Nine To Noon

Turtles are the fascination of author Louise Pryke, lecturer and honorary research associate at the University of Sydney's Department of Classics and Ancient History. Among the most endangered groups of animals in the world, Louise's latest book Turtles discovers their natural and cultural history. Louise tells Kathryn she hopes by raising awareness of these remarkable animals they will move (albeit very slowly) towards a more secure future.

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton joins Kathryn to talk about Australia's role in yesterday's global drug bust and how Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants Opposition help to pass three controversial security laws that would expand the government's powers of surveillance. Could New Zealand come to the aid of a refugee family that's spent three years living on Christmas Island, despite four years in Queensland before that? Fed up Melburnians are hoping lockdown will end on Thursday, despite a handful of daily Covid cases. The Australian government is under pressure to do more for interpreters and local staff that helped it in Afghanistan after the Kabul embassy was abruptly closed last week and the Federal Court has begun hearing a defamation case brought against a decorated former special forces soldier Ben Roberts-Smith.

landmark study in the United States has found the drug MDMA or ecstasy - when linked with talk-therapy - can help people suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 90 people took part in the clinical trial including combat veterans, victims of mass shootings, and first responders - all with severe PTSD lasting more than 14 years. Two months after treatment, 67 per cent of the MDMA group no longer qualified for a diagnosis of PTSD, compared with 32 percent of the placebo group. Kathryn talks with the lead author of the study, Dr Jennifer Mitchell, a neuroscientist at the University of California, San Francisco.

45,000 New Zealanders live in retirement villages but they have less protection than tenants in the private rental market, according to a report by the Retirement Commissioner, Jane Wrightson. She's calling for an urgent government review saying the laws and regulations covering the growing sector are not fit for purpose. Among the issues identified in the Retirement Commission's report are contracts containing unfair terms, problems with the resale process, weekly fees charged after a resident vacates a unit, an overly complicated complaints system and confusing documentation. Kathryn speaks with Jane Wrightson and Peter Carr, President of the Retirement Village Residents Association.

Andrew talks to Kathryn about changes of ownership of NZ media companies and their value, and Stuff one year on in NZ ownership.

Danish born now Levin-based Lisa Brink bakes delicious seed crackers, or Knækbrød.  She also sells sourdough and her Scandinavian version of Rēwena Bread, a traditional Māori potato bread. Lisa's company is The Baked Dane, which she started after her second child. She has now baked her way into a very busy business. Lisa speaks to Kathryn from home in Levin.

Several people have been arrested this morning in relation to what the police are calling a major transnational crime operation. They are due to appear in the Auckland District Court and the Hamilton District Court today on a wide range of serious drug-dealing and money laundering offences. Police in Auckland have just been briefing media. RNZ reporter Nick Truebridge has more.

Stephen and Brigitte talk to Kathryn about when hard calls might get made not the Climate Change Commission's final report is with the Government, and reflections on National MP's three decade long career. Stephen Mills is the executive director of UMR Research , which is the polling firm used by Labour. He is former political adviser to two Labour governments.

Gail Pittaway reviews The Secret Life of Writers by Guillaume Musso, published by Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand.

Heloise Stevance is a computational astrophysicist whose specific field is how stars live and die. She's from France, studied in the UK and is now at the University of Auckland. Dr Stevance's work focusses on supernovae - powerful and luminous stellar explosions. These explosions may have happened 100 to a thousand years ago, and as the star material spreads, it can be photographed by telescopes.When she is not studying exploding stars, Dr Stevance enjoys science communication and outreach, and has found her happy place with the Pirate City Rollers - Roller Darby Club.