Nine To Noon

Wellington speech and language therapist Christian Wright talks with Susie about developing comprehension in toddlers and when to be concerned.

Technology commentator Bill Bennett looks at Australia's proposed 'duty of care' laws that would force online giants to take preventative action on mental health harms. Roblox is to give more controls to parents over their child's activity, after the gaming platform was accused of making it easy for its young users to be groomed. Two undersea cables in the Baltic have been cut - how, and how dependent are we on such infrastructure? And a Polish radio station has replaced human presenters with AI.

Che Baker discusses recent updates in Southland including the $2.2 million government loan to boost acquaculture in the region.

Quentin Johnson reviews Fifty Ships that Changed the Course of History by Ian Graham published by Exisle Publishing.

Achieving a flow state at work is rare, temporary and unclear as to how to achieve it, according to American psychologist and author Daniel Goleman.

Correspondent Matthew Parris shares the latest news from the UK.

From stunning auroras and the brightest comet seen from Earth in decades, we look back at a year in space.

Research by the outdoor pursuits programme Outward Bound has found most teenagers and young people want to spend less time online.

Cocaine use is up, the price of meth is down and for the first time, more people vape nicotine than smoke tobacco, according to an annual Drug Trends Survey.

Science correspondent Allan Blackman looks at a new analysis of Uranus and its five biggest moons that's found it might not be as sterile as first thought.

From the mid-50s to early 1960s parts of Australia played host to the UK's nuclear ambitions. It had a major impact on Aboriginal communities close by.

Peter discusses the latest events in Northland including the first ever "State of the Far North" address.

Stella Chrysostomou of Volume Books reviews Orbital by Samantha Harvey published by Vintage.

Around 230 workers will lose ther jobs when the Kinleith Mill discontinues paper production next year.

Michael Deagler didn't want to add to the growing stack of memoirs about sobriety - so instead, his debut novel Early Sobrieties follow a young man's journey with it instead.

Australia correspondent Bernard Keane joins Kathryn to talk about more charges being laid against former radio host Alan Jones.

Mortgage brokers are unhappy with the time it is taking banks to turn around home loan applications, stressing buyers.

It's been described as a silent pandemic: anti-microbial resistance or AMR. But could the next generation of antibiotics offer some hope?

Sports commentator Sam Ackerman discusses the inquest into the death of Olivia Podmore after an emotional first day.

Anapela Polata'ivao has recently returned from South Korea, having directed Tusiata Avia's The Savage Coloniser Show for the Seoul Performing Arts Festival.

BusinessDesk editor Victoria Young talks to Kathryn about how the corporates are measuring emissions and why overall output may not be as useful a measure as emissions intensity.

Ellen speaks with Kathryn about the Buller District Council recently pulling all but emergency advertising from the daily paper.

Claudia Herz Jardine from Scorpio Books in Christchurch reviews Liar, Liar, Lick, Spit by Emma Neale published by Otago University Press

It took Luke Auld-Thomas about 16 pages of trawling through Google before he stumbled across an obscure piece of mapping that would lead to the discovery of a huge Maya city.

Thousands of people are about to begin marching from Waitangi Park on Wellington's waterfront to Parliament in protest against the Treaty Principles Bill.

The US president, Joe Biden, has given Ukraine permission to use US-made ballistic missiles against Russian and North Korean forces inside Russian territory.

The Desert Road - between Waiouru and Turangi in the middle of the North Island is to close for two months at the height of summer.

The ASB is soon to wind up its Positive Impact Kiwisaver fund - affecting about 5000 customers - citing global changes and declining customer demand.

A consultant psychiatrist says recent exam results from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists are some of the worst she's seen.

Jeanette Budgett is Programme Director of the Master of Architecture (Professional) at UNITEC Institute of Technology. She discusses frustrations with noise as Auckland Council considers an application for a helipad on a private waterfront site in Westmere.

Paua pie, beef rendang pie and lamb shank pie are some of the 38 gourmet pies celebrated in a new book by photographer and pie fan Derek Morrison.

Ben Thomas is a former National government press secretary, a columnist and a director of public affairs firm Capital. Sue Moroney is a former MP with the Labour Party and now chief executive of Community Law Centres Aotearoa.

