Nine To Noon

Tamar Munch, a film and TV reviewer who critiques and recommends recent series, discusses Half Man, a tense, psychological look at masculinity set in 1980s Scotland with strong acting and simmering dread. She also covers Criminal Record season two’s serialized corruption arc led by Peter Capaldi and Kush Jumbo. Plus, she highlights the Pan-Asian Screen Collective’s pilots boosting new filmmakers.

Kylie Ryan, Head of Workplace Wellbeing at the Mental Health Foundation and founder of Rangatahi Rise, brings social work and youth wellbeing expertise. She discusses Pink Shirt Day origins and fundraising. She explains how peers stepping in reduces bullying, how bullying has shifted to psychological harm, age differences in harm, designing youth-led upstander programmes, and signs a child may be targeted.

Mark Pesce, futurist and technology commentator who analyzes AI, cybersecurity and tech trends. He reacts to early Mythos claims and scepticism. He explains GPT-5.5 and rapid model escalation. He outlines rising AI-powered cyber threats and the Canvas ransomware impact. He describes RAM shortages from AI demand and odd emergent training behaviours like the “goblin” quirk.

Samantha Gee, RNZ reporter in Nelson and Marlborough, gives on-the-ground coverage of local stories. She walks through the trial timeline and courtroom details. She describes rising late-night youth alcohol problems and policing responses. She showcases AI underwater drones helping mussel farmers and reports on the stranded former ferry Vega and questions around its mooring.

Paul Diamond, a regular book reviewer, gives a lively take on Richard Shaw’s The Good Settler. He traces Shaw’s settler trilogy and family links to Parihaka. He highlights the book’s essay style, a quiz-night reveal of hidden segregation, debates about ‘moving on’, and Shaw’s secular ideas of confession, witness and being a good settler.

Ingrid Horrocks, a writer and scholar who researches figures like Mary Wollstonecraft, discusses her prize-winning short story collection All Her Lives. She talks about linking nine women's lives across time. Conversations cover researching Truby King, fictionalising historical detail, recurring themes like housing insecurity and climate anxiety, and how landscape shapes character.

Harry Taylor, Parliamentary reporter for PA Media, gives on-the-ground analysis of UK Westminster turmoil. He describes the febrile atmosphere around Starmer's leadership. He explains why Wes Streeting's move would be so significant. He walks through the leadership challenge mechanics, vote counting and party dynamics.

Daniel Morimire, Food Action Network Coordinator who runs local food-waste reduction initiatives. He talks about practical use-up recipes like banana panakiki and pumpkin poki. He shares fridge-organization and meal-planning tips to keep leftovers visible. He outlines small habit changes, measuring waste, and community options for surplus like crop swaps and pataka kai.

Deborah Manning, an immigration and human rights lawyer and AUT senior law lecturer, weighs in. She outlines concerns about expanded enforcement powers, loss of humanitarian appeal routes, stricter asylum procedures, and the lack of evidence and costings behind the proposed law changes. She also connects shifts in visa decisions to rising claims from India.

Megan de Mizantos, president of Federated Mountain Clubs and advocate for recreational users and conservation, speaks about the proposed Conservation Reform Bill. She raises worries about concentrated ministerial power and reduced public input. She flags risks of land exchanges, loss of local control, and visitor charges being used for routine funding rather than extra conservation.