Nine To Noon

Dominating the news in the US is the Michigan formula plant shutdown causing a shortage of baby formula. This has resulted in the Biden administration taking steps to ease the situation. Product is being flown in from overseas. Also the US President has signed off $40 billion in additional aid to Ukraine. Kelsey Snell is a congressional correspondent for NPR, based in Washington DC

A quarter of the country's primary and intermediate schools are now signed up to receive The House of Science resource kits and the waiting list is growing. Former High School teacher, Chris Duggan founded the programme to supply hands on learning kits to subscriber schools aimed at raising science literacy. There's now a waiting list. She talks to Kathryn about the ongoing demand along with Ngongotaha Primary principal Craig McFadyen who says there's much excitement at his school every time the Big Blue Box of House of Science goodies arrives.

There's increasing urgency to shore up personnel to replace retiring Civil Defence controllers on the flood prone West Coast and authorities are hoping local people will come forward. The Grey and Buller District Mayors say their regions are vulnerable when another major weather event strikes, and completely exposed if the TranzAlpine Fault ruptures. A recent report has found there are insufficient named and qualified civil defence controllers. To alleviate the situation, a group of six emergency controllers from outside the West Coast are to be appointed as Civil Defence Emergency controllers as a backstop. To discuss the need for a long term concrete solution, Grey District Mayor Tania Gibson and Buller District Mayor Jamie Cleine.

Bill McKay discusses in more detail Auckland Council's response to Government urban design reforms and impacts on heritage and special character. Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland.

Raglan foragers Emily Eldin and Sean Mills' new business has mushroomed out of lock-down and is taking them on a wild journey. The real-estate agent and hospitality worker couple were foraging for wild edible mushrooms during the first lockdown in March 2020. Little did they know the fresh pink and grey oyster mushrooms they then decided to have a go at themselves would soon be selling out at Waikato farmers' markets. Demand is outstripping supply. But they are also selling grow-bags and moving on into the field of medicinal mushrooms. Their business is Mushrooms by the Sea

Neale, Ben and Kathryn with a wrap of the Budget and analysis on who is winning the narrative battle. They will also discuss the Government's Emissions Reduction Plan and cast their eyes over the Australia election result with Anthony Albanese ousting Scott Morrison. 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 Capital Government Relations. Ben Thomas is a PR consultant and a former National Government press secretary.

Cynthia Morahan reviews Don't Worry by Shunmyo Masuno, published by Penguin Random House NZ.

Retired electrical engineer Bruce Simpson has two YouTube channels with more than 440,000 subscribers. His videos featuring remote controlled aircraft and drones filmed at the Tokoroa airfield have a huge following. The 69 year old has two channels, xjet and RCModelReviews which have attracted 140 million views. This video below, alone has almost 1.8 million views.

Sebastian talks to Kathryn about the outcome of the Lebanon election - did it have any surprises and is it likely to bring change. In Iraq, Iran & Gulf huge dust storms have become almost daily occurrences this year testing the region's ability to cope. And the recent killing of an Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh has brought spotlight back on Palestinian Israeli conflict. Sebastian Usher is a BBC Middle East analyst, editor and reporter.

After two years with no cases - flu is back - and hitting hard in some places. As of the eight of May there were 58 reported influenza positives cases, although the real number is likely much higher, as only people seeking hospital or GP care are tested. Dunedin is particularly hit hard with 44 cases the week before last. Around 1.28 million doses of flu vaccines have been distributed around the country. Director of the National Influenza Centre virologist Dr Sue Huang is with me now.