RNZ: Nine To Noon

Comedians Te Radar and Donna Brookbanks with a few laughs and reaction to what's been hailed as the world's smelliest cheese going on sale in the UK.

Rain washed out day two of the second test Black cups versus Bangladesh, but Sam says there's still plenty of heat being directed towards selectors. The home summer of cricket has started with a fizzle - with the T20 series against the Pakistani women's side already lost with a game to go. Are the White Ferns just not as good as we think they are now? And Tauranga is the centre of the squash universe this week with the festival of squash. Paul Coll is top seed and into the quarterfinals of the NZ Mens Open.

Jeremy plays tracks off debut solo albums from Harp and Andre 3000, plus the epic prog-folk of Dublin's Lankum.

It's the beginning of a hot, dry, El Niño summer for the top of the South Island and water restrictions have been introduced in Nelson and Tasman already, Sam talks to Kathryn about a group of Nelsonians tired of hearing that the city centre is dying - they have joined forces in a bid to change the narrative.Te Whatu Ora has briefed councillors from Nelson and Tasman on the progress of the Nelson Hospital upgrade, it is still 10 years from being finished. And Greymouth's Pounamu Pathway opened this week - it is one of four new Maori-lead tourism ventures on the West Coast.

A wounded NZ fighter lies in a crowded ward in a makeshift hospital as the Ukrainian/Russian war rages outside . He is being cared for by a Ukrainian medical team and develops a faltering connection with a local doctor with quite good grasp of the English language. It is the doctor's literal interpretation of the narrator's kiwi idiom that highlights the pathos of the situation they are living through. All Things Considered by Tim Saunders is one of the 2023 Nine to Noon Short Story Competition winners, and is told by Alex Grieg.

Martene McCaffrey of Unity Books Auckland reviews Crooked Plow by Itamar Vieira Junior published by Verso

Elizabeth Cracroft is the creator of the theatre show REHAB which aims to break down the stigma of addiction. The show was on at Auckland's Basement Theatre last month, and had it's first showing in 2021 during the city's Fringe Festival. She speaks from personal experience, she has now been sober 14 years. She says her own drinking story represents the full buffet of the idiosyncrasies of alcoholism. The stage play which is improvised, is set in a residential treatment centre and has a range of characters from a variety of backgrounds getting help for their addictions. From the age of 16, alcohol was her substance of choice, and her drinking escalated over the next few years until she was 24 and sought help. Elizabeth Cracroft has recently completed a law degree and intends to practice law, and hopes REHAB will be staged in other centres.

Arrests have been made in Nepal after a gang was accused of smuggling people and forcing them into the Russian military to fight in Ukraine. The people trapped in the scheme and extorted were young unemployed Nepalis, who thought they were being granted a travel visa, but instead they were being trafficked to fight for Russia. And Elizabeth has details of a family's dramatic escape from Covid-era North Korea. Elizabeth Beattie is based in Tokyo.

It's an end-of-the-year dilemma for many parents - how to say thank you to their child's teacher. As the school year grinds to an end, what gifts are appropriate for the person who's been guiding your child along on their educational journey? Alternatively - what presents aren't so appreciated? Is there such a thing as too many chocolates or coffee mugs? Maiana McCurdy, a teacher on Auckland's Hisbiscus Coast, kindly joins Kathryn with her thoughts on what's a hit - and a miss - in the staffroom at Christmas.

The new government says its tougher-on-crime approach will see up to 400 more people sent to prison in the coming year. But the union representing corrections workers says it is already facing chronic staff shortages, and can't keep up with this year's more than 10 per cent rise in the prison population. There are currently just under 9000 inmates. The Department of Corrections says it is short about 370 staff right now - meaning the country's 18 jails can't use all of the 11,000 beds across the system. But the Corrections Association says the number needed is closer to 500. Association President Floyd du Plessis says recruitment and retention is really challenging and the situation poses safety issues.

The Minister for Tertiary Education says the super-institute Te Pukenga will be gone within six to eight months, replaced by 8 to 10 institutions. Yesterday Penny Simmonds instructed the organisation to stop progressing the centralisation of vocational training and education. She says the new government will introduce legislation to get rid of Te Pukenga, which she says has been a total failure, and led to a blow out in costs. Kathryn speaks with former chief executive of Otago Polytechnic Phil Ker.

Film and TV correspondent Laumata Lauano has been working her way through the new Christmas offerings so you don't have to!

Speech and Language Therapist Christian Wright on what NOT to say to parents concerned about their child's speech and language development. And he'll share strategies for dealing with these questions if they do arise.

Technology correspondent Bill Bennett joins Susie to talk about a report that Europe's most toxic nuclear site, Sellafield in the UK, has been the target of a cyber attack. Not only that, it happened in 2015 and the malware may still be present. He'll also talk about the impact that satellites have had on New Zealand's telco sector, and the continuing cost to X (formerly Twitter) of owner Elon Musk's outburst at advertisers.

