Nine To Noon for Tuesday 16 September 2025

09:05 Auckland's manufacturing hub, East Tāmaki - what's need to kick start the local  economy?

In the last week, business employment data has confirmed what Auckland locals have been feeling -- the number of filled jobs dropped in the June quarter by 0.6 per cent, or nearly 5000 jobs  - the worst result in the country. The super city is yet to fire up again from its economic doldrums. One of its manufacturing hubs, East Tāmaki, is a case study in how tough it is out there. A report ordered by the local Business Association from the economic consultancy, Infometrics,  showed the suburb's economy is largely based on the production of goods and wholesale trade. But the value of both sectors declined sharply over 2024, with much lower growth overall than for all of Auckland. So what's needed to get things going again? Kathryn speaks to the chair of Business East Tāmaki, Brendan Kelly,  the national director of industrial and commercial property at Bayleys, Scott Campbell, and economist  Zoe Wallis from Forsyth Barr who is familiar with the suburb,

09:25 Teaching to care in a trauma-informed way 

A course that teaches nursing students how to care for patients who have experienced trauma is so popular a second intake for the year has had to get underway. And it's not just nurses who are signing up. The current class come from a range of professional areas including in corrections, mental health, midwifery, and education. Nurse educators Tara Malone and Helen Bingham developed the course four years ago and say understanding life-changing trauma that can affect people's behaviour is key to delivering more effective care. The trauma-informed care micro credential is offered via the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki. Tara Malone and Helen Bingham are on the line from Taranaki.

09:35 New observatory and high-tech telescope in Wairarapa

Stargazers can now head to a new observatory in Wairarapa and take photos of far away galaxies and stars. Featuring a new state-of-the-art telescope, the Cretney Observatory officially opened on Saturday, after five years of development. It was set up thanks to a bequest from the late Syd Cretney, a founding member of the Wellington Astronomical Society. At the heart of the observatory - set in a field in the middle of the Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve in Ruakōkoputuna - is a state-of-the-art 400mm Testar Officina Stellare RiFAST telescope. It can take photos of stuff far outside of the Milky Way, such as exploding stars. Matt Balkham led the project setting up the Cretney Observatory. Photos taken from the telescope are available to see here.

09:45 US correspondent David Smith

The latest on the political tension that followed the Charlie Kirk shooting and where authorities are at with the suspected shooter in custody. US President Trump is visiting the UK, in the week following the sacking of the UK's US ambassador Peter Mandelson for close ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. And David speaks about Trump's response to European calls for more sanctions to be put on Russia. 

Washington bureau chief for The Guardian, David Smith. 

10:05 Diplomacy and David Harland's life long work for peace

 David Harland - an international diplomat who has devoted decades to finding ways to overcome armed conflict - is one of this year's Victoria University of Wellington's Distinguished Alumni.  His childhood, surrounded by discussion on world politics and peace, laid the foundation for him to follow in the footsteps his father, Bryce, who was New Zealand's first ambassador to China and North Vietnam. David Harland has worked for the UN in conflict zones around the world including Bosnia, Kosovo, Haiti and Timor Leste. He  now serves on UN Secretary-General's advisory board on mediation and for more than 20 years has been the Executive Director of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue based in Geneva, which in 2022 initiated the UN brokered deal to get grain out of Ukraine and through a Russian blockade to ease a growing food crisis in Africa. David Harland is in Wellington for a short time and joins Kathryn in the studio to talk about diplomacy, conflict and mediations

10:35 Commerce Act changes will stamp out predatory pricing: government

The government is promising changes to the Commerce Act it says will prevent "creeping acquisitions and predatory pricing".  The Economic Growth and Commerce Ministers, Nicola Willis and Scott Simpson, say the changes will set out clear rules for mergers, and streamline approvals for business collaboration. RNZ Business journalist Anan Zaki has more.

10:35 Book review: The Anatomy of Sand by Mikaela Nyman

Harry Ricketts reviews The Anatomy of Sand by Mikaela Nyman, published by Te Herenga Waka University Press.

10:45 Around the motu: Simon Wilson

Simon reports on ructions in campaigning for the local elections,  the government's plans for Eden Park and the housing density argument rumbles on. 

Simon Wilson is a Senior Writer NZ Herald 

11:05 Business commentator Calida Stuart-Menteath 

Changes to the Commerce Act to stop creeping acquisitions and predatory pricing. Calida also gives an update on the Du Val case, a fine for ANZ for unconscionable conduct and Spark reshuffles its leadership.

Calida Stuart-Menteath is co-editor at the National Business Review. 

11:25 Spring gardening with Xanthe White

Landscape designer and gardener, Xanthe White answers your questions about spring gardening. Text 2101 or email ninetonoon@rnz.co.nz

11:45 Sports-chat with Marc Hinton

A bloodbath in the capital as the All Blacks crumble in the second half against a dominant Springboks side, who regain rugby's Freedom Cup. The Black Ferns are through to the semi-finals at the Rugby World Cup after their dominant second half performance helped them to a 46-17 win over South Africa. Marc also discusses the end to the Warriors rugby league season, and the latest in the Athletics.