Nine To Noon

Marlborough-based Paul Millen has been named Forester of the Year, by the New Zealand Institute of Forestry, for his work over 18 years researching eucalypts. Initially to he was keen to develop durable untreated posts for his region's vineyards, as a replacement for pine. Today Paul is project manager of the New Zealand Dryland Forests Initiative , which has more than 30 stands from Northland to north Canterbury, providing quality hard timber to regional industries, including furniture makers. Paul has been granted $9m in research funding, and over a few decades has worked with the University of Canterbury's School of Forestry and the Ngai Tahu owned seed producer Proseed on a state-of-the art propagation nursery. Paul lives on a forestry block in the Marlborough Sounds, which he planted with his brother Ash.

Bronwyn Wylie-Gibb of University Book Shop, Dunedin reviews The Dark by Emma Haughton, published by Hachette Bronwyn says: "The Murder. The Suspects. The Isolation… Not so much a locked room as a locked continent mystery, this is a compelling, atmospheric, well-written chiller set in an Antarctic research station during the long dark winter. The darkness is not just outside…"

Catherine Raven lives in a remote mountain valley in Montana. She has lived more or less alone since leaving a troubled home aged 15. She was a National Park ranger for 20 years, and gained a PhD in biology from Montana State University. One day, a wild fox turned up at the door of her remote cabin. He came again the next afternoon - and the next. Catherine began reading to him, and the pair began taking walks together. They became friends, and it was a vital connection in her life. Catherine Raven has written a memoir about the unexpected bond. It's called Fox & I: An Uncommon Friendship. She talks with Lynn Freeman from home in Montana.

Australia correspondent Bernard Keane joins Lynn to talk about the increase in cases in New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT, as Victoria is critical of a federal government decision to allocate more vaccines to New South Wales. And Prime Minister Scott Morrison is facing criticism of a weekend trip to Sydney, which incorporated Father's Day, against Covid travel restrictions.

Does installing solar power at home eventually pay for itself? According to Consumer New Zealand, it all depends whether you are "solar-suitable". Factors include: how much sun your house gets, the pitch of your roof, how much and what time of day you use power, and how much you sell back to the grid. Also, factors such as how much power prices and buy-back rates fluctuate, and the lifetime cost of your system, including repairs. Electricity and gas price comparison service Powerswitch manager Paul Fuge has has done the research for Consumer NZ. He tells Lynn Freeman he also had solar installed on his own house the week before lockdown.

From Friday, 3000 essential workers who cross Auckland's borders will be subject to weekly covid saliva testing. The government says it is close to striking a deal with a provider to roll this out. Truckies and others in the freight industry say they still don't have clarity around what the rules are and how they'll comply with them. Saliva testing of border and MIQ workers has been in place for several weeks now. The contract for that work was awarded to Asia Pacific Healthcare Group, which tests around 830 workers. Dr James Ussher is a Clinical Microbiologist with one of APHG's labs - Southern Community Laboratories, and also Associate Professor at Otago University.

Some students outside Auckland say they need more help to recover from the impact of Covid on their learning. NCEA exams have been delayed two weeks, and students who have missed 20 days of school or more are eligible for Learning Recognition Credits, and a lower threshold for University Entrance. Ethan Reille is a Year 12 student at Waitaki Boys High in Oamaru and the chairperson of the Waitaki District Youth Council. He's written to NZQA asking for other options to be considered for students outside of Auckland, including so-called "Covid credits".

Andrew talks to Kathryn how the media industry is faring. He has the latest from the annual reporting season with TVNZ paying a dividend, NZME's profit up for first six months of the year and SkyTV has good results and investor interest. Also the imminent departure of TVNZ CEO Kevin Kenrick.

Te reo Maori advocate and teacher, Professor Scotty Morrison shares some modern Maori phrases. It's been 10 years since his first Raupo Phrasebook of Modern Maori hit the shelves.

Pattrick has been digging deep into Mark Dunphy's bid to keep The America's Cup in New Zealand. He also looks at what the future of air travel may be like and what it will cost.