Nine To Noon

In 2015 an estimated 1.3 million refugees poured into Europe, many of them from war-torn Syria. It inspired Crystal Pite to tell their story in her own way - by creating a contemporary ballet for them called Flight Pattern. The Canadian choreographer has since expanded it, making it into a full length work called Light of Passage which had its premiere late last year with The Royal Ballet. Crystal's repetoire is expansive - she's created more than 50 works for some of the biggest dance companies in the world. She formed her own company - Kidd Pivot - in 2002 and is bringing one of its most popular shows - Revisor - to the Auckland Arts Festival next month. And Kidd Pivot is one of the first dance companies in the world to make itself carbon neutral while on tour.

UK correspondent Lara Spirit joins Kathryn to look at the massive strikes which have hit the UK overnight, with schools, trains, universities and border checks affected. It's the biggest single-day of strikes for a decade and up to half a million workers are involved. She'll also look at the pressure Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced in the House today over what he knew about bullying claims against his deputy Dominic Raab, and a deal is believed to have been struck over the Northern Ireland protocol with Brussels reported to have made a key concession. Lara Spirit is a reporter for The Times Red Box, where she covers politics from Westminster.

With so many uninhabitable homes across Tamaki Makaurau - the housing crisis in our biggest city has intensified. So far 175 of the city's flood damaged houses have been red stickered and 760 yellow stickered - and hundreds more are awaiting assessment. Volunteers at an emergency centre in Mangere say around 400 displaced people are turning up each day, needing emergency housing food and clothing. Auckland Property Investors Association is warning rents are likely to rise as remedial work to flood-damaged properties affects supply. The Real Estate Institute says over a third of all residential properties in Auckland are rented, and it is appealing to people who may have short term rental and long term rental properties available to get in touch. Kathryn speaks with Real Estate Institute Chief Executive Jen Baird, Éimhín O'Shea, National Organiser for Renters United, and Tupuola Roine Lealaiauloto from Pacific transitional and social housing supplier, the Penina Trust.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins talks joins Kathryn Ryan to talk about his first week on the job. Catastrophic flooding in Auckland has made for a challenging start. Also challenging the government is inflation and the cost of living, and Mr Hipkins has promised his cabinet will focus on "bread and butter" issues affecting struggling households as well as "reprioritising" spending. Yesterday he confirmed the 25-cent petrol tax cut and half price public transport will be extended until the end of June. He's also reshuffled his cabinet - appointing a Minister for Auckland and promoting some less experienced Ministers into high profile portfolios. The election is just eight and a half months away.....what can Prime Minister Hipkins deliver between now and then?

As interest rates continue an upwards march and home values drop, many people may be finding it difficult to service their mortgage. David Boyle joins Kathryn to talk about what homeowners can do to help protect themselves. Is there any light at the end of the tunnel?

It's kitten season, so if you're thinking about getting a cat - now is a good time as animal shelters are full of them. But what cat is going to suit your household? How much do cats cost to run? How often do they need to see a vet? Dr Kat Littlewood is a Lecturer in Animal Welfare at the School of Veterinary Science at Massey University - and a cat lover. She'll answer your cat-related questions.

We check in on the western Bay of Plenty after the heavy rain that's been soaking the upper North Island - which roads have been badly effected, what's happening with the freight train that derailed? Tauranga City Dog Pound is no longer allowing owners to visit dogs if they are awaiting prosecution and Tauranga Council commissioned a survey into how residents feel about their council - what were the results?

Quentin Johnson reviews two of his favourite classics: The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas and Ring of Bright Water by Gavin Maxwell, both published by Penguin

Dr Douglas Seals is a professor of integrative physiology who's studied the biological and lifestyle factors that can cause cardiovascular aging and the interventions that can improve it. He's based at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and is director of the Integrative Physiology of Aging Laboratory. He was in New Zealand at the end of last year due to his involvement in studies into MitoQ - a molecule created by researchers at Otago University that's a powerful antioxidant. In one study lead by his lab, the drug reversed the aging of blood vessels in older adults by the equivalent of 15 - 20 years in the space of six weeks. He talks to Kathryn about that and the best ways to stave off heart disease.

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton joins Kathryn to talk about the hunt for a missing radioactive capsule from a Rio Tinto mine in the Pilbara that's about the size of a pea. Racial tensions are running high in Alice Springs over the rocketing rates of violent crime, with locals warning the place is about to explode. A gay rights protest is planned for Thursday outside the Cathedral where the late Cardinal George Pell is due to be buried and Australia has a new domestic low-cost airline...called Bonza.