64.4 billion, has bettered its rolling 20-year performance benchmark of 7.93 percent per annum, reaching 9.53 percent, after costs and before New Zealand tax. Its chief executive Matt Whineray says the government's finances are $40 billion better off than they would have been had those government contributions been used instead to pay down debt.

A warning is out that an opioid even more potent than fentanyl is circulating the country. The Drug Foundation says Nitazenes, a family of synthetic opioids, were first reported in Aotearoa in October last year. Kathryn speaks to Drug Foundation executive director Sarah Helm and psychiatrist and addiction specialist Sam McBride.

Film and TV reviewer Chris Schulz joins Kathryn to talk about new Kiwi series After the Party starring Robyn Malcolm, which looks at what happens when a woman accuses her husband of assaulting her daughter's friend - but no one believes her. He'll also talk about Robbie Williams' new documentary and new movie The Killer, starring Michael Fassbender.

Getting "jollied along" by a parent won't help an upset teenager learn how to deal with their own difficult feelings, says clinical psychologist Zara Mansoor. "One thing that's really challenging for parents – or just adults – is we want to get in, we want to fix things, we want to make things better. Actually, the most powerful thing we can often do is just sit with [the teen's emotion] and keep ourselves calm," she tells Kathryn Ryan.

Technology correspondent Peter Griffin looks at the debacle over the firing of Sam Altman as OpenAI's CEO. The non-profit is behind the hugely successful AI ChatGPT, but Altman was sacked by the board last week for failing to be "consistently candid in his communications". It prompted a revolt by staff - and now he's going back. And in another departure, the chief executive of Australian telco Optus has resigned after a nationwide outage this month left almost half of Australia disconnected.

Tess joins Kathryn to talk about developments in the long-running saga of the Gore District Council, the plans on how to make Te Anau-Manapouri Airport financially viable and Queenstown's treatment plant pipes being flushed after the town's cryptosporidium outbreak.

Paul Diamond reviews Reo Ora: Ko Te Weu by Rapata Wiri published by Huia Publishers

Robbie Maddison started riding bikes at 4 years old. Now, at 41, Robbie is the world's most recognisable face on a dirt bike, holds several world records, and has featured in hollywood action blockbusters performing death defying stunts as the stunt double for the likes of Daniel Craig, Jason Stratham, and Vin Diesel. But the high adrenaline stunt lifestyle wasn't always on the cards. Despite his love for riding bikes, his father never fully supported the passion, and Robbie became an electrical apprentice after leaving school. It was only after a near death encounter, surviving viral meningococcal and several months of brain rehabilitation, that gave Robbie the push he needed quit his job, refinance his house, and pursue his dream - the rest is history. Robbie is currently touring New Zealand with some of the world's best action sports athletes as part of the 'Freestyle Kings Live tour'. Part of the team is none other than Robbie's 13 year old son, Kruz Maddison, an accomplished motocross rider in his own right, having recently won a US national title.

UK correspondent Harriet Lines joins Kathryn to talk about Jeremy Hunt delivering the autumn statement. Among the big announcements - cuts to National Insurance, an increase to benefits in line with inflation and a multi-billion dollar boost to manufacturing. She'll also look at how the Government's 'Eat out to help out' scheme during the pandemic was never discussed with scientists, the Covid inquiry heard today. Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, said he first heard about Eat Out to Help Out on television and said the scheme "didn't feel sensible to me". Harriet Line is Deputy Political Editor of the Daily Mail

Te Whatu ora has appointed eight top health experts to take the helm of four newly-established National Clinical Networks. The networks have been established to reduce variations in access to health services across the country. Co-leads have been appointed for the Trauma, Cardiac, Renal National Clinical Networks and Stroke care. Strokes account for around 9000 deaths in New Zealand a year - though it is believed 75 percent of these could be avoided, with the right risk reduction strategies. Tracy Murphy is an occupational therapist with a special interest in stroke care spanning nearly 20 years of practice. She was heavily involved in the rural and isolated community health response following Cyclone Gabrielle. And Alan Davis, based in Whangarei, has more than three decades of clinical experience stroke prevention and care, both here and overseas. They spoke with Kathryn Ryan.

Gold has long been considered a safe investment; one that's more immune from vagaries of the market or global uncertainties. It's also out of the reach of most people. A new trading platform is being launched today with the aim of changing that, by offering investors the chance to own a slice of gold instead. Goldie works by taking a physical asset and digitally fractionalising it, with users able to access gold at the same price per gram as traditional investors pay for a one kilogram bar. The company has partnered with gold-trading business NZ Vault to vet, purchase and store the gold at their Wellington depository. The company's co-founders are Glen Jenkins and Cam Maclachlan, and Glen joins Kathryn to explain their plans to expand beyond gold.

The leaders of both National and ACT are in the Capital, where it's expected a coalition deal will soon be announced. Who will be deputy prime minister appears to be one of the final hurdles to be resolved. The incoming prime minister Christopher Luxon has not ruled out the possibility of the role being shared between Winston Peters and David Seymour. Meanwhile, National's deputy leader Nicola Willis has ruled herself out. Kathryn speaks to RNZ political editor Jane Patterson.

Baby boomers are not only getting older - they are getting wealthier. As they reach retirement age, they bring along with them a tsunami of wealth that needs to be invested, spent, and finally bequeathed to their heirs or charity. Liz Koh is along to talk about where their money is going and some of the issues it raises. Liz Koh is a money expert specialising in retirement planning. The advice given here is general and does not constitute specific advice to any person.

Workbridge Chief Executive and Assistive Technology consultant Jonathan Mosen on the technology that helps vision impaired people vote in elections and an app that helps people to hear in noisy surroundings.

Stewart Islanders are awaiting the formation of a new Government to help address the 'urgent' electricity situation, with prices on the island three times as high as in Invercargill. On the mainland, discussions are being had over what to do with a prime piece of land in the city centre, following the closure of the iconic H&J Smith building. And a warning from police, amid a spike in vehicle thefts across Southland.

Ash Davida Jane reviews The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez published by Hachette

When Dr Tony Townsend began his career in medicine in 1969, being a general practitioner wasn't considered a specialty. That change would come two and a half decades later, in 1995, after much pushback from the medical profession. It's one of many changes Dr Townsend has seen over his 48 years as a GP in Rotorua. Not only has technology, the understanding of disease and the diagnostic process evolved, but also how doctors interact with patients. Dr Townsend became a Member of the Order of Merit for his services to health in 2015. He retired in Matakana in 2018, and speaks to Kathryn Ryan about his just-released a book, Not just a GP: More than just a memoir.

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton joins Kathryn to talk about the short-lived detente between Australia and China, with the two governments now clashing over an incident involving military vessels in the East China Sea. Australia says a PLA destroyer was aggressive during a confrontation with an Australian ship near Japan - now the incident is causing ructions at home for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Karen digs deep into the case of the Kiwi pensioner fined more than $3000 for failing to declare a chicken sandwich upon arrival in Australia. She'll also look at Travis Head's magic catch that helped secure Australia's victory in the Cricket World Cup and why has Rugby Australia ousted its chairman Hamish McLennan just hours after he insisted he was digging in? Karen Middleton is chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper.

Open finance infrastructure provider Akahu has launched New Zealand's first "confirmation of payee" service through payments platform Dolla.

A new scholarship aims to give women who lead their own businesses a boost. Frank Accounting and business incubator The Icehouse have just launched the scholarship aimed at women with equity who lead mid-size businesses. The Icehouse Chief Growth Officer Olivia Blaylock tells Kathryn Ryan women in business face more barriers than their male counterparts, from accessing capital to prioritising themselves and their careers.

With one in five high school students vaping regularly there are calls for support to help teens quit their addiction. The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation says there has been little support for young people wanting to quit. It has released the first set of guidelines for health professionals to follow. Meanwhile the Royal College of GPs is calling for a major crackdown on the availability of vapes, wanting them out of dairies, supermarkets, and service stations.

Sports-chat with Glen Larmer

We all know that we should get our acts together and write a will to take care not just of our financials but also for the wellbeing of any children - for blended families, this is even more important. Blended families without a will in place are more at risk of facing legal and financial minefields after a family member's death. If you have kids from a previous relationship, who'll look after them when you die? Would it be your current spouse, their biological parent, or another family member or guardian? Will step siblings no longer live together? Family law expert Bill Holland joins Kathryn to talk about why sorting out these issues early is best.

BusinessDesk investigations editor, Victoria Young discusses workplace wellness and the cost of an absent employee, and some big changes in the fishing industry. Also, some high-profile exits from the redevelopment project at Scott Base.

Diane discusses an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday, held by the Kawerau District Council, to determine whether to establish a Maori Ward for the district. And two groups appealing consents granted to expand and develop Otakiri Springs bottling plant are being heard in the Supreme Court this week.

Quentin Johnson reviews Lawrence of Arabia by Ranulph Fiennes published by Penguin Random House New Zealand

The Egyptian city of Alexandria is steeped in history: from Cleopatra and Napoleon, to the Arab Spring, Alexandria has seen it all. Like Istanbul and Jerusalem, Alexandria sits at a crossroads of Africa, Europe and Asia, the nexus of cultures, languages and religion, with a history of influential figures and dominant empires. It was founded in 331 BC, when it was founded by Alexander the Great. Historian Professor Islam Issa tells the story of the city in his new book Alexandria : The City that Changed the World. He is a multi-award-winning author, curator, and broadcaster.

A new investigation on disgraced congressman George Santos shows that he took money from his campaign fund and spent it on a wild array of purchases, including Only Fans subscriptions, and botox. And concern is growing over Donald Trump's increasing use of authoritarian language. Danielle Kurtzleben is a political correspondent assigned to NPR's Washington Desk

In Whangarei, young lawyer Keegan Jones has set up a clinic for people who may need legal help but are unsure where to start. Since graduating with a double Bachelor's degree in law and commerce last year, Keegan Jones has established a clinic which follows a Kaupapa Maori approach. He says it's a service to support whanau who may need a lawyer, don't know how to engage one, or may have difficulty covering the costs. Keegan Jones says the iwi-based free legal clinic aims to reduce barriers to justice through a te ao Maori lens.

Incoming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed National has agreed on policy with both ACT and New Zealand First, leaving portfolios and cabinet positions on the negotiating table as the three parties go into their 18th day of talks. However Mr Luxon still can't say when the government will be formed. And the details of how what is shaping up to a a full three-way Cabinet, will deal with party differences. RNZ Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch joins Kathryn to discuss.

Resident Advisers at the University of Auckland say fewer people will want to do the vital role, now a significant rent reduction has been taken away. Resident Advisers - or RAs - as they're known, play an integral role in supporting students in halls of residence, particularly those who are away from home for the first time. They're paid an hourly wage for their work, and were receiving a 25 per cent discount in rent. But while the University is raising their hourly wage to the living wage of $26.25, the rent discount for next year has been scrapped altogether. Kathryn speaks to an RA about the situation, as well as Matthew Lee, chair of the group Students for Fair Rent.

Bill McKay looks at an interesting new fellowship from The NZ Institute of Architects: $20,000 for someone to research "public housing challenges in Aotearoa" and "explore solutions". Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland.

Vanilla is sometimes used as a pejorative - as something boring and bland. But the founders of Heilala Vanilla were determined it should be anything but, and and they're quite literally winning at that - taking out top honours at this year's New Zealand Food Awards. The company's origins came out of an aid project in Tonga following a cyclone that struck there in 2002. The vanilla crop grew well - and the beans impressed some big-name chefs back home in New Zealand. Kathryn is joined by Heilala Vanilla's co-founder and CEO Jennifer Boggiss to explain how it achieved B-Corp certification.

Political comemntators Fletcher Tabuteau and Tim Hurdle discuss how close we might be to stitching a government together. Tim Hurdle is a former National senior adviser, was the National Party Campaign Director in 2020. He is a director of several companies, including Museum Street Strategies, a public affairs firm. Fletcher Tabuteau is a former NZ First MP from 2014 to 2020, former deputy leader of the party, and former Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the then Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters and the then minister for regional development Shane Jones. He now works for lobbying and communications firm Capital Government Relations.

John talks to Kathryn about the Christmas present everyone hoped for - to get SH25A - known locally as the Kopu-Hikuai Road, is now open, however the Cathedral Cove track remains closed. And Thames is taking on Oamaru in steampunk stakes, John has the details. CFM local news reporter from the Coromandel Peninsula

Airini Beautrais reviews Bird Life by Anna Smaill published by Te Herenga Waka University Press

If you've seen the Korean Netflix hit Squid Game - or even heard of it, for that matter - our next guest may be to thank. Steven Renata is co-owner of KIWA digital, a cultural creative agency whose technology VoiceQ has helped to support the English dubbing of the likes of Squid Game, and Spanish series Money Heist.

