Drones and planes could be the next step in the fight against Kauri dieback, myrtle rust and other plant diseases.

Researchers in Italy have been using thermal-imaging cameras attached to small planes to monitor orchards with infectious bacteria.

Landcare Ecologist Andrea Byrom told Mike Hosking similar technology could be used in New Zealand.

She says in the early days of infection, there are often changes in plant structures and leaves that the average person wouldn't notice.

"This high resolution imagery and different kinds of infrared technologies can detect those things before the human eye can see it."

LISTEN ABOVE AS ANDREA BYROM SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

New Zealand's under-employment figures are hiding a complex situation.

One in five part-time workers - or 112,000 people - want to work more hours.

But EY employment lawyer, Christie Hall, says there are probably good reasons those people can't get the work they want.

She told Mike Hosking that could include their location, work industry, or their responsibilities such as children.

"It may be not what they want but it is their situation in life at that point of time, so I think those sort of factors do play into the statistics.

LISTEN ABOVE AS CHRISTIE HALL SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

The stand-in Prime Minister is unable to confirm or deny whether he's applied for a heating grant.

The Government's Winter Energy payment will see all Kiwis on a main benefit, and all over the age of 65, eligible for a cash payment to help with their winter bills.

Winston Peters told Mike Hosking he doesn't know if he applied for it or not.

'I'm flat out trying to do a lot of things and no I don't recall doing it but I may have [...] somebody may have shoved it over my desk and said sign that."

LISTEN ABOVE AS WINSTON PETER SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

A Waikato DHB member wants the Government to call off the elections for 209 health board bosses.

Taxpayers will have to fork out millions of dollars for the elections, which could all change when the major review of the health system comes out shortly after.

The review could see the end of elected board representatives.

Mary Anne Gill told Mike Hosking an election would be a waste of health dollars.

"Why would elect a whole lot of people to contend for 2019 when they will be out of a job four months later, that doesn't seem right to me."

LISTEN ABOVE AS MARY ANNE GILL SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

Blair Tuke speaks to Mike Hosking on the Volvo Ocean Race.

LISTEN ABOVE AS BLAIR TUKE SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

NZ music great, Frankie Stevens speaks with Mike Hosking about the hypothetical situation of who would represent us if New Zealand takes part in Eurovision.

LISTEN ABOVE AS FRANKIE STEVENS SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

Proceed with caution is the advice to people wanting to experiment with 'meatless meat'.

The vegetarian food Quorn has recently been linked to life-threatening allergic reactions.

KPMG Farm Enterprise Specialist Julia Jones says told Mike Hosking the food is highly processed.

"People need to be aware that alternative proteins aren't a magic food just because it may save the planet doesn't mean you don't need to be careful."

LISTEN ABOVE AS JULIA JONES SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

Oil prices are picked to fall after the main producing countries struck a deal to boost supply by a million barrels per day.

It's after the US, China and India called on the main oil producers - OPEC - to pump more oil, in order to reduce prices globally.

JMI Wealth's Andrew Kelleher says it's unclear exactly how the member countries will share the extra production, which is about a one percent increase globally.

He told Mike Hosking the US re-imposing sanctions on one of the larger producers, Iran, could mean they don't reach their goal.

"One of the issues is how the increase in supply is gonna work because some of the increase in supply really just replaces where there is either constrained supply at the moment or sanctions so those people can't produce more."

LISTEN ABOVE AS ANDREW KELLEHER SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING

The job of reuniting migrant children with their parents, is proving easier said than done for US authorities.

Thousands of children, toddlers and babies have been separated from their parents and detained on the US-Mexican border.

Donald Trump has signed an executive order to reduce the controversial practice.

But US correspondent Richard Arnold told Mike Hosking the government has no records for most of those currently detained.

"The government now says it is working to provide that kind of data base but there are still hundreds of kids who are being held apart from their parents."

LISTEN ABOVE AS RICHARD ARNOLD SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING

The Housing Minister expects Kiwibuild will kickstart a local industry in factory-built housing.

The Government's asking companies - both overseas and local - to come forward with ideas on how to reach the 100,000 affordable home goal with a focus on kit-set factories.

Phil Twyford told Mike Hosking he believes it will give local pre-fab companies an opportunity to do something bigger than they normally could.

"In New Zealand we've never had the scale that you can contract a few thousand houses a year over multiple years to firms that then can scale up and invest in the technology to build houses in this way."

He said it's an opportunity for kiwi companies to scale up.

"There are some very good very entrepreneurial young firms in New Zealand who are doing this sort of work. What they need to make this happen is the kind of volume of orders that we hope to be able to provide through Kiwibuild."

LISTEN ABOVE AS PHIL TWYFORD SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING