Nine To Noon

People who make KiwiSaver hardship withdrawals may not have done so, had they been made aware of other support options. That's according to a new Victoria University report led by Victoria Stace, senior lecturer of law, and commissioned by FinCap. Withdrawals by people in hardship have risen sharply in the 12 months to June 2026, more than 52,000 KiwiSaver members made a withdrawal. That's up from just over 20,000 in 2023. Inland Revenue says hardship withdrawals now outpace withdrawals for first home deposits. Victoria Stace says in as much as half of the hardship withdrawals, when other assistance is made known, the withdrawal may not have been needed. FinCap's senior policy advisor Jake Lilley says there needs a to be a system where budget advisors can be invovled and check all options before a hardship withdrawal.

Film and television reviewer James Croot looks at black comedy spy thriller Wild Horse Nine (cinemas), Wicker (cinemas), Rivals, and comedian Awkwafina's new cooking show.

Gloria Masters is the founder of charity Handing the Shame Back, which aims to provide resources, interviews and information to help prevent abuse.

Technology commentator Mark Pesce looks at the 44 state measures that were on the ballot during last week's Midterm elections designed to curb the massive NZ$16T buildout of data centres, how they fared and what the election results might mean for Big Tech.

Selwyn's Mayor call for a "lizard whistler" as reptile surveys are holding up big projects, an Ashburton councillor throws doubt on solar power expansions, a community pool saved by a rural Canterbury community is due to re-open and the latest on Ashburton's second bridge.

The PNG government may cap the number of children a family can have at three. Pacific nations have headed to COP31 to call for urgent changes in climate financing and large areas of the Pacific are battling a water crisis amid extremely dry conditions.

Jane Ussher - one of this country's foremost documentary and portrait photographers - on her new book on very special rooms in New Zealand homes, wiht a forewaord by Douglas Lloyd Jenkins.

PM Andy Burnham attending the COP climate summit in Turkey and a meeting of European leaders in Dublin for a UK-EU reset, the jailing of comedian Russell Brand for sexual offences and the naming of comedian and children's author David Walliams as a person accused by multiple women of grooming and abuse.

Norton's 2026 Insights Survey found nearly twenty percent of Kiwis had been targeted by scams during the holiday shopping season. Eight percent of those fell victim to scammers, and out of all 12 countries surveyed, New Zealanders reported the highest amount of money lost, at an average of nearly $2000.

A leading clinical audiologist says a new device to help manage tinnitus conditions is likely coming to New Zealand early next year.

Workers employed at Awanui Labs - the country's biggest private laboratory service - have notified strike action on Thursday 19, Friday 20, Monday 23, and Tuesday 24 November.

The weather is starting to warm up and that means breaking out the jandals, sandals and crocs. But what to do if your feet aren't summer ready?

When does positive influence become something more controlling, or even sinister? The Centre is Hannah's newest work about two sisters exposed to a wellness influencer who might not be all she seems.

Lee reports on the local elections preliminary results, a proposed alluvial goldmine to help pay for Westport's flood protection, a pre-election funding grant to to expand Westport's care facility, O'Conor Home and a Westport News reporter wins a literary prize.

Sonja de Friez reviews Fry & Laurie by Stephen Fry & Hugh Laurie (Penguin Random House), and Devil on My Shoulder: A Memoir by Alice Cooper (Penguin Random House).

During World War II a remarkable group of women took to the skies over Britain, ferrying military aircraft between factories, airfields and operational bases. Among them were several Kiwi women who inspired Auckland author Olivia Spooner's new historical novel, The Flying Girls.

Australia correspondent Annika Smethurst looks at the government investigating how to prosecute AI companies for failing to take reasonable steps to prevent harm from their models.

A New Zealand startup hopes to harness the power of hydrogen to achieve the first ever flight using the technology in the Southern Hemisphere.

New modelling could help identify how and where landslides will occur in the event of an earthquake or heavy rainfall.

As Westpac moves to limit how much to lend to at-risk properties, new research finds would-be home buyers are less likely to have obtained crucial documentation or consulted a lawyer before making an offer.