Argentina goes to the polls on Sunday to vote for their new president. The elections come as the country struggles with an economic crisis, with inflation now above 140%. The choice is stark - current economy minister Sergio Massa or a radical outsider, Javier Milei - a man who's brandished a chainsaw on the campaign trail and has some unorthodox plans to fix the economy like blowing up the central bank and replacing the peso with the US dollar.

Since the age of 13, Claire Ma has been spending her free time supporting others with their mental health. The Tauranga teen founded the New Zealand branch of Letters to Strangers, the largest global youth-run non-profit, seeking to destigmatize mental illness. Letters to Strangers anonymously connects high school aged students with one another through letters, whether it's someone who can relate to what they're going through or just offering a listening air for when they need it most. Now, at 17 years old, Claire is one of this year's YWCA 24 under 24, a list that celebrates young people making a big difference within their communities. Clare has presented at international webinars and conferences on mental health and the power of connection - a far cry from the once isolated young girl struggling to find connection when she first immigrated from China to New Zealand.

Planned social housing developments in Rotorua have two school principals concerned they won't be able to accommodate increasing student numbers. Hundreds of new homes are being built in the suburbs of Owhata and Ngongotaha, where school rolls are already blowing out. As the affordable homes developments are completed over the next few years it will mean hundreds more children in the areas. The burning questions are : where are they going to be educated, is there the classroom space and are there enough teachers? Owhata Primary School principal Bob Stiles and the Principal of Ngongotaha Primary School Craig McFadyen fear there'll be more pupils, than classroom space.

Te Radar and Irene Pink debate an astronaut's chances of recovering their lost tool bag - last spotted orbiting Earth.

Sports commentator Sam Ackerman gives us the latest on the cricket - much like the Rugby World Cup it's the big hitters that are contenders for the cup.

Circle Of Friends is the ninth album from esteemed Auckland producer Christoph El Truento - a jazz record involving collaborations with a bunch of his favourite local singers/rappers/instrumentalists. Grant Smithies plays two key songs from that today, followed by a mighty new song from Wellington trio Mermaidens and a winningly surreal dub history lesson from the late Prince Far I.

Seabed mapping is underway in Poverty Bay and the results ill be used to improve boat safety, and also for marine scientists to use - and Land Information New Zealand has even found a shipwreck in the process. Also, issues are plaguing Gisborne's public toilet network, with a recent council report warning the system is at a critical juncture.

Jessie Bray Sharpin reviews Divine Might by Natalie Haynes published by Macmillan.

The Spirit of Adventure ship will sail south later this month on a rather special journey. The ship, owned and operated by the Spirit of Adventure Trust and runs programmes for young New Zealanders to learn independence, leadership and community all while at sea. The trust is celebrating 50 years of delivering the programmes to more than 80-thousand young people by touring the country starting in a week from today. The Spirit of Adventure is a tall ship - known as a barquentine - with a steel hull and three large white masts. It's a 42.5 metre ship and can carry 40 trainees and 14 crew. Over the years the programmes on the ships have set a new path ahead for its young participants who are often surprised at their own ability to manage the ship - whether from cooking, engineering or captaining among other tasks. Some of those stories have been told in The Spirit Companion: Celebrating the first 50 years of the Spirit of Adventure Trust - a new book out by author Roger McDonald. Along with the Trust's chief executive Bruce Pilbrow, Roger tells Susie about the stories that have made the Spirit journey what it is today.

Koroi Hawkins discusses the beginning of cyclone season, with two storms pummeling the Pacific in its first week. And in Vanuatu, a dissolution of parliament has been avoided after a meeting between the President Nikenike Vurobaravu and political leaders on Monday morning. It has been just over a year since the last snap elections in October 2022, with the country's people and economy still reeling from the impacts of multiple cyclones this year.

An early childhood literacy programme which is in almost half of all the country's state primary schools has just been recognised with the University of Canterbury's innovation medal. Professor Gail Gillon co- leads the team which developed the Better Start Literacy Approach (BSLA). It has so far helped 45,000 children to read and write. Professor Gillon talks to Susie about how the programme works and why it works.

This year's Technology Investment Network's TIN200 companies report indicates the top 200 tech sector companies generated more than 17-billion in revenue in the year to June - an increase of 1-point-8 billion on the year earlier. The report surveys 1200 companies, with the top 200 businesses ranked by revenue. Fisher and Paykel Appliances and Fisher and Paykel Healthcare lead the pack, followed by Datacom and Xero. TIN Managing Director Greg Shanahan says it's a rosy picture for the tech sector but the biggest thing holding it back is our ongoing skills shortage. Susie also speaks with Wellington tech investor and director Serge van Dam, who says the sector is in good heart but the advance of the artificial intelligence revolution has massive implications for white-collar workers who urgently need to upskill and adapt.

Film and TV reviewer Tamar Munch joins Kathryn to talk about the second season of British prison drama Time (Neon, SkyGo), A Murder at the End of the World (Disney+), a drama about a Gen Z amateur sleuth who tries to solve a murder at a secluded retreat and Every Word Counts (Spinoff), a documentary about competitive Scrabble.

Sextortion, kids being groomed online, nudes being sent around kids, who should be blamed for that? Sex therapist Jo Robertson has advice about how to have those tricky chats with children and teens.

Tech commentator Paul Matthews looks at at how new ChatGPT is smarter and more connected. It's able to consume more information than ever before, and has a whole ecosystem of mini smart apps all working together. Sound scary? Major Australian ports are coming back online following yet another major cyber-attack, seemingly designed to disrupt and destabilise our closest major neighbour. What's behind it and what could that mean for New Zealand? We're a little over one week away from "Black Friday", the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season. So how much shopping will Santa do online this year?

Housing is at a premium in Queenstown and Peter says there is an ongoing issue with slum landlords. He also updates on the fallout from recent storm damage including debris strewn through the main Queenstown cemetery. Managing Editor, Crux, based in Arrowtown.

Jenna Todd of Time Out Bookstore reviews The Bee Sting by Paul Murray published by Penguin Books

Miriam Margolyes "can't resist naughtiness". The actor famed for her character roles and her outrageous chat show appearances is described as someone for whom currency is laughter - by any means possible: outrage, obscenity, and occasional flatulence. Despite recent heart surgery and a body she describes as "crumbling concrete", the 82-year-old is refusing to slow down. Miriam will be in New Zealand this summer to shoot Holy Days - a film about a group of nuns fighting a development order, starring alongside Judy Davis and Joanna Scanlan, and has just finished her second memoir: Oh Miriam: Stories from an Extraordinary Life. She speaks to Susie Ferguson.

UK correspondent Lara Spirit joins Susie to talk about Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledging to introduce legislation to mark Rwanda as a safe country, even after the UK's plans to deport asylum seekers there was ruled unlawful. Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman has launched a broadside at Sunak after he sacked her, and Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure over Labour's stance on a ceasefire in Gaza. Lara Spirit is a reporter for The Times Red Box, where she covers politics from Westminster

A farming couple outside of Dargaville are so fed up with the lack of health services in the area they have purchased a building with plans to set up a health clinic. Dargaville has no dentist, optometrist and the local medical centre is so stretched for staff, locals need to drive an hour to Whangarei if they need medical attention on a Sunday. Pouto farmers Julie and Rodney Cotton say for many in their community there are huge barriers to making the two hour round trip for basic health care. Kaipara District Mayor Craig Jepson and Julie Cotton join Kathryn to discuss the issue and what can be done about it.

As the Hawke's Bay sun begins to dry out the silt piles left by Cyclone Gabrielle, the dust problem is becoming so bad, some residents are leaving their homes. There's still up to 1.5 million cubic metres of debris to shift, much of it sitting in heaps on the edges of properties and orchards, ready for collection. Hawke's Bay Regional Council has secured enough funding to move 200,000 cubic metres of it over this month and next, but past that point, funding to finish the job is uncertain. But as the piles crust over, and are then disrupted, it's whipping them up into plumes of dust. Scientists are gathering in the region to analyse how much of an issue this is likely to be as El Nino arrives. Esk Valley resident Steve Wheeler's lifestyle block was buried under two metres of silt during the cyclone. While much of it is cleared away, he says the dust is getting extreme, he's moving house to another area today and he says he's not the first. Steve, along with NIWA air quality scientist Elizabeth Somervell and Silt Recovery Taskforce lead Darren de Klerk, speak to Susie Ferguson.

Science correspondent Allan Blackman looks at a new debate among zoologists about whether it's time to change scientific names that are now problematic - like the Hitler beetle or the Trump moth.

Some artists use paint. Others pencil or plaster. Fleur Woods' chosen medium is wool, cotton and beads.

The New Plymouth District Council has held its first public workshop after the Ombudsman reprimanded local authorities for holding too many secret meetings. And Waka Kotahi is putting on hold hundreds of millions of dollars of funding for projects designed to reduce New Zealand's emissions through encouraging walking, cycling and the use of public transport.

Catriona Ferguson reviews The Future by Naomi Alderman published by HarperCollins.

Excommunicated from the Exclusive Brethren Church, Craig Hoyle has carved out a future in the media after leaving the church 14 years ago. Craig Hoyle's memoir, Excommunicated catalogues his life as part of a multigenerational Exclusive Brethren family, essentially separated from society.

Australia correspondent Annika Smethurst discusses protests around the country over the situation in Gaza, and the release of 80 asylum seekers from detention after a High Court ruling, and criticism of the travel miles being racked up by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

The Puteketeke has taken out Bird of the Century this year after a hard fought campaign by British-American comedian and television host, John Oliver. John Darby is an avid champion of the Puteketeke - having worked tirelessly to help save the population.

Seventy percent of all new emerging pathogens in human health come from animal habitats. All the vet schools in Australasia recently came together with vet schools from 8 Asian countries to improve veterinary epidemiology education.

Some principals of small schools are being paid less than their deputies or senior teachers - and they fear the situation will put educators off stepping into senior roles.

Optimism is growing that the Black Caps can cause a monumental upset and end India's undefeated record to earn a place in the Cricket World Cup final. Sam also discusses a couple of big wins for New Zealand golfers, and looks ahead to one of our biggest days for racing - the NZ Cup.

Landscape designer and gardener Xanthe White talks about one of the most popular - planting flowers.

There's been a flood of annual general meetings on the NZX of late, and Rebecca says this week will be no different with Fonterra Shareholders Fund, Contact Energy, and Michael Hill Jeweller, to name just a few. She talks about some of the AGMS she's attended so far this year, including pet supplies and health care company Ebos, Sky Network Television which was last week, and Skellerup. AGMS are usually held where the firm has its headquarters, with Sky and Ebos in Auckland and Skellerup in the South Island Rebecca Stevenson is a senior journalist at BusinessDesk

David is in Kaikoura today where an old go-kart track south of the town is attracting petrolheads from around the South Island, causing trouble and upsetting residents. Environment Canterbury is in town as part of the "Pick a Path" summit, David explains the initiative. And he talks to Kathryn about some local tourism ventures. Local Democracy Reporter David Hill is with North Canterbury News, based in Rangiora

Mark Leishman reviews Guy Wilson Creating Golf Excellence: The Genesis of Lydia Ko & More Stars by Bruce Miller published by Pacific Trust Holdings NZ.

Liz Mitchell wants to revive the wool industry by reminding us of all the great things about the material. She says wool is enduring, versatile and breathable - and not just as a clothing product. One of New Zealand's leading fashion designers, she has an exhibition celebrating wool until December. Liz also has plans to create a textile hub at the Corban Estate Art Centre in Auckland - where her ongoing exhibition is taking place. The hub would be a space where people could come and learn how to work with wool. She has already secured a wet felting machine and a dry felting machine to work with there. The Wool Revolution - Powered by Liz Mitchell, and her exhibition This Raw Material, is on at the Corban Estate Arts Centre until 9 December.

The armed wing of Hamas says it is ready to release up to 70 children and women held in Gaza, for a 5-day truce. Hamas' negotiators have told Qatari mediators the truce should include a ceasefire and allow aid relief everywhere in the Gaza Strip. It comes as fighting has raged close to Gaza's biggest hospital Al Shifa where bodies are piling up inside and outside as the sick can't be treated due to a lack of power. The US says it remains in active discussions with Israel about pauses to the fighting in Gaza and President Joe Biden says the Al Shifa hospital must be protected. The BBC's Middle East correspondent Sebastian Usher joins Kathryn with the latest in Gaza.

The United States is vowing to defend itself against a barrage of attacks on its military bases across the Middle East. Over the last three weeks, Iran-backed militia groups have attacked US bases and facilities in Iraq and Syria 41 times. And Congress has just four days to pass a stopgap spending bill to keep the federal government from shutting down, as yet another deadline for doing so appears likely to be missed. Aid money for Israel and Ukraine and some Asian allies of the US is likely to be caught in the crossfire.

