Three NZ businesses to watch in 2023 that Rebecca says are thriving and striving in three very competitive markets; baby food, bread, and appliances, while against a backdrop of economic uncertainty. Rebecca Stevenson is a senior writer at interest.co.nz

How Te Puwaha - the Whanganui Port Revitalisation project was almost canned. New Whanganui Mayor Andrew Tripe is warning of an imminent large rates rise, and the new P8A Poseidon lands at Ohakea.

David Hill reviews three of his favourite books from last year: Atua by Gavin Bishop, published by Penguin; Winter Time by Laurence Fearnley, published by Penguin and Roderick Finlayson: A Man from Another World by Roger Hickin published by Cold Hub Press

Of all the Wikipedia pages out there - just 19 percent are about women. It was something that Dr Jess Wade stumbled onto, after she went searching for more information about Kim Cobb, an American climatologist she'd just met, and found she had no profile on the platform. It inspired her to pen her first Wikipedia entry - she's now written close to 1800 profiles of female scientists. Jess is a physicist herself, based at Imperial College London. Her work building the knowledge about women's achievements in science has earned her a British Empire Medal.

Ron says the resignation of Jacinda Ardern has been a talking point in the US and a shock to her many admirers. Also there's much discussion about the US President's people's "own goal"on their mishandling of his leftover documents, some decades old. The US also now technically over a self-imposed debt limit, which is a relic from the debates over debt and foreign policy from 1917. Ron says it's usually a formality but nothing works as per usual any more, it seems, so this could have major ramifications by summer. And Joe Biden's White House is undergoing a shakeup with the departure of Chief of Staff Ron Klain.

The Auckland Council says it's a constant trial to keep on top of illegal dumping across the city. Over the summer the problem usually intensifies, but this season, the volume of abandoned rubbish is down - compared to the same period last year. Parul Sood is the General Manager of the Auckland Council Waste Solutions and says staff are always vigilant particularly over the summer months when people are more inclined to have a clean out, but the rainy weather may have prevented people from hauling their junk to the kerb.

The AA is calling for increased spending on road maintenance as roads carry more traffic and complaints about damage caused by potholes reach an all time high. Waka Kotahi received 555 complaints in the first ten months of last year (up by more than 100 compared to 2021). Five of the most recent Automobile Association annual surveys rated the quality of road surfaces and potholes as a leading concern. Members are telling the AA the roads are "in the worst state they've ever been". The amount of kilometres driven in New Zealand has increased by almost a fifth (18%) since 2010. The AA says there's been a surge in pothole related memes and social media groups relating to road damage and claims for compensation are also on the rise. The AA advised the government ahead of the last election $900 million extra in road maintenance was needed over the next three years, to catch up on a backlog of maintenance work. $500m has been allocated. Kathryn Ryan speaks with AA spokesperson Dylan Thomsen and Road Transport Forum New Zealand Chief Executive Nick Leggett.

Kennedy brings us news from Tongareva/Penrhyn Atoll, the northernmost of the Cook Islands, where solo Pacific rower Tom Robinson is staying until the summer cyclone season passes and he can recommence his voyage from Lima to Brisbane.

Michelle Burling-Claridge is taking her pastry-making skills to India. She's representing NZ in the Young Chef Olympiad, which starts in Delhi on Sunday. She hopes to impress the judges with her zesty lemon meringue tart and a crunchy vegetarian dish. 21 years old, Michelle in a hospo student studying at Weltec in Wellington, who works part time at one of the capital's top restaurants, Hippopotomus.

Neale, Liam and Kathryn discuss Jacinda Ardern's resignation, what new Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and deputy PM Carmel Sepuloni will bring to the Labour leaderships this year, with the election date set for 14 October. Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of public affairs firm Capital. Liam Hehir is a Palmerston North lawyer, political commentator and a National Party member