RNZ: Nine To Noon

It's the start of a big week for the All Blacks, can they defend their Eden Park record having not lost a rugby test there since 1994. Sam continues to discuss rugby as Portia Woodman-Wickliffe sets the Rugby World Cup alight, and back home the Ranfurly Shield changes hands two weeks in a row. Ultramarathoner Ruth Croft makes history, and how will New Zealand's athletes go at the World Athletic Championships in Tokyo?

Manapouri is the largest hydro power station in New Zealand. Located on the edge of Lake Manapouri's West Arm in Fiordland National Park - construction began in 1964 and over eight years, 1800 workers toiled on it in punishing conditions - constructing the power station 200 metres below a granite mountain in an underground cavern. Oral historian Dr Rosemary Baird has interviewed 18 workers who were part of the project - she's written a book about them - called The Middle of Nowhere - published by Canterbury University Press. She joins Kathryn with excerpts her interviews, who bring the story to life.

The Government has announced wealthy foreigners on a so-called 'golden visa' will be allowed to buy a luxury home in New Zealand once more. Rebecca discusses where the investment from the visas has been going - with two debt funding firms leading the way. And Rebecca will be speaking to Kathryn from Xerocon in Brisbane, 'the coachella for accountants'. She recounts the journey of Xero from a much-beloved product among the accounting sector to an international business with high-profile hires. Rebecca Stevenson is a senior journalist at BusinessDesk

Residents at the flood prone Upper Selwyn Flat Huts learn their fate, possibly the most hit bridge in the country and Selwyn and Timaru's Local Water Done Well plans. Jonathan Leask is the Local Democracy Reporter with the Ashburton Guardian

Gail Pittaway reviews Fires Which Burned Brightly: A Life in Progress by Sebastian Faulks, published by Penguin Random House.

Amazon Web Services has opened its new Auckland data centres today, claiming the move will add 1000 jobs. The so called "AWS region" has been launched this morning, attended by the Prime Minister. Amazon says as well as 1000 jobs, the investment will add $10.8 bn to New Zealand's GDP. RNZ political reporter Russell Palmer joins Kathryn from parliament.

Kiwi Kelvin Davis spent thirteen years in the New Zealand Navy, including as a medic during the Vietnam War and later as a Navy diver.

What are the repercussions of the US President's move to take over the Federal Reserve? 

Much of modern life relies on the shared language of measurement - but how to get more countries using that language is a challenge. 

The country's first-ever Autism Research Centre launched in Christchurch yesterday, it aims to turn research towards the needs of autistic people. 

A new research paper suggests philanthropic donations would increase by up to 73% if the donation tax credit was boosted. 

Bill McKay dissects the recent proposed changes to the building consent regime, which includes a plan to move to a proportionate liability scheme.

Food - certain dishes - maybe an old family recipe - has a way of reminding us about different people, different times, in our lives. In other words, it can be used to create memories and that is one of the things that Anna Cameron has set out to do with her cookbook - Just a Mum's Kitchen. Anna is no stranger to sharing - she already has a popular blog and over 250,000 followers on social media - testament she would say to recipes that are not just tasty but accessible and as she explains to Kathryn, virtually fail safe.

Gareth Hughes and Tim Hurdle discuss the latest poll focussed on which party can manage the cost of living better, an announcement on supermarkets and what the expectations are for the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election.

Tess talks about the planned new gold mine being fast tracked in Otago, students struggling with bad flats, water costs blames for rates rise in Waitaki and the winners of the Big Sing.

Sonja de Friez reviews The Stars Are a Million Glittering Worlds by Gina Butson, published by Allen and Unwin.

From tonight a new season of contemporary artists' work will be screened on Australasia's largest lightwall based at the Port of Auckland.

Orthopaedic Surgeon,Dr Simon Young, on how your knees work and to look after them

Cellphone rules in schools in Germany and the latest from Ukraine 

The regional airline Air Chathams is welcoming an announcement by the Government to offer $30 million in loans to regional airlines to help with costs. 

Producers of high-quality timber on tenterhooks waiting for news on US tariffs. 

