Last year's devastating weather events took their toll on any number of houses and buildings around the North Island, including many marae.

Many schools around the country are at their wits end waiting for much needed classrooms to be built.

Te Radar and Michele A'Court look at the lighter moments of the week, including the unusual reason thousands of bodyguards are being hired across China. Media there is reporting a surge of interest in private protection as people look to impress love interests, or intimidate their neighbours. And the world of darts has been hit with a stinky scandal as a player is accused of passing gas, to throw off his opponent.

Players will be kitted out with new technology as Super Rugby Pacific kicks off tonight. Smart mouthguards will monitor head impact events, so doctors can identify who needs further assessment. And the battle between High Performance Sport NZ and the Mahe Drysdale-led Athletes' Cooperative is headed to the Employment Court. HPSNZ indicated this week it will appeal an ERA decision allowing New Zealand's top rowers and cyclists to engage in collective bargaining.

Ever heard of minimalist transpop prekraut postdisco ? Grant Smithies reveals all.

RNZ Nelson reporter Samatha Gee with news from the region.

Martene McCaffrey of Unity Books Auckland reviews Blackouts by Justin Torres published by Granta.

Artist Desmond Bovey talks to Kathryn about his love of the Central Plateau, expressed in his book Tongariro National Park - an artists field guide.

Funeral arrangements are being made for Fa'anana Efeso Collins after his sudden death at a charity run this week.

Haupai Puha is the first New Zealander to win a card to the Professional Darts Corporation where he can play at the top table against the world's best. There are 128 players around the world given a card - the first 64 are based on rankings while the remaining half have to qualify through what are known as Q-Schools. A former pro golfer - Haupai funded himself to go to Germany in January, where he came out as one of the top qualifiers in a field of hundreds to claim his place on the world tour. Last year, Haupai gained attention by beating highly ranked Belgian Dimitri Van den Bergh at the New Zealand masters in Hamilton. This week Haupai won a couple of matches before bowing out in the round of 32 at the Players Championship 4 in Leicester. Haupai talks to Kathryn from London.