Nine To Noon

Bledisloe test week, New Zealand Rugby's legal battle with their Australian League counterparts, and Bathurst this Sunday.

Te Radar and James Nokise with a lighter take on some stories of the week.

Samantha discusses plans to revitalise Nelson's waterfront, calls for Sam's Creek to be included in Kahurangi National Park, the selection of a site for a weather radar to fill in a black spot at the top of the south and a local community raising funds to help a Nepalese woman fund cancer surgery.

Stella Chrisostomou of VOLUME Books reviews The Box: A Novel by Mandy-Suzanne Wong (Pan Macmillan), Spent Light by Lara Pawson (Text Publishing), Olivetti by Allie Millington (Pan Macmillan).

The journalist, broadcaster and writer's spent much of her career finding the humour and sharp observations about the chaos of modern life - embracing social media to do so. But then it all got too much.

Chinese women opting for surrogacy via foreign countries, American coffee giant Starbucks is facing criticism for new cafes in Xinjiang, and new campaign to track and properly tax the money and assets held by its most wealthy Chinese people overseas. Edward White is Financial Times' China correspondent based in Shanghai

For new cars their second WoF will not be required for four years, while vehicles aged between 4 and 14 years move from annual to two-yearly check, from November next year.

Its presence has been confirmed during a Department of Conservation survey of the pristine Kaipo River in northwest Fiordland.

Karl Andrews has been fighting for funding for months so that his adult son - who currently receives a disability allowance - can afford a hospital-grade clean of his bedroom every week.

Film and TV correspondent Tamar Munch reviews three new shows.

What's makes a child a picky eater, and what's the best way to handle it? Helen Zoe Veit is author of Picky: How American Children Became the Fussiest Eaters in History.

Tech commentator Peter Griffin looks at how retail businesses are being affected by AI agents.

Jonathan McKenzie has the latest on calls to temporarily close Putaruru's Blue Spring - Te Waihou Walkway.

Pacific correspondent Christina Persico looks at a meeting hosted by Fiji on climate change

Catherine Chidgey is back with a new novel The Starving Bride, a darkly comic spectacle based on a sideshow in Blackpool.

UK correspondent Dan Bloom looks at what Kemi Badenoch promised supporters at the Conservative Party conference as it chases Reform in the polls.

The New Zealand Writers Guild is marking 50 years of representing and supporting screenwriters in New Zealand.

Fresh from the WNBA in the US, basketball stars Charlisse Leger-Walker and Hailey Van Lith have been the talk of the of NZ's domestic women's league.

A new report is challenging the idea that New Zealand's ageing population should be viewed primarily as a cost burden.

Science commentator Dr Jen Martin on how to tell if your washing is damp or cold, plus can we pick up work written by AI and why it's good for your brain to do nothing sometimes.

Oli Mathiesen work in contemporary dance in Aotearoa is bringing together dance, theatre, club culture, queerness and Maori identity.

Ian talks about a controversy surrounding a local pool, attempts to steal copper cabling from a Waikanae development site, a boil water notice after dead rats contaminate a resevoir and efforts to tackle boy racers.

Elisabeth Easther reviews Tonight the Music Seems So Loud: The Meaning of George Michael by Sathnam Sanghera , and The German Ward by Pip Williams .

The Show Me Shorts film festival is back for its 21st year, and among the highly anticipated short films is Lucky Luke, directed by Jesse Griffin.

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton has the details of the apology delivered by AI company OpenAI to Australia for the hacking of a government website by one of its unreleased AI models.

A dining platform that's already expanded across Australia and the UK is set to launch here to help the hospitality sector with empty tables.

Australia's opposition Coalition parties yesterday announced what it dubbed the 'biggest cut to immigration' in the country's history with plans to slash temporary migration by 650,000 people over four years.

An advocate says proposed legislation that would deny parole for people convicted of homicide who refuse to reveal where a victim's body is, doesn't go far enough.

The All Blacks play the Wallabies this weekend to defend their Bledisloe Cup, while two former greats of the game have criticised NZ Cricket governance. Glen also discusses the NRL final result and previews the Rugby League World Cup.

Scientist and photographer Edin Whitehead's new book draws on a decade of her work in the wild

A US multinational claims a Wellington-founded software company infringed on its copyright, plus more business news.

Jeffrey Archer, the British politician-turned best-selling novelist, has died at the age of 86.

Jesse Archer, Lake FM Community Broadcaster and host of The Morning Fix, joins Kathryn for an update from Taupo.

As more people are getting into the garden at this time of the year, what role can compost play in your yard or on the farm?

"And how are things with you?", can be polite question that's often a perfunctory response to someone asking the very same thing. It's also the title of New Zealand writer and translator Mia Farlane's new book.

Washington bureau chief for The Guardian, David Smith, wraps up the latest news from the United States.

World champion rally driver Hayden Paddon is in a new race - building a Cromwell racing business.

A recent High Court case has found a neighbour liable for hundreds of thousands in damages to her neighbour's property.

A top bank economist says households probably won't feel much better until next year and interest rates may have to go higher to tamper inflation.

RNZ's latest poll shows neither the left or right blocs will easily form the next government, with the Opportunity Party in the kingmaker position.

Kennedy has two stories of conservation success: the giant weta and the return of kiwi to the hills around Wellington.

The Hawke's Bay Farmers Market, at the Tomoana Showgrounds in Hastings - one of the most beloved markets in the country. Liz Randell runs the Coastal Squeeze juice stall - and is a committee member running the markets.

Lianne Dalziel is a life member of the Labour Party and a former MP, Cabinet Minister and Mahyor of Christchurch. Jonathan Ayling is a strategy consultant and the former chief executive of the Free Speech Union (NZ), and an Act Party supporter and donor.

Criminal charges against the Wellington City Council and the water services organisation Tiaki Wai, FENZ and problems with one of the city's two high-rise fire engines and the couple celebrating their life together, even as it comes to an end.

Airini Beautrais reviews Hide: A Manuscript by Rebecca Hawkes (nga pukapuka pekapeka), and Incident Report by Elizabeth Morton (Otago University Press).

Big Girls Don't Cry, a coming-of-age film following a summer month in the life of 14-year-old Sid, hits cinemas in New Zealand this week. It is Paloma Schneideman's first feature film, and she's had support from legendary NZ filmmakers Philippa Campbell and Jane Campion.

As Germany's Merz visits Kyiv, Russia hits key bridge in capital, France on edge amid student protests and clashes with police, and protests in Spain after parliament rejects housing crisis measures.

Researchers at the University of Auckland are developing a tool that could help revolutionise breast cancer detection.

The El Niño weather system is leading FENZ to call on everyone to have a grab bag this summer, and an escape plan in case of a large wildfire.

Body corporate managers and property lawyers are warning a lack of regulation has opened up a 'wild west' for the strata management sector.