Nine To Noon

What are the major issues in the country's biggest city? Simon Bridges is chief executive of the Auckland Business Chamber.

With just two days left before election day, Labour leader Chris Hipkins on why he wants to make a return as prime minister and what Labour is offering with cost of living, the economy, and health among the main concerns for voters.

Science commentator Laurie Winkless joins Kathryn to talk about three new studies. The first shows evidence from 25 European countries that over the course of a decade extreme heat is directly influencing voting choices - with an increase in Green parties' support. GPS data from Manx shearwater birds found they're impacted by the sun's changes as they navigate long distances to their feeding grounds and back again. And a new dwarf planet's been discovered in our solar system. Laurie Winkless is a physicist and science writer

A major exhibition, Blood Is Thicker: Jason Greig, first staged at The Dowse Art Museum and now showing at Christchurch Art Gallery.

Unemployment rose to its highest level in nearly 11 years as the economy shed jobs, and there are signs some people may have stopped looking for work. Stats NZ said the unemployment rate was 5.7 per cent in the three months ended September, up from 5.6 percent in the previous quarter. A total of 174,000 people were unemployed, a rise of 3000 on the previous quarter and 14,000 higher than a year ago. Gyles Beckford is RNZ economics correspondent.

Kereama has the latest on the down grading of alert levels on Whakaari/White Island plus Whakatane Hospital neonatal unit gets an upgrade, Kawerau's Deputy Mayor wins gold in powerlifting, the Ngati Awa Te Toki Festival and 12 years of kapa haka and a new summer reggae festival for Whakatane.

Lucy Black reviews two books: Bedford Street by Ross Murray (Earth's End Publishing), and Music Against the Night by Yiyun Li (HarperCollins).

The film offers a reflection - not just on his extraordinary broadcasting career - but on the father, husband and person behind the public persona.

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton on another OCR hike, the glitz and glamour of the Melbourne Cup,  the drug regulator has approved the pill version of weight-loss drug Wegovy, a children's author jailed for possessing and distributing child sex abuse material and a 12-year-old boy's been up against a magpie with a grudge.

Electrolyte drinks and powders are pushed as the answer to dehydration - but does anyone actually need them? uss.

Nearly one in four new vehicles in the year to October was a plug-in EV - up from 10 per cent in the same period last year.

Wellington City Council is proposing a major shift in how it collects rates from households.

What's next for a future professional netball league after the sport's national body parted ways with private backers Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray.

Liv Sisson has a new book out this week about the butterflies and moths of New Zealand.

Big moves among retailers The Warehouse and Kathmandu, as the former head of the Financial Markets Authority gets a big payout.

Piers Fuller, editor of the Wairarapa Times-Age, has the latest news from the region.

How we understand our animals? What are our pets trying to tell us and how can we even 'hear' them?

Nix Adams discusses her book Nothing to Lose: A mother's journey through grief, addiction and recovery.

David Smith has the latest on the midterms, as one Democrat switches sides.

A new project aims to improve healthcare professionals' capacity to provide compassionate, evidence-based lactation care after infant loss.

University of Auckland is building a $125 million high-performance engineering facility in racing driver Bruce McLaren's honour.

Otago farmers are fighting are losing battle against invasive pests, including deer, pigs and possums. Several farmers in The Catlins lost large portions of their winter crops to feral deer, with one losing an entire paddock even though it had been sprayed with deer repellent. A survey undertaken by Federated Farmers earlier this year reported pest numbers, and that costs relate to pest control, were increasing. In 2024 half of farmers reported pest numbers had risen over the previous five years. In 2026, that has risen to two-thirds of farmers. And that farms which bordered on forestry or Crown land were more susceptible to pests entering, than form other land types. Richard Dawkins is pest spokesperson for Federated Farmers and Rachel Napier farms in Owaka Valley and for the past four years has worked with other landowners as part of the Catlins Biodiversity Group in an effort to combat the swelling populations of possum, pig and deer.

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

Drawing on six years of working with New Zealand families Ganesh Raj has produced a new resource he hopes will help.

Brigitte, Gareth and Kathryn discuss recent events in politics as the election campaign moves into its final week, and John Key has a message for voters.

Simon Wilson is a Listener columnist based in Auckland.

Louise Ward from Wardini Books reviews two books: Somebody Always Comes Looking by Paul Cleave (Upstart Press), and Bookrapt's Treasury by Debbie McCauley (Mauao Publishing.

A new book tells the comprehensive story of our trusted police dogs and their handlers - going back to 1956 and the foundation of the New Zealand Police Dog Section.

Spanish transport minister rejects calls to resign after second deadly train crash, protests and clashes with police across Europe spread to Germany, tension in Poland over control of country's constitutional court, and exhausted and hungry residents from the Russian-controlled town of Oleshky have crossed back behind the Ukrainian front line.

Micro-robotics is a developing research field that may revolutionise future medical applications, such as drug delivery for cancer treatments.

Wētā Workshop experts on the challenge of creating a sexy husband made out of basketry for the film Wicker opening in cinemas this week.

US voting in the mid terms gets underway overnight tomorrow in an election that could change the bal;ance of power in Congress.

The cancellation of the proposed domestic netball competition, and the more of the latest sports news.

Comedians Irene Pink and Michele A'Court with a lighter take on some stories of the week.

Ian has the latest on a multi million dollar driving range being developed by local golf mad farmers and grape growers, and more.

Paul Diamond reviews Introducing The English Text of the Treaty of Waitangi by Ned Fletcher, published by Bridget Williams Books.

At 82, Michael Douglas is looking back on his extraordinary professional success in movies like Wall Street, Basic Instinct and Fatal Attraction.

The company behind Hello Kitty is in hot water over its links with a Japanese TV show and student protests are simmering across Indonesia.

Wild West Gourmet combines traditional methods with practices such as waste reduction, water management and low emission transport.

A long-held mystery, the wall was able to be analysed after it was pulled apart and rebuilt as part of the build of the City Rail Link.

Hospice New Zealand says after three years of work and more than $100,000 spent, there is still no resolution on pay equity for hospice nurses.

Film and TV reviewer Tom Augustine shares his picks of what's on at the movies this week.

Parenting can be extremely rewarding - but it can also be relentless and sometimes, overwhelming. Dr Jo Prendergast is a psychiatrist and comedian who shares her knowledge of how to avoid burnout.

Tech commentator Bill Bennett looks at how a planned join venture between One NZ and 2degrees, allowing them to share their physical mobile networks but remain separate companies, might work.

Robin has the latest on calls for a alternative route to Awakino Gorge, the Taranaki conversation project harnessing the power of AI, the latest on staff numbers at the New Plymouth district council.

Pacific correspondent Christina Persico looks at reaction to Israel joining the Pacific Islands Forum as a two-tier dialogue partner.

The gripping story of Britain's first Antarctic expedition that would launch the careers of Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton.

UK correspondent Steph Spyro joins Kathryn to talk about what's in Chancellor John Healey's Budget released overnight NZ time, after which PM Andy Burnham ruled out calling a general election in the next 12 months.

The homes that win Best House awards are usually beautifully crafted dwellings on spectacular sites. But this year's Best House is one with real purpose.

RNZ's Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch responds to the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll - which has seen the National Party drop below 25 percent, and Opportunity reach a new high.

National Party leader Christopher Luxon joins Kathryn Ryan in RNZ's Auckland studio to talk about everything in this election campaign, including the latest polling in an extremely tight election race.

Stuart is University of Canterbury's Executive Dean of Science, and a Professor in the School of Biological Sciences.

The Beaded Curtain was released last week and is part memoir, part reportage.

James discusses the closure of a local kindergarten, a Ngati Porou lawyer appointed King's Counsel, and the local plumber named apprentice of the year.

Lynn reviews The Passing of the Forest by Richard Wolfe, Sorry Rock by Thalia Henry and Parrot Heaven by Jessica Howland Kany.

Psychology professor Paul Eastwick discusses his latest book, Bonded by Evolution: The New Science of Love and Connection.

Australia correspondent Bernard Keane joins Kathryn to talk about Parliament resuming and the tributes made to MP Helen Haines who was attacked last week.

The academy at Hastings Boys High School trains students under the guidance of building tutors, while building homes for Kāinga Ora.

Lawyer Dave Ananth joins Kathryn to talk about the process of getting deals with the IRD for overdue student loans.

Insurance lawyer Tim Gunn says people are being declined income protection claims when they're unable to work.

Ben talks NPC, Silver Ferns, Black Caps and Liam Lawson. Ben Strang is New Zealand and Pacific Islands Correspondent for the AFP.

Are we as humans increasingly adapting our behaviour to accommodate technology?

Kathryn is joined by Andrew Ketels, former Act Party chief of staff and advisor to the National Party, and Phil Goff, former Cabinet Minister, Leader of the Labour Party and mayor of Auckland.

Torika has the details of animal control workers facing more threats from dog owners, Rugby League supporters warned over late night celebrating around World Cup and the Piha campground given a reprieve against council recomendations.

Labour weekend has just passed, so it is traditionally the time to think about getting going with tomatoes.

When a Blenheim pilot got a call from someone looking for a floatplane, he couldn't have imagined he would have ended up doubling for Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt.

It is now one week from the midterms in the US, and Republicans look like they might struggle in districts redrawn under pressure from the President to favour votes for his party.

Inspired by his uncle who has cerebral palsy, Jack Harker, a Year 11 student at ACG Parnell College has developed a communication tool that may help more people participate in everyday conversations.

A visiting academic from Naples says he was able to create a legal 'hack' to open unused buildings for civic use.

There are new indications of an upturn in the construction industry, but prices are on the rise and there are questions about the availability of skilled staff.

Christchurch is the centre of the NZ sporting universe this week.

Justine Smith and Donna Brookbanks with a lighter take on some recent stories.

Kaitlyn has the latest on what is happening with the Cathedral Cove track, a dispute over the proposed felling of a protected tree, the new freight and logistics hub opened at the Port of Tauranga, meth testing increases after law changes and success for Tauranga's Men's Volleyball.

Chris Tse reviews two poetry collections: Salt Quilt by Airini Beautrais (Te Herenga Waka University Press), and I Do Know Some Things by Richard Siken (Penguin Random House).

Kerrin Leoni, has resigned as a Labour candidate for Tamaki Makaurau. This comes after a video merged showing her campaigning with gang members. RNZ political editor Jo Moir.

Sociologist Maryam Aslany says there are still roughly two billion people out there living as peasants in her new book Peasants: Makers of the Modern World she argues that these small-scale farmers are essential to the global economy.

The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in India, while Japan carries out a first mission to Mars' moons to collect samples.

Gaming is set to take centre stage this Labour Weekend with an international e-sports test match between New Zealand and India. E Blacks team leader Jonathan Jansen and player Sam Johnson

WOMAD is returning to Taranaki in next March, following a year off this year amid rising costs, Drew James is the newly-appointed executive director.

US psychotherapist Rachel Bernstein has spent more than 30 years helping people recover from cults  and is visiting New Zealand for the first time to speak at this weekend's DeCult 2026 conference.

Film and TV reviewer James Croot looks at new biographical film Tenzing, which was filmed in New Zealand. He also shares his picks of the British and Irish Film Festival, including: Everybody to Kenmure St, 500 Miles, Hill, The Incomer, Kenny Dalglish, Parky, Virginia Woolf's Night & Day and The Three Urns. James Croot is a TV Guide and The Press film and television reviewer

How we can support kids through frustration, without rushing to rescue them from it?

Cybersecurity expert Tony Grasso looks at the major attack against nearly 700 French supermarkets, where hackers were able to access commercial fridges and freezers and drive up temperatures to 50 degrees for hours. Not only did it cost millions in wasted food, the high temperatures triggered hardware and electrical fires - and sparked warnings about leaving industrial control systems exposed to the public internet. Cybersecurity expert Tony Grasso is Chief Information Security officer at COGENT. He worked at GCHQ in the UK and is a former Intelligence Officer in New Zealand

Statistics New Zealand says annual inflation has eased to 3.7 percent in the September quarter. That's down from an annual rate of 4.1 percent in the previous quarter and is slightly lower than market expectations. RNZ economics correspondent Gyles Beckford unpacks the latest data.

Kelly has more on a bottle store worker injured in what police say was the start of a crime spree, the young Rotorua women who has gone from from opera singing to the Black Fern's Sevens squad, the saga of a trapped kitten and attempted car invasions.

RNZ's Pacific correspondent Christina Persico looks at the storms that have already hit the Pacific outside of the normal cyclone season, including Cyclone Wati which passed the Cooks without too much damage. Meanwhile fire has hit an island in Papua New Guinea on a scale not seen before. The US is pushing ahead with its plan to lease 31 million acres of seabed around American Samoa and how are Pacific nations faring in the Rugby League World Cup?

From a startup staffed by AI agents to sending his digital clone to online therapy, US journalist and author Evan Ratliff loves testing the boundaries of new technologies.

UK correspondent Natasha Clare looks at why it was given the greenlight and the reaction to it. The UK government's debt has hit £3tn for the first time, as John Healey gets ready to present his first budget next week.

Less than three months after entering liquidation, gourmet burger chain Burger Burger has started re-opening.

Almost two-thirds of young people thought home care was meaningful work, however few associate it with fair pay or a clear career pathway.

Drought Indicator Maps provided by Earth Sciences NZ show a large part of the country is drier than usual, with only Christchurch and its surrounds wetter than normal.

Cushla McGoverin is a senior research fellow within the Department of Physics at the University of Auckland, and Principal Investigator in Te Whai Ao - Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies.

A new play is taking on a little-known chapter of Aotearoa's history: The dog tax that led to an armed standoff between Māori  in Hokianga and government forces.

Logan discusses the upcoming anniversary of the windstorm that left 50,000 customers without power while a 95-year-old sets a world record on his birthday.

Stella Chrysostomou from VOLUME Books reviews two books: U.X.O. by Brannavan Gnanalingam (Lawrence & Gibson), and A Passage North by Anuk Arudpragasam (Granta).

At 50 she set out alone to travel the full 24,000km route by foot, bike, canoe, snowshoe and ski, through mountains, boreal forest, prairie, and Arctic tundra.

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton has the latest in the shocking attack on MP Helen Haines in which she was rammed with a car and has had to have her leg amputated. Pauline Hanson's delivered a rare apology for a cartoon that ran as part of her 'Please Explain' series that mocked the vaginal prolapse suffered by Jacqui Lambie due to injuries sustained when she served in the Defence Force. National Australia Bank is sacking 1500 staff right before Christmas and another 1000 in the New Year, and a human resources exec's admission during a Bupa conference that she was prone to shoplifting has led to her resignation. Karen Middleton is a political correspondent based in Canberra

Three rivers have been selected as finalists in the inaugural River of the Year award.

In the United States, voters will soon be making choices in the mid-terms. But what positions are voters being asked to choose candidates for?