Sports chat with Sam Ackerman

Created by cartoonist Murray Ball in 1976, Footrot Flats became one of the country's most successful and beloved comic strips. A new collection, Footrot Flats: Here's to the Good Times!, celebrates the strip's 50th anniversary, and Murray's son Mason Ball.

Gyles discusses the business reaction to an unclear election result, while a Financial Markets Authority report reveals what has been going on inside the financial regulator.

Jonathan reports on entrepreneur Harry Mowbray's failure to secure historic Hockin House, the research by Waikato University on a RAT test for gonorrhoea, a restriction of dogs at some of Coromandel's beaches, a new hotel planned for Cambrdige takes a step forward and the Auckland tourists found camping next to the Blue Springs.

As the warmer weather starts to settle in gardens are begining to hit full bloom. How should you be looking after roses to get the best results?

It's 20 years since a film about a genetically modified sheep with a taste for human blood became a Kiwi cult classic. Now Black Sheep has a sequel, Black Sheeps.

President Trump names a new White House chief of staff. and the lawmakers working as part of the 'lame duck' session until new Congress members start in January.

New Zealand's premier motocross championships kick off this weekend with two leading riders likely contesting the title.

The careers advisor for the thoroughbred industry encouraging young people to look outside more traditional career paths.

A new report found sports clubs and federations are struggling with competing interests, blurred accountability and internal politics impacting decision making.

Kennedy discusses a recent 10-day National Geographic excursion in Australia - from the Daintree rainforest in the north to Port Arthur in the south. And on the home front: Russell is poised to become the first predator-free (possums and rats) mainland town. It is estimated that kiwi outnumber Russell residents three-to-one.

It means a diet without gluten, a protein found in barley, rye, oats and wheat. Australian chef Melanie Persson learned she had coeliac disease in 2016 - and suddenly some of her favourite foods were a no-go.

The current Government coalition appears most likely to be able to form a Government, but that cannot be confirmed until November 27.

Tom reports on Wellington election results, yet more big spending needed on some of Wellington's iconic public buildings, the local efforts to save a state housing site at Strathmore and an 81 year old who may face charges over changing National's billboards.

Cynthia Morahan reviews two books: The Unfortunate Lunatic by Tess Redgrave (The Cuba Press), and The 12 Levers by Jeremy Stevenson and Spencer Greenberg (Penguin Random House).

Queenstown-based costume designer Amanda Neale on working with some of the biggest names in film and television.

Geoffrey York is Africa bureau chief for The Globe and Mail based in Johannesburg.

A new art exhibition in Wellington is shining a light on the the Adoption Act of 1955 - and the journey of those affected by it.

Concerns over carparking fines and penalties are continuing to rise with more than 400 complaints already made to the Commerce Commission so far this year.

Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson dissect Saturday's results and discuss what might happen next.

It’s election weekend but it’s big one on the sporting front too.

Te Radar and Michele A'Court with a lighter take on recent stories.

Tess reports on the criris ihn urology care in Southland, controversial councillor Benedict Ong faces fourth possible code of conduct complaint, Otao Regional Council is to review consent to dump human waste on farmland near Lauder, excitement after an albatross egg laid on livestream and a loved dinosaur slide will live on, but in a analtered fashion.

Eden Denyer from Unity Books Wellington reviews Audition by Pip Adam (Te Herenga Waka University Press), winner of the Ursula K. Le Guin Fiction Prize 2026.

Israel's President, Isaac Herzog, has begun consultations with political parties on who he should ask to try to form a coalition government after last week's general election gave no clear winner.

Family trauma and the things we choose not to talk about are at the heart of the Australian author Miriam Sved's new novel, Illuminated Ruins.

Hong Kong has sentenced democracy activist Joshua Wong to 10 years in prison, the Chinese Communist party last week held its most important political meeting of the year, the international court of justice has set a date to rule over alleged genocide in Myanmar, and Indonesia dispatched tens of thousands of troops to the streets of Jakarta as tensions rise.

As many arts events struggle, the Pollywood Pasifika Film Festival is celebrating running for 24 years, showcasing often unheard stories from around the region.

The latest stage of a large international study has found that a breast cancer drug, which is funded in NZ, could help women with a common form of early-stage breast cancer live longer.

With two days left to vote, the final poll of the election campaign shows no obvious, or likely, path to power for either Labour or National led blocs.