Technology journalist Bill Bennett joins Susie to talk about how a move to "digital minimalism" is seeing younger parents reinstalling home phones to combat smartphone burnout, or switching to "dumb" phones. But how does that work in New Zealand where the old copper phone network is about to be turned off? A Chinese court has ruled it's illegal to replace human workers with AI and major battery manufacturers are moving to deploy sodium-ion batteries for home energy storage - could this be a major breakthrough that will substantially cheapen EVs? Bill Bennett is an Auckland-based technology journalist

Local worries over council reform, drive to prevent deaths during Road Safety Week, winter PJ drive, and new bridge underway for Tongariro River Trail. Jesse Archer is with LakeFM in Taupo.

Jane Westaway reviews Departure (s) by Julian Barnes, published by Penguin Random House.

Caterpillar is a drama about three generations of a family of women living together: one struggling to hide her dementia, a tetchy teen with acting aspirations and a middle-aged filmmaker who's trying to juggle her career and home life.

UK correspondent Steph Spyro details what's on the line for the Prime Minister in Thursday's local elections, antisemitic hate crimes are up with 140 offences logged last month by London's Metropolitan police. New figures show almost two pubs a day are closing in Britain, the foreign office is working to get Britons on a virus-hit cruise home and Sir David Attenborough will turn 100 this week - what's planned to celebrate it? Steph Sypro is the Daily Express' deputy political editor

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Song Quest and the first time it bears the name of New Zealand's most famous opera singer, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. The semi-finalists for the 2026 song quest have been announced - including three brothers Alfred, Jordan and Faamanu Fonoti-Fuimaono. And the international head judge will be American mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade. Dame Kiri's foundation is now the song quests principal partner.

A number of Nelson artists are disappointed their wares have been removed from the Suter Art Gallery's shop.

A new report from Youthline finds young people are facing a perfect storm of mental health distress, rising living costs and digital pressures.

Science correspondent Allan Blackman looks at how the Hindenburg disaster has haunted the development of hydrogen technology and why that might be changing.

Lauren Keenan clearly paid little attention to advice she received to never set a novel in New Zealand. She's just published her fourth historical fiction novel, this one following the lives of two women - Keita and Catherine, as their lives intertwined in 19th century New Zealand.