Nine To Noon

Cabinet will decide this afternoon whether to extend the nationwide lockdown as the Delta outbreak continues to grow. Another positive case has been announced by the Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrell this morning. He's a young man in his 20s who tested positive after he went to Waitakere Hospital yesterday - he had been receiving treatment for an unrelated condition at North Shore Hospital earlier this week. North Shore Hospital is diverting patients elsewhere in response to the discovery. Meanwhile the list of locations of interest just keeps growing - now numbering 120. Public health experts and virus modellers are in agreement that an extension of the lockdown outside of Auckland and Coromandel is on the cards. Susie speaks with Wigram Capital Advisors economist Rodney Jones, who has been advising the government throughout the pandemic.

Film and TV reviewer James Croot joins Susie to talk about Modern Love, a star-studded anthology of romance, gritty new British crime drama Deceit, Apple's Sundance-winning movie CODA and new documentary Tina.

As any parent of a new baby knows, sleep can be elusive and the abundance of advice about it can be overwhelming. Sleep specialist Dr Bronwyn Sweeney shares some insight.

The tech industry in New Zealand is approaching breaking point, with closed borders seriously exasperating an already stretched massive specialist skills shortage. Is New Zealand’s future economic prosperity at risk? The Australians are consulting on a set of new rules that have another go at breaking encrypted communications, in an effort to gain access to private conversations. Where’s the balance between privacy and crime-fighting? And Covid-19 conspiracy groups are getting more organised with the help of technology, communicating and organising online while also flouting Covid scanning rules across the ditch.

Quentin Johnson reviews In love with Hell by William Palmer, published by Hachette.

Covid modeller Michael Plank from the University of Canterbury Mathematics department joins Susie to explain what the latest modelling looks like.

Would Hiroshima have been bombed if the Japanese language contained a phrase meaning 'no comment'? Did a mistaken translation of the Italian "canali" -- or channels -- shape the space race to Mars? Translator Anna Aslanyan delves into these questions in her new book Dancing on Ropes, a popular history of how translators have altered the course of world events. She shows the tightrope translators walk in their work, and what can happen when the balance tips and just how far a simple misunderstanding can go. Susie speaks to Anna Aslanyan - journalist, literary translator, public service interpreter and now author.

UK correspondent Matthew Parris joins Susie to look at the British evacuation from Afghanistan, as the Foreign Secretary comes under fire for his five-star Crete holiday during the crisis which he claims "no one saw coming". Gun licensing is under investigation following the revelation the unit that gave the Plymouth killer a shotgun certificate is manned by civilians and police officers aren't really involved in the vetting. And a forgotten painting by the Italian master Canaletto has been found hanging in the drawing room of an English home.

The Reserve Bank was widely expected to lift rates in its review of the Official Cash rate yesterday, but decided against it due to the latest Covid-19 lockdown. Susie speaks with ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner about the decision not to move, and how the latest Covid outbreak might impact the economy.

Susie speaks with Air New Zealand Chief Executive Greg Foran about the scramble to get thousands of New Zealanders home before the 48 hour window closes at midnight tonight. Also the latest on the Air New Zealand flight attendant who has tested positive for the virus.