It's Cup and Show week in Christchurch and this year attendees of the New Zealand Agricultural Show will be able to see sheep milking in action. The three-day event, which kicks off tomorrow, is also marking its 160th anniversary and organisers are hoping to surpass last year's attendance number of 125,000 which was the biggest-ever. In among the family favourites of woodchopping, dog trials and show-jumping will be Matt Jones and a few of his 600 sheep. He and his family made the switch to sheep milking thanks to food intolerances and allergies. Jones Family Farm now make milk, cheese and skincare products. Matt tells Kathryn it's still a relative novelty for people to see sheep being milked, but there's enormous benefits to what's produced.

Fonterra has announced a plan to reduce its on-farm emissions by 30 percent, by 2030. Fonterra produced the equivalent of 12.8 million tonnes of greenhouse gas in the year to June, and 86 percent of emissions come from on-farm. The plan includes encouraging farmers to plant trees, treat cow pats and introduce new technologies to cut methane and nitrous oxide. It follows moves from some of its biggest customers, incuding Nestle and Danone, to introduce climate goals. Andrew Kempson, general manager of Global Climate Policy at Fonterra, speaks with Kathryn Ryan.

As the number of birthing centres around the country declines, there are concerns limited choices are pushing women into birthing interventions they don't want or need. 

Kennedy has been travelling in Southland and Otago, visiting some new predator-focused conservation projects, looking in on a few regional icons and visiting the Hollyford Whitebaiters' Ball.

Throughout the middle east shakshuka is a staple and simple meal. Eggs are simmered in a tomato based sauce spiced with cumin, paprika and cayenne, topped with fresh coriander and crumbled feta cheese. It's something that Auckland restauranteur and business owner Gus Obied grew up eating in the middle east. From a young age, he'd watch his mother and aunties making shakshuka, as well as other meals using freekeh, pomegranate, couscous and roasted veggies. Gus emigrated to Sydney in 1994 and with his New Zealand born wife, Kathleen moved to Auckland in 2009. Since 2016 he's owned and run Gusstop Cafe in central Auckland, and now he's launched GusStop Shakshuka in a jar - based on his family's recipe.

Brigitte and Gareth discuss ongoing coalition talks and reflect on Labour's transition to the Opposition. Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government, a National Party member and currently volunteering for the party's deputy leader, Nicola Willis. Gareth Hughes is a former Green MP and now works for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa.

Kelly has the latest in the case of a a leading entertainment figure in court charged with drugs and sex offences, and an update on the long running saga involving local man, Tiny Deane and his troubled security business. Kainga Ora says it has 500 homes in the building or planning stages in Rotorua and Kelly has the good oil on why the Rotorua courthouse was evacuated a couple of months ago.

Sally Wenley reviews The Crewe Murders by James Hollings & Kirsty Johnston published by Massey University Press.

25,000 New Zealanders are diagnosed with cancer every year, and as the population ages, that number is expected to increase. There are various causes, notably genetic and environmental factors - of course the sun is a big one for us. But there is also another less well known factor, viruses. Viruses are estimated to be responsible for 1 in 5 cancers, with the two biggest culprits being HPV - Human papillomavirus - and Hepatitis B. Dunedin born and Otago educated Gregory J. Morgan has mapped key breakthroughs in tumour virology over the last century in his book Cancer Virus Hunters: from early experiments with chickens through to the now ubiquitous HPV vaccine. He is an associate professor at the Stevens institute of Technology in New Jersey.

Europe correspondent Seamus Kearney discusses a state of emergency in Iceland, as authorities prepare for an expected volcanic eruption in the southwest of the island in the coming hours or days. A series of quakes and underground lava flows have been recorded in the Reykjanes area and thousands of people have been evacuated from a nearby fishing town. And in France, a march against antisemitism in Paris and other cities has caused political ructions.

Luke Gray and Georgia Latu are two of five young people recognised at the weekend for their leadership and creating real solutions to the real challenges in Aotearoa. Luke created a mental health initiative for 13 to 18-year-olds which has been rolled out throughout the Eastern Bay of Plenty. Georgia Latu was 12 when she founded Potiki Poi, manufacturing eco-friendly poi. Four years later, it employs more than 40 people. Georgia was a finalist for Young New Zealander of New Zealand this year and Luke received a Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year Award in 2021. They're among the 2023 winners of the Impact Awards given by the charity Inspiring Stories, which celebrate young leaders and changemakers.

Toxoplasmosis, a disease carried by cats, is costing sheep farmers tens of millions of dollars annually - and is also killing dolphins. 

Our comedians Michele A'Court and Donna Brookbanks wrap up some of the lighter stories of the week... including American company Pizza Hut's latest unusual topping combination. Its Hong Kong branches are serving up snake meat pizza, an ingredient which is a popular winter warmer in the country, especially in stews.

Sports commentator Sam Ackerman ponders whether the Black Caps could be heading towards a fifth consecutive Cricket World Cup semi final. He also talks to Kathryn about big changes in Super Rugby, and reaction to the retirement of this year's Rugby World Cup final referee, Wayne Barnes. And rising New Zealand football talent Marley Leuluai has just signed a professional deal with English Premier League club Burnley on his 17th birthday.

Transport has jumped back into the spotlight in Auckland, as Stuff Senior Auckland Affairs Journalist Todd Niall explains. On Monday an 'interim' busway will enter service from Westgate into the city centre, after decades of indecision, and strangely discussion has already begun on what will follow it. And, Auckland Transport u-turns on its decision to cull carparks on Karangahape Road, following pressure from mayor Wayne Brown.

Roger Christensen of Unity Books Auckland reviews Here, and Only Here by Christelle Dabos published by Text Publishing

Aotearoa's association with beer started off in a small corner of the country in 1773. It was by the crew of the Resolution, captained by James Cook, who found the cooler climes of Dusky Sound provided a much better environment for brewing than trying to ferment while at sea. Their experimental brew kicks off Greg Ryan's new book Continuous Ferment, which looks at the history of beer and brewing in New Zealand. As a history professor, Greg brings a depth to the book that takes in beer's relationship to the social and economic fabric of the country - right up to the present day. It's rich in detail - from the early breweries, various attempts at prohibition, the 6 o'clock swill, dominance of Lion and DB and the relatively recent rise of the craft beer market.

Extreme smog in India and Pakistan is causing disruption to the Cricket World Cup and causing school closures. Annually in November severe pollution is a worrying issue in India fuelled by agricultural burning and factory pollution. In Myanmar, there's been a significant development in the long drawn out fight for the country's political future. And Elizabeth talks to Kathryn about a joint NASA and Japan space agency venture involving a wooden space satellite. Elizabeth Beattie is a journalist based in Tokyo.

Wellington's Verb Festival is underway - a city wide party that celebrates books, reading, ideas, information and conversation over four days. The Centrepiece of the Festival is LitCrawl which is celebrating 10 years. It's tomorrow - 30 events and over 100 artists spread over many beloved Wellington venues with entry by donation. From competitive bananagrams to high rotation poems, to indigi-lit speed dating and much more. Kathryn speaks with Lit Crawl's longest-serving Trustee, writer, publisher and long-time LitCrawl attendee Brannavan Gnanalingam.

Just weeks after hundreds of millions of litres of sewage poured into the Waitemata harbour, Aucklanders are heading back to the beach. The overflow was caused by a sinkhole which opened up at the back of Parnell property, blocking the Orakei Main sewer and pumping effluent into the harbour. Some of city's most popular inner-city beaches that were off-limits during the overflow event have now got the green tick from Safeswim and are back open. As Auckland heads into another weekend of brilliant sunshine, many will be checking the Safeswim app and grabbing their goggles, but others might not feel so confident. Kathryn speaks to Nathaniel Wilson, Watercare's environmental care manager, and Auckland Council's Healthy Waters head of planning Nick Vigar.

A resource consent application for a large solar farm planned for the Mackenzie Basin has been rejected, on ecological grounds. Andrew and Karen Simpson, of Balmoral Station, near Lake Tekapo, want to build and operate an 88-megawatt solar farm on 113 hectares which would produce enough electricity to power up to 13,000 homes. An Environment Canterbury hearing was held in Christchurch in August, and the three Commissioners' decision has just been made public - refusing the consent. They say the development risked permanent and irreversible loss of threatened land environments, and would potentially impact indigenous flora and fauna species. The decision has been welcomed by the Environmental Defence Society, which opposed the application because it threatened indigenous biodiversity.But what does this mean for the country's pathway towards decarbonising the energy sector? Kathryn speaks with Gary Taylor, EDS Chair and Roger Sutton, CEO of Electricity Ashburton, which supported the application.

Film and TV reviewer Laumata Lauano joins Kathryn to talk about a new Netflix documentary into Australian drill rap group OneFour - four Samoan Australians who found enormous success but also found themselves on the wrong side of the law. Against All Odds considers whether that was fair. She'll also look at The Out-laws - an action comedy studying Pierce Brosnan and Ellen Barkin as in-laws of a different kind. And Awkwafina and Sandra Oh star in a new film called Quiz Lady.

If you ever ask a teenager what they're going to do after high school, you may notice them recoil. For many students in their final years of school this is an anxiety-inducing question. Career Coach Tracey Beard says that if we really want to help, we need to re-think 'the career conversation'. Tracey is the CEO, what she calls 'the chief encouragement officer', at Career Matters, a coaching service for students and caregivers.

Technology correspondent Alex Sims joins Kathryn to talk about the trial of Sam Bankman-Fried, the "financial whiz kid" who created cryptocurrency exchange FTX in 2019 and was this week found guilty of wire fraud and other charges. She'll also look at what risks companies or organisations could be taking on when they use ChatGPT with business-specific information - it could wind up in the public domain. And how many companies are really prepared for the AI era? Alex Sims is an Associate Professor in the Department of Commercial Law at the University of Auckland Business School and an expert on blockchain technology, copyright law and consumer law

Che joins Kathryn with another update on what's happening at the Gore District Council, where some ratepayers are unhappy with the decision to keep Stephen Parry on as interim CEO even after he'd announced his decision to resign. And the Council's procedures are in the spotlight over the way it dealt with a number of crab apple trees planted on the town's main street. The Tour of Southland, won by Englishman Dan Gardner, has been heralded a great success. And Che will also talk about the death of long-serving Southland Times editor and Dominion chief reporter Fred Tulett. He had 50 years in journalism and was considered a "true newspaper man".

Harry Ricketts reviews Selected Poems: Geoff Cochrane by Geoff Cochrane, ed. Fergus Barrowman published by Te Herenga Waka University Press

In the next three years, Australian, Allie Pepper has her sights set on climbing 14 of the world's highest mountains without supplementary oxygen. She has already completed two in the last couple of months. Allie Pepper says doing a technical mountaineering course in New Zealand over 20 years ago changed the direction of her life and firmed up her addiction to thin air. She experienced a set back to her guiding business and mountain climbing a couple of years ago. The debilitating symptoms of early onset menopause had her fearing her career in the mountains could be over, but treatment has her back on track.

UK correspondent Dan Bloom joins Kathryn to talk about what was included in the King's Speech this week - the first in more than 70 years. King Charles laid out the priorities for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government , with law and order firmly at the centre. And former Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill has appeared at the Covid inquiry to apologise for suggesting something similar to "chicken pox parties" would be useful to get through the pandemic.

Octogenarian Ivan Fahey is the proud new owner of a Lamborghini supercar after his name was pulled from a hat at the Highlands Motorsport Park last weekend. Prior to this, the only thing he's ever won was a meat pack down at the local RSA. After a couple of laps around the track with a pro driver, Ivan got behind the wheel and hit 170 kilometers an hour. The two-seater 2014 Lamborghini Huracan can accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometres an hour in 2.9 seconds and was given away as part of Highland Motorsport Park's 10th anniversary. Ivan's about to get the supercar home, where he'll store it in the garage. He tells Kathryn there is a long line of people keen to go for a joy ride.

In the last five years geopolitical threats have ramped up with worsening climate change, China-US tensions over the South China sea and Taiwan, war in Europe with Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Add to that the reignition of conflict in the Middle East with the Israeli-Gaza war. It comes as the country's Defence Force membership has depleted during the Covid years. Intelligence agencies are also warning private sector companies about intellectual property theft, and the risk of dual use of their technology, potentially against their own and the country's interests. Associate professor Wil Hoverd is the director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at Massey University. A new collection of essays he's edited considers New Zealand's readiness for the current, let alone future environment.

Ongoing anti-social behaviour in central Auckland is prompting safety concerns among business owners and tourism operators, as more people flock into Downtown for summer. Co-owner of Vivace Restaurant Mandy Lusk says there have been multiple fights outside of her Fort Street venue, and she is no longer comfortable with staff walking to their cars alone. The Cruise Association is heading into its biggest season since pre-Covid days - but has told Nine to Noon its operators are noting that behaviour by rough sleepers, drinkers and drug dealers is intimidating for passengers. Central business association Heart of the City is calling for an urgent bylaw which would give council the power to trespass people when they are a risk to public safety. Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck, Auckland City Mission Chief Executive Helen Robinson and Vivace co-owner Mandy Lusk speak with Kathryn Ryan.

