The top stories and other headlines at midday

Science correspondent Dr Jen Martin has three fascinating studies - including what scrolling is doing to us, Barbie and Ken's figures and birth order and the impact it has on your health.

While writing her latest novel on a dystopian world, badly behaving tech billionaires, and artificial intelligence, Pip Adam's writing took a turn.

Kaitlyn discusses how winter illnesses are hitting local schools, Tauranga junior netball has banned courtside spectators over sideline abuse, the government inquiry into the January landslides extends public submissions.

Lynn Freeman reviews: Otepoti Dunedin Architecture by John Walsh and photographer Patrick Reynolds, published by Massey University Press, and To Rule a Ruler by Kaarina Parker published by Echo Publishing. Lynn also talks about what she is reading.

Back in 1993, a Dunedin farmer stumbled upon a sea lion mother nursing a pup near Taieri Mouth, and Mum - as the pup was named - is considered the founder of Otago's sea lion population. Fast forward and the city is teeming with sea lions, captured in a new documentary.

The latest RNZ Pacific news and sport.

Clinical guidelines for endometriosis diagnoses are changing; Government sets sights on power network companies; Did emergency housing clampdown cause homelessness spike?; Controversial Devonport development gets fast track referral; Weekly Political Panel: Nicola Willis and Carmel Sepuloni

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton looks at the deal the Albanese government has struck with the Coalition opposition to pass legislation to slightly curtail gambling advertising.

Battery, electric and plug-in hybrid models made up almost 30 percent of vehicles registrations during the year to date - which is more than double than during the same period in 2025.