Nine To Noon

Businesses across all sectors are seriously struggling to find staff and fill job vacancies, and latest unemployment statistics out yesterday paint the stark reality. The jobless rate dropped to 3.4% from 4% in the second quarter, the lowest rate since the start of the Global Economic Crisis in 2008. All sectors are experiencing the worker crunch - including construction, agribusinesses, healthcare, retail, hospitality and technology. And with borders closed and migrant worker inflows slowed to a trickle, employers are competing to attract staff. Kathryn discusses the situation with independent economist Tony Alexander and Director of South Island firm Platinum Recruitment, Dean Delaney.

This week, Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles tells us about a new study that shows the risk of neurological complications is higher after catching COVID-19 than getting vaccinated and answers listener's questions.

The tussock grassland is a landscape unique to Aotearoa, once covering over 30 percent of the mainland about the time of European settlement. It's been used in innumerous paintings by Dunedin-based artist Bruce Hunt.

Bronwyn Wylie-Gibb of University Book Shop, Dunedin reviews After Dark: Walking Into the Nights of Aotearoa by Annette Lees, published by Bateman Books.

Architectural historian Owen Hopkins book The Museum takes the reader on a tour of the world's most celebrated cultural institutions and museums, from origins to the 21st century.

Australia correspondent Annika Smethurst joins Kathryn to detail the extraordinary exchanges at COP26 between the French president Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

The country's largest data specialist business, Qrious has the results from its inaugural State of AI report. Qrious' acting CEO, Stephen Ponsford, says it's the most complete picture of artificial intelligence maturity in business.

Family doctors say they're coming under pressure from some patients to issue vaccine exemption certificates. President of the College of GPs, Samantha Murton, speaks with Kathryn Ryan.

As a deadline looms for teachers to be vaccinated to be allowed in school, some principals are being presented with questionable exemption certificates, causing much confusion.

The climate change conference in Glasgow throws up highly complex issues which demand detailed knowledge by reporters there. Andrew believes Stuff is the strongest local outlet, with a dedicated climate change website (Forever Project).