Nine To Noon for Wednesday 8 October 2025

09:05 New Zealand's coasts and $180b in assets under threat

A new report has outlined just how seriously our coastlines are under threat from climate change - and what that means for homes and industries. The research by the Ministry of the Environment and Stats NZ says that $180 billion in assets is at risk in flood prone areas - that includes 219,000 homes. Warming seas and ocean acidification caused by increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are affecting fisheries and aquaculture - industries which contribute over $1b to GDP and support more than 14,000 jobs. The report says 266 non-native marine species have established  populations here - and wetlands, dunes, and native vegetation that help buffer against flooding and erosion, are being degraded or replaced. The Environment Ministry says the report presents the best  evidence available on how the environment is changing and what impact it is having. Kathryn speaks to the Ministry's chief science advisor Alison Collins. 

09:20 AA says penalties for driving offences out of whack

For the first time in 26 years the Ministry of Transport is reviewing penalties for traffic offences. This includes speeding fines, demerit points and fines for offences like cellphone use while driving. The Ministry of Transport is conducting the review, the first since 1999, saying a number of  penalties are too low to deter unsafe behaviour and some are significantly lower than the equivalent fees in similar jurisdictions. The AA says penalties are out of whack and need serious changes. The Association's road safety spokesperson Dylan Thomsen joins Kathryn. 

The Transport Ministry says the review is underway, but it can't say when it will be complete. 

09:30 How Wales protects future generations through law-making 

Ten years ago Wales passed the Well-being of Future Generations Act. A unique piece of legislation that requires public bodies to consider the long-term impact of their decisions. Now a lobby group in New Zealand is working to get a similar piece of law created here. The Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa released a discussion document last month, and hopes to spark nation-wide conversation about improving long-term decision-making in government. It is backed by former Prime Ministers Sir Geoffrey Palmer and Jim Bolger, with cross-party attendance at the launch event recently hosted at parliament. In Wales the Act established the role of a Future Generations Commissioner, whose role includes assisting public departments in their policy-making, and also assessing to what extent the objectives of the Act are being met. Jacob Ellis is the Director for External Relations and Culture at the Office for the Commissioner in Wales. 

09:45 Australia: PNG Treaty, Triple Zero Custodian, mushroom sentence appeal

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton joins Kathryn to talk about Australia and PNG signing a landmark security treaty to become formal allies, the formation of a Triple Zero Custodian to oversee the emergency call network after two big outages that cost lives and mushroom murderer Erin Patterson indicating she will lodge appeals against her conviction and sentence.

Karen Middleton is a political journalist based in Canberra

10:05 How one family turned Hawke's Bay scrubland into farming gold

When Bill Mouat's family bought a chunk of land in southern Hawke's Bay the locals could've been forgiven for their surprise. The land - known as Mangaorapa Station  - was considered harsh and unproductive, unsaleable and near worthless. Along with that, Bill's namesake grandfather Billy and his father Don and uncle Max were considered 'just truck drivers' with no real experience in farming. But the family's assessment of the land was different - it was relatively flat, had ample water sources and lots of healthy mānuka and kānuka. And they were willing to work hard. Eventually they would come to own the full 4700 acres of Mangaorapa Station, using some Kiwi ingenuity to break the land into fertile soil. Bill's turned his family's pioneering farming history into a beautifully detailed book called 'Gold Under the Manuka'  and joins Kathryn to talk about it.

10:30 101-year-old walks 101 laps to raise money for Methven rest home

At 101 years young Methven's Audrey Lilley has embarked on an ambitious fundraiser to help the Methven Care Trust develop a purpose-built care home facility and increase the number of elderly it can look after. Audrey was born at Methven House back in 1924 - and returned live there when she was 85. She wants to help the Methven Care Trust upgrade the home - at its new site - from 14 beds to 26. But we're not talking bake sales or raffles. Audrey is doing 101 laps of  Methven House itself with a Givealittle campaign running alongside the personal challenge she has set, until later this month. Audrey and her son Bruce are on the line from Methven.

10:35 Book review: The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai

Jenna Todd of Time Out Bookstore reviews The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai, published by Penguin Books New Zealand.

10:45 Around the motu: David Hill reports on North Canterbury

David discusses the decision by police to cancel controversial restructuring in Canterbury , progress in local election voting and Environment Canterbury's Ngāi Tahu councillors reflect on their first term.

David Hill is a Local Democracy Reporter with North Canterbury News, based in Rangiora
 

11:05 Music with Kirsten Zemke: Scat songs

Music correspondent Kirsten Zemke digs into scat, the vocal jazz improvisation where a singer uses wordless vocables, nonsense syllables and onomatopoeic sounds to mimic a musical instrument solo. It was widespread in the 30s and 40s and evolved into further complexity over the decades.

Kirsten Zemke is an ethnomusicologist at the University of Auckland's School of Social Sciences.

11:20 When your big plans for life differ from your partner's

How to navigate relationships when one partner's plans or hopes for the future differ from their spouse.
Do partners have to have the same dreams to be happy together? Relationship coach Jo Robertson says many couples strike this situation, particularly when it comes to the the big questions : family, location or retirement plans. Text your questions for Jo to 2101.

11:45 Science: Gut biome treasure, music + reading, why cats eat grass

Science commentator Dr Jen Martin joins Kathryn to discuss three studies. The first looks at what researchers found by studying the microbiome of the world's oldest known person - including that her gut was as diverse as someone much younger - so what was she eating? Does playing a musical instrument help children learn to read? And why do cats eat grass? One researcher went to some icky places to understand the behaviour of her two cats, Mildred and Merle.

Dr Jen Martin founded the science communication program at the University of Melbourne, runs the espressoscience.com blog and is also the author of Why Am I Like This?: The Science Behind Your Weirdest Thoughts and Habits.