As a new 3.5 per cent compulsory KiwiSaver contribution rate begins hitting paychecks, are balances tracking to meet retirement needs?

Science correspondent Allan Blackman details three studies, including one that looks at the mystifying auto-brewery syndrome where people appear to be affected by alcohol but have imbibed none. He'll also look at one that has found no link between autism and taking paracetamol while pregnant and that nuclear fusion may never be cost-competitive with renewable energy. Allan Blackman is a Professor of Chemistry, School of Science, Auckland University of Technology

In 1943 Sergeant Haane Manahi secured a key victory for the Allies, taking a small band of soldiers from the Maori battalion to claim victory in the battle of Takrouna in Tunisia. It involved leading his men up a 300 metre rocky outcrop and under mortar and machine gun fire captured the feature, with 60 Italian and German soldiers surrendering. A new film, in cinemas tomorrow, re-enacts the battle, and includes voices of Sergeant Haane, as well as interviews with descendents of the 28th Maori Battalion. Manahi's niece Donna Morrison is the film's producer - she is spearheading calls for her uncle to have his his Distinguished Conduct Medal upgraded to the Victorian Cross. Alex Tarrant plays Sergeant Haane, and Tearepa Kahi is the director, and writer of the film. Tearepa talks to Kathryn.

Chris talks to Kathryn about how the community is reeling after the triple homicide of a mother and two children.

Cynthia Morahan reviews Python's Kiss by Louise Erdrich, published by Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand.

Consumer NZ is calling for a law change to speed up the return of retirement village payments if a resident leaves. The lobby group says retirement villages can be expensive, and when someone leaves they get their money back - minus management fees of up to 30 percent. But currently there's no timeframe set down for that repayment to happen, and that can leave residents and their families in a tough position financially. The government is planning changes to the Retirement Villages Act that would reduce wait times to no more than 12 months. But Consumer NZ says that can be too long for some. It's launched a petition this morning - Consumer's CEO Jon Duffy talks about why it's needed.

Her debut novel is told through the eyes of two women - over 100 years apart.

Australia correspondent Chris Niesche details what's happening with an investigation into a fire at one of the country's two refineries as the country deals with the oil and gas crisis. Chris looks at how the economic conditions could impact the looming Budget and why Rebel Wilson is facing a defamation trial.

An Auckland University researcher is using virtual reality, 3D printing, and real-time data to design and create leg braces for children with cerebral palsy, that are more comfortable. Cerebral palsy affects 1 in 500 New Zealand children, and 7000 New Zealanders currently live with cerebral palsy. It generally appears in very early childhood as the result of brain damage that occurs before or during a baby's birth, and the main symptoms are related to movement and posture. About half of children with cerebral palsy need ankle-foot braces to help them walk and prevent muscle tightening, but they can be bulky and uncomfortable. Sara Chami worked as a clinical orthotist in Tehran fitting braces for children. And also studied prosthetics. She's now with Auckland University's Bioengineering Institute and researching if the braces can be built better.

The New South Wales politician who helped expose the extent of abuse - and the subsequent cover ups - within the early childhood sector, is warning New Zealand needs to learn from Australia when it comes to the impact of privatisation. Greens politician Abigail Boyd invoked a powerful parliamentary order to force the release of internal departmental documents to scrutinise the regulator's handling of breaches in the childcare sector. A fraction of the documents were released, and revealed multiple reports of inappropriate sexual touching, broken elbows, broken wrists, children being kicked, verbally abused, inappropriate restraint, and force-feeding. Abigail Boyd says large private companies dominate the Australian early childhood sector, and occupancy targets, wage targets, revenue and profit targets, and budget targets all come before child wellbeing. Abigail spoke at an early childhood conference in Wellington yesterday, and a public meeting last night.