Nine To Noon

Desire : A Reckoning is Jessie Cole's deeply personal second memoir. She examines her own experiences of longing, seeking answers on how and why women desire, and how external forces, and upbringing, affect our personal relationships. Her previous memoir Staying was about her surviving the suicide of loved ones, and finding a place to heal. She also writes about how climate change and natural disaster are woven throughout her life.

Australia correspondent Annika Smethurst joins Kathryn to talk about the bombshell revelation that former Prime Minister Scott Morrison had himself sworn in as Minister on a number of portfolios - without the knowledge of the Ministers themselves. There's now mounting pressure on him to resign as an MP. Victoria has become the first state to start treaty negotiations with indigenous Australians...and concern the country is in the grip of a "civic crisis" as people pull out of volunteering.

We are all wired differently. Dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD and autism spectrum conditions are all variations that can exist in our brains. Researchers are trying to gain a better understanding of the causes of neurodiversity through looking at genetic and environmental factors along with new scanning techniques which allow them to watch the brain at work. Professor Karen Waldie from Auckland University's School of Psychology and Centre for Brain Research is one of those leading the charge. She speaks to Kathryn about what we are learning about neurodiversity and what the education system can do to better support neurodiverse kids in the classroom.

Last week's cold snap had many around the country reaching to turn up the heat - putting pressure on the national grid and household power bills. Those higher bills are of great interest to the Consumer Advocacy Council - born out of a recommendation from the Electricity Price Review, which looked into how the market was working for residential consumers. Deborah Hart is chair of the Council - which has recently held its first board meeting. She joins Kathryn to talk about what the Council will be focused on.

The rain is pouring down on the West Coast and at the top of the South - with real fears about what's to come. A state of emegency is in place on the West Coast with 'red' severe weather warnings for Buller and Westland. Further north, emergency operations are gearing up at the top of the South Island, with orange level warnings in place in the Tasman, Marlborough and Nelson regions. In Golden Bay, rivers reached alarm levels early this morning - an emergency operation centre has opened as the region prepares for expected flooding and road closures. The heaviest rain so far has been at Franz Josef where a close watch is being kept on the Waiho River. Andy Thompson from West Coast Civil Defence tells Kathryn rivers are already swollen and fears of serious flooding are mounting.

Andrew talks to Kathryn about Today FM host Tova O'Brien travelling to Ukraine for an extensive interview with President Zelenskyy and how it was funded. His marriage might be over, but Rupert Murdoch's doing ok. His company News Corp's annual profits have jumped by a third to a US $1.67 billion. And there's been glacial progress for most of NZ media in negotiating with Google and Meta for additional revenue.

Landscape gardener Xanthe White says the compact nature of topiaries can be put to good use to create space in even a small garden for natives.

Pattrick talks to the Kathryn about the staff hiring issues for a range of businesses desperate to hire people and fearing a recession. The often asked question is Why can't I hire anyone?. So where have all the workers gone?. Also the latest on the deficit ridden mega-polytech, Te Pukenga, which has just published its new transition plan.

Chris Tse reviews Time is A Mother by Ocean Vuong, published by Penguin.

A new documentary gives an eye-opening look into the secrets of the Gloriavale Christian Community and the fight for justice by a group of former residents and supporters. Including never-before-seen home videos, Gloriavale features members of the Ready family as they mount a ground-breaking legal case against the sect's powerful leaders. Gloriavale has long been associated with allegations of sexual and physical abuse, human rights violations, corruption and fraud. The documentary lifts the lid on those allegations and reveals the true extent of the absolute control exercised by the 12 male 'Shepherds' at the top. Kathryn speaks to co-producer and co-director Noel Smyth along with Virginia Courage who left the community with her children over alleged sexual abuse.