Simon updates us on the main events in Tamaki Makaurau of the last week, including Burma the elephant moving from Auckland to Adelaide and Coldplay bringing 150,000 people to Eden Park.

Kiran Dass reviews Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery: A Whanganui biography by Martin Edmond published by Massey University Press.

To say Hazel Nash has had a colourful career is an understatement. Police officer and secondary school teacher are among her credentials, but outdoor education has been her greatest love.

Europe correspondent Seamus Kearney

It was hacked, its share price plunged and the board quit after accusing the CEO of failing to find a way to stem financial woes.

The cruise ship industry is being challenged after it claimed cruise tourism injected $1.37b into the New Zealand economy in the last financial year.

The week that was with Donna Brookbanks and Irene Pink.

Sam Ackerman looks at some big selection calls for the All Blacks and the Black Caps, as well as a rare home appearance for one of NZ's top paid sporting stars and the influence of youtubers on sport goes under the spotlight.

The Waitaki District Council says it avoided a possible environmental disaster by removing thousands of tonnes of historic waste.

Martene McCaffrey of Unity Books Auckland reviews Thirst by Marina Yuszczuk published by Scribe.

Maree Leith's introduction to running wasn't exactly a happy one. It was off the back of some blunt advice from a surgeon about her weight.

RNZ Pacific Editor Koroi Hawkins.

A new exploratory study has found that the act of standing in a river, trout or salmon fishing, has mental health benefits.

Contractors say the speed of structured literacy and numeracy curricula introduction means they may not have the staff to deliver new programmes.

There are calls from employment lawyers to regulate lay advocates following a ruling where the judge criticised the "unprofessional" and "abusive" conduct of an advocate toward the opposing party's lawyer.

Film and TV reviewer Perlina Lau joins Susie to talk about The Penguin (Neon), starring Colin Farrell. It's set just after the events in the 2022 film The Batman and looks at the Penguin's rise to fill a power vacuum in the gangster world. Territory (Netflix) is a new Australian drama that's been described as "Succession in the Outback". And Myths and Maidens - a love letter to fafine Moana which is due to premier on Coconet TV next week. Perlina Lau is co-host of RNZ's Culture 101 programme.

Jo Robertson is a therapist, educator and researcher. Earlier this year, she and others presented a petition to parliament - signed by over 10,000 - calling for internet service providers to strengthen filters on all illegal sexual behaviour. This afternoon, she'll appear before a select committee to submit in person. She talks with Susie about legislation changes she wants to see. She also discusses the proposed new law in Australia, to ban social media for under 16-year-olds

Technology correspondent Peter Griffin looks at the announcement by President-elect Trump that Elon Musk will help lead a new Department of Government Efficiency. Can Musk's experience in slashing corporate spending translate to the public sector, and what conflicts of interest will it raise? A new report out this morning details the benefits to New Zealand of the tech sector - which companies helped to drive the $1.28b increase over 2023? And Peter looks at the 45.5% share bump for Rocket Lab on the Nasdaq yesterday - what's fueling the rise?

Robin discusses the reopening of Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery after a $70m makeover. Roading updates in the ongoing saga that is the Mt Messenger bypass project on SH3, as well as the multi-million dollar shortfall in New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) funding that has left the New Plymouth council short. And an Opunake farmer says a new service at Taranaki Base Hospital has changed his life. RNZ's Taranaki reporter, Robin Martin

Phil Vine reviews The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami published by Penguin Random House.

Professor Richard Scolyer is a world recognised leader in melanoma research, named co-Australian of the Year this year, with his friend and medical oncologist Dr Georgina Long. In May last year, while in Europe attending medical conferences, he had a seizure and collapsed. Then came the devastating news he had a glioblastoma brain tumor - which has a very low survival rate and typically involves surgery followed by radiation and chemotherapy. So Richard Scolyer became a guinea pig for a world-first experimental trial of immunotherapy for melanoma patients, the side effects of which had a 60 per cent chance of killing him. Professor Scolyer has just published a book about his experience called Brainstorm.

UK correspondent Dan Bloom joins Susie to talk about how a second Donald Trump presidency will impact the UK, particularly now he's appointed Elon Musk - who's taken aim at the Labour Party - to a high-level position. He'll look at PM Sir Keir Starmer's ambitious plans, unveiled yesterday at COP29, to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 81% by 2035. And what led to the resignation of the head of the Church of England, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby?

