RNZ: Nine To Noon

Sam Ackerman with the latest sports news.

The underwhelming burger, a teenagers AI interview for a supermarket job, and the curious case of a missing German sports trophy.

Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist with the Rotorua Daily Post.

Stella Chrysostomou of VOLUME Books in Nelson reviews Brawler by Lauren Groff, published by Penguin Random House.

The Illuminate Market this weekend brings together market stalls, food trucks, creative workshops, free live performances and fun family activities. 

Fans of his books will be able to catch Mick when he appears at the Auckland Writers Festival in May.

Ed White is a Financial Times journalist in China.

Those on Cuba Street this weekend might see an alien, butterfly, leopard, or perhaps a creepy clown. The options are endless for Body FX. 

Moves to locally conduct genomic testing has caused concern about what it means for insurance premiums and eligibility. 

As Northland deals with the cleanup from yesterday's floods, heavy rain is still falling in Coromandel and Bay of Plenty. 

When he launched the World Wide Web in December 1990, how did its inventor, Tim Berners-Lee, think it would all go? 

Film and television reviewer Tamar Munch reviews Netflix drama Dynasty: The Murdochs, which follows the family's succession battle. She also looks at Mr Nobody Against Putin (DocPlay), a film about a teacher in Russia who refuses to conform to propaganda instructions after the Ukraine invasion. And The Madison stars Michelle Pfeiffer as the matriarch of a family who moves from New York to rural Montana.

Social media is brimming with advice about how to get make money in a hurry - but how best to help teens manage it wisely? 

Cybersecurity expert Tony Grasso looks at how the Dutch Finance Ministry opted to kill off access to its systems after it was subject to a cyber attacks, one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies has also been subject to a ransomware attack, and major US defense contractor Stryker has had data stolen.

Local accountant makes dire predictions for the wine industry, pet owning spurs on 23 year old to by own home, the best mate beagles lost in the bush and a new music festival for Marlborough. Ian Allen is Editor for Stuff based in Marlborough

Elisabeth Easther reviews A Complete Fiction by R. L. Maizes, published by Text Publishing.

Kenneth Roth, the former long-term executive director of Human Rights Watch, has spent over 30 years using strategic international shaming to hold repressive regimes accountable across more than 100 countries-from Rwanda and Kuwait to China and Ukraine. 

UK correspondent Steph Spyro on arrests after Jewish community owned ambulances  burned in London. Phone stolen from PM's aide had messages to Epstein linked Peter Mandelson, UK iPhone users face an over-18 check to use services and cryptocurrency donations to UK politicians will be banned 

With Northland being lashed by yet another weather event - Kathryn speaks to India Logan-Riley, a climate justice advocate highlighting how climate change is affecting indigenous communities.

The new Government app, and other changes to the way the government will engage with citizens online. 

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

With winter looming, there are plans to treat and monitor more people in their homes rather than hospital 

Science correspondent Allan Blackman looks at the success of a new drug in helping to cure mild and severe cases of sleeping sickness, an illness prevalent in Africa caused by parasites spread through the bites of tsetse flies. He'll also look at the work of Robert Goddard in laying the groundwork for spaceflight over 100 years ago, and the new 'smart underpants' helping to record the number of farts wearers do - which can provide vital information for clinicians. Allan Blackman is a Professor of Chemistry, School of Science, Auckland University of Technology

The largest known earthquake in New Zealand was a magnitude 8.2 quake in Wellington and Wairarapa, that would change the shape of the capital city forever. In places the Wairarapa fault land lifted as much as six metres - with the shore of the harbour rising by 2 metres. Historian Jock Phillips discusses the repercussions of the earthquake with Kathryn.

Chris discusses the confirmation of the closure of the McCains food processing plant in Hastings, the local lumber mill being asked to burn treated timber in one of its boilers, a victory in a long running fight over a street sign and a special cricket medal awarded in the memory of a young player who died with brain cancer.

Lucy Black reviews Glyph by Ali Smith, published by Penguin Random House.

How do you pay tribute to a city on its 900th birthday? It's a daunting task that faced poet and author Michael Pedersen soon after he was named Scotland's 'Makar' - or poet laureate - nearly two years ago. 

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton looks at the impact the Iran crisis is having on airlines, including Jetstar which has cut numbers across the Tasman. 

A lack of food, due to the impacts of climate change, has meant higher death rates for seabird chicks this year.

An independent economist says it will be at least a few months before any deeper effects of the oil price hikes are felt in the local economy.

A finance scheme that would let homeowners spread the cost of rates and capital costs like solar panels over up to 30 years, could be in place by early next year. 

New Zealand Cricket has landed in its preferred revamp for its T20 cricket league. Sam also discusses a big weekend in Super Rugby, and the Warriors 100 per cent start to the NRL. Sports commentator Sam Ackerman.

When Stephen K Amos started out in comedy there was no social media to worry about. Now, jokes in the high-pressure comedy scene run the risk of being taken the wrong way and amplified online. Instead of avoiding it, the London-born comedian has folded it into his latest show Now We're Talking.

There's been a ten-fold increase of New Zealanders investing in oil futures. Rebecca also discusses a coming speech by the RBNZ Reserve Bank Governor in light of the economic shocks coming out of the Iran situation, and a trading platform is expecting younger generations taking on a large wealth transfer to be keen on investing.

Tess discusses the impact of the fuel shortages on Stewart Island, a stoush over behaviour at Dunedin City Council, plans to pump water water in Queenstown's Kawarau River, and the Dunedin croquet club looking to cheese rolls and tea towel sales to move from a container clubroom to proper facilities.

Sally Battson of The Next Chapter Bookshop in Wanaka reviews The Ballad of Joe Taihape by Glenn Colquhoun, published by OldKing Press.

Tareq Baconi's first book, Hamas Contained, was first published in 2018 and looks at the ascent of the militant group into a political force. This latest work though, Fire in Every Direction, is a deeply personal one - something he says never really thought would be published.

US President Trump says his country has had productive talks with Iran, following a threat to attack the country's power plants. In US southern states the price of petrol is up 30 per cent while the former FBI director who investigated Russian interference at the 2016 election has died. 

A community led initiative which helps fund hospice services is celebrating a major milestone. It is the longest continuously running community fundraiser for hospices in New Zealand, and has just reached a $250,000 milestone in its fundraising efforts. 

From next month the Inland Revenue Department will gain a much clearer view of New Zealand-based cryptocurrency activity, and a tax expert is warning investors to be aware of what they owe. From April 1, all crypto-asset service providers, including trading platforms and brokers, are required to collect and report user identities and tax residency details. 

Lawyers are concerned proposed changes to the Public Works Act go too far, and will give landowners fewer options to dispute their home begin taken. An amendment bill currently before select committee seeks to overhaul the Act which allows the Crown and local authorities to acquire private land to deliver public works projects such as roads or water services.

 Otago Peninsula has been declared possum-free, and a whistle stop tour of the country with two dozen National Geographic visitors.