Nine To Noon

Kennedy brings us news from Tongareva/Penrhyn Atoll, the northernmost of the Cook Islands, where solo Pacific rower Tom Robinson is staying until the summer cyclone season passes and he can recommence his voyage from Lima to Brisbane.

Michelle Burling-Claridge is taking her pastry-making skills to India. She's representing NZ in the Young Chef Olympiad, which starts in Delhi on Sunday. She hopes to impress the judges with her zesty lemon meringue tart and a crunchy vegetarian dish. 21 years old, Michelle in a hospo student studying at Weltec in Wellington, who works part time at one of the capital's top restaurants, Hippopotomus.

Neale, Liam and Kathryn discuss Jacinda Ardern's resignation, what new Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and deputy PM Carmel Sepuloni will bring to the Labour leaderships this year, with the election date set for 14 October. Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of public affairs firm Capital. Liam Hehir is a Palmerston North lawyer, political commentator and a National Party member

Stuff Senior Auckland Affairs Journalist Todd Niall talks to Kathryn about the main issues facing the Auckland Council and the City of Sails this year under Mayor Wayne Brown. This includes the ongoing decline of public transport with bus driver shortages, current and future disruptive rail track repairs, and ferry woes due to staff shortages and breakdowns of the aging fleet. Also, will the council be able to plug a forecast $295 million deficit in the 2023-24 budget.

Kiran Dass reviews three of her favourite books from last year: Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au, published by Giramondo; Assembly by Natasha Brown, published by Hamish Hamilton, and The Sound of Being Human: How Music Shapes Our Lives by Jude Rogers, published by White Rabbit Books

British writer Simon Barnes delves into the deep, ancient relationship between humans and plants in The History of the World in 100 Plants. “There's rich history in practically every plant that grows,” he tells Kathryn Ryan.

Seamus joins Kathryn to talk about the pressure on Germany over supplying Ukraine with its advanced Leopard battle tank. France and Germany's leaders have met in attempt to turn the page on months of tensions between the two countries and protests in Sweden over the country's bid to join NATO have raised tensions with Turkey.

While the big wet has plagued the North Island this summer, particularly on the east coast, it's been a different story at the other end of the country. High pressure systems have kept the South Island relatively dry, particularly parts of Otago and Southland which have seen limited rainfall. That's seen some councils impose water restrictions in some areas, like Mosgiel and the Queenstown lakes district as well as fire bans. Kathryn talks to the Metservice about what's on the cards for the south, and Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Glyn Lewers about the restrictions.

As flooding from recent Cyclone Hale brought down more slash, causing damage to farms, properties and infrastructure in Tairawhiti, the Environmental Defence Society has called for a formal Commission of Inquiry into forestry practices. Slash is a forestry waste product, and debris and logs can be swept downstream during heavy rain, causing further flooding. It has been an ongoing problem for the East Coast, and Tolaga Bay in particular. The Minister of Forestry Stuart Nash has rejected calls for an inquiry, but suggested forestry companies sit down with key stakeholders to understand how the sector could operate better. The society says it is unjust that private landowners and councils are continuing to bear the costs of damage caused by slash. Kathryn speaks with Gary Taylor, the chief executive of the Environmental Defence Society and Grant Dodson, the president of the New Zealand Forest Owners Association.

In a remarkably swift and smooth transition after Jacinda Ardern's surprise announcement last week, incoming Prime Minister Chris Hipkins wasted no time in indicating he would "rein in" some projects and programmes that are not essential, and that his focus would the "bread and butter issues that people care about". So, what programmes will Cabinet will be looking to rein in, and how does the new political landscape look with the next election set for October? RNZ Political Editor Jane Patterson speaks with Kathryn Ryan.