Nine To Noon

Seamus says the chaos in Afghanistan has taken many European capitals by surprise, with serious concerns about a possible flood of refugees to Europe.

Skyrocketing numbers of thefts of electric bikes in the last 12 months have prompted warnings that insurance companies may soon require separate insurance policies. Currently, e-bikes can be covered under a standard house and contents policy. But the country's only bike insurance assessor says insurance companies are sitting up and taking notice of the high number and value of insurance claims. Claims through AA Insurance have almost doubled in value over the last 12 months, from $116,000 to $225,000 worth of claims this year. Changes could mean owners would need to fork out for specialised e-bike insurance, which could include conditions such as requiring the bike to be adequately secured when not in use. Kathryn speaks with Adam Smith, the director of Velo Consulting, an insurance assessor specialising in bicycles and e-bike and Maurice Wells from Electric Bike Team.

Aucklanders are already being warned not to expect to come out of lockdown tomorrow, when the country reaches the seven day mark. Cabinet is meeting today to decide whether the Alert Level four lockdown is extended and the Prime Minister will reveal the decision at 4pm. Treasury has estimated that a week in lockdown could cost the economy between $900 million and $1.5 billion. But the Finance Minister Grant Robertson was quick to say Treasury's modelling was worst case scenario and that if the strict lockdown wasn't too long, he was confident the economy would `do well'. Our biggest city may well be in strict lockdown longer than other parts of the country, so how will its economy fare? Kathryn speaks with Chief Economist for Auckland Council, Shane Martin, and Infometrics economist Brad Olsen.

Sam surveys the impact of the lockdown across sporting codes, including provincial level, rugby and basketball and internationally, the Paralympic team, the All Blacks and Black Caps whose travel plans have come under extra scrutiny. Also Sam talks to Susie about the independent inquiry launched following the sudden death of cyclist Olivia Podmore.

RNZ understands there are as many as three positive cases of Covid-19 in Wellington. It's understood the cases are part of the same family in the eastern suburb of Miramar. They would be first cases outside of the Auckland Region in the current outbreak. Susie speaks with Nine to Noon executive producer Clare Sziranyi.

Leah McFall reviews Sinatra and Me: in the wee small hours by Tony Oppedisano, published by Simon and Schuster. Leah says "Inevitably respectful and at times, reverential, this memoir by a confidante lends insight into the older Sinatra - a still-powerful but at times unhappy man, who relied heavily on an entourage of fixers and helpers. Also a portrait of a bygone twentieth-century America, of tuxedoed men in jazz clubs with Brylcreemed hair and pinky rings, who circled Sinatra and tended the flame of his celebrity until the end."

The former Labour finance minister and deputy Prime Minister Sir Michael Cullen, has died aged 76 in Whakatāne. Sir Michael Cullen had a long and distinguished career in academia, politics and business governance. He is best known for introducing the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, also known as the Cullen Fund; Kiwi Saver and the Working for Families package. He was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer early last year. Susie speaks with the current finance Minister Grant Robertson

Sarah Hay is one of the world's best jousters, and the first woman in the world to win the Queen's Jubilee Horn, the most coveted in the world of international jousting. The Australian born teacher lives and works in Saudi Arabia, but mostly competes in the medieval sport in Europe. Covid has put a major dampener on jousting competitions around the world, but Sarah says as soon as she can, she'll be back on horseback, wearing 30 kilograms of armour and facing off against her opponent.

Ed reports on China being expected to expand its influence and strategic interests in neighbouring Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban's stunning return to power and he has the latest on Beijing's hostage diplomacy with Canada. Ed White is a correspondent with the Financial Times.

Local councils estimate that 40 to 50 per cent of total waste going to landfills is construction and demolition waste. Much of this could be diverted if it were sorted at the start. Susie speaks with Joe Youssef, founder and "chief encourager" of All Heart New Zealand, which partners with corporates to redirect and repurpose redundant and unwanted items. So far it has diverted 3 million kilograms of redundant materials from the corporate sector away from landfills. Susie also speaks with Tara Moala is with the Tamaki Regeneration Company about the programme she's running to repurpose and recycle 2500 old state houses.