Nine To Noon

At least two potential bidders have emerged for Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, which collapsed last October, going into voluntary administration. Administrators have been working since October trying to find a long term solution for the business, which runs both Whakapapa and Turoa ski fields. RAL has debts of $35 million, and the government has put in $10 million to keep the business running while a solution is sought. Now at least two separate bids for all or part of the business are in the offing. Kathryn speaks with John Sandford who is leading a new entity - Turoa Alpine Limited - which lodged a bid for Turoa's assets last week. Also with Life Pass Holders' representative and local Sam Clarkson.

Sam looks into the headaches being caused behind the scenes and whether freedom of speech is being respected in world sport, and reaction to the claims super rugby is getting boring.

Former President Donald Trump has been indicted over hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. It makes Mr Trump the first former US president to face criminal charges. A New York City grand jury voted to indict him on charges of falsifying business records relating to payments he made to Stormy Daniels to prevent her from revealing their affair ahead of the 2016 election. Kathryn speaks to Brent Budowsky, a political columnist for The Hill.

Councils on either side of the Cook Strait are raising concerns with the government over the lack of support for vessels travelling between Wellington and Picton .Cancellations continue for those who were booked to travel on the Kaitaki - which has been out of service since for almost a month while its gearbox is repaired. On the West Coast, regional council chairman Allan Birchfield was outsed this week by his colleagues. A disconnect between the council and the chair of the West Coast regional council has been cited as one of the reasons he was voted out. Meanwhile - the mayors of the three district West Coast councils recently met with Local Government minister Kieran McAnulty to air their concerns over the impact of water reforms in some of the most isolated parts of the country.

Natalie Gauld was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease a year ago, and she is determined to experience many of the country's Great Rides while she can. Dr Gauld has always fitted in lots of physical activity alongside a busy professional life and she says now biking adventures with her husband Matt is a great opportunity to raise money for the disease Motor Neurone Disease support and research. She was recognised in this year's New Years' honour for a lifetime of leadership in medicines reclassifications and has been at the forefront t of having many medicines reclassified so they can be dispensed in pharmacies - including oral contraceptives, and Viagra which is also known as Silvasta. Natalie Gauld is an honorary senior lecturer in pharmacy and paediatrics senior research fellow at the University of Auckland.

In India fears are rising that democracy is on the ropes amid the legal challenges and political downfall of longtime opposition leader Rahul Ghandi. Kim Jong Un finally appears to be moving toward a slow reopening of North Korea after more than three years of strict Covid controls, a move that could pave the way for a gradual international reengagement on nuclear talks. Xi Jinping's government is launching something a charm offensive, rolling out the red carpet to global business leaders and this week staging the return of Jack Ma to the mainland. But does this mean Xi's ruthless crackdowns on the Chinese business elite are really over?

Kathryn revisits a favourite West Coast conservation project with organiser Baz Hughes of Okarito Kayaks. Gorse-busting is in its third year at Okarito Lagoon. Sixty-five volunteers are nearing the end of a big week ripping the invasive weed out of the water. By all accounts, the weather has been fantastic and the mood is high, especially after the huge thank-you feast there last night.

This month marks 10 years since B Corporation made its New Zealand debut, with nearly 100 Kiwi companies having made the grade. The 'B' in the name stands for "beneficial" and certification relies on businesses being able to demonstrate a commitment to operating in a way that benefits their workers, communities and the planet. New Zealand PPE-maker Eagle Protect was the first Kiwi company to achieve B Corp status. It makes responsibly-sourced disposable gloves and protective clothing, and supplies about 80 percent of the primary food processing industry here. Part of its certification rests on efforts to create an ethical and transparent supply chain. The company recently released the results of a four-year study into glove contamination by US microbiologist Barry Michaels, which found half of disposable gloves carried faecal microbes in or on them when they came out of the box. Eagle Protect's co-founder and chief executive Steve Ardagh tells Kathryn more.

The country's mega-polytechnic Te Pukenga is facing budget blowouts and falling enrollments. Te Pukenga came into existence on January the first, bringing together more than 16 individual polytechnics and most industry training organisations. But the organisation has forecast a deficit of about sixty-million-dollars and needs to cut as much as forty-million from its budget. The Auditor General's most recent report - released this week - says "Te Pukenga still cannot describe with certainty what it does, what it will do, how it will do it, and what assets, infrastructure, finances, and capabilities it needs." Kathryn speaks with Te Pukenga Chief Executive, Peter Winder.

Film and TV reviewer Laumata Lauano joins Kathryn to talk about Dreamland (Neon, SkyGo from April 6), about a multi-generational family set in the sun-drenched British seaside town of Margate. She'll also look at the fifth season of Ahikaroa is the longest running scripted Maori drama show and a new movie starring Sam Neill: The Portable Door.