Nine To Noon

In his book The Clarence: People and Places of Waiau Toa, rural journalist Tim Fulton explores more than 200 kilometres of mountains, rivers and valleys bordering Canterbury and Marlborough. Tim tells Kathryn his book is not exclusively a farming or a Pakeha settlement story, it also pays tribute to Maori settlement and ongoing connection to the area, as well as the people who have worked the rugged land for generations.

Chris Tse reviews People Person by Joanna Cho, published by Te Herenga Waka University Press

Pulitzer Prize winning American author Annie Proulx talks to Kathryn about her latest book, Fen, Bog and Swamp. The 87 year old writes about the history of wetland destruction and the role it plays in the climate crisis and says swamps can protect against climate change if we only let them. The non fiction work presents the case for ignoring wetland destruction at our peril. The Shipping News and Brokeback Mountain are among Annie Proulx's most well known works of fiction, both which were made into movies.

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton joins Kathryn to talk about the decision by the Albanese Government to reverse the Morrison Government's 2018 recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. It's prompted Israel to call in the Australian ambassador in protest. A review of how Medicare's billing arrangement works is underway after ABC's 7.30 current affairs programme aired allegations of systemic fraud. The trial of Bruce Lehrmann, accused of raping former ministerial staffer Brittany Higgins, is nearly complete and Australian netball team the Diamonds are refusing to wear the logo of their new corporate sponsor - Hancock Prospecting.

Wood is making a comeback as the construction industry looks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from high carbon materials like concrete and steel. The government's Building for Climate Change programme has set a target of near-zero building related emissions by 2050. In Switzerland construction is underway on the world's tallest residential building with a load-bearing structure in wood. The 100-metre tall wooden apartment tower Rocket&Tigerli is being built by Scandinavian architect firm Schmidt Hammer Lassen. Its head of global innovation Enlai Hooi says the use of timber in high rise construction reduces carbon emissions, provides quality housing and reconnects people with nature. He's in New Zealand to speak to at an event organised by MidRise Wood Construction and joins Kathryn to talk about how climate change is fuelling a wooden construction renaissance.

Two sisters behind a new foundation say reducing inequalities for women and girls is top of their agenda. Theresa and Angela Gattung last night launched the Gattung Foundation, a charitable organisation that will focus on five areas the sisters really care about: lifting female, Maori and Pasifika voices; growing stronger families; advancing education; reversing poverty cycles; and improving animal welfare. Theresa Gattung is a former CEO of Telecom and is a well-known business leader and philanthropist. She'll be a Trustee of the Gattung Foundation, while Angela, with an extensive background in education and the charitable sector will be its executive director. The pair join Kathryn to talk about why they've made this move, and the Foundation's objectives.

Credit card rewards have begun plummeting, and the reason may not be what you'd expect. Consumer NZ's head of communications and campaigns Gemma Rasmussen joins Kathryn to explain.

When there is a large age gap between two people in a relationship, Liz Koh outlines a number of issues that arise when considering long term financial planning and how they can be resolved.

Rebecca Stevenson talks to Kathryn about Elon Musk and Twitter, including the federal investigation over his conduct in his takeover deal for the firm.

Consumer prices rose 2.2 per cent in the three months ended September - well above expectation. RNZ Business Editor Gyles Beckford joins Kathryn to discuss the latest figures.