Nine To Noon

In the first ever mission of Earth's "planetary defence", Nasa has launched a mission for a spacecraft to intentionally collide with an asteroid, and knock it off its path. It's part of a plan to save the Earth from the potential risk of what are being described as "city-killer asteroids", and it could become the only natural disaster that can be predicted and prevented.

Prison reform advocates and some lawyers are concerned about plans to repurpose two youth units into covid quarantine units, despite a promise from the Corrections Department that no young people will be transferred into the adult prison. The Department is considering using youth units in Christchurch and Hawkes Bay to care for prisoners with COVID-19.

Today Kennedy talks about two of the landscapes featured in a new book, Shifting Grounds, which explores the deep histories of Tamaki Makaurau. As is fitting for a city of volcanoes, both landscapes have rocks at their heart: the stonefields of Otuataua, and an ancestral rock that stands in Cornwall Park.

The Cray Pot serves up fresh fish and chips and crayfish from an historic pie cart which has rested here, looking out over the Espalanade to the Southern Alps, having traveled across the South Island from Timaru, through Cromwell, over the Haast Pass and finally to Jackson Bay, from where Cray Pot co-owner Dayna Buchanan speaks with Lynn Freeman.

Political commentators Ben Thomas and Shane Te Pou join Lynn for a look at how the transition into the traffic light has gone, the government's belated investment in new ICU facilities, how National's new leader has started out and the likely shape of his caucus reshuffle and whether the bipartisan housing accord is going to last. Ben Thomas is a PR consultant and a former National Government press secretary. Shane Te Pou is a former candidate, campaign manager and executive member of the Labour Party, and a former union official. He is no longer a member of any political party. He is a Director and HR Manager for IT Company Mega.

Mary Fawcett of Schroedinger's Books in Petone reviews Egg Marks the Spot by Amy Timberlake. Second in the Skunk & Badger series for 7-11 year olds, published by Allen and Unwin.

Israel born chef and food writer,Yotam Ottolenghi presides over something of a food empire, with hugely successful restaurants, delis and cafes in London. His latest cookery book, Shelf Love is a collaboration with Ottolenghi Test Kitchen chef Noor Murad, who comes from Bahrain. It is full of everyday tricks to make home cooking easier, and to be creative with what you already have in your pantry. Here's some delicious recipes, including Cauliflower Cheese Pie and Sweet Potato Shakshuka.

Katy joins Lynn to talk about Venezuela's regional elections, which had opposition participation for the first time in several years but was still a clean sweep for the government. The country is still in the grips of an economic crisis, which Katy witnessed first-hand in a city once described as Venezuela's Texas but is now a crumbling shell of its former self. Meanwhile Chileans also went to the polls a few weeks back to choose their president in the second round of elections - she'll talk about the two candidates in the running. Katy Watson is a BBC correspondent usually based in Sao Paulo.

Auckland councillors will vote this week on the Mayor's proposed climate change levy for the city. The $1 billion climate change package comes as a report has suggest the Council isn't on track to halve carbon emissions by 2030. Mayor Phil Goff's budget proposal aims to entice people out of their cars and into more climate friendly modes of transport. It would put more buses on the road, electrify ferries, and provide better walking and cycling routes. But that comes at a cost; an extra $57 a year for the average rate paying household. The Act Party has raised concerns that it is another cost to add to Auckland's already high, and rising, cost of living. Phil Goff describes climate change as an ongoing crisis, and without action, "a disaster". .. and says he's thinking about the world his grandchildren will grow up in. He speaks to Lynn about the levy.

Maori, Pacific and disabled children experience material hardship and vastly higher rates than the general population according to this year's Child Poverty Monitor. The Monitor is put out each year by the Children's Commissioner, Otago University and the JR McKenzie Trust. It finds that just over 11 percent of all children are experiencing material hardship on current data, but for Pacific children this is one in four, and both mokopuna Maori and disabled children, this is one in five. This compares with just under 9 percent for Pakeha children. Lynn speaks with the assistant Maori commissioner Glenis Philip Barbara.