Nine To Noon

Some economists are picking inflation is at its crest, and with an easing in price rises expected this year, albeit amid the prospect of further interest rate rises and an economic recession. The latest quarterly Consumer Price Index - or CPI figures are out this morning. Inflation numbers for the final three months of last year are widely expected to render the annual inflation rate fractionally lower at 7.1 percent (from 7.2 percent) - short of the Reserve Bank's November forecast of a 7.5 percent annual rate. But a reduction in prices at the pump before Christmas have been countered by high grocery bills and an on-going rise in household costs. For a preview of the CPI announcement Kathryn is joined by Kiwi Bank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr who is predicting inflation is close to its peak, also FINCAP manager of Bay Financial Mentors in Tauranga, Shirley McCombe.

Steve talks to Kathryn about the Football Ferns recent tests against the United States, All Whites striker Chris Wood's move from Newcastle to Nottingham Forest, New Zealand's last World Rugby sevens stop in New Zealand and what is going on with the Black Caps. Steve Holloway is Premium sports editor at NZME.and co-presenter of the Between Two Beers podcast

Landscape designer and gardener Xanthe White talks to Kathryn about how to deal with excess water in the garden given our rainy summer

Three NZ businesses to watch in 2023 that Rebecca says are thriving and striving in three very competitive markets; baby food, bread, and appliances, while against a backdrop of economic uncertainty. Rebecca Stevenson is a senior writer at interest.co.nz

How Te Puwaha - the Whanganui Port Revitalisation project was almost canned. New Whanganui Mayor Andrew Tripe is warning of an imminent large rates rise, and the new P8A Poseidon lands at Ohakea.

David Hill reviews three of his favourite books from last year: Atua by Gavin Bishop, published by Penguin; Winter Time by Laurence Fearnley, published by Penguin and Roderick Finlayson: A Man from Another World by Roger Hickin published by Cold Hub Press

Of all the Wikipedia pages out there - just 19 percent are about women. It was something that Dr Jess Wade stumbled onto, after she went searching for more information about Kim Cobb, an American climatologist she'd just met, and found she had no profile on the platform. It inspired her to pen her first Wikipedia entry - she's now written close to 1800 profiles of female scientists. Jess is a physicist herself, based at Imperial College London. Her work building the knowledge about women's achievements in science has earned her a British Empire Medal.

Ron says the resignation of Jacinda Ardern has been a talking point in the US and a shock to her many admirers. Also there's much discussion about the US President's people's "own goal"on their mishandling of his leftover documents, some decades old. The US also now technically over a self-imposed debt limit, which is a relic from the debates over debt and foreign policy from 1917. Ron says it's usually a formality but nothing works as per usual any more, it seems, so this could have major ramifications by summer. And Joe Biden's White House is undergoing a shakeup with the departure of Chief of Staff Ron Klain.

The Auckland Council says it's a constant trial to keep on top of illegal dumping across the city. Over the summer the problem usually intensifies, but this season, the volume of abandoned rubbish is down - compared to the same period last year. Parul Sood is the General Manager of the Auckland Council Waste Solutions and says staff are always vigilant particularly over the summer months when people are more inclined to have a clean out, but the rainy weather may have prevented people from hauling their junk to the kerb.

The AA is calling for increased spending on road maintenance as roads carry more traffic and complaints about damage caused by potholes reach an all time high. Waka Kotahi received 555 complaints in the first ten months of last year (up by more than 100 compared to 2021). Five of the most recent Automobile Association annual surveys rated the quality of road surfaces and potholes as a leading concern. Members are telling the AA the roads are "in the worst state they've ever been". The amount of kilometres driven in New Zealand has increased by almost a fifth (18%) since 2010. The AA says there's been a surge in pothole related memes and social media groups relating to road damage and claims for compensation are also on the rise. The AA advised the government ahead of the last election $900 million extra in road maintenance was needed over the next three years, to catch up on a backlog of maintenance work. $500m has been allocated. Kathryn Ryan speaks with AA spokesperson Dylan Thomsen and Road Transport Forum New Zealand Chief Executive Nick Leggett.