If you're considering a side hustle - a way of making a little extra cash - what are some of the things you need to consider? Money expert Simran Kaur talks about having a plan, being patient and considering how much it might cost to try to generate some additional income. Simran Kaur is the co-host of the podcast Girls That Invest. This discussion is of a general nature, and does not constitute financial advice.

The late Murray Ball, created Footrot Flats and other iconic New Zealand characters in his comic strip which first appeared in the Evening Post. Murray passed away in 2017, and his son Mason has written the first biography about him - Murray Ball - A Cartoonist's Life. In the preface to the book - Mason Ball writes: Knowing him as a son, I hoped to do him a service, albeit posthumously, by gathering up the memories before time washed them away. Seared into New Zealand cartoon history are the Football Flats comic strip characters - essentially a black singleted farmer, Wal and his dog - Dog! But over almost 20 years other characters were developed, a stage play was based on the cartoon, and an animated feature film.

It's called simply the One Stop Kai Shop Convenience Store, but for the 250 people of Raupunga and passers-through it is the first store in a decade in the State Highway 2 town which is 82km from Napier with 35km from Wairoa. Chris says he's heard the hangi and paua pies are a huge hit. Also Chris talks to Kathryn about the people building makeshift driftwood huts on the beach off Marine Parade in Napier. And a 40 year labour of love, John Timpson's incredible Havelock North garden is now being open to the public.

Kim Pittar from Muir's Independent Bookshop Gisborne reviews Water by John Boyne published by Penguin Random House N

They call themselves the 'Three Pensioneers': former newspaper Editor Tim Pankhurst, his wife Sue and former Wellington mayor Dame Kerry Prendergast teamed up to walk the length of the country on Te Araroa. Over two summers following the covid lockdowns they achieved their goal, encountering flooded rivers, snow and ice, serious injury and some pretty hefty mental challenges to reach Bluff. Tim's book about their journey Every Effing Inch: Fear and Loathing on Aotearoa New Zealand's long trail - the 3021km Te Araroa - is being launched tonight in Wellington.

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton joins Kathryn to look at how Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has fared on his visit to China and relationship with President Xi Jinping. She'll talk about the latest interest rate moves and implications for the economy, the horror crash in a Victoria tourist town that left five people dead and whether the Melbourne Cup hype is still what it once was.

A genetically modified banana which has been engineered to resist disease is offering a glimmer of hope to the increasingly strained industry. There's been a considerable outbreak of Panama disease recently, a fungus which decimates banana plants. In the 1950s, it wiped out the Gros Michel banana, which was replaced with the one we now know and love: the Cavendish. Back then, the Cavendish was immune to Panama, but a new fungal strain - known as tropical race 4 - means that's not the case anymore. Across the ditch, scientists have been working on a genetically modified, disease-resistant type of Cavendish banana - and it's now been submitted for regulatory approval to the Australian Government. If it gets the green light, it'll be the first genetically-modified banana approved anywhere in the world - though it wouldn't immediately be rolled out for human consumption. Distinguished Professor James Dale of Queensland University of Technology has been working on it for the better part of three decades, and he speaks to Kathryn Ryan from Queensland.

A new government is still to be formed, but councils around the country are urgently wanting direction on what will happen with new policy on water infrastructure. Wellington Water estimates it would take a billion dollars a year, for the next 10 years, to fully deal with its beleaguered infrastructure. The former Labour Government had planned for $140b to $180b worth of spending on three waters - that's drinking, storm and wastewater - renewal over the next three decades. The funds would have been raised by borrowing, by 10 new water entities taking control of council infrastructure around the country. But the parties now negotiating a coalition deal to become the government have pledged to scrap that. National's plan is for councils to form their new entities among themselves, to raise funds for the work. It remains one of the most challenging components of many councils financial planning. Tonia Haskell is acting chief executive of Wellington Water - the company owned by six councils in the wider Wellington region. Neil Holdom is Mayor of New Plymouth, and provincial chair of Local Government NZ. And Alex Walker is LGNZ's rural chair. All three speak with Kathryn Ryan.

Marc is freshly landed from the Rugby World Cup, and talks to Kathryn about his impressions and access to the All Blacks throughout the tournament.

BusinessDesk investigations editor, Victoria Young looks at the country's worst carbon emitters of the NZX50, with Fonterra topping the list. And revelations Supie founder Sarah Balle first approached PwC for help more than six months before her online grocer startup went under.

In February 2021 a human chain of 150 volunteers held hands and slowly waded into the sea. Their aim was to stop what remained of a pod of long-finned pilot whales from re-stranding at Farewell Spit.

Legal action has been launched over the $1.25 billion Transmission Gully motorway. The builder of the road is taking Waka Kotahi to court in relation to incomplete work. A pool, skatepark upgrades and the Wellington City Council's airport shares are on the chopping block in a proposal to cut costs. And police have now issued an arrest warrant for missing Otaki kayaker, Michaela Leger is facing drug-related charges. Georgina Campbell is NZ Herald's Wellington issues reporter.

Holly Walker reviews Good Material by Dolly Alderton published by Penguin Random House NZ.

Jim Jermyn is a world-renowned expert in alpine plants and is the former head gardener of the Branklyn Garden in Perth. Jim is in the country as the New Zealand Alpine Garden Society's Steve Newall Memorial Travelling Speaker.

Danielle Kurtzleben is in Washington, where Democrats are split about the United States policy over Israel. And the party is also raising alarms over political group No Labels. It's been around for more than a decade, with the purpose of fostering cooperation between parties - and is now saying it plans to run someone for president. Danielle Kurtzleben is a political correspondent assigned to NPR's Washington Desk.

South Island company Spout is helping to reduce the number of plastic milk bottles by offering a milk-in-keg service to big milk consumers.

We had a huge response to our story on retirees who rent and are pleased to pick it up again today with John Collyns, the Executive Director of the Retirement Villages Association.

A Napier school is introducing a hard ban on cellphones, including at lunchtimes, in the hopes students will begin to appreciate time away from their devices.

The largest ever study of the impact of collisions on the heads of players sheds new light on who is getting injured and how. 

Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland.

In our food slot today we examine how you can turn your excess garden produce into pickles, preserves and more. Niva and Yotam Kay run Pakaraka Farm on the Coromandel Peninsula, located in the Kauaeranga Valley, near Thames. The couple run workshops, online courses and sell their produce. What they grow is featured in their book The Abundant Kitchen which has lots of tips and recipes.

Gareth Hughes and Liam Hehir look at the final shakedown of Parliament following the special vote count, where did the close results land and which MPs are out as a result? And the slow process of stitching together a coalition continues - what are the options for governing arrangements and what seem to be the biggest obstacles? Gareth Hughes is a former Green MP and now works for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa. Liam Hehir is a Palmerston North lawyer, political commentator and a National Party member.

David looks at how the election result affects Christchurch seats and he also talks about the Coroner's inquiry into the mosques terror attack. Also the situation where a consultancy was paid tens of thousands to give a verbal update on Lyttelton Port Company, which led to board resignations. And a long-term fix for the wastewater plant in the city's east is still some way off. David Williams is Newsroom's Te Waipounamu South Island Correspondent.

Harry Broad reviews Meet You at the Main Divide by Geoff & Justine Ross published by HarperCollins

If you're planning on getting in the water this summer, you might want to take extra care in and around Tauranga Harbour. Marine biologist Dr Riley Elliott has been tagging and tracking great whites in the area and believes the Harbour is where they're having their offspring. Three sharks were tagged as part of his research, which seeks to understand where the sharks have come from, why they're there and how their movements and behaviour overlap with ours. Elliott used satellite tracking tags to pin the location of three great white sharks, Mananui, Daisy and Swaj, as part of his research project that's yielded some knowledge about their offspring.

An 18-hour hostage situation at Hamburg airport has just been resolved with a suspect detained and a child uninjured. It began when an armed man drove through a security barrier and on to the tarmac, firing two shots and throwing two burning bottles out of the car. It appears to have been a custody dispute. And a widespread survey finds racism across Europe is on the rise.

Some owners of heritage buildings in regional centres are preparing to hand over the keys and abandon their properties because they can't afford the cost of earthquake strengthening. Under current legislation, buildings assessed as earthquake-prone are required to get seismic strengthening work done before a deadline set by council. Many buildings in regions considered high risk have as little as seven years to complete the upgrades. Kathryn speaks to Damien Spittal, the owner of an unscheduled heritage building on the main street of Dannevirke, and Scott Flutey, the Heritage Advisor for Whanganui District Council.

According to a report by the Retirement Commission, in 25 years 40% of over 65-year-olds will be paying rent. Against this backdrop, retirement village operators are increasingly getting out of providing rental accommodation, in favour of the` licence to occupy' model. Older renters can expect to wait years to get into a rental unit in a retirement village setting. Most will end up in the private rental market - yet advocates say there is work to do around the availability, suitability, and affordability of these homes. So what options are left for New Zealanders renting in older age? Kathryn is joined by Esther Perriam, is Director at Eldernet and Dr Kay Saville-Smith, researcher on housing in older age and the director for the Centre for Research, Social Evaluation and Assessment.

Celine Dion has become the unlikely enemy of residents in the small town of Porirua, as the star's music becomes the top pick for intense 'siren battles' in the early hours of the morning.

Celine Dion has become the unlikely enemy of residents in the small town of Porirua, as the star's music becomes the top pick for intense 'siren battles' in the early hours of the morning.

Testimonies from 300 students show victims of sexual assaults are not being protected adequately by their schools. Respondents to a call for sharing their experiences around sexual assault at school shared examples of sexual harassment, blackmail, rape and pack assault. The report is authored by Genna Hawkins-Boulton, the founder of Let's Talk Consent, and finds schools are struggling to provide a safe environment for victims who often find themselves in the same rooms as their perpetrators. The report recommends more training so staff can better support victims, revising guidelines so there is a zero-tolerance approach to sexual violence and making consent-based education compulsory.

After the All Blacks heartbreak, a couple of other teams have the chance to give New Zealand something to cheer about in their biggest matches of the year - while the injuries and losses begin to mount up for the Black Caps. How is it impacting their Cricket World Cup chances?

The only solo album by former Clean/ Chills/ Snapper/ Puddle/ Great Unwashed member Peter Gutteridge has just been reissued, and it's an eccentric thriller from the first track to the last. Grant Smithies brings two key tracks from that today, followed by a song from L.A. band Rough Church (currently touring here) and a funk classic from Parliament.

The proposed expansion of the Methven Resort near Mt Hutt skifield is meeting with some local opposition. It was built in 1982. Ashburton's new library and civic centre building is set to finally open on December 18, a year later than the original completion date. And Jonathan talks to Kathryn about the great H debate: Wakanui or Whakanui, or both?. There's division over what the rural Canterbury area should be called.

Gina Rogers reviews Lady Tan's Circle of Women, by Lisa See published by Simon and Schuster.

Dr John Gillies has had a life long love of Skippers Canyon, and his new book showcases his paintings of the iconic gorge in Otago. He was born in 1945, and discovered his love of art at St Andrew's College, while studying figure drawing under sculptor Tom Taylor. But it wasn't art that became his first career. Instead he attended Otago University medical school, graduating in 1972 after a short stint in Vietnam with the New Zealand Combined Services Medical Team. He went on to become the clinical director of respiratory medicine for the Canterbury District Health Board, before retiring in 2006. Throughout his time as a medical professional he regularly created and exhibited new paintings, and also founded the New Zealand Association of Artist Doctors.

Pacific reporter Lydia Lewis, in the Cook Islands, where last night she interviewed the country's Prime Minister.

Judges Tina Makereti and Harry Ricketts reveal their top five short stories from the hundreds entered in this year's competition.

Chief Executive of North Shore Hospital charity the Well Foundation joins Kathryn Ryan to discuss their "Give A Bit Of Green" campaign. The campaign, launched this week, aims to raise $1million to fund the creation of a Healing Garden. If all goes to plan, the indoor garden will contain over 500 plants and replace a grey concrete atrium at the new Totara Haumaru building, part of the North Shore hospital expansion.

Film and TV reviewer James Croot joins Kathryn to look at Nyad (Netflix), which details what drove athlete Diana Nyad to swim from Cuba to Florida at the age of 60. He'll also look at whether technology can help us find true love in Fingernails (Apple TV+), season two of New York period drama The Gilded Age (Neon/Soho) and Cat Person (cinemas), an exploration of the horrors of dating.

In our parenting slot today we look at what teachers, parents and caregivers can do to help neurodivergent children feel accepted. Kathryn Berkett has a Masters in Educational Psychology, has a special interest in resilience and is a certified Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics practitioner. She runs Neurodiversity Workshops as part of Life Education's Nurturing Healthy Minds series. Kathryn says it's important to understand how neurodiversity can influence behaviour and decision-making.

Technology commentator Tony Grasso joins Kathryn to talk about popular password manager LastPass and how it's been breached five times - with the latest netting the release of credentials for users' crypto wallets.

