Nine To Noon

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton joins Lynn to look at the election campaign, as opinion polls tighten and Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese battle it out. Covid isolation rules are to be relaxed further, with household contacts no longer needing to isolate. Cruise ships have been welcomed back into the country, and could Ash Barty be set to take on the golfing world?

Volcanologist Shane Cronin has just returned from a survey of all Tonga's northern islands, trying to piece together what led to the largest volcanic explosion ever recorded there.

New rules soon to pass into law will give more protection to people who own apartments or are looking to buy one.

Travelling overseas may not be as straightforward as you remember - particularly when it comes to travel insurance. Are you covered for Covid?

Food is one of our biggest household expenses. At a time when thousands of New Zealanders are going hungry, there are also many people spending money on food they'd be better off saving, says financial planner Liz Koh.

Journalist Mike White is also a life-long dog lover. A new book, Dogs in Early New Zealand Photographs has put together some of New Zealand's earliest dog photographs, with an introduction written by Mike White. The photos take us back to the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, with a range of photos from carefully staged studio portraits, to more relaxed photos taken on the family farm. Lynn Freeman speaks to Mike about the enduring love we have for our dogs, and taking their picture.

Political commentators Shane Te Pou and Liam Hehir join Lynn to discuss Fair Pay Agreements and the impact on business, business sentiment and confidence, the Prime Minister's first overseas trip and the candour of Louisa Wall upon her exit. Shane Te Pou is a former candidate, campaign manager and executive member of the Labour Party, and a former union official. He is no longer a member of any political party. Liam Hehir is a Palmerston North lawyer, political commentator and a National Party member.

Paul Diamond reviews Wellington Architecture: A Walking Guide by John Walsh; photographer Patrick Walsh published by Massey University Press

For Australian artist, composer and curator Lawrence English listening is very different to hearing. He is interested in "relational listening", the relationship between our internal thinking and the external sounds we are most interested in and tune into - and how to communicate that to an audience.

US correspondent Ron Elving joins Lynn to look at how Joe Biden has been turning up the heat in his rhetoric on Russia, energy-driven inflation is making Americans depressed, Republicans are looking strong ahead of the November mid-terms and what will the next chapter be in the Elon Musk Twitter saga?