RNZ: Nine To Noon

Nine to Noon's outdoors man, Kennedy Warne, has spent the weekend at the Denniston Plateau on the West Coast, with several dozen nature enthusiasts. He describes it as "strange and wonderful" and shares his experience.

If you've been down to Otago Farmers Market on a Saturday morning, it's likely you'll have seen Danielle Culling. For the past four years, rain or shine, Danielle has been a regular feature at the market - selling pickles and curry pastes through her business Tartan Sari. The Tartan Sari story goes back decades. 30 years ago, Danielle's parents Louisa and Ron set up a pickle business in London - making family recipes and selling to Indian supermarkets. The recipes arrived in London via Goa, Kenya and Scotland - before decades later, arriving in Dunedin. Tartan Sari business owner Danielle Culling joins Kathryn.

Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern and Liam Hehir is a Palmerston North lawyer, political commentator, and National Party member

David updates Kathryn on the latest events in Christchurch, including two Environmental Law Initiative High Court challenges, the return of a former Christchurch mayoral candidate, and Pest Free Banks Peninsula has spent years getting rid of pests in and around Akaroa and now it's paying off. David Williams is Newsroom's Te Waipounamu South Island Correspondent.

Airini Beautrais reviews Tackling the Hens by Mary McCallum published by The Cuba Press

A Kiwi family has passed the halfway point on their monumental effort to circumnavigate the globe on their catamaran.

Sebastian Usher is a BBC Middle East analyst, editor and reporter

Last year, a deepfake impersonating then-President Joe Biden told thousands of voters in the US state of New Hampshire not to vote in the upcoming primaries.

Work underway by a ministerial advisory group has highlighted the growing international links of gangs in this country. 

New non-financial sanctions are being added to the traffic light system from today for those on the job seeker benefit. 

Comedians te Radar and Michele A'Court look at some of the funnier stories of the week, including the small city of Carmel-by-the-Sea in California, which requires visitors to get an official permit in order to legally walk in heels higher than two inches.

Sam looks at Auckland FC's date with destiny, Moana Pasifika are the buzz of Super Rugby and the "Enhanced Games" inaugural competition.

The government is yet to confirm Nelson Hospital's redevelopment Budget, the Maori Queen makes first official visit to Whakatu and Te Tauihu.

Laura Caygill reviews The Names by Florence Knapp published by Hachette

Board games can be the subject of pure delight or intense anger - some people play them every week; others flat-out refuse. 

Polymath founders have their game being used in half of New Zealand's primary schools. 

Finance Minister Nicola Willis on the choices and trade-offs in yesterday's budget.

Perlina reviews Toxic Town from Netflix, Matlock screening on TVNZ+ and Over Compensating on Amazon Prime

Many parents will remember the "terrible twos" - when your toddler turns into a tiny tyrant whose favourite word is "no!". But what happens when they're a little bit older, but still tending toward being stubborn? 

Bill has been at the TUANZ conference in Hamilton where they've been discussing why 100% of New Zealanders aren't connected. 

Government data shows there are just three households in emergency housing across the whole of Otago and Southland.

Carole Beu of the Women's Bookshop in Auckland reviews Always Home, Always Homesick by Hannah Kent published by Macmillan

Artificial intelligence is increasingly a part of our daily lives and the more we use it, the more conversations there are about whether we use it too much even among scientists themselves. 

Natasha discusses Britain's stance over Israel's blockade of aid into Gaza, the UK trade deal with the EU and a u-turn of sorts over winter fuel payments.

Australia is going through a massive energy transition as a system dominated by coal-powered stations is replaced by renewable energy alternatives. What does New Zealand have to learn from the lucky country?

A new global survey of younger workers show few want to reach leadership positions and most prioritise work-life balance.  So what are the implications for employers, business and the economy ?

No unicorns, no rainbows, no BS, but not austerity - this is how Finance Minister Nicola Willis has described her second budget to be revealed this afternoon.  Independent economist Cameron Bagrie on how the numbers might add up.

Laurie Winkless, a physicist and science writer, discusses aurora's viewed from Mars, breaking eggs and humpback whales.

The loneliness epidemic is growing among our aging population - a 2024 study by Age Concern found 59% of people aged 65 plus have felt lonely recently. 

Jared discusses the latest events in Queenstown including an update on tourism.

Louise Ward of Wardini Books reviews Kimi the Kekeno's Big Adventure by Shelley Burne-Field, published by Allen and Unwin.

In 2023, Australian Arnold Dix became an hero when he helped resuce 41 men who had been trapped in a collapsed Himalayan mining tunnel for 17 days. 

Karen Middleton discusses the collapse of the century-long coalition between the conservative Liberal and National parties.

Fencing can be a major cost for farmers, but one couple, have worked out a low-cost alternative using broken vineyard posts. 

A global shortage of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication is causing concern here, according to a survey conducted by an ADHD charity. 

The Government says people and businesses should not pay cyber ransoms, but a report by law firm Simpson Grierson says they are becoming a reality.

Ardie Savea and Moana Pasifika continue to have success, the Warriors win again and what does the Black Ferns draw mean for the team's prospects of a world cup defence later this year.

It's 150 years today since the Metre Convention was signed - a pretty radical initiative at the time that had a massive global impact.

Xero's revenue hits the $2 billion mark and market watchers are discussing its potential to hit the US market. The Colorado-based but NZX-listed software company IkeGPS shares have been soaring on the back of optimism about the US economy and why a top economist says New Zealand stands to benefit from moves in China to boost consumption. Rebecca Stevenson is a senior journalist at BusinessDesk.

Kelly updates Kathryn on the latest events in Rotorua including unruly trail bikers clashing with parents at rugby fields.

Emma Hislop reviews Before the Winter Ends by Khadro Mohamed published by Tender Press.

Philippe Sands is a world-renowned lawyer, writer and winner of the UK's biggest non-fiction prize for his book East West Street.