Nine To Noon

Extensive flooding is already affecting parts of Northland as the region faces what the Met Service is describing as an "impactful multi-hazard event."

Erik McClain, clinical lead of Hospital in the Home in the Northern Region, oversees at-home acute care and remote monitoring. He discusses which conditions can be treated at home and how referrals, IV therapies and wearables work. He explains limits on who is suitable, how early post-op care is managed, and partnerships for emergency escalation.

Coverage of a promising new single-pill oral treatment for sleeping sickness and how it reaches patients in Africa. A lively look at Robert Goddard’s early liquid-fuel rocket work and its link to modern spaceflight. A quirky segment on smart underwear that counts farts and measures gases to track gut health and digestion.

Jock Phillips, historian and commentator on New Zealand history, explains the 1855 Wellington earthquake and its transformative effects. He describes the massive 8.2 quake, dramatic land uplift and shoreline changes. He also covers how the harbour and Basin were reshaped, the town's immediate reactions, and why rebuilding favored timber over brick.

Chris Hyde, editor of Hawke's Bay Today and local reporter, walks through big regional stories. He covers the shock of McCain's Hastings plant closure and its ripple effects. He explains a lumber mill's controversial plan to burn treated timber and a long fight to restore a road sign. He also highlights a new cricket medal honoring a young player.

Lucy Black, a sharp book reviewer and commentator, talks about Ali Smith's Glyph (with a Y). She distinguishes two companion novels both called Glyph. She traces sisters Petra and Patch through childhood and adulthood. She highlights Smith's playful, experimental prose, an invented ghost that takes on a life of its own, and themes of war, AI and media overload. Moments of warmth and vivid, cinematic scenes shine through.

Michael Pedersen, Scottish poet, author and Edinburgh Makar, reflects on how poetry shapes joy and grief. He discusses leaving law for creative life, travel to Cambodia, building a spoken-word scene and curating live literature. He describes writing the 900th birthday poem for Edinburgh, using walks and local stories, and reads a Scots-infused excerpt.

Karen Middleton, Australia political correspondent who explains politics and regional issues for New Zealand audiences. She unpacks Jetstar's trans‑Tasman flight cuts and fuel pressures tied to the Iran crisis. She covers Australia easing fuel rules and regional impacts. She outlines the new Australia‑EU trade and security deal and rising support for Pauline Hanson in South Australia.

Brendan Dunphy, seabird researcher and associate professor studying marine heatwaves. Isabella Brown, MSc field researcher tracking diving petrels and shearwaters. They talk about dramatic drops in breeding success, parents foraging hundreds of kilometres for food, how marine heatwaves shrink prey availability, and what shifting fish distributions mean for seabird populations.

Cameron Bagrie, an independent economist who analyzes monetary policy and rates, explains central bank caution after one-off oil shocks. He breaks down direct versus indirect inflation effects. He walks through why swap rates and short-term mortgages move first. He discusses how banks pass on funding costs and where competition is weakest in lending.