The general election might be behind us, but voters in East Hamilton face a by-election as local councillor Ryan Hamilton leaves to become an MP. There's a St John's ambulance staff member onsite at Waikato Hospital's Emergency Department every weekday to try to reduce the wait time of arriving patients. And action is underway to keep several low-lying Firth of Thames settlements above water for the next 100 years.

Carole Beu from The Women's Bookshop reviews End Times by Rebecca Priestly published by Te Herenga Waka University Press

UK correspondent Matt Dathan joins Kathryn to talk about the revelations emerging from the Covid inquiry, including some foul-mouthed rants in messages from Dominic Cummings, the former aide to PM Boris Johnson. The target of his ire, former deputy cabinet secretary Helen MacNamara has herself testified today that a "macho" culture harmed the UK's pandemic response. Meanwhile some of the biggest tech companies are attending Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's summit on the risks of artificial intelligence.

It's been five years since the country's largest sculpture exhibition has graced the slopes of Fort Takapuna on Auckland's North Shore. The event was a casualty of last-minute Covid cancellations back in 2021, with a giant pivot to an online offering. For artists and would-be attendees it was a disappointment, but this year it's back to business as usual, with a record 130 artworks from 100 artists gracing the clifftop site. Sculpture on Shore is the biggest private fundraiser for Women's Refuge - with the artworks auctioned to raise money for the organisation. To date, more than $2.2 million has been donated. Joining Kathryn is Sally Dewar - NZ Sculpture on Shore Board Chair and one of the artists taking part, Virginia King.

A project is underway to see if harmful, malnourished kina can be plucked from the seafloor and turned into a lucrative seafood export. In parts of north east Aotearoa, wild kina populations have exploded, grazing kelp forests to bare rock, and turning seafloor into barrens. The kina don't die, but because there's little food left for them, they're not big enough to harvest and eat. EnviroStrat is undertaking a pilot which harvests the underweight kina and feeds them in a facility, until they're big enough to export to an east Asian market. Senior environmental consultant Johnny Wright speaks to Kathryn Ryan.

Auckland school principals are warning of pressure on classrooms after increased immigration saw a surge in enrolments. Nearly 16-thousand new pupils have enrolled in schools this year, with Auckland schools gaining more than 8-thousand, their biggest jump in 20 years.Most of the new students have New Zealand residence or parents on short-term work or study visas, and about three-thousand are fee-paying foreign students.More than half of the new students are teenagers. PPTA acting President Chris Abercrombie says many schools are bursting at the seams, and struggling to scale up teaching, particularly for English as a Second Language.

Science correspondent Laurie Winkless joins Kathryn to talk about the role dust played in the demise of the dinosaurs, research that could have implications for self-cleaning kitchens and menopause in chimpanzees. 

Rugby league is full of ridiculous stories. Australian journalist and author Glen Humphries has done his best to capture some of the wildest tales in his new book.

Music 101 host Charlotte Ryan joins Kathryn to talk about a new documentary focused on Fat Freddy's Drop that's been released through RNZ. She'll also play new music from Kali Uchis and talk about Sir Dave Dobbyn's re-issue of Lament for the Numb for its 30th anniversary.

Proposed plans for housing intensification in Mount Maunganui are being called irresponsible by Whareroa Marae. Alisha outlines the concerns. 

Elisabeth Easther reviews Fishes of Aotearoa by Paul Caiger published by Potton and Burton

Architect Jade Kake specialises in designing communities and housing based on a traditional model of living known as papakainga. She's co-authored a biography,and now her first novel - Checkerboard Hill, has just been released.

Bernard looks at thawing relations with China, and how Qantas is at the heart of yet another scandal.

Work safety wear is designed to be hardy - but even it will reach the end of its life eventually. What to do with it then became an issue of great concern to Annie Light. 

It has lost its powers to monitor and investigate, after controversial legislation changes  - so what can the Moko Mokopuna - which replaces the Office of the Children's Commissioner... actually do? 

There's been some high profile business failures this week, with online supermarket operator Supie and Deep Creek brewery going into liquidation. But new data out suggests they're not alone.

Sports commentator Glen Larmer discusses the All Blacks' loss to the Springboks at the Rugby World Cup, and how much blame we can really pin on referee Wayne Barnes.

Author George Lockyer has travelled the length and breadth of the country in pursuit of the classic Kiwi pub. He's pulled his findings together in a new book called 'Iconic Kiwi Pubs: From Mangonui to Bluff. The book explores the history of 25 pubs and their place within communities - and includes many memorable characters and moments. George is also the author of Kiwi Garages, Kiwis on Harleys and Tales and Trails Down Under.

Rebecca Stevenson is a senior journalist at BusinessDesk.

Peter talks to Kathryn about the storm affected north, calls for clampdown on dogs in wake of fatal attack, the emerging summer problem of "Hoons on dunes" and kitten yoga debuts in the Bay of Islands. RNZ Northland reporter Peter de Graaf is based in Kerikeri

Emma Hislop reviews Signs of Life by Amy Head published by Te Herenga Waka University Press.

After publishing his John le Carré biography in 2015, Adam Sisman has returned to the subject. One of the greatest novelists of the 20th century, John le Carré - who's real name is David Cornwell - died in 2020. The former spy, turned author, did not want his many love affairs in the 2015 biography, which Adam Sisman calls the truth, 'but not the whole truth'. Adam Sisman's new book The Secret Life of John le Carré identifies 11 women le Carré had affairs with, in the first 30 years of his marriage with wife Jane Cornwell. He writes that le Carré's pursuit of women 'was a key to unlock his fiction'.

Ron Elving discusses the new Speaker of the House and Congress; a relatively junior member of the leadership, Mike Johnson. And the atrocity in Lewiston, Maine, with 18 people dead in a shooting, and a rash of shootings at Halloween parties over the weekend.

Hamilton lines company WEL Networks has launched the country's first utility-scale battery storage system. The battery, which is near Huntly, can provide 35-megawatt-hours of energy - enough for about 2000 homes - and is capable of providing `fast reserves support' for the national grid in the North Island. The build of the site began in July last year, and there've been delays that meant it took a year longer to complete than originally planned. The lines company has set up a subsidiary - NewPower Energy - which will own and operate the battery, selling generation into the electricity reserves market.

As summer looms, one of the country's most dangerous beaches is at risk of being short of lifeguards, as the dilapidated surf clubroom awaits a much-needed upgrade. Auckland's Karioitahi Beach facilities are in such a state of disrepair, building committee co-chair Jim Coe says they're acting more as a storeroom than a congregation point for volunteers. After a push to reach a funding goal of 7.5 million dollars fell 1.6 million short, the Surf Life Saving Club there has started work on a scaled-down plan, which it hopes to get over the line early next year. However Jim Coe says the state of the current club, which is 50 years old, means fewer lifeguards are putting their hands up this year. While some beaches have modern facilities thanks to community and council funding, Surf Life Saving NZ has 147 which need work - ranging from maintenance, to a full rebuild. Several have limited capacity after the major flood events earlier this year, and two clubrooms - at Bethells Beach and Mangawhai Heads - are operating out of shipping containers. Kariotahi Surf Lifesaving Club building committee co-chair Jim Coe, and Surf Lifesaving CEO Steve Fisher, speak to Kathryn Ryan.

The failure of the online grocer Supie has renewed calls for structural intervention in the supermarket sector. Supie was set up two years ago to try and bring more competition into the market, but yesterday went into voluntary administration with debt of about 3-million dollars, after a key investor pulled out. Supie founder Sarah Balle says she is working with administrators on closing the business as efficiently as possible. Last year, the Commerce Commission published its final report into the grocery sector with one proposal, the structural separation of the wholesale food market and the forced sale of some sites - but in the end that option was not adopted. Instead, the Commission reccomended the establishment of a Grocery Commissioner and a Code of Conduct for the sector. Matthew Lane is the General Manager of the Night and Day chain of convenience stores, who says the only way real competition can happen is if it is forced upon the incumbent duopoly.

A postcard from Rakiura from Kennedy Warne, who's cruising around the Island and joins Kathryn Ryan from Port Pegaus, a sprawling harbour with a history of shipbuilding, tin mining and sawmilling.

Don't buy fruit and vege without me, says Thanh Truong, also known as the fruit nerd. Thanh grew up in a fruit shop and has spent a lot of time buying and selling fruit whether for exporters or from local farmers. He also has a masters in food systems and gastronomy. His new book is a guide to picking fruit and vegetables and includes 50 recipes inspired by Thanh's family, travels and food-loving friends. He also makes regular appearances on ABC Everyday, Thanh has a mission to educate others on the power of produce - his mantra is 'good food starts with good produce'.

Kathryn, Gareth and Ben discuss how the Greens fared on election night and also how will they fare in Opposition. And a look at the challenges underway to form this Government. Gareth Hughes is a former Green MP and now works for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa. Ben Thomas is a former National government press secretary, a columnist and a director of public affairs firm Capital.

Southern Lakes population has grown by 8% in the last 12 months. Peter says that's an extra 4,000 people and by far the biggest growth figure in NZ. This is putting extraordinary pressure on housing and in some cases people are living in garages and fueling slum accomodation.. And the Ombudsman has come down hard on Queenstown Lakes District Council holding secret meetings which include discussing the area's challenges. Peter Newport, is the Managing Editor of Crux.

Kiran Dass reviews Living Between Land & Sea: The Bays of Whakaraupo Lyttelton Harbour by Jane Robertson published by Massey University Press Pub by: Massey University Press

Professor Jan Jordan is best known as a criminology academic and victims' rights campaigner, with a long career at Victoria University and many academic books, particularly looking at rape culture and justice. But until now, Jan Jordan, has not spoken publicly about her own survival story.

Seamus Kearney discusses the serious divisions opening up in the EU over how to deal with the Israel-Hamas conflict and how it's playing out in Gaza. Some countries have been calling for a ceasefire, while others share Israel's concerns it would give Hamas time to regroup. Meanwhile Ukraine has received reassurances it will not be forgotten amid the conflict in the Middle East. In a joint statement after a summit in Brussels, EU leaders vowed to continue financial, military and humanitarian support to Ukraine for "as long as it takes". And a shocking new report in Spain has detailed the scale of abuse of children by Catholic priests and other church staff.

Non-profit KiwiSaver provider and fund manager Simplicity says it wants to build and fund 25,000 new homes in the next 10 years. It aims to try hit this goal by launching a new investment fund today that will essentially ramp up its existing programme to increase housing supply. That includes its build-to-rent operator Simplicity Living, offering cheaper mortgage rates to first home buyers and funding community housing providers. Over the past three years those initiatives have led to a $340 million investment in housing across the country, with more than 1500 houses built or in development. Simplicity managing director Sam Stubbs says if 5 percent of what is in term deposits now - equivalent to about $14 billion - were to be redirected to this fund that would be enough to achieve the 25,000 home target.

A new report analysing $178 million of investment into charities, finds just 13 per cent of people receive 73 per cent of investment. The report is by social analytics firm ImpactLab and wealth management firm Jarden, and analyses over 100 programmes to provide a snapshot of the charitable sector's impact. ImpactLab Chairman, Former Prime Minister Sir Bill English, joins Kathryn, along with Jarden Head of Wealth Solutions Chris Wilson to discuss what the report reveals about the impact of the charitable sector.

Comedians Donna Brookbanks and Elisabeth Easther

Dana talks to Kathryn about how the All Blacks went into the Rugby World Cup with a complete absence of public expectation and now they're in the final. Is coach, Ian Foster about to pull off the ultimate redemption story?

A reissue of Tricky's crucial debut album, the first new Stones original music in 18 years, and a fine solo debut from Ebony Lamb.

Samantha Gee discusses wastewater woes in Nelson - the Tasman District Council issued warnings against collecting shellfish or whitebait from the coastal area around the Motueka River last month, after problems with the filtration membranes were detected at its treatment plant. Now the council says this has been happening since they were first installed as part of an eight million upgrade to the plant in 2014. They had been able to address it by acid-washing or back washing the filters but come September, that was no longer working. And, more than a year on from the August flooding across the top of the South Island, some residents still remain in limbo.

Demi Cox of Unity Books Auckland reviews The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donaghue

The Samoan word 'tala' translates to 'story', or 'tale'. And for Henry Onesemo, new Auckland fine-dining jaunt TALA is a chance to tell his own tales of Samoa, through familiar ingredients presented with a fresh twist. He and wife Debby Onesemo are opening the restaurant next Friday. Hospitality is not the first career for either of them - after leaving Samoa at 17, Henry joined the US military and then worked as a dancer for Disney. Debby used to be a lawyer. But a move to New Zealand, landed them both in the hospo scene, and after a trip back to Samoa, Henry began to rediscover the flavours which sparked memories of childhood.