The Hamilton City Council has been considering its draft long term plan budget, with the Mayor, Paula Southgate saying tough decisions will need to be made. The beach-side community of Raglan, in Waikato, needs a new plan for its treated sewage with the current treatment plant operating under an expired consent for the last three years. Limits have been placed on Waikato River wake boats to help stop spread of invasive clam and Libby will talk about the iconic Wellington Street Beach in Hamilton.

A six year old recalls an incident that happened many years ago while on a fishing trip with his father on the Tongariro river. A contemplation on life and how a good fisherman might navigate the currents as the light of the day fades to black. The Wanderer (a Ghost Story) is written by Richard Benefield and told by Peter Hambleton. It is one of the 2023 Nine to Noon Short Story Competition winners.

Paul Diamond reviews Reconnecting Aotearoa: Loneliness and Connection in the Age of Social Distance Edited by Kathy Errington and Holly Walker published by Bridget Williams Books.

For centuries, the experiences of women have been overlooked in history books exclusively written, edited and published by men, says best-selling British writer Phillipa Gregory. “[Recorded history] has not really looked at women's lives, which often are full of events, often full of heroism, often full effect - their lives make a huge difference to the national story but they're just not recorded.” While researching Anne Boleyn's lesser-known sister Mary for her 2011 novel The Other Boleyn Girl, Gregory had the idea of writing a book that celebrated the invisible women at the centre of history. She tells Nine to Noon that Normal Women: 900 Years of Making History is a culmination of her life's work.

UK correspondent Matthew Parris looks at what former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told the Covid inquiry - including that he "should've twigged" about the seriousness of the virus sooner. The Home Secretary James Cleverly says a new treaty with Rwanda addresses some concerns of the UK's Supreme Court, which ruled the government's deportation plan unlawful last month. Rules for couples wanting to settle in UK have changed, with a big jump in the amount they will have to earn from £18,600 to £38,700. And a change at Ryanair has some customers seething.

DB Breweries' plant at Washdyke in Timaru is not only churning out beer - it's also making its own compost. Three years ago the company started a project that would see it treat its own wastewater, instead of using the city's treatment system. The byproduct is used as compost and diverted from landfill. Brewery manager Adrian Finlayson talks about how the project came about, what it involves and his own interesting career brewing beer in unusual places.

The Police union says the new Minister's expectations are very clear, but it's less clear how they can be achieved, while having to make cost savings.Mark Mitchell met with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster yesterday and released a letter afterwards setting out what he expects, including more of a focus on core policing with a back-to-basics approach. Mr Mitchell says he wants a more visible police presence and new legislation used to crack down on gangs. But he also told the Police Commissioner that police would still have to find cost savings, just as other government agencies and departments do. President of the Police Association, Chris Cahill, says police are already struggling to retain officers, and it's going to be tough to deliver what the government wants without more resources.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council is on the brink of lifting its boil water notice. After a breakout of the cryptosporidium parasite in the resort town back in the middle of September 2023 residents and businesses were required to boil their tap water. That boil water notice has remained to today for those in and around the CBD as the council worked to install UV water treatment equipment at its Two Mile water supply. The council says that work is now done and it is awaiting confirmation from water regulator Taumata Arowai that it can lift the boil water notice.

It's that time of year that can really put the squeeze on your finances. Lisa Dudson joins Susie to talk about how to budget for the season and reduce your stress levels. Lisa Dudson is the owner of Acumen.co.nz. Her advice is of a general nature

What's behind New Zealand's population boom, and is it having an effect on policy? 

Peter talks to Susie about the cost of bringing non-compliant water supplies across the district up to scratch. Also the massive community reaction to news that Takahe chicks have hatched in the wild near Glenorchy in Greenstone Valley. And a professional hunter has been hired to kill over 50 rabbits in Queenstown's main public gardens. Peter is the Managing Editor, Crux, based in Arrowtown.

A Kiwi farmer is startled by a strange light coming under his door one night. It's aliens who have come for the world's rabbits, as they think that rabbits are cute and they have built a moon for them.

Phil Vine reviews The In-Between by Christos Tsiolkas published by Allen & Unwin

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton joins Susie to talk about new legislation for illegal migrants that break the law, l'amour between Australia and France and postal changes.

The Reserve Bank wants to try bringing back cash services in rural communities next year. 

Community pharmacists say they're baffled by the government's decision to put pseudoephedrine back on the shelves, and are worried about a return to co-payments for prescriptions.  

Kiwi teens have slipped down the international rankings of reading, maths and science again. To explain what this means for students beginning NCEA - founder of the Education Hub, Dr Nina Hood.

