Nine To Noon

Tilly Lloyd from Unity Books reviews The Sea Is Not Made of Water: Life Between the Tides by Adam Nicolson, published by HarperCollins. Few places are as familiar as the shore - and few as full of mystery and surprise. How do sandhoppers inherit an inbuilt compass from their parents? How do crabs understand the tides? How can the death of one winkle guarantee the lives of its companions? What does a prawn know? In The Sea is Not Made of Water, Adam Nicolson explores the natural wonders of the intertidal and our long human relationship with it. The physics and biology of the seas, the long history of the earth, and the stories we tell of those who have lived here: all interconnect in this zone where the philosopher, scientist and poet can meet and find meaning.

Canadian geriatrician Kenneth Rockwood was once part of a pushback against the term 'frailty' but has come to see it's a crucial measure of an older adult's health. He was recently awarded the Ryman Prize for his work, including a clinical frailty index that is improving the treatment of elderly people in healthcare systems around the world.

Susana has an update on Covid in the Pacific. Kiribati records its second death amid more than 2000 active cases since the virus arrived a month ago, rising case numbers in New Caledonia and French Polynesia and Tonga's community outbreak now has 65 cases and a case has been recorded now on the island of Vava'u. And sad news from Sydney, with the death of Rugby League great Olsen Filipaina. Susana Lei'ataua is RNZ Pacific's news editor

Five years ago, Wellingtonian Jessie Wong was studying fashion and frustrated that she couldn't find a bag that would fit all her essentials.So she founded Yu Mei leather goods, producing handbags, totes and other products from South Island deer nappa. Yu Mei now has a team of 16, 37 stockists across Australasia, and three stores. Last night, Jessie Wong won the Women of Influence Award Business Enteprise Category.

New regulations on vape products come into force from today but a public health expert says the change won't do anything to stop the rise in young people vaping. All retailers, manufacturers and importers must now only sell notified vaping products that have been registered with the Ministry of Health's Health Advisory and Regulatory Platform. More than five thousand products have been registered.The Health Ministry says the law strikes a balance between ensuring vaping products are available for smokers who want to switch to a less harmful alternative and ensuring these products aren't marketed or sold to young people. But Otago University Professor of Public Health, Janet Hoek says vape products are being aggressively marketed to young people and the new rules won't change that.

Film and TV reviewer Tamar Munch joins Kathryn to talk about some Valentines' - and possibly anti-Valentines' Day viewing options, including The Tinder Swindler (Netflix) which is about three women who swiped right on an international fraudster - and decided to get payback. She'll also talk about I Want You Back (Amazon Prime) and newly-announced Oscar contender The Worst Person in the World (in cinemas from Feb 17).

School's back and while that's probably a welcome relief for parents after a long summer, it might not be plain sailing for every kid. There's the change in routine, new faces and maybe even a whole new school. There's also the Covid curveball - and new measures schools have put in place to minimise the risk to students, including mandatory mask wearing. So how can parents help their kids navigate the transition from holiday to term-time and get them settled in? Kathryn talks to Dave Atkinson, CEO of the Parenting Place.

Technology correspondent Peter Griffin joins Kathryn to look at how Pacific nations like Palau and Tonga are considering whether to follow El Salvador's lead and embrace Bitcoin as legal tender to lower the costs of remittances and attract investment. And why is Meta's share price down 35 % for the year and what's it doing to turn it around?

A state of emergency has been declared in Buller after heavy rain has cut off Westport. Some of the worst affected Northern areas of town have already evacuated and more residents are braced for evacuation. The rising Buller River has reached worrying levels after 160 millimetres of rain overnight. Kathryn speaks with Te Aroha Cook, the West Coast Civil Defence group controller and Jamie Cleine, Buller District Mayor.

Gail Pittaway reviews The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan, published by Penguin Random House.