Nine To Noon

Comedic duo Michele A'Court and Irene Pink bring this week's lighter moments, including the cat who climbed into a postage box and travelled more than 1000 kilometres across America.

Qatar has made a surprise bid to host the finals of the new Rugby Nations Championship from 2026. And in Mini-Golf news, Kiwi Matt Ansley finished second in a major world tour.

Work on the almost-completed Palmerston North cycleway has paused as arguments rage. Also, why ratepayers are facing an eye-watering bill for a new sewage treatment plant.

Lisa Adler from Unity Books Wellington reviews You Are Here by David Nicholls published Hachette

Jeremiah Manele has been elected as the Solomon Islands' new Prime Minister. Meanwhile police in Honiara are on high alert with the capital having a well-documented history of public unrest around political events. RNZ Pacific Editor Koroi Hawkins

The government has introduced new measures to increase school attendance, but some schools have devised their own initiatives to boost attendance and tackle the "truancy crisis".

Pensioners who bought their homes under an Auckland Council affordable housing scheme are worried for its future, as units stay empty amid a housing shortage in the city.

Film and TV correspondent Perlina Lau joins Kathryn to talk about Origin (cinemas), a thought-provoking film based on Isabel Wilkerson's best-selling book Caste: The Origins of our Discontents. She'll also talk about Netflix's popular Baby Reindeer series and new Kiwi film from Loren Taylor The Moon is Upside Down. Perlina Lau is host of RNZ's Culture 101 programme

As a cellphone ban comes into force this term for school kids, Nine to Noon looks at the issue of when to get a phone for your child. While many - if not most - of us had a phone-free childhood, the pressure for children to get their own phones is creeping lower and lower. Many parents will opt for Year 7 and 8 - the intermediate school years - as a time when a phone can help kids navigate a little independence with the peace of mind being able to contact them can bring. Joining Kathryn to talk about this is Ellie Gwilliam is a content editor and presenter for the Parenting Place.

Technology commentator Mark Pesce has a roundup of the weirdest AI news this week, including the Baltimore gym teacher accused of using an AI voice clone to get a high school principal fired for a racist rant he didn't make. Just weeks after Meta AI was rolled out to all the groups apps, it was caught impersonating being the parent of a disabled child in a chat group for parents of disabled children. Was Meta AI rushed out too soon? And the US Department of Homeland Security is establishing an AI Oversight Board, with the industry's biggest names involved - including Open AI's Sam Altman. Mark Pesce is a futurist, writer, educator and broadcaster.

Over the next couple of months, up to 300 birds will move off the Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari to other parts of the North Island in what is believed to be the country's biggest ever kiwi relocation project. In Hamilton the rates are rising, as the mayor is criticised for overseas travel. Libby has the latest on what's happening at the Ruakura Superhub development and also how a rodent's foot ended up in some garlic bread. RNZ Waikato Reporter Libby Kirkby-McLeod

Lissa Michell reviews A Different Light: First Photographs of Aotearoa.

Journalist and author Juan Gomez-Jurado is one of Spain's most successful contemporary writers.

UK correspondent Matt Dathan reports on the first migrant being relocated to Rwanda, but under a separate voluntary scheme.

Rising unemployment is seeing more people in mediation - putting pressure on already stretched services.

Charities supporting more than half a million New Zealanders have reported a 40 percent increase in food demand last year - 2023.

Science commentator Jen Martin joins Kathryn to talk about which domestic dog breeds have the best sense of smell, new research into why people keep secrets.

Artist and writer Lily Duval's latest book tells the stories of the insects of Aotearoa, in the hopes of changing attitudes towards them.

Simon looks at a new Curia poll revealing who Aucklanders favour as their next mayor. Simon Bridges is out in front, with Paula Bennett and Wayne Brown trailing behind.

Sonja de Friez reviews Shakespeare's Sisters: Four Women Who Wrote the Renaissance by Ramie Targoff published by Hachette