Nine To Noon

Dave Ferguson is the kiwi entrepreneur behind Nuro - the California based driverless delivery start-up. Nuro has developed small, electric, driverless vehicles which can deliver food, groceries and medicines which the customer accesses using a pin code on a touchscreen. Nuro has piloted autonomous local deliveries in markets in Texas, Arizona and California where it has regulatory approval to "drive" on public roads. As well as Domino's pizza, the company is now working with delivery giant FedEx, Uber Eats, and a chain of pharmacies and supermarkets. Dave Ferguson grew up in Wellington and got his undergraduate degree from Otago University.

The headache of how to retrofit social housing to make it warmer and more energy efficient is a global one. But a company in the UK may have a remedy - it's pushing past an initial, successful pilot project to wrap more houses in what it calls 'energy pods'. Energiesprong, which is Dutch for "energy leap", originated in the Netherlands and is now being promoted across Europe. The retrofits are done offsite and then assembled within 15 days - which means minimal disruption for the tenants. It's financed by the savings made on energy bills and maintenance over 30 - 40 years. To explain more Kathryn is joined by Emily Braham, who's a director with Energiesprong UK and spoke earlier this week about the company's model to the Green Building Council's Housing Summit.

Film and TV correspondent Tamar Munch joins Kathryn to talk about the latest season of Alice Snedden's Bad News (streaming on The Spinoff), Australian psych hospital drama Wakefield streaming on Neon and WHANAU 2021, the fourth instalment of a longitudinal documentary series funded by NZ On Air and streaming on MAORI+.

New research reveals ways teachers are challenging students to be the best they can be. For what the Teaching, School and Principal Leadership Practices Survey reveals about strengths and needs in our schools, and also where teacher morale is at, Kathryn is joined by New Zealand Council for Educational Research Senior Researcher Mohamed Alansari.

It's been a big week in technology, with commentator Bill Bennett joining Kathryn to talk about the data breach at Australian telco Optus, Covenant Eyes - a new app that can look at everything on your phone - including pornography and has been popular in US churches, the rise of productivity theatre among those working at home and Vodafone's new rebrand.

Paul Diamond reviews He Reo Tuku Iho: Tangata Whenua and Te Reo Maori by Awanui Te Huia, published by Te Herenga Waka University Press.

UK correspondent Hugo Gye joins Kathryn to look at the market meltdown that followed new Prime Minister Liz Truss and her finance minister's comments about cutting taxes to stimulate the economy. Tory MPs are furious and calling for a U-turn - or yet another change of leader. Labour's held its annual conference, saying it's ready to lead and just after the nation united in grief to farewell the Queen the Royal Family is in hot water, with the Palace imposing strict controls on what footage from the state funeral can be reused by broadcasters.

The Restaurant Industry Association says a trend for establishments to charge cancellation fees for no shows is likely to become normal practice across the sector. After covid lockdown restrictions lifted some diners noticed a change when making an online booking - where restaurants require credit card details to charge fees in the event of a cancellation. Restaurants argue cancellation fees are necessary as rising costs are squeezing margins and cancellations can add to that. But some in the sector think investing in the admin needed to enforce these fees will turn some business owners off. Kathryn talks to Marisa Bidois CEO Restaurant Industry Assn and Tash McGill, President of NZ Food Writers.

It's less than two weeks since Air New Zealand started flying direct between Auckland and New York, but it's had to offload bags, passengers and make plans for a possible pitstop in Fiji.

Performing arts reviewer Michael Hooper joins Kathryn to talk about New Zealand Opera's current tour of MacBeth. It's a new production by Netia Jones, conducted by Brad Cohen and features Phillip Rhodes and Amanda Echalaz in their international role debuts as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.