Free, open conversation about mental health seems like a good thing, but are there downsides to the overuse of terms like 'anxiety' and 'depression'? A new study by the University of Melbourne explores how 'concept creep' - in which the definition of a psychological concept broadens over time - may be contributing to overdiagnosis and increased fragility.

Sometimes it takes an outsider looking in, to give a full and fair critique - and a recently commissioned report by a UK firm on the state of Auckland, has given the city plenty to work on. The 72-page 'state of the city' compared Tamaki Makaurau to 9 other similar cities around the world in terms of size and culture, including Brisbane, Copenhagen and Vancouver. London-based urban intelligence firm 'The Business of Cities' concluded Auckland outperforms its peers for its easy-going lifestyle, highly-regarded natural environment and great visitor experiences. However it warns the city needs to lift its game in infrastructure planning, attracting investment and talent, and addressing safety and housing affordability. Mark Thomas is a director at Committee for Auckland, one of three parties who commissioned the report. And Tim Moonen is the managing director at The Business of Cities.

Temperature records on land and in the oceans are toppling. Climatic extremes once considered rarities have become the "new normal," but what does "normal" even mean any more? Kennedy discusses recent extremes and considers their significance for planetary life.

Renowned chef Al Brown has just released Eat Up New Zealand: The Bach Edition, a collection of nostalgic recipes that celebrate seasonal ingredients, kaimoana, and the occasional sweet treat.

Political commentators Gareth Hughes and Tim Hurdle join Susie to look at the big promises being made for second Auckland harbour crossing, continued poll slide for Labour and the left bloc, the battle of the policy costings, minor party manoeuvring and an end to ongoing industrial action by teachers and nurses. Gareth Hughes is a former Green MP and now works for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa. Tim Hurdle is a former National senior adviser, was the National Party Campaign Director in 2020. He is a director of several companies, including Museum Street Strategies, a public affairs firm.

Hawke's Bay Today editor Chris Hyde joins Susie to talk about the region's special visitors: the All Blacks. The team will do a working bee at Tangoio Marae on Tuesday, before their open training session at McLean Park at 9am on Wednesday, when thousands are expected to show up and wish them well for the World Cup. The collapse of a hillside on farm country behind Omahu during Cyclone Gabrielle revealed an astonishing find...in the floodwaters were the bones of five people thought to have lived and died no later than the 1700s. And Chris has more on the mystery of the failing hot water cylinders of Hastings.

Cynthia Morahan reviews Old Boy: My Dads Story of Addiction, Resurrection, Dumb Luck and Love by Georgia Tree published by Fremantle Press

Being able to make film and TV roles ‘Polynesian by proxy’ is one of the unexpected benefits of the job for Samoan-Kiwi actor Frankie Adams. The 29-year-old plays blue-haired Candy Blue in new Amazon Studios drama series The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, which is based on the international best-selling novel by Australian author Holly Ringland.

Europe correspondent Seamus Kearney joins Susie to look at talks aimed at finding a path toward peace in Ukraine that have taken place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with the surprise inclusion of China. The weekend closed-door meet did not include Russia however, which had labelled them "futile". Meanwhile the war is creeping closer to Russia, with number of daring attacks inside the country - including Moscow's second-largest airport being forced to suspend flights due to an attempted drone attack. And Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has had another 19 years added to his jail sentence, while controversial social media influencer Andrew Tate has been freed from house arrest in Romania.

Top level rugby these days is a billion dollar industry. In this country, the US fund manager Silver Lake has invested $200 million in the All Blacks. New Zealand Rugby also has investors like Britain's richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and multi-national corporations such as technology group SAP, and Japanese pharmaceutical giant Taisho. But as the All Blacks have become commercialised, the tug-of-war between performance and making money has intensified. Gregor Paul is the New Zealand Herald's rugby columnist, who's just published a new book in which he asserts that the lure of monetising the All Black brand has impacted the performance of the players and the coaches. He speaks with Susie Ferguson.