A first-year teacher with a passion for rowing has secured Wainuiomata High School this year's Aon Emerging School Scholarship Award. Gordon Milne didn't want costs to be a barrier for students keen to pick up an oar at the low-income Lower Hutt school. The scholarship contributes $5000 each year toward an eligible school. Rowing - a notoriously intense, not to mention expensive, sport for high school students to partake in - has never been an option for those attending Wainuiomata High. Gordon has worked hard to secure grants and other funding to get the students this far. And has given hours of his personal time to make sure the students can get to their trainings and on the water. He hopes to foster a love of the sport and soon have the crew ready to compete in their first regatta.

The Australian government is putting up the price of aged care as part of what it's described as a "once in a generation" overhaul. A crisis of bed availability and financial strain prompted an inquiry which resulted in 23 recommendations that the government is now working through. As part of this, aged care will become more expensive and financial support for those living independently will be boosted. Back home, New Zealand may soon be following suit, as a government review looks at new funding models. Some towns are completely out of beds with tight financial books forcing providers to reduce their capacity. Tom Symondson is the chief executive of Australia's Aged and Community Care Providers Association. He played a pivotal role in the recent reforms and is in New Zealand to discuss the redesign of our system.

The Inland Revenue department has doubled the size of its team responsible for chasing down overseas-based student loan debt and is taking more legal action in both New Zealand and Australia. Overdue student loan debt has grown to a record $2.37 billion dollars - with $2.2 billion of that owed by overseas borrowers - most of whom are based in Australia. Only 29 percent of all overseas student-loan borrowers met their repayment obligations in the past 12 months. Inland Revenue was allocated 116 million dollars in this year's Budget to bolster compliance and enforcement, with some of that ring-fenced specifically for overdue student loan debt. The rest of the funding is being used across other areas of the tax system including cryptocurrency, trusts, the so-called hidden economy and organised crime. Andrew Stott, Marketing and Communications group manager at the IRD, discusses the department's compliance work with Susie.

Been offered a 'dry promotion' lately? A step up the job ladder - without the remuneration to go with it? Shannon Barlow is Managing Director of Frog Recruitment, and says a recent survey the company conducted found nearly half of the thousand workers surveyed reported that they - or a colleague - had been promoted without a salary increase. Many respondents said that led to feelings of resentment or demotivation - and had them thinking of leaving. So why are these 'dry promotions' happening - and what's the risk, both for employers in offering them - and employees in possibly turning one down? Shannon joins Susie with some advice of how to handle the situation.

Alfred Buxton is regarded as the "father of landscape design" in New Zealand. Working in the early 20th century, he designed more than 350 private and public gardens around the country over a 40 year period. He was one of the first to create expansive and sophisticated gardens that transformed clients' properties and way of life. Many of his clients were women: some independent, some wives of farmers, some businesswomen, some widows. Wellington historian , Dr Clare Gleeson, has told the story of the women who commissioned Alfred Buxton to design gardens in a new book, published by Cuba Press.

The future of the Whakatane Sportfishing Club and two iconic local businesses are up in the air as decisions are made around the location of a floodwall to protect the town. Whakatane is getting a second airline next year. Residents around Sullivan Lake are bracing for another stench-filled summer due to past inaction of the District Council in maintaining the man-made lake. And, the 25-year-old chinaberry trees that line either side of the main Whakatane shopping street may have a short lease on life. Local Democracy Reporter - Diane McCarthy is with the Whakatane Beacon

Ralph McAllister reviews James by Percival Everett published by Macmillan -  - shortlisted for this year's Booker Prize.

He's helped bring to life some of the biggest stop motion films in the business. The Corpse Bride, Coraline, Frankenweenie and Isle of Dogs have all taken shape thanks in part to the creative hands of Kiwi animator Antony Elworthy. He's also part of the Christchurch animation studio Stretchy, which is behind the kids' animated series Kiri and Lou. Antony's now lent his talents to the written word - with the release of his debut novel The Strange and Unlikely Tale of Montgomery, the Mysterious Bird of Mystery. It centres on the tall stories told by a grandfather to his grandson - and one in particular that involves his work as a magician with a malevolent feathered sidekick.

Susie talks to RNZ journalist Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira.

