Maury Leyland Penno and her husband John Penno were previously high flyers in New Zealand's lucrative dairy industry. Now the former Fonterra executive and founder of dairy company Synlait Milk are betting big on a plant-based protein. They are on a mission to create a new food system for Aotearoa, using technology that taps into one of the world's most abundant and sustainable food sources: protein from green leaves. Kathryn talks to Maury about the business Leaft, the motivation behind the plant based push and why she wants to change the industry she grew up in. She will be speaking at the E Tipu IFAMA World Conference in Christchurch next month.

Ximena has the latest on debt negotiations between the White House and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy as the US gets closer to a possible default. GOP Presidential candidates Ron DeSantis and Tim Scott are due to announce their Presidential run. And the United States plans to blacklist about 70 companies and organisations for selling restricted U.S. products to Russia, part of a push by G-7 nations to try to exact more economic pain on Russia for its war on Ukraine.

There are major efforts underway to keep a bunch of Australian invaders from stepping foot - or paw - in one of our national parks. Wallabies were introduced to New Zealand in the late 1800 for hunting and private zoos that adapted well and took off in great numbers. They're considered a pest because they can destroy productive farmland and native forests...and although mostly found in South Canterbury, they've been creeping closer to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. Joining Kathryn to talk about the ongoing work to contain them under the National Wallaby Eradication Programme, is Sophia White, Biosecurity NZ's team manager of pest management programmes. And to talk about what's happening in that crucial South Canterbury area, Brent Glentworth - biosecurity team leader Environment Canterbury. If you want to report a wallaby sighting, you can do so here.

The saga of the beleaguered MV Shiling cargo ship which will be towed into Wellington Harbour this morning after losing power at sea nearly two weeks ago has highlighted the "fragile" emergency response capability in the event of a maritime disaster in the Cook Strait. Earlier this year, the Interislander ferry Kaitaki lost power in Cook Strait and started drifting towards the rocky south coast with 864 people on board. Marlborough Mayor Nadine Taylor and Greater Wellington Regional Council Chairman Daran Ponter have written to the Transport Minister outlining their concerns about the lack of a tug capable of an open water rescue. They are to meet Associate Transport Minister Kiri Allen next week. The join Kathryn, along with Wellington Harbourmaster Grant Nalder.

Urban issues correspondent Bill McKay joins Kathryn to talk about the Loafers Lodge fire and the lowdown on Building Code rules related to building fire protection. Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland.

Sam Weston and Wayne Hanright are the founders of Blackball Black Garlic - one of only two producers of black garlic in the country. After two years in business, they say they cannot keep up with demand. Black garlic takes five weeks to make, and they produce it in 70-kilogram batches. Sam and Wayne say black garlic has a sweet flavour with a savory aftertaste, and is a great condiment in many dishes. They join Kathryn from the West Coast town of Blackball.

Brigitte and Neale join Kathryn to dissect what was in last week's Budget - are there any extra votes in it for Labour, and what was the Opposition's reaction to what's been dubbed the "blowout Budget"? They'll also discuss the worsening debt situation and pressure on interest rates. Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is a director of public affairs firm Capital. Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government, a National Party member and currently volunteering for the party's deputy leader, Nicola Willis.

Tim Brown is an RNZ reporter in Dunedin covering Otago and Southland

Cynthia Morahan reviews The Red Hotel by Alan Philps, published by Hachette

Patricia Gregory was 19 and watching the Tottenham Hotspur team bring back the FA Cup to north London after winning the final with her father when she began to wonder why women didn't play football.