Nine To Noon cover

Nine To Noon

RNZ

Smart, in-depth and relentlessly curious, host Kathryn Ryan dives into the stories shaping New Zealand and its people. Interviews and expert analysis from around the world and at home. It’s where big ideas are unpacked and everyday life explored.

Smart, in-depth and relentlessly curious, host Kathryn Ryan dives into the stories shaping New Zealand and its people. Interviews and expert analysis from around the world and at home. It’s where big ideas are unpacked and everyday life explored.

Science: Extreme weather drives European voters green

0:00 0:00

Episodes

Science: Extreme weather drives European voters green 03 Nov 2026

Science commentator Laurie Winkless joins Kathryn to talk about three new studies. The first shows evidence from 25 European countries that over the course of a decade extreme heat is directly influencing voting choices - with an increase in Green parties' support. GPS data from Manx shearwater birds found they're impacted by the sun's changes as they navigate long distances to their feeding grounds and back again. And a new dwarf planet's been discovered in our solar system. Laurie Winkless is a physicist and science writer

Shining a light on the dark art of Kiwi Gothic painter 03 Nov 2026

A major exhibition, Blood Is Thicker: Jason Greig, first staged at The Dowse Art Museum and now showing at Christchurch Art Gallery.

Unemployment rate rises to 5.7 per cent 03 Nov 2026

Unemployment rose to its highest level in nearly 11 years as the economy shed jobs, and there are signs some people may have stopped looking for work. Stats NZ said the unemployment rate was 5.7 per cent in the three months ended September, up from 5.6 percent in the previous quarter. A total of 174,000 people were unemployed, a rise of 3000 on the previous quarter and 14,000 higher than a year ago. Gyles Beckford is RNZ economics correspondent.

Around the motu: Kereama Wright 03 Nov 2026

Kereama has the latest on the down grading of alert levels on Whakaari/White Island plus Whakatane Hospital neonatal unit gets an upgrade, Kawerau's Deputy Mayor wins gold in powerlifting, the Ngati Awa Te Toki Festival and 12 years of kapa haka and a new summer reggae festival for Whakatane.

Book review: Lucy Black's picks 03 Nov 2026

Lucy Black reviews two books: Bedford Street by Ross Murray (Earth's End Publishing), and Music Against the Night by Yiyun Li (HarperCollins).

Sir Michael Parkinson: New doco on the man behind the persona 03 Nov 2026

The film offers a reflection - not just on his extraordinary broadcasting career - but on the father, husband and person behind the public persona.

Australia: Cup day rate hike, weight loss pill approved & more 03 Nov 2026

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton on another OCR hike, the glitz and glamour of the Melbourne Cup, the drug regulator has approved the pill version of weight-loss drug Wegovy, a children's author jailed for possessing and distributing child sex abuse material and a 12-year-old boy's been up against a magpie with a grudge.

Do you really need extra electrolytes? 03 Nov 2026

Electrolyte drinks and powders are pushed as the answer to dehydration - but does anyone actually need them? uss.

EV and hybrid uptake soars 03 Nov 2026

Nearly one in four new vehicles in the year to October was a plug-in EV - up from 10 per cent in the same period last year.

Wellington weighs rating land value 03 Nov 2026

Wellington City Council is proposing a major shift in how it collects rates from households.

Sports correspondent Marc Hinton 02 Nov 2026

What's next for a future professional netball league after the sport's national body parted ways with private backers Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray.

Liv Sisson's new love in nature: moths and butterflies 02 Nov 2026

Liv Sisson has a new book out this week about the butterflies and moths of New Zealand.

Business commentator Hamish McNicol 02 Nov 2026

Big moves among retailers The Warehouse and Kathmandu, as the former head of the Financial Markets Authority gets a big payout.

Around the motu: Piers Fuller in Wairarapa 02 Nov 2026

Piers Fuller, editor of the Wairarapa Times-Age, has the latest news from the region.

How can we understand our pets? 02 Nov 2026

How we understand our animals? What are our pets trying to tell us and how can we even 'hear' them?

Social media star Nix Adams on her many lives 02 Nov 2026

Nix Adams discusses her book Nothing to Lose: A mother's journey through grief, addiction and recovery.

USA correspondent David Smith 02 Nov 2026

David Smith has the latest on the midterms, as one Democrat switches sides.

New project explores lactation after infant loss 02 Nov 2026

A new project aims to improve healthcare professionals' capacity to provide compassionate, evidence-based lactation care after infant loss.

New $125m Bruce McLaren Centre for Auckland University 02 Nov 2026

University of Auckland is building a $125 million high-performance engineering facility in racing driver Bruce McLaren's honour.

Swelling pest populations wreak havoc on farms and native bush 02 Nov 2026

Otago farmers are fighting are losing battle against invasive pests, including deer, pigs and possums. Several farmers in The Catlins lost large portions of their winter crops to feral deer, with one losing an entire paddock even though it had been sprayed with deer repellent. A survey undertaken by Federated Farmers earlier this year reported pest numbers, and that costs relate to pest control, were increasing. In 2024 half of farmers reported pest numbers had risen over the previous five years. In 2026, that has risen to two-thirds of farmers. And that farms which bordered on forestry or Crown land were more susceptible to pests entering, than form other land types. Richard Dawkins is pest spokesperson for Federated Farmers and Rachel Napier farms in Owaka Valley and for the past four years has worked with other landowners as part of the Catlins Biodiversity Group in an effort to combat the swelling populations of possum, pig and deer.

Urban Issues with Bill McKay 01 Nov 2026

Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland.