South China Sea tensions are rising with Chinese vessels ramming Philippine boats near a Manila-controlled shoal that John says Beijing want to get its hands on. This as China's top foreign policy official goes to Washington and the country's Defense Minister, Li Shangfu is formally ousted.

More than 150 frontline staff at Auckland Hospital's emergency department have signed a complaint to management saying chronic staff shortages are exposing them to unacceptable risk. The complaint has been signed by doctors, nurses and healthcare assistants and lodged under the Health and Safety at Work Act, warning hospital bosses that "safe staffing levels" are being "consistently breached". They say the ratio of nurses to patients should be no more than one to four but this is consistently breached, putting both staff and patients at risk. Nico Woodward is a nurse in Auckland Hospital's emergency department, a NZ nurses organisation delegate, and one of the signatories to the complaint. He speaks to the pressures inside E.D alongside Anne Daniels, president of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation and also an emergency department nurse.

This week attorneys general across the United States launched a broadside against social media giant Meta, over harm caused to children and young people. A total of 41 states have launched multiple lawsuits alleging Meta - the owner of Facebook and Instagram - has knowingly used features on its platforms that are detrimental to youth mental health. The biggest lawsuit, joined by 33 states, says Meta "harnessed power and unprecedented technologies to entice, engage and ultimately ensnare youth and teens. It alleges the company's motive it profit and it's repeatedly misled the public over the dangers. The flurry of lawsuits comes two years after leaked internal research revealed Meta was aware of the impact it was having - particularly the toxic effect of Instagram on teenage girls. The leaker was Frances Haugen and she joins Kathryn to discuss the lawsuits' implications.

Film and TV reviewer Chris Schulz joins Kathryn to talk about Martin Scorcese's Killers of the Flower Moon, based on the book of the same name, which is about the Oklahoma murders of members of the Osage Nation following the discovery of oil on their land. He'll also rate the documentary into David Beckham (Netflix) and one for Halloween: The Enfield Poltergeist (Apple), which focuses on the true story of a London family in the 1970s who claimed they were terrorised by an evil spirit.

Bestselling author and psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg talks to Kathryn about creating and fostering the grandparent-grandchild relationship. Throughout time it has been a special relationship, but as lives get busier, retirement age stretches out and technology absorbs children - we're looking at key ways to navigate the complexities of connecting and staying in touch. Dr Carr-Gregg's latest book Grandparents - is a practical guide to navigating being a Nana or Grandad.

Bill Bennett joins Kathryn to talk about how Twitter has changed in the year since Elon Musk's $44b buyout. He'll also look at why video streamers are pushing up prices well beyond inflation and why it might come with ads. And North Korean agents have been insinuating their way into tens of thousands of freelance IT roles around the world - what's the danger and what are some of the signs one has been hired?

Jimmy has the latest on Massey University's financial troubles, and cuts to staff and courses. Also, why Taumaranui locals want dozens of abandoned trains in the town - gone. And what has led 62 year old Trevor Moore to fundraise for the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter, based in Palmerston North.

Harry Broad reviews 50 years, 50 stories: Marlborough the region that turned the wine world upside down by Tessa Anderson published by Tessa Anderson

Toronto-based architect Tye Farrow has a particular interest in how a space can make us feel. His designs across North America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East have gained recognition for their focus on physical and mental wellbeing. Tye, who has a Master of Neuroscience Applied to Architecture, often centres his buildings around timber elements and natural sunlight. He's designed a cancer centre in which many remark doesn't feel at all like a hospital, and several schools, which he says is another crucial point where architecture and health intersect. The World Congress on Design and Healthhas identified him as a global leader who making "a significant contribution to health and humanity through the medium of architecture and design". Tye Farrow has just wrapped up a New Zealand speaking tour, where he discusses the concept of optimising health through environmental enrichment.

UK correspondent Harriet Line joins Kathryn to look at the tensions mounting within the Labour party over Sir Keir Starmer's position on the Israel/Gaza conflict. He's faced criticism for appearing to say Israel had the "right" to cut off water and energy to Gaza. He's sought to clarify his position and has met with Muslim MPs. Meanwhile the British government has called for 'specific pauses' in the conflict between Israel and Hamas - but not a ceasefire. And Rishi Sunak has marked his first anniversary in Number 10. Harriet Line is Deputy Political Editor of the Daily Mail

New research finds older drivers are not higher risk behind the wheel, but suggests as the proportion of seniors grows, we'll need more roundabouts and better road signs.

The "Bank of Mum and Dad" is now estimated to be the fifth-largest lender to Kiwi home buyers, but often a lack of clarity on whether money has been loaned or gifted causes conflict down the track. When large sums of money are passed between family members, it's safer for both sides to have this documented in a formal agreement, says financial ombudsman Susan Taylor.

The Commerce Commission says mobile phone providers have failed to improve pre-pay billing apps, for the second year in a row. In the latest report, prepared by Consumer NZ, not much has changed when it comes to annual information on data, text and call usage - making comparison between telcos difficult. In 2021, the Commerce Commission asked 2 Degrees, One NZ and Spark to improve information around usage and spend, so customers can compare plans more easily. Jessica Walker, campaigns manager for Consumer NZ, says nothing has changed since last year's report.

Money expert Liz Koh dives into the issue of NZ superannuation and whether it's enough to live on. She'll examine the latest Massey University report into retiree income and the differences between the expenditure of those living in the metro areas versus those in the provinces. She'll also share some tips on how to stretch your retirement budget further. Liz Koh is a money expert specialising in retirement planning. The advice given here is general and does not constitute specific advice to any person.

Demand for divorce coach Bridgette Jackson's services is higher than ever - but she says that's not necessarily a bad thing. A divorce coach isn't a quite therapist, nor a financial or legal advisor. What they offer, is a helping hand for those caught in the throes of a separation, to navigate the complicated system and the emotional tangle that follows. It's not just those who have landed on divorce. Bridgette - who runs Equal Exes in Auckland - also works with unmarried couples who are separating, or those who are still considering staying together.

John talks to Kathryn about how Labour weekend has been positive for the region's business community as bach, holiday homeowners and visitors made the most of the break, however the major tourist attraction Cathedral Cove remains closed. He also has the latest on repairs to State Highway 25A, which is a crucial link and outlines what is happening with the sea wall at the northern end of Thames.

Glenda Keam reviews Jenny McLeod: A Life in Music by Norman Meehan published by Te Herenga Waka University Press

Dr Robert Waldinger has been studying human happiness and the secret to it for decades. He is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and Director of the the Harvard Study of Adult Development. That study first began in 1938 with 228 Harvard students with researchers collecting data on their medical and mental health. In the 1970s, another 450 inner-city residents joined the study. It is the world's longest-running research into happiness and suggests friendship and connections help us to live longer and be happier. Dr Robert Waldinger has co-authored a book The Good Life and How to Live It with Marc Schulz and has presented a TED Talk which has over 24 million views.

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton joins Kathryn to talk about the billionaire paper packaging baron Anthony Pratt being centre of a growing scandal over leaked audio recordings that reveal his private comments about some high profile people, including former US President Donald Trump and King Charles. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is in Washington DC, but his plans have been interrupted by ructions on the Hill. Australian journalist Cheng Lei has given her first media interviews since being released from a Chinese jail two weeks ago and what's caused a 10-year-old Aussie pop tune to make the top of the charts? Karen Middleton is chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper.

Mike and Rebecca Casey have what could be the first zero-fossil fuels orchard in the world. Their Forest Lodge Orchard - growing mainly cherries - in Cromwell has no diesel or petrol on site and has the country's first electric tractor. After selling Mike's startup GradConnection - a network connecting graduates with jobs - to jobs listing company Seek in 2019, the couple bought a six-hectare property with cherry trees in Cromwell. The couple have replaced 20 machines running off fossil fuels with electric alternatives. In January 2022 they completed their first harvest where they were able to command a 15 percent premium compared to other cherries. Next year they want to grow production by 400 per cent in line with the trees reaching maturity. Mike, it will come as little surprise, has a keen interest in the energy transition and is also chief executive of Rewiring Aotearoa - a non-profit dedicated to representing people in the energy system.

6.5 million tyres reach their end of life in New Zealand every year and now a long awaited regulation change is set to improve the way they are disposed of. From March next year, when you buy a new tyre, you'll also be paying $6.65 + GST for its disposal. This fund will enable Tyrewise to provide free collection and ensure tyres end up at registered processors. Kathryn speaks with Adele Rose, Tyrewise Implementation Project Manager.

Latest inflation data from Stats NZ shows insurance premiums are soaring, but is this simply the new norm? Home insurance premiums in the quarter to September are up by more than a fifth year-on-year. Contents insurance was up nearly 19 percent while car insurance was up by more than 10 percent in the same period. The outgoing chief executive of the Insurance Council says high construction costs, severe storm damage and the cost of reinsurance are behind the rises. Tim Grafton will step down from the role next year after 12 years - he has serious concerns over where some houses are being allowed to be built - and says this is one of the biggest questions for the sector.

Sam reflects on a bumper weekend of sport. After all the ups and downs the All Blacks are in the Rugby World Cup finals, the Black Ferns have suffered a loss and so have the Black Caps.

Victoria joins Susie to look at why Tauranga insolvency practitioner David Thomas has been censured by the profession's watchdog and why it's been an important case. There's new details about the New Zealand assets of Russian oligarch Alexander Abramov and why is Auckland Council spending $5m on ads about rubbish? BusinessDesk investigations editor, Victoria Young

Neale and Tim join Susie to look at the post-election waiting game, as coalition talks continue. So far the only confirmed ministerial position is Nicola Willis in finance - but who else is likely to get a seat at the Cabinet table? Which policies of the former government are gone-burger and what will a Labour opposition look like? Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of public affairs firm Capital. Tim Hurdle is a former National senior adviser, was the National Party Campaign Director in 2020. He is a director of several companies, including Museum Street Strategies, a public affairs firm.

Todd Niall is in Auckland, where big questions lie ahead for the supercity following the election result. Under National, it looks likely light rail will get the axe, additional Waitemata Harbour crossings are at least on the backburner, and the tap could turn off on the regional fuel tax, which funds some of Auckland's existing projects. Todd Niall is a senior Auckland affairs journalist for Stuff.

Lynn Freeman reviews The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride published by Hachette

For the past 29 years, Matthew O'Sullivan has been working to fill in the gaps of New Zealand's military history. He's the official 'keeper of photographs' at the Air Force Museum in Christchurch, which is home to an archive containing more than one million snapshots - documenting both the Air force and Defence Force over the years. Some images date back to World War II, and a handful of negatives even go right back to the 1920s. As well as conserving the collection, Matthew often gets requests from the public hoping to track down images of long-lost relatives, or from far-away towns who want to memorialise our country's role in the war. Matthew O'Sullivan speaks with Susie Ferguson.

US correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben joins Susie to discuss the paralysis over appointing a new House Speaker is into a third week. Nine Republicans are vying for the job - but what is the delay doing to the credibility of the party and the ability of the House to go about its business? Danielle Kurtzleben is a political correspondent assigned to NPR's Washington Desk.

Menopause and the impacts of it have not really been part of mainstream conversation - until recently. Around 7 in 10 women experience moderate to severe symptoms due to fluctuating hormones, which can impact physical and mental health for years. As yet, no publicly funded awareness campaign exists. So Wellingtonian Sarah Connor decided to do it off her own bat. She suffered terrible menopause symptoms a few years ago and it took her months to find the right information, support, and solutions. She then founded the grassroots movement Menopause Over Martinis* and has since facilitated conversations about menopause all over New Zealand, in her community and on social media. Now Sarah, and Wellington brand strategist and creative Helen Milner, have teamed up and created six outdoor ads on 40 screens in 26 shopping centres around the country and on e-bike lock and charge stations in 10 towns and cities. They've also got menopause questions included in pub quizzes.

Waiheke Islanders will soon have a new option for getting across to the city. Susie finds out more from Island Direct's David Todd - including how the service plans to offer lower fares than its competitor, Fullers.

Kainga Ora shut its shared home ownership programme at the end of September, just six weeks after expanding it. The first home partner programme helps buyers who do not have enough of a deposit by paying for up to a maximum of 25 percent of the purchase price of the house or $200,000 - whichever is lower. Applicants needed to have at least a 5 percent deposit. Kainga Ora had six weeks earlier expanded the programme from solely new build properties to include existing houses as well. Kainga Ora declined to be interviewed on the topic - stating that the current political landscape made it inappropriate for it to be speaking on government policy. But a spokesperson said the change to include existing homes led to a 450 per cent increase in the number of applications it had received, leading to the scheme being fully subscribed. Stuart Wills has been a mortgage broker for some 25 years and operates Mortgage Managers out of Auckland. He also set up a popular Facebook page - Kiwi First Home Buyers Group - to promote discussion among buyers. He's in the Auckland studio. The Tamaki regeneration programme is another shared home ownership programme of note in New Zealand. Its chief executive Shelley Katae appeared on Nine to Noon earlier this year.