Australia correspondent Chris Niesche joins Susie to talk about the impact of President-elect Trump returning to the White House - what might it mean for the economy and diplomatic relations? And Victoria is set to expand the state's hate speech laws to protect those vilified based on disability, gender identity, sex or sexual orientation.

What does it take to make an arts festival truly inclusive? Creatif Kate knows, she's is one half of the creative force behind Wellington's Disabled Artists' Theatre or DAT - Festival, along with Susan Williams. It's into its third year, helping to showcase hearing or vision impaired, neuro-divergent or disabled performing artists, writers and filmmakers. The festival is on now until November 17. It was born out of the cancellation of Disability Pride Week - and is getting bigger each year, despite the squeeze on arts budgets.

A two-year teaching degree in the Far North is about to send its first cohort into jobs at local primary schools. The Te Hiku primary teaching degree is co-led by iwi Ngai Takoto, Te Rarawa and Waikato University with a kaupapa Maori approach. It's aimed at people with teacher aide experience or similar, combining prior knowledge with a jam-packed agenda to reduce a normally three-year programme to two. It's hoped it will address a long-standing teacher shortage in Northland which worsened this year, with students being rostered home at two different schools over winter. Waikato University professor Mere Berryman is the programme lead, and Anahera Taramoeroa is a member of the first cohort.

10 weeks after the country's first tyre recycling scheme launched, 830-thousand end-of-life car tyres have been collected.

Christopher Luxon delivers a formal apology to people abused in state care, from parliament.

The Prime Minister has had his first phone meeting with the US President-Elect, Donald Trump this morning. Business correspondent Dan Brunskill discusses the outlook for NZ-US Trade. Also recent employment statistics and and update on the parliamentary inquiry into banking. Dan Brunskill is a journalist with Interest.co.nz, specialising in economics

Piers discusses a new campaign to explore options for a toll road over the Remutaka range in a bid to boost the region's resilience. Those attending Martinborough's wine festival will now be able to soak in the summer vibes thanks to a change in date. With Carterton having already opted out of a Wellington water model, all eyes are on Masterton and South Wairarapa to see if they will follow suit. And what's going on with the price of butter? Piers Fuller is the Editor of the Wairarapa Times-Age

An investigation by a Waikato University student has revealed no one with a learning disability has ever been asked about, or involved in making any adult literacy policy in New Zealand. Dr Nicolina Newcombe - who recently earned a PhD for her work - also discovered that as a result many adult learner are being excluded from literacy education, and therefore the ability to gain other higher education opportunities. Her study sought to explore the problem, and investigate how policies could be more inclusive - but had the unintended upshot of developing a blueprint for inclusive research more generally. Her thesis explores the methods of gaining consent, researching and informing those who participated. Dr Newcombe, who is autistic and left school at 15 returned to education through a second-chance program. She says the life she has is because of her chance study at a tertiary level and she wanted to explore what changes would promote better access to literacy and literacy education for people with intellectual disabilitie, so that others have this opportunity too.

Louise O'Brien reviews Odyssey by Stephen Fry published by Penguin Random House

Survivors of Abuse in State Care are gathering around the country ahead of the formal apology in parliament this morning. The Prime Minister will deliver the apology on behalf of the crown at parliament around 11.30am. RNZ reporter Kate Green is at Pipitea Marae in Thordon, Wellington, where up to 200 people are gathered.

Daniel Kalderimis is a successful Wellington litigation lawyer, a Kings Counsel, happily married with three daughters. In his 40s though, he fell into serious depression and set out to "fix" himself. It turned out to be a very different journey to the one he'd expected. Daniel Kalderimis recovered, and found his zest again. But along the way, he realised that some of the things that made him who he was : someone focussed on problems and risks, perfectionism, high productivity, and a desire for success and recognition - also set him up for unending dissatisfaction. Daniel's just published a book called Zest: Climbing from Depression to Philosophy.

NPR Washington political correspondent joins Kathryn to discuss the breakdown of voters who elected Donald Trump, the right-leaning makeup of the Senate and possibly the house, and the result of votes on abortion rights protections. Danielle Kurtzleben is a political correspondent assigned to NPR's Washington Desk.

