Nine To Noon

Science commentator Dr Siouxsie Wiles joins Kathryn to talk about a handy online tool to help you see how likely it is someone infection will be at your gathering. The world's oldest DNA being found in Ice Age sediment in northern Greenland - it's a million years older than anything found before. Chinese researchers have created a wearable UV light monitoring patch which can send alerts to your phone when exposure is too high. And if you're looking for a feel-good gift for Christmas, here's a suggestion to help the kids at Starship.

Mountaineer Peter Hillary has teamed up with artist Ant Sang and the result is 4 Yaks and a Yeti - a book that see a young Nepalese boy undertake a perilous journey to find the mythical palace, Shangri-La. Along the way he and his four loyal yaks endure snowstorms and other dangers in the mountains - and are fearful of the legendary Yeti. The Himalayas are a special place for Peter, who's visited the region over 80 times and is chair of the Himalayan Trust, founded by his father, Sir Edmund. Ant is an award-winning cartoonist and graphic novelist whose artwork help immerse the reader in the physical and spiritual worlds of the Himalayan people.

Louise O'Brien reviews The Circus Train by Amita Parikh, published by Hachette.

Matt talks to Kathryn about concerns about how RSE workers are being treated and how local employers have reacted to the criticisms. And how is the Cook Strait crossing holding up, with the Interislander down a ship and work beginning on a new Picton terminal? Matt Brown is a reporter for Marlborough News based in Blenheim.

Kathryn speaks with Doug Hendry, who makes the crosswords that appear in nearly all our newspapers every day. Doug and partner Ange run Tauranga-based The Puzzle Company. They've been testing people's skills for more than 30 years, with a range of more than 50 puzzles - including crosswords, sudoku, wordfits, word searches and quizzes.

Australia correspondent Annika Smethurst joins Kathryn to talk about the Royal Commission of Inquiry underway into the country's Robodebt scheme - an automated debt recovery programme introduced in mid-2016 for welfare recipients which was prone to errors and misjudgements. Parliamentarians will be recalled next week to pass a law imposing a temporary cap on gas and coal prices and more details have emerged about those involved siege at a Queensland property.

2022 brought serious flooding to parts of the country and major clean-up jobs. In March, Tairawhiti Civil Defence declared a state of emergency when torrential rain caused flooding across the East Cape and Hawke's Bay. The deluge caused serious damage to Gisborne's roads, bridges, properties, and farmland. Less than two weeks later, ex-tropical cyclone Fili brought more heavy rain and high winds, battering a region that hadn't yet recovered. Further south, major flooding in August put the Nelson-Marlborough region into a state of emergency, prompting a clean-up described as likely the "biggest recovery ever faced" in the region. Heavy rain caused widespread slips, rivers to burst their banks, and major damage to critical infrastructure, including State Highway 6, which is still being repaired. Hundreds of homes had to be evacuated, with more than 150 eventually being red-stickered. Kathryn speaks to Gisborne's mayor Rehette Stoltz and checks in with Nelson resident Maggie Gray, who Nine to Noon spoke with during the floods.

Some New Zealand Post outlets have run out of both international and local stamps - right as the Christmas rush hits.One Auckland NZ Post Shop is displaying a sign warning customers "Please read before entering: Unfortunately we have run out of International and Local stamps, sorry for any inconvenience". A worker there has told Nine to Noon that this is may not be an isolated case and they have heard of other post shops running out of stamps.Last December, some Christchurch post outlets ran out stamps and New Zealand Post warned customers to expect delays.Stamps are only needed to send letters, cards and other mail. Parcels do not need stamps as labels are used instead.The deadline for domestic Christmas delivery is 19 December. The Postal Workers Union says the shortage of stamps is symptomatic of a broken system that is generally unable to deliver on the government's three-day delivery target. Kathryn speaks with National President of the Postal Workers Union Aotearoa National President John Maynard.

Joe talks to Kathryn about the Football World Cup action on and off field, the Black Ferns Sevens winning the Cape Town leg of the World Series - beating Australia, the White Ferns vs Bangladesh result and the upcoming T20 men's and women's World Cups. RNZ Sports reporter, Joe Porter.

Writer and artist Terry Moyle's new book, New Zealand at the Beach is a trip down memory lane, with people reflecting on their summers of fun times and Kiwi golden weather. It is full of illustrations by Terry, and his partner Rosie Louise, as well as nostalgic photographs, vintage advertisements and colourful beach towels.