Nine To Noon

Alice Taylor is joining Bryan across the week to give yummy and simple Christmas gift ideas.

Now here's a challenge for anyone with children - find things to do that get them off their screens, get them moving and won't hit parents in the pocket. That's where Bryan's guest comes in. Dr. Susannah Smith is President and Board Chair of Physical Education New Zealand and an Associate Professor at University of Canterbury.

Christmas is a time when many of us head back to the family home - the marae - and in the case of many Pacific Islanders - the village. People like Kayla Tuara are taking their family back to the Cook Islands for Christmas. Kayla joins Bryan from Rarotonga.

We reckon it's a good idea to recognise some of those who'll keep working through the summer break, so that the rest of us can enjoy a holiday. Yesterday it was Ian King - on call most of the summer break for the Otaki Volunteer Fire Brigade. Today on the run home to Christmas, we celebrate the work of Holly Rawiri, Duty Nurse Manager at Taranaki Hospital.

We can't get enough colossal squid action, and it turns out 2025 was a big year for the massive creature. Here to tell us more, is Professor Kat Bolstad - head of the AUT Squid Squad.

Who can resist an interview with Scott Base? The town under New Zealand jurisdiction will most likely get a white Christmas - in fact if it doesn't, you might need to reassess that oceanside property you had your eyes on. Faith Farquhar-Culling is the volunteer social club president at Scott Base this summer - what a job - she joins Bryan for a chat.

RNZ Business Editor Gyles Beckford joins Bryan to chat about the new free trade deal with India.

Need some ideas if you're staying put in Auckland this holiday season? The City of Sails is packed with lots of low-cost adventures and special events, if you know where to look. Here to point us in the right direction is Annie Dundas from Tataki Auckland Unlimited.

Alice Taylor, who's known as 'alicetayloreats' on Instagram, joins Bryan over the next three days offering last minute ideas that don't involve a lot of money or time.

Here's someone else who won't be putting his feet up over the Christmas break. Ian King became a career firefighter in 1974 and is now the chief fire officer in Otaki, where he's lived for 50 years. He joins Bryan to tell us more.