Nine To Noon for Thursday 25 September 2025

09:05 Concerns over airtight new builds and the potential moisture risk

A group from across the building sector is concerned over airtight new builds and the potential moisture risk. The Ventilation Collab includes builders, ventilation suppliers, mechanical consultants, academics and others from 23 organisations across the sector. They say new builds are more airtight and better insulated than ever, but not well ventilated, which leads to moisture being trapped inside a home with nowhere to go. The group has just released a discussion document calling for changes to the Building Code to ensure better house air quality. Members of the group have raised the issue with Building Minister Chris Penk, who has told them improved ventilation is a key priority for him. Kathryn speaks with Dan Richardson is co-owner of Christchurch-based construction firm KR Construction and Green Building Council residential business development manager Matthew Cutler Welsh.

09:20 New portal lets Aucklanders assess beach conditions

Aucklanders can now check out conditions at the beach before they even leave the house thanks to a new online tool. The Coastal Monitoring Portal captures a heap of information from wave buoys, tidal gauges and weather forecasts - as well as real-time video, drone and GPS data. It can let users know what's happening with tides, waves, water temperature - even how far the sand dunes have moved. So far eight North Shore beaches have real-time imagery captured and one is planned for Onetangi. The data collected is also valuable for those seeking to understand the impact climate change may be having on our coastlines. Auckland Council Senior Scientist Dr Megan Tuck joins Kathryn.

For beach safety information you can go to Safe Swim.

09:30 Kiwi edtech founders backing new startups

The local founders of a successful education software business have begun a fund to invest in local startups. Hengjie Wang and Alliv Sampson founded Kami 12 years ago, providing educators with interactive software for presentations and assessments. Last year,  a US investor acquired a majority stake in Kami, putting the value of the company at $300 million. Now Kami has acquired British company Book Creator which it says will lift its customer base to 70-million users worldwide. Hengjie Wang and Alliv Sampson have now turned their attention back home by opening a new fund - to invest in local startups.

09:45 UK correspondent Harriet Line

Harriet discusses Trump and London's Mayor, asylum hotels and the party conference season

Harriet Line is Deputy Political Editor of the Daily Mail

10:05 Jack Toohey and rebellious hope

Australian Jack Toohey, whose video takedown of the state of the housing market went viral two years ago, is adamant people shouldn't give up, but should turn up - and use what he calls 'rebellious hope' along with innovative solutions, to fix some big systemic issues. His book - Better Things are Possible -  moves between the personal, including his mental health challenges, his approach of radical acceptance that things are wrong with the world; to practical ideas for fixing things like housing, climate, toxic social media and politics.

10:30 Fonterra makes $1 billion 

Dairy co-operative Fonterra has reported a slight drop in full year net profit, but still made just over $1 billion. Chief executive Miles Hurrell says the full year has been one of the Co-op's strongest years yet, with the current year also looking positive for shareholders.  RNZ Business Editor Gyles Beckford looks at the numbers. 

10:35 Book review: Circle of Days by Ken Follett

Lynn Freeman reviews Circle of Days by Ken Follett, published by Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand.

10:45 Around the motu: Libby Kirby McLeod from Hamilton

Libby reports on Waikato's regional scorecard, the fate of Tokoroa's polytech and proposals to close Tokoroa's plywood factory.

Libby McLeod is RNZ's Waikato reporter

11:05 Tech: How dark patterns are messing with your privacy

Technology commentator Alex Sims joins Kathryn for the second part of her deep dive into dark patterns - this time with a look at what it means for privacy. Have you been a victim of privacy zuckering - that's where you're tricked into sharing more private details than intended. What about when you're asked for permission to "import contacts" - then all your friends are spammed? Alex looks at how dark patterns are treated within New Zealand law.

Alex Sims is a Professor in the Department of Commercial Law at the University of Auckland Business School and an expert on blockchain technology, copyright and consumer law

11:25 Parenting: Teenagers, anxiety & perfectionism

Clinical psychologist Polly Schaverien talks with Kathryn about helping teenagers with anxiety and unhealthy perfectionism. She says adolescence is a time of exponential growth and development, and the "job" of the teen is to establish their identity, develop socially and learn emotional regulation. She says parents play a big role - and the first thing they need to do is check their own perfectionism. In other words, are you getting joy out of your children's achievements? Or are you deriving your own self-esteem from seeing your children achieve?

11:45 Screentime: One Battle After Another, Task, Only Murders in the Building s5

Film and TV reviewer Tom Augustine looks at One Battle After Another, an epic action thriller inspired by the 1990 novel Vineland and starring Leonardo de Caprio, Sean Penn and Benicio de Toro. Task on Neon sees Mark Ruffalo star as an FBI agent in a follow up series from Brad Ingelsby, who was behind Mare of Easttown. And series five of Only Murders in the Building is out - who are this season's famous guest stars?

Tom Augustine is a Tāmaki based filmmaker and critic. He writes for Rialto Channel's View Magazine and Metro Magazine. Tom is the co-programmer of the Capitol Cinema Film Club, which shows rare and underseen gems from throughout cinema history monthly.