Nine To Noon

Everyone knows they need to save for retirement, but Financial Planner, Liz Koh says saving is only part of the story. She says we need to think more broadly than that, because our goal should not be saving but building wealth. Liz talks to Kathryn about the difference. Liz Koh is a financial planner and specialising in retirement planning. This discussion is of a general nature, and does not constitute financial advice.

Gemma Rasmussen, head of communications and campaigns at Consumer NZ joins Kathryn to talk about new research that shows families are playing an increasing role in financing young people into the housing market. And winter is coming - what's the best way to heat your home, check you're with the right power provider and get more out of your streaming service?

Rebecca Stevenson talks to Kathryn about whether modern economic focus on growth and gross domestic product (how much we make minus how much we buy) as a measure of a nation's success isn't sustainable - and whether it might be destroying our environment, and also not fairly compensating people for living lives dominated by work.

Catriona Ferguson reviews French Braid by Anne Tyler, published by Penguin Random House NZ

Dr Rebecca Simon's research and writing charts the rise and fall of pirates, from ancient times to a "golden era" spanning the 16th and 17th centuries, which, together with Treasure Island spawned a romantic Captain Jack Sparrow-eque image. Rebecca' s new book Pirate Queens: The Lives of Anne Bonny and Mary Read is a history of female piracy in the Caribbean and the Atlantic. Anne Bonny and Mary Read were infamous pirates who swore and fought with pistols and cutlasses at a time when few women rose above servitude and wifely duties. They weren't alone. Further afield, in the South China Sea, female pirate leader Ching Shih presided over a fleet of some 80,000 men. By contrast, Captain Blackbeard had a crew of three hundred. Both he and other notorious pirates make cameo appearances here. Dr Simon teaches history at Santa Monica College, and joins Kathryn from LA.

Ukraine seems to be hanging on, against all odds, signaling a longer war which means more permanent changes in Russian relations with the West. Ron says the sanctions regime is hardening, much to the amazement of NATO/EU critics, and the strong US-led response of the West still has bipartisan support in Congress, general support in US opinion. Ron Elving is Senior Editor and Correspondent on the Washington Desk for NPR News.

The government has backed Fonterra's capital restructure, after initially raising concerns about the proposal and whether they were in the best interests of the industry. Changes will be made to the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act to allow Fonterra to change its shareholding rules and limit the size of the related investment fund. Fonterra wants to make it easier to join the co-operative, while maintaining farmer ownership amid falling milk supply. Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor says the Fonterra proposals will be supported, but the government will ensure greater official scrutiny in the setting of milk prices, outside management of trading in Fonterra's shares and units, and more transparency. So what does this all mean for Fonterra, for farmers, and for milk prices? Kathryn finds out from Arie Dekker, the head of research at Jarden.

The Chief Executive of one of the country's biggest commercial construction companies warns more building companies could collapse. Wellington-based construction company Armstrong Downes Commercial was put into liquidation yesterday, having suffered large losses, from fixed price contracts, on two of its biggest projects. The decision follows an unsuccessful attempt at restructuring the company's contracts.Armstrong Downes Commercial has eight projects under way in the capital. Grant Thornton liquidators reported spiralling costs, procurement challenges, and labour shortages among contributing factors. Liquidators have taken control of construction sites, which are temporarily closed, and builder are locked out. Kathryn speaks with Rick Herd,

Kennedy explores some of the rock bivouacs that climbers use for overnight shelter in the valley of the south branch of the Wye Creek, just south of Queenstown.

The feijoa season usually passes in a blaze of glory. Glorious months with an abundance of the fruit...and then the season ends. So how can you enjoy feijoas all year round? Heather Smith is the founder of Heather's Feijoas, which boasts a range of feijoa products, from freeze-dried wedges, to powders, purees and jellies. Kathryn speaks to Heather about the feijoa industry, the products she's created, and shares a recipe and some tips for making delicious desserts, breakfasts or snacks.