Food educator Ganesh Raj 01 Nov 2026

Drawing on six years of working with New Zealand families Ganesh Raj has produced a new resource he hopes will help.

Political commentators Brigitte Morten and Gareth Hughes 01 Nov 2026

Brigitte, Gareth and Kathryn discuss recent events in politics as the election campaign moves into its final week, and John Key has a message for voters.

Around the motu: Simon Wilson in Tamaki Makaurau 01 Nov 2026

Simon Wilson is a Listener columnist based in Auckland.

Book review: Wardini Books' picks 01 Nov 2026

Louise Ward from Wardini Books reviews two books: Somebody Always Comes Looking by Paul Cleave (Upstart Press), and Bookrapt's Treasury by Debbie McCauley (Mauao Publishing.

The history of New Zealand's police dogs 01 Nov 2026

A new book tells the comprehensive story of our trusted police dogs and their handlers - going back to 1956 and the foundation of the New Zealand Police Dog Section.

Europe correspondent Seamus Kearney 01 Nov 2026

Spanish transport minister rejects calls to resign after second deadly train crash, protests and clashes with police across Europe spread to Germany, tension in Poland over control of country's constitutional court, and exhausted and hungry residents from the Russian-controlled town of Oleshky have crossed back behind the Ukrainian front line.

Big future possible for micro-robots 01 Nov 2026

Micro-robotics is a developing research field that may revolutionise future medical applications, such as drug delivery for cancer treatments.

Building a sexy basket man for the film 'Wicker' 01 Nov 2026

Wētā Workshop experts on the challenge of creating a sexy husband made out of basketry for the film Wicker opening in cinemas this week.

US Mid terms - will Democrats take control of Congress? 01 Nov 2026

US voting in the mid terms gets underway overnight tomorrow in an election that could change the bal;ance of power in Congress.

Sports commentator Joe Porter 29 Oct 2026

The cancellation of the proposed domestic netball competition, and the more of the latest sports news.

Friday funnies with Irene Pink and Michele A'Court 29 Oct 2026

Comedians Irene Pink and Michele A'Court with a lighter take on some stories of the week.

Around the motu: Ian Allen Editor of the Marlborough Express. 29 Oct 2026

Ian has the latest on a multi million dollar driving range being developed by local golf mad farmers and grape growers, and more.

Book review by Paul Diamond 29 Oct 2026

Paul Diamond reviews Introducing The English Text of the Treaty of Waitangi by Ned Fletcher, published by Bridget Williams Books.

Michael Douglas' candid account of Hollywood ambition 29 Oct 2026

At 82, Michael Douglas is looking back on his extraordinary professional success in movies like Wall Street, Basic Instinct and Fatal Attraction.

Asia correspondent Elizabeth Beattie 29 Oct 2026

The company behind Hello Kitty is in hot water over its links with a Japanese TV show and student protests are simmering across Indonesia.

Northland food business winning for its sustainability 29 Oct 2026

Wild West Gourmet combines traditional methods with practices such as waste reduction, water management and low emission transport.

Origins of Bluestone Wall in Auckland discovered 29 Oct 2026

A long-held mystery, the wall was able to be analysed after it was pulled apart and rebuilt as part of the build of the City Rail Link.

Hospice boss claims Health NZ blocking pay equity claim 29 Oct 2026

Hospice New Zealand says after three years of work and more than $100,000 spent, there is still no resolution on pay equity for hospice nurses.

Screentime: Tom Augustine's picks of the week 28 Oct 2026

Film and TV reviewer Tom Augustine shares his picks of what's on at the movies this week.

Parenting: Burned out? How to move beyond just coping 28 Oct 2026

Parenting can be extremely rewarding - but it can also be relentless and sometimes, overwhelming. Dr Jo Prendergast is a psychiatrist and comedian who shares her knowledge of how to avoid burnout.

Tech: One NZ + 2degrees = ? 28 Oct 2026

Tech commentator Bill Bennett looks at how a planned join venture between One NZ and 2degrees, allowing them to share their physical mobile networks but remain separate companies, might work.

Around the motu: Robin Martin, RNZ's Taranaki reporter 28 Oct 2026

Robin has the latest on calls for a alternative route to Awakino Gorge, the Taranaki conversation project harnessing the power of AI, the latest on staff numbers at the New Plymouth district council.

Pacific correspondent Christina Persico 28 Oct 2026

Pacific correspondent Christina Persico looks at reaction to Israel joining the Pacific Islands Forum as a two-tier dialogue partner.

The polar journey that launched Scott, Shackleton 28 Oct 2026

The gripping story of Britain's first Antarctic expedition that would launch the careers of Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton.

UK: PM rules out snap election after Budget Day 28 Oct 2026

UK correspondent Steph Spyro joins Kathryn to talk about what's in Chancellor John Healey's Budget released overnight NZ time, after which PM Andy Burnham ruled out calling a general election in the next 12 months.

Social housing complex wins house of the year award 28 Oct 2026

The homes that win Best House awards are usually beautifully crafted dwellings on spectacular sites. But this year's Best House is one with real purpose.

RNZ's Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch on the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll 28 Oct 2026

RNZ's Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch responds to the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll - which has seen the National Party drop below 25 percent, and Opportunity reach a new high.

National Party leader Christopher Luxon on policy, latest polling + potential coalition partners 28 Oct 2026

National Party leader Christopher Luxon joins Kathryn Ryan in RNZ's Auckland studio to talk about everything in this election campaign, including the latest polling in an extremely tight election race.

Science with Stuart Parsons 27 Oct 2026

Stuart is University of Canterbury's Executive Dean of Science, and a Professor in the School of Biological Sciences.

Related podcasts