Nine To Noon for Thursday 18 December 2008

09:05 Scientology - former NZ scientologists speaks out

Lance Hoskins,joined the church in Auckland in the 1970s, then worked for the Sea Org - the church's management body in the United States; Genny Long, joined Scientology in Christchurch in the 1970s, then worked for the organisation in Sydney. Says she was harrassed when she tried to leave; Mike Ferriss, Spokesman for the Church of Scientology in NZ.

09:45 UK Correspondent Matthew Parris

10:05 Big Year interview series

Murray Burton, Principal of Elim Christian College who voiced a nation's grief when seven of his Elim Christian College community lost their lives while canyoning at the Outdoor Pursuits Centre.

10:30 Book Review with Laura Kroetsch

Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
Published by Little Brown
ISBN 978 031 603 5903

10:45 Reading:.Garibaldi Did Not Sleep Here by Paul Horan

(Episode 6 of 6)