Alarm over  proposed changes could result in the Minister having the sole decision making power over conservation land. 

Our comedians Te Radar and Elisabeth Easther with some laughs to end the week including Lithuania's international Corgi race which is drawing four legged competitors from around Europe.

Sports commentator Sam Ackerman

Police have just held a media briefing after a sighting in the Waikato town of Piopio of two people they believe are the fugitive father Tom Phillips and one of his three children.

The background to the spying court martial held at Linton Military Camp near Palmerston North, cuts to counselling service hours,child literature masters and candidates for local government elections. Jimmy Ellingham is RNZ's reporter in Manawatu

The government has spent over $10 million to do up the country's bell tower that plays for fallen soldiers, but is now getting rid of the only person who plays it. 

A doctor who worked at a Bay View makeshift clinic following Cyclone Gabrielle has documented the stories of 14 people who lived through the disaster in February 2023. In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, Kristin Speers helped those dealing with physical trauma - skin and soft tissue injuries at risk of infection, gastro-enteritis with the expose to contaminants in the floodwaters and silt, and of course, psychological trauma. When the clinic closed down she delved in to helping people manage insurance and grants and funding applications - she helped unlock about 170-thousand dollars for people through the various funds that were made available. Then came the idea, along with a group of locals, to capture residents' stories in a book. Kristin was the "designated interviewe " and spent hundreds, if not thousands, of hours speaking to 150 people, often on more than one occasion, surveying their property, looking at photos, and being a gentle ear for many who had never spoken about what they went through. The book project did not pan out - so instead Kristin - who felt a deep sense of duty to the people who had given her their time - set about making a podcast. With no audio, media or journalistic help, she has created a 10-part series, telling the stories of 14 people, called Under the Weather. Philip Barber - who survived the Cyclone by climbing onto the roof of his house with his young family - is in episode one of the podcast. Kristin and Philip speak to Kathryn Ryan.

RNZ Pacific Editor Koroi Hawkins on Samoa's election, a major Fiji drug trafficking operation has seen a hefty fine handed down, and the Marshall Islands parliament has burnt down.

Populations of North Island brown kiwi, kaka and long-tailed bats are starting to swell as pest control efforts within Pukenui Forest near Whangarei ramp up. 

Eye specialists say some Kiwis are at risk of going blind, because they're not getting access to the care they need to treat one of the most common causes of vision loss.

Urgent meetings in several Auckland's inner suburbs as residents chew over new plans which could see 15 story apartment blocks and less protection for heritage.

Film and television reviewer James Croot joins Kathryn to look at The Thursday Murder Club's (Netflix) translation from page to screen - with some of the biggest names in British film and TV, can it possibly fail? Pee Wee as Himself (Neon) is a documentary series that follows the life and career of Paul Reubens and Devo (Netflix) traces the rise of the band perhaps best known for "Whip It". James Croot is film and television reviewer for Stuff

Babies born during Covid-19 lockdowns developed and moved through early milestones under challenging and unique circumstances.

Tech commentator Tony Grasso joins Kathryn to talk about the big news in the cyber-crime world.

Kelly reports on a high profile murder trial plus the relaunch of the Lakeland Queen paddle steamer and Steven Adams lends a bit of advice to school children during a basketball camp. Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist with the Rotorua Daily Post

Elisabeth Easther reviews Nor The Years Condemn by Robin Hyde, published by Otago University Press.

The Big Sing Finale co-ordinator is Rosemary Tarbotton - she updates Kathryn Ryan just hours before the competition starts. 

KiwiFibre founders Ben Scales and his business partner William Murrell have been recognised on the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list. 

UK correspondent Matt Dathan look at Nigel Farage's Reform party's plans for mass deportations - 600,000 illegal migrants over five years if Reform wins the next general election, which polls suggest could happen. Energy prices are back up again in the UK - wind farms are being blamed. And less than a week of summer left - and it's been the hottest one on record.

Just like when we struggle after a poor night's sleep, a new study reveals birds also suffer when their sleep is disrupted.

After nearly 100 years in operation Mt Cheeseman ski area in Canterbury will not open this year due to poor snowfall.