A scheme incentivising veterinary graduates to move to rural regions has hit record participation levels - but industry leaders say more are needed. 35 graduates have been placed in rural areas this year under the Voluntary Bonding Scheme, the highest number the programme has ever had since it started in 2009. Participants are paid $55,000 over five years towards their student loan, on top of a salary. But the Veterinary Association says in order to meet demand, the scheme should double the number of places and increase the payment. Kathryn speaks with Helen Beattie, managing director of Veterinarians for Animal Welfare Aotearoa.

The global climate conference COP 29, gets underway today in Azerbaijan, focussing on how much money should to developing countries to cope with climate related costs. The UN summit comes against a fading hope of containing global warming to 1.5 degrees, and the US election result that could see it exit the Paris agreement. The Guardian's Environment Editor Fiona Harvey is there.

A new report warns the way local councils are applying government freshwater rules will hamstring vegetable production and could lead to sharp price rises for consumers. The report, for Horticulture NZ by the Institute of Economic Research, gives the example of broccoli going as high as 27 dollars a kilo - that's about 9 dollars a head - if vegetable production is cut by 20 percent as a result of regulations aimed at reducing nitrogen run-off. Horticulture NZ has long advocated for a National Direction for Vegetables which would give commercial vegetable growers priority when it came to allocating land use, and says the new report backs this up. Michelle Sands, general manager for strategy and policy at Hort NZ, says growers do not want to see freshwater outcomes undermined , and they are well-prepared to meet freshwater farm plan requirements.

Kennedy joins Kathryn from Waitangi this Remembrance Day to talk about the Te Rau Aroha museum that stands next to the Treaty House and is a stone's throw from the whare runanga.

Melbourne-based chef, restaurateur and author Shannon Martinez is helping to smash the stereotype of Italian food.

Neale, Brigette and Kathryn discuss the aftermath of the US election, the introduction of the Treaty Principles Bill being brought forward, and the hīkoi to Wellington in protest of the Bill.

Kelly Makiha discusss the recent death of Sir Robert 'Bom' Gillies, the last surviving member of 28 Māori Battalion.

David Hill reviews Table Talk by CK Stead published by Quentin Wilson Publishing.

A journalist who has covered abuse in state care for eight years, has been declined accredition to attend the historic apology to be delivered by the Prime Minister in parliament tomorrow.

New Zealand born photojournalist Simon Townsley has spent the last 30 years covering conflicts around the world.

Daniel Schweimler, based in Argentina, discusses how the Trump victory is being viewed in Latin America.

The inaugural Aotearoa Afghanistan Marathon this weekend is empowering Afghani women, who came to New Zealand after the Taliban returned to power in 2021.

The husband of a woman diagnosed with dementia at 58 years old, says people with young-onset are missing out on appropriate services.

The number of mortgage holders in hardship is at record levels according to data collected by credit reporting company Centrix.

Rural families across the motu are furious at a government review that could see hundreds of school bus routes axed or changed.

Comedians Te Radar and Michele A'Court with the home décor that makes you look old according to Gen-Z and how an Aussie Melbourne Cup punter turned $100 into $3.5 million.

Sam discusses whether Ireland has become the All Blacks biggest rugby enemy? Sam also looks at what's on the line in this weekend's grudge match plus retirements and farewells to Olympic icons this week and Liam Lawson's formula one fast track.

David discusses how Canterbury's councils are reacting to a report from the Office of the Auditor-General which is calling councils to work together to tackle climate change. The Hurunui District Council has confirmed funding for a new embankment project to fight rising sea levels. The rain fall in North Canterbury during Labour Weekend providing much relief for the drought afflicted region. And Waimakariri's Deputy Mayor has called on the Canterbury Regional Council to stop side stepping issues with the Kaiapoi River.

Paul Diamond reviews Remembering and Becoming: Oral history in Aotearoa New Zealand Edited by Anna Green and Megan Hutching published by Otago University Press

Stephanie Dryfhout has just become the latest New Zealander to win the international tree climbing competition.

Annette O'Sullivan and Jane Ussher have captured the stories of the people and the history of 15 woolsheds in heartland Aotearoa.

Ed explains how Xi Jinping's administration is preparing for a new era of trade hostilities and geopolitical tension with the US under a Donald Trump presidency.

Tomorrow is the big day for those in the arts and Whanganui residents.

A New Zealand insurer has changed its policy to cover majority of the cost of cochlear implants.