Nine To Noon

Dave Armstrong is the playwright behind The Surprise Party - a comedy about a small political party that suddenly finds itself with the power to influence who forms the next government.

Author and artist Terri Te Tau is appearing at two Verb Wellington events this week.

Ratepayers will be the losers of the Government's stilted approach to council amalgamations, says the Southland mayor who was the architect of a separate process that started 18 months ago.

Film and television reviewer James Croot looks at the new Brad Pitt movie, filmed in New Zealand: Heart of the Beast. He'll also detail new comedy Coyote vs Acme (cinemas) which is a blend of live action and animation. And American Hostage (Neon, Sky Drama) stars Jon Hamm who stars as a radio reporter thrust into a hostage-taking crisis. James Croot is a TV Guide and The Press film and television reviewer

Whether it's a formal after school activity, or an older student helping out, many children will have some form of tutoring outside of the classroom. Do most children need a tutor? How do you tell and at what age should you consider it? Bronwyn Reid O'Connor is here to help unpack those questions. She is a senior lecturer of mathematics education at the University of Sydney.

Technology correspondent Bill Bennett joins Kathryn to look at why the big AI companies have hundreds of contractors reading through AI-human interactions. Australia is considering banning smart glasses in certain workplaces, citing privacy and security concerns. And a nine-year-old ran up an $118,000 bill on his dad's company credit card advertising his Roblox game on YouTube.

Medical staff at Pahiatua Medical Centre resign over workload and patient safety concerns while two new specialists are set to join Palmerston North Hospital next year after its shortages at its gastro department

Just two weeks after the sinking of a ferry in Vanuatu there's been a boat sinking in PNG with one person dead and four others missing. And Christina updates us on how El Nino is affecting the region.

Airana grew up in Patea, Taranaki and has described himself as a troubled student who found little connection with school.

UK correspondent Steph Spyro joins Kathryn to talk about the first meeting between Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Donald Trump. An urgent review's been ordered after two migrant boats arrived in Kent without being intercepted at sea. A suspected terrorist plot's been thwarted aimed at targeting the Jewish community in northern England during Yom Kippur and Prince William kept silent as he was asked about the claims in his uncle's book about his mother Diana. Steph Spyro is the Daily Express' deputy political editor