Nine To Noon

Otago lines company Aurora Energy is letting households with batteries make savings when the grid is tight.

Community midwives are calling for an overhaul of the way they are contracted to work.

Sam Ackerman on a busy weekend of sport ahead - netball, Super Rugby, A-league final, and the Warriors.

The Australians look to turn wine into bio-fuel, toilet paper clogging Dunedin's motorway, and the new trend in healthy eating - it's biblical.

A controversial waste-to-energy plant at Te Awamutu, the successful Raglan international surf competition, disputes at South Waikato District council and the Waikato Winery that has won gold.

Jack McConnell of Unity Books Auckland reviews Nonesuch by Francis Spufford.

An app that helps teachers and coaches make sports more inclusive has been awarded a grant to help it expand, develop new features, all while remaining free for users. The app, Ahei, ­has seen massive growth since it launched less than a year ago, and so-far has 5000 users across the whole country including Stewart Island and the Chathams. Teachers and coaches had wanted to make sports and activities more accessible and inclusive, but weren't sure how and this meant many children were unintentionally excluded from meaningful participation in movement. The app provides practical support, advice, and lesson planning and is the brainchild of world champion Paralympian cycling pair Laura Thompson and Emma Foy. It is one of six recipients of Ministry of Disabled People's new 'Access Activator' grants programme, which is designed to launch or boost companies that are focused on innovative ways to improve accessibility.

Aussie Canadian Darren Groth's memoir Marooned is a family and sporting love story, celebrating the State of Origin rugby league competition.

Australian and New Zealand police announce Colombian base to combat Pacific drug surge, PNG's submarine volcano, and Fijian Prime Minister Rabuka puts brakes on long-awaited municipal elections.

New Zealand's Tussock Country music festival will run over 10 days. It will start with the country music honours tonight - awards for the artists with professional contracts. And it will close out on May 31 with the golden guitar awards for the amateurs.