The Week that Was with Te Radar and Michele A'Court

Sports commentator Sam Ackerman

Teenage songwriters Bob & Gene recorded just a handful of extraordinary soul tunes in Bob's family basement in the late 60s, then it took 40 years for their only album to be released. We'll hear two key songs from that today, followed by some raucous racket from Oamaru's Cuticles and a crucial cut from UK dub trio Creation Rebel, who've just released their first album in 40 years.

Around the motu: Tess Brunton in Dunedin

Laura Caygill reviews Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll published by Macmillan

Fear is what keeps us alive but it can also be destructive and divisive. In his new book Fear: An Alternative History of the World, historian Robert Peckham looks at the role fear has played across major events in history, including the Covid pandemic.

RNZ Pacific Editor Koroi Hawkins

What do Ongaonga, Puponga, Whangaroa, Whangamomona and Tuatapere have in common? They're all small towns with big histories. Peter Janssen and Elizabeth Anderson have been on an epic journey to document the stories of our historic towns. Their new book is High Hopes and Big Dreams: 165 New Zealand small towns in their twilight. Some have vanished completely while others have now found a new purpose and are on the up. Peter joins Kathryn with some of his favourite stories.

It's a big weekend for rugby fans - there is, of course, a World Cup semi-final involving the All Blacks on Saturday morning. But there's another international involving New Zealand's top rugby team on Saturday night in Wellington. The Black Ferns will meet France in the opening test of the new WXV tournament. It'll be the first time the teams have faced each other since the Black Ferns edged France out of last year's Rugby World Cup semi-final by one point. Kathryn is joined by Sally Horrox, Chief of Women's Rugby at World Rugby, on how the tournament will work and what she hopes it'll do for the women's game.

Tensions are high in Franz Josef as submissions open on a proposal over what to do about the river that runs through the town and is increasingly becoming a flood risk. Stopbanks built to hold back the Waiho River are no longer thought to be enough when it's in flood, but there's not enough funding - even with central Government support - to upgrade them to a point to protect the town. The West Coast township and tourism operators are mostly on the north bank - and the south is mostly made up of farms. The West Coast Regional Council has put two options on the table. The first is to do nothing - although the report warns there's a high chance the river will burst on the south side anyway, risking loss of life, livestock and property. The second option - and the one recommended in the report - is to take down the southern stop banks where the farms are located and buy out the properties on that side of the river, which would inevitably flood. West Coast councillor Peter Haddock speaks with Kathryn Ryan.

Film and TV reviewer Laumata Lauano joins Kathryn to talk about season two of Kiwi comedian Pax Assadi's Raised by Refugees, The Strangest of Angels - a film by New Zealand Opera about the life of Janet Frame and Totally Killer, a time-travelling slasher movie.

Parents often say they never stop worrying about their offspring. But how does parenting change as your children become adults? Are today's adult children more dependent on their elders for longer? What is the roadmap for parents here? Neuroplasticity educator and parenting expert, father and grandfather, Nathan Wallis joins Kathryn.

Technology correspondent Mark Pesce joins Kathryn to talk about the difficulties wartime creates when it comes to tech - can you trust what you're seeing and hearing and are tools to 'detect' fake news working? X (former Twitter) has firmly moved away from content moderation - has that contributed to the problem? Mark will also have some tips to manage your social media right now, and details about the largest-ever cyber attack which hit Google last month.

Kelly Makiha is in Rotorua, where she recently met Renea Wharekura, who is lucky to be alive after a car smashed into her house, coming to a halt beside her bed. And the Rotorua courthouse has had a fire alarm scare, triggered by prisoners smoking in the cells. However, how their got their hands on cigarettes while awaiting their appearances remains a mystery.

Sonja de Friez reviews Don Binney: Flight Path by Greg O'Brien published by Auckland University Press

You could say Motueka writer Donna McLeod's new play has been a long time in the making: over 180 years, in fact. The play is called Tense, and it focuses on the historical significance of the Nelson Tenths - New Zealand's longest-running land claim.

UK correspondent Dan Bloom joins Kathryn to discuss two by-elections due to be held later on Thursday, that could prove to be problematic for the Conservatives. He'll talk about Britain's reaction to the situation in Gaza and Israel, including a call from Foreign Minister James Cleverly for people to wait for the facts about who was behind the deadly blast at a hospital in Gaza. And Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is considering making changes to how state pension increases are calculated.

Could dung beetles be the solution for farmers managing freshwater on their property? Dr Shaun Forgie is driving a push for change. 

 Médecins Sans Frontières has labelled the explosion at the hospital a "massacre" that is "absolutely unacceptable", amid a back-and-forth over who is to blame. 

SIS boss Andrew Hampton tells Kathryn there are undoubtedly bad actors who will try to exploit New Zealand private sector businesses, especially those who need investment.

Science correspondent Siouxsie Wiles joins Kathryn to talk about a new study that's investigated why we love fatty foods so much and the role texture has to play. 

For any hobby or professional beekeeper there are a plethora of known pests and diseases that affect honey bees, including Varroa.  

Music commentator Kirsten Zemke goes out of this world with some songs that are not only about space, but have been broadcast from there too. 

Susan Botting is in Northland where Whangarei District Council is pushing back against a 2022 Government directive to fluoridate its council-supplied drinking water. 

Paul Diamond reviews Nga Kaihanga Uku Maori Clay Artists by Baye Riddell published by Te Papa Press.

New Zealand mountaineer Guy Cotter has summited Mount Everest five times and scaled 7 of the world's 14 above-8000m peaks. For over 30 years, he has led guided Everest expeditions with Adventure Consultants - a company set up by his mentors Gary Ball and Rob Hall, who died on two separate climbing expeditions in the '90s. In the new book Everest Mountain Guide, Cotter describes what actually goes on during an Everest expedition and also traces the evolution of high-altitude guided mountaineering.

Australia correspondent Chris Niesche joins Kathryn to look at the failed Voice vote at the weekend. Where did the Yes and No campaigns differ?  

New research suggests disruption to our circadian rhythms can lead to depression, anxiety and psychosis. So what's the solution? Get outside!

A group of Wellington bar owners say they face unreasonable delays for liquor licences, and are unfairly blamed for antisocial behavior on Courtenay Place. 

Glen joins Kathryn to talk about the semi-final shakedown at the Rugby World Cup and who's on track to make the final.

If you've tackled the Otago Rail Trail or have been through the Maniototo, you'll probably be familiar with the store in Oturehua that doubles as a museum. It was founded by Thomas Gilchrist in 1902, and at its height offered groceries and baked goods, farm supplies, fuel pumps and accommodation. While the store was run by three generations of the family, it's twice come close to closure - with the community stepping in to buy the building and all its memorabilia. The store's current owner, John Hellier has teamed up with local historian Judy Beck and writer and editor Paula Wagemaker to dig into the store's history and its importance to the local community. Paula joins me to talk about their book: 'Thomas Gilchrist and Sons Limited of the Maniototo'.

Business commentator Rebecca Stevenson takes a look at what the election might mean for the stockmarket and businesses - and what the latest inflation data out today could show. And she'll look at the mystery over a bid for Sky TV that put the company into a share trading halt at the end of last week. Rebecca Stevenson is a senior journalist at BusinessDesk

Business Correspondent Gyles Beckford

Logan Savory is in Southland, where National's electorate candidate Penny Simmonds has held on to the seat by a landslide. In 2020 she beat Labour's Liz Craig by just 224 votes. This time around, the majority is closer to 9000. And just when things appeared to be resuming to normal at Gore District Council, it is back in the headlines. CEO Stephen Parry resigned last month following an ongoing tumultuous relationship with mayor Ben Bell. However the incoming interim CEO has now also resigned - and Mr Parry has been voted in to stay until a proper replacement is found.

Cynthia Morahan reviews The Twat Files by Dawn French published by Penguin Random House.

New Zealander Maddie Dai sees the world a little differently to most. As a cartoonist for the New Yorker her work takes in the absurdity of modern life and reflects it back at the reader with humour. That humour has been harnessed for her new short film Ministry of Jingle, which is part of the Show Me Shorts festival screening around the motu this month. In it, new hire Melody joins the group of civil servants tasked with creating jingles to tackle public safety issues - but where Melody wants to focus on the more complex problems society is facing, her colleagues aren't so keen. Maddie's foray into screenwriting has also seen her finish her first feature film: We Were Dangerous, which has been shot in Christchurch and produced by Taika Waitit's Piki Films.

Ron Elving is in Washington, focusing on the United States' reaction to events in Gaza and Israel. He'll also talk about the inability of the House majority to pick a leader and resume normal legislative business. Ron Elving is Senior Editor and Correspondent on the Washington Desk for NPR News.

Coromandel businesses are worried over the continued closure of the popular Cathedral Cove walking track in the Coromandel. Ray Van Beynen from the Mercury Bay Business Association says the Department of Conservation is overstating the risks, and locals and visitors are missing out. He joins Kathryn, along with Tinaka Mearns, DOC's regional director.

The United Nations and aid agencies are still waiting for a desperately-needed humanitarian corridor to be opened in Gaza, as Israel air strikes continue following the deadly attacks by Hamas. The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza remains closed, with Egypt saying it's been made inoperable by Israeli air strikes. Kathryn speaks this morning to the BBC's Mid-East correspondent Sebastian Usher.

Kennedy Warne looks at the pleasures and perils of the life aquatic. He details the situation of trans-Pacific rower Tom Robinson who had to be rescued by a cruise ship after his boat was capsized by a freak wave. And he'll also talk about the estuaries of the Hauraki Gulf.

Since winning Masterchef in 2022, Sam Low has been figuring out what's important to him as a chef in the New Zealand media. In the new recipe book Modern Chinese, he honours both his cultural heritage and the "love language" of his parents' cooking.

Craig McCulloch reports from the Parliament Press Gallery following a strong election result for the National Party.  

Diane McCarthy checks in from Whakatane with the latest goings on. 

Louise O'Brien reviews The Goodbye Cat by Hiro Arikawa published by Penguin Random House

Dr Emma Nolan and her team at Auckland University is collecting breast cancer samples with the aim of setting up lab models that mimic the breast cancer environment. She talks to Kathryn about the implications of the research.

Seamus Kearney looks at at the PR disaster in Brussels over the response to the Israel-Hamas conflict, after the EU Commissioner responsible for enlargement announced all money to Palestinians would be suspended which he was forced to retract after a massive backlash. The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been criticised for not explicitly calling for Israel to show restraint. And France has been put on its highest terror alert after a teacher was killed in an Islamist attack. The French President has ordered up to 7,000 soldiers to be deployed across the country for increased patrols, as the country hosts the rugby world cup.

The All Blacks have conquered Ireland to make the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup, while England needed a late drop goal and penalty to get past Fiji in the quarter-final earlier this morning. The final quarter-final is to be decided between hosts France and South Africa. France led 22-19 at half time. RNZ's Joe Porter is in France.

Neale Jones, Tim Hurdle and Bernie O'Donnell analyse Saturday night's election results. Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of public affairs firm Capital. Tim Hurdle is a former National senior adviser, was the National Party Campaign Director in 2020. He is a director of several companies, including Museum Street Strategies, a public affairs firm. Bernie O'Donnell is the chairman of Manukau Urban Maori Authority and a Labour Party Member.

The week that was with Te Radar and Michele A'Court

Sports commentator Sam Ackerman

Kirsty Pickett is in Fiordland, where feasibility testing is underway on the Milford Opportunities Project's masterplan, which could radically change the way tourists interact with the national park. The proposal includes a permit system for international visitors, removing fixed-wing aircraft and some cruise liners, and also banning foreign motorists. And in Tuatapere, the completion of the multi-million dollar upgrade on the country's next Great Walk has been delayed another year. The Hump Ridge Trace was meant to reopen in late 2022 but the date has been pushed back due to supply chain delays and bad weather.

Melissa Oliver from Unity Books Wellington reviews Transposium by Dani Yourukova, published by Auckland University Press. RRP $30.00

Dr Maddy McAllister is a maritime archeologist who calls herself a shipwreck detective. She is Senior Curator in Maritime Archaeology at the Museum of Tropical Queensland, in Townsville, where she is responsible for managing some 8000 artefacts recovered from about 30 shipwrecks. Maddy began diving aged 14 in South West Australia where she grew up. And after attending a lecture on by the Australian Museum of Shipwrecks, she knew Marine Archeology was what she wanted to doShe has dived wrecks all around Australia, in the Indian Ocean and in Oman. She says she wants to find and document as many shipwrecks as possible before they're lost. She speaks with Kathryn Ryan from Townsville.

Elizabeth Beattie discusses an artillery strike in Myanmar which has killed at least 29 people, including women and children, at a refugee camp near the border with China. It is one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in the country since the military seized power in a 2021 coup. Also, Australian Cheng Lei has been freed from detention in China and arrived in Melbourne. She previously worked at Chinese state-owned media, CGTN, and was accused in 2020 of "supplying state secrets overseas". Her charges were never made public.

When Prue Young was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 18 months ago, people assumed she'd have to give up work and sport. This week, the 33-year-old Nelson paramedic is in Hawaii to compete in the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship.

Labour party leader, Chris Hipkins joins Kathryn Ryan for an interview on all the issues this election and why his party should form the next government.

Film and TV commentator Tamar Munch joins Kathryn to talk about new thriller Anatomy of a Fall (cinemas), which looks at what happens when a woman is accused of her husband's murder and the only witness is their blind son. She'll also profile a new local series, Shepherdess.

When Renee White had kids she was determined to raise them how she wished she had been raised. But when her son Eli was one and a half, in the middle of a tantrum, Renee found herself saying things she swore she'd never say to her own kids. The guilt that followed started her on a journey to better understand her emotional responses, and she discovered the peaceful parenting approach. Now, her business, Little People, Big Emotions offers resources for parents and kids to develop their emotional intelligence. The resources are used in three thousand homes and classrooms around the world. Renee White spoke with Kathryn about peaceful parenting techniques.

Technology correspondent Peter Griffin joins Kathryn to talk about the trial of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried as his ex-girlfriend takes the stand. What lessons have been learned in the crypto industry following the scandal? There are concerns about how much energy is required to run computer processing for generative AI, as a new report suggests Microsoft is losing money on one of its flagship AI products because it's so resource intensive to run.

Around the motu: Georgina Campbell in Wellington

Louise Ward of Wardini Books reviews The Observologist: A handbook for mounting very small scientific expeditions by Giselle Clarkson published by Gecko Press

In 1656 Spanish painter Diego Velázquez completed a work depicting life at the Spanish court under Philip IV. Its intriguing composition led it to become one of the most famous paintings in the world: 300 years later Picasso created a series of work dedicated to it. That fascination, and a visit to the museum housing Las Meninas when she was young, led Andrea Hotere to pen her novel The Vanishing Point. She's woven a treacherous trail through the art world, as her main character Alex seeks to understand the clues Velázquez left in the painting alluding to a royal scandal. Andrea knows art well - she's the daughter of leading Kiwi artist Ralph Hotere and poet Cilla McQueen.

UK correspondent Matthew Parris joins Kathryn to look at the UK's reaction to the violence in Israel and Gaza, as 17 Britons are thought to be among the missing and dead. A protester has been arrested after throwing glitter over Labour leader Keir Starmer at the party's conference. Starmer made a direct appeal to moderate Conservative voters to back Labour at the next election and "face down the age of insecurity". London's Luton airport was shut down for hours following a large fire in a multi-storey carpark building with no sprinklers. And an experimental catapult designed to launch World War Two bomber planes into the sky has been excavated.

After years of campaigning, a memorial museum has officially opened in the northern French town of Le Quesnoy, celebrating the role of New Zealanders who fought across Europe in both world wars. The New Zealand Liberation Museum - Te Arawhata features major pieces from Weta Workshop, and is now a permanent fixture in the small town, where one of the final commemorative events of World War One took place. On November 4, 1918, Kiwi soldiers scaled the ancient walls of the town with a ladder, and liberated the people there after four years under German occupation. Not a single civilian was killed, but 135 New Zealanders lost their lives. Auckland military historian Herb Farrant has worked to secure millions in funding for the memorial, and he joins Kathryn Ryan from Le Quesnoy following the opening day.

A new study warns the artificial intelligence industry could use as much energy as a country the size of the Netherlands, by as soon as 2027. Tech firms have been leaping into the AI race since ChatGPT entered the scene last year. The systems typically use more power than conventional applications as it requires more powerful hardware. Report author Alex De Vries is a PhD candidate at the VU Amsterdam School of Business and Economics. He warns AI's growth is poised to make it a significant contributor to global power use.

Close to half of what New Zealanders owe in child support is made up of late payment penalties, prompting questions from tax and budgeting experts over its effectiveness for both halves of the family it serves. Inland Revenue, which acts as an intermediary collection if no private agreement can be reached, says as of the end of August outstanding debt amounted to $1.079 billion dollars. 488 million dollars of that was made up of penalties incurred from not paying on time. In 2021, the IRD wrote off close to one billion dollars in debt, and readjusted incremental penalties to an initial fine of 2%, and another 8% after 28 days. However tax expert Terry Baucher says on a monthly payment, this can mount up incredibly quickly - adding the sheer amount owing shows the system needs a rethink. Tauranga's Bay Financial Mentors manager Shirley McCombe deals both with clients who become snowed under mounting penalties, and those awaiting the payments to support their children. Terry Baucher and Shirley McCombe speak with Kathryn Ryan.

The first step towards spending less is to pause and check in with yourself each time you make an individual purchase, says financial advisor Lisa Dudson. "Is this the best use of my hard-earned dollars or can I spend it a bit more wisely somewhere else?"

Massey University Lecturer in Animal Welfare and Veterinary Specialist Dr Kat Littlewood discusses what you should feed your pet. Dry biscuits? Canned food? Is a vegan diet healthy for household pets? Text questions for Kat to 2101 or email ninetonoon@rnz.co.nz

Matthew Rosenberg is a local democracy reporter based out of the Gisborne Herald's newsroom

Quentin Johnson reviews Light Over Liskeard by Louis de Bernieres published by Penguin Random House

A trip into Dusky Sound in 1974 led to Victoria Jaenecke's lifelong connection with Richard Henry. Appointed in 1894 as caretaker of Dusky Sound's Resolution Island, Henry spent 14 years - much of it by himself - in the remote landscape where he fiercely defended kakapo and kiwi against a tide of mustelids sweeping the mainland. Jaenecke's parents John and Susanne Hill used Richard Henry's notes and letters to navigate their way through the sounds in the 70s - with a young Victoria in tow - and later published a biography on his life in 1987. Following the death of her mother in 2014, Jaenecke and her father last year published Letters of a Naturalist: The Field Accounts of Richard Henry of Resolution Island.

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton joins Kathryn to talk about how events in the Middle East are spilling onto the streets in Australia, with pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli supporters clashing at the Sydney Opera House. It's just three days until the country's referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, what are the polls suggesting will happen? Australian paper and packaging mogul Anthony Pratt has been drawn into the latest travails of former US president Donald Trump with revelations that Trump revealed nuclear submarine secrets to the Australian businessman shortly after his defeat in 2020. And there's much soul-searching after the Wallabies' disaster at the World Cup.

Landslides are our country's deadliest and most costly natural hazard. Landslides triggered by the cyclone ultimately killed two volunteer firefighters Muriwai, condemned hundreds of homes, and left thousands of scars on the landscape. Months of painstaking work has since revealed the scale of the cyclone's devastation, with scientists mapping more than 140,000 slips. According to researchers at University Canterbury landslides have caused more deaths in New Zealand than any other natural hazard and lead to $300 million in insurance claims each year. Dr Timothy Stahl, School of Earth and Environment Senior Lecturer at University Canterbury, says climate change and natural hazards interact in a way that exacerbates the risk of damage to lives and property. He leads one of 10 university research teams awarded a combined $4.5 million in funding to better understand this relationship.

It's being called Auckland's worst pollution event in nearly 50 years. It's two weeks since a massive sewer line collapsed in Auckland, leaving hundreds of litres of human waste pouring into the inner harbour every second. Kathryn is joined by Watercare's head of service delivery Sharon Danks to talk about the bypass solution that could be in place in a week - will be a complete fix to the sewage overflow? Also marine scientist Dr Andrew Jeffs from Auckland University on the long term damage being done to the environment and how long it'll take before water quality improves.

Sports-chat with Sam Ackerman

A new book from retired journalist Tom Clarke pulls together some of the lesser-known stories of New Zealand's past. It has its roots in a service he provided to New Zealand radio stations in the early 80s, called Today in History New Zealand. The well-researched book includes some gems, including the tale of the survivors of the wrecked General Grant, who spent 18 months on sub-Antarctic Islands waiting for rescue. There's the burlesque dancers who horsewhipped a newspaper editor who impugned their character and the unrealised plans for a 2-week service by airship between England and New Zealand. Tom joins Kathryn to talk about Our Untold Stories: Extraordinary Tales from New Zealand's Past and why he thinks it's important such history isn't forgotten.

Fonterra has raised its forecast farmgate milk price on what it says is an improved outlook. BusinessDesk investigations editor Victoria Young discusses just how much farmers should be celebrating. Also, a deep dive into space policy and why it's important, as the National Party promises to remove red tape from the industry if elected. And, how the Party's potential coalition partner - Act - could hinder their plans.

RNZ's Jean Edwards is in Christchurch where the race for the Ilam electorate is heating up again. Sarah Pallett's success was one of the biggest upsets in 2020, as the first Labour MP to win the Christchurch seat. But can she hold it against Opportunities Party leader Raf Manji? Also, a coronial inquest is due to begin this month into the Christchurch mosque attacks. Key issues for the first phase of the inquiry include the initial emergency response, the speed of medical treatment, and the functionality of an emergency exit door.

Elisabeth Easther reviews The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith published by Hachette.

Glow-in-the-dark fungi, parasitic orchids, slime moulds that hunt the forest floor for prey - it's a lost world hiding in plain sight. According to ecologist Robert Vennell our forests are overflowing with peculiar organisms. Specimens responsible responsible for providing us with fire, food, and medicine - they have had an outsized impact on human history and lives, yet remain, largely, in obscurity. In his latest book, The Forgotten Forest, Robert takes the reader on a bushwalk unlike any other, shining a light on the dark corners of the New Zealand bush. Robert Vennell is a curator in the Natural Science department at Auckland Museum and best-selling author of The Meaning of Trees and the Secrets of the Sea.

The latest polling ahead of the 2024 presidential election has Joe Biden and Donald Trump evenly matched. And, Republican voters are more satisfied with former President Trump than Democrats are with President Biden. Also an update on the very close call with a Government shutdown, avoided at the eleventh hour. Now, the focus is on electing a new House Speaker, after Kevin McCarthy was removed. Danielle Kurtzleben is a political correspondent assigned to NPR's Washington Desk.

Until his late 50s, Invercargill man Michael Kingpotiki would tell a "wee while lie" when he was given something to read, saying he didn't have his glasses handy. The truth was that the former farm manager didn't know how to read or write. At the age of 57, with a desire to connect with his grandkids over bedtime stories, Michael reached out for help and connected with volunteer literacy teacher Linda Davies. Now, three years and countless video chats later, Michael has self-published the short biographical book A Journey Towards Literacy to share his story with future of generations of his family.

For over a year the $2m Healthcare Academy of New Zealand run by Yoobee Colleges has been sitting empty - even as thousands of more nurses are needed in the health sector. It's down to what operator Yoobee Colleges describes as a 'technicality' that requires education providers to offer a Bachelor of Nursing as well. The Nursing Council, the body which regulates nurse training told Nine to Noon it wouldn't comment on individual providers' accreditation processes, but it did say a review of the enrolled nurse scope of practice was underway. Yoobee Colleges says that's going to take time - perhaps another year. And it says it's ironic that enrolled nurses trained at its partner facilities in Australia face no delay to getting jobs in New Zealand. Kathryn speaks to Yoobee Colleges' CEO Ana Maria Rivera about the situation, and the Nurses Organisation's kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku.

Bill McKay discusses Te Matawai, Kainga Ora's new 276 apartment complex in central Auckland. Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland.

Tina Duncan has been cooking for others for 60 years and says she still loves it. She is a cook, caterer, cooking school tutor and now author of a new book Plated: A lifetime love affair with food. Born and bred on a Canterbury farm, Tina began cooking as a child, helping feed the family. By ten, she was cooking full roast dinners and dinner parties shortly thereafter. From a small easy dinner to catering for thousands of weddings, she still loves cooking for others. She shares tips and tricks for fuss-free food with Kathryn.

With five days to go til the election, our political panelists discuss the campaign so far. Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of public affairs firm Capital. Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government, a National Party member and currently volunteering for the party's deputy leader, Nicola Willis.

Around the motu : Mike Tweed in Whanganui

Melanie O'Loughlin from Lamplight Books reviews Cheri by Jo Ann Beard published by Serpent's Tail

Laughter is not usually something associated with the 1981 Springbok Tour but a new film manages to inject some lighter moments into a seminal period in Kiwi history. Uproar is a coming-of-age film starring Hunt for the Wilderpeople's Julian Dennison as 17-year-old Josh Waaka. As a Maori kid in Dunedin in the '80s, he's treated as an outsider at his school until his talent as an actor is discovered by his drama teacher - played by Rhys Darby. He's introduced to a young Maori woman, Samantha , played by Erana James - who helps get him involved in the anti-Tour movement. Uproar had its debut at the Toronto Film Festival earlier this month and is out in cinemas now. Julian and Erana speak to Kathryn about what it was like to go back in time for this film - and how its themes are still relevant today.