New Zealand's Paul Coll has won the Hong Kong Squash Open by beating Egyptian Ali Farag in the men's final. And the Black Caps face unwanted history after their first test loss to Bangladesh. So can the New Zealand side bounce back? Finally, a wrap of the Dubai 7s tournament.

It's not too late to craft some Christmas presents, soaps, salves and food items. Naturopath and medical herbalist, Jane Wrigglesworth has a raft of ideas on how to fashion useful presents that don't cost much to produce. If you have a herb garden at home, it can be put to good use to use in a selection of home made items suitable for gifting. Jane is the author of Everyday Herbalist and writes for numerous publications including NZ Gardener and Lifestyle Block.

BusinessDesk investigations editor, Victoria Young has been looking at audit firms and the NZX50 companies that use them. And SkyCity's multi-million dollar carpark spat, and why a judge ruled in the casino operator's favour. Finally, mounting criticism over the shelf-life of gift cards, as Consumer NZ warns shoppers are losing about 10 million dollars on unspent cards every year.

Paid parking plans in Tauranga have been delayed after a public outcry, Western Bay councillors have defended their use of closed-door workshops,Tauranga stores have been barred from selling alcohol before 10am and seven flood damaged pensioner flats in Waihi Beach are to be demolished . Western Bay of Plenty Local Democracy reporter Alisha Evans based in Tauranga with SunLive.

A man is puzzled by the new lodger that has moved in with him and his wife. In trying to build a picture of the mysterious lodger, the man is confronted with a bitter incident from the past and comes to understand a little more about love and acceptance. Love Like Lemons is written by Sam Reese, and told by Gavin Rutherford.

Louise O'Brien reviews A Memoir of My Former Self by Hilary Mantel published by Hachette

It was a story of love and deception so extraordinary it became a hit Netflix documentary. 'The Tinder Swindler', the story of Simon Leviev - a prolific romance scammer - was shocking in scale, with one woman conned out of more than $400,000. But the victim, Cecilie Fjellhøy is far from alone. Globally romance scams are on the rise, and dating apps, such as Tinder and Bumble - recording billions of 'matches' a year - have become fertile ground for fraudsters. New Zealand's Netsafe recently reported a 39 percent increase in online romance scams, with the average loss per victim a staggering $18,667 - according to Netsafe, the tip of the iceberg. Since 'The Tinder Swindler' Cecilie has teamed up with Anna Rowe - another romance scam victim. Together they have launched an online think tank: LoveSaid, with the aim to remove the stigma around such scams and campaign for better legal protection and recourse.

George Santos has been expelled from the house, making it the first time this has occurred without a conviction. Ximena discusses what this means for the upcoming house elections. And former President Donald Trump's civil lawsuit continues in New York. Ximena Bustillo is a multi-platform reporter at NPR covering politics out of the White House and Congress on air and in print.

Tough decisions are looming for Auckland's flood recovery as affected residents head into the holiday season. It's been around 10 months since the Auckland anniversary weekend floods, and Cyclone Gabrielle, hit the region within weeks of each other. 3000 properties were damaged by the floods, with many still awaiting categorisation. And buyout negotiations are beginning for the first lot of properties which have been deemed level three - meaning they pose intolerable risk to life, and owners will not return. Auckland Council will be discussing the Recovery Plan next Thursday, which formally sets out the next phase of response, and looks at how to improve resilience for future weather events. And progress is being made on Blue-Green Network planning - a host of community-level projects to support properties in high-risk areas. Group Recovery Manager Mat Tucker joins Kathryn to look back on what has been a tough year for many.

The country's first community based Depression Recovery Centre is set to open in Wellington early next year, established by a not-for-profit charity. It will offer a therapeutic day programme for people with moderate to severe mental health issues, and hopes to serve 300 people per year, at purpose built premises in Cuba Street. The centre, to be known as "Whakama Tutu: A place of recovery" will have a team of 20 staff, including a GP, psychiatrist, eight psychotherapists, a trauma treatment specialist as well as art, music and massage therapy. It will begin assessing its first participants from the 15th of January to begin the first course in February. The driving force behind the centre, and it's director, is Wellington mental health advocate and lawyer Brent Williams - who has found funding from the private sector and got backing from ACC, the Social Development Ministry and private insurers, but so far Te Whatu Ora has not given any support. Brent Williams is in our Wellington studio, along with Psychotherapist Karen Begg, who is part of the new centre.

Bill discusses a new exhibition at Auckland's Objectspace gallery called 'The Chair; a story of design and making in Aotearoa'. It showcases more then 110 New Zealand designed and made chairs spanning 170 years, all loaned by individuals and institutions. Bill hones in on three chairs in particular, and what they tell us about our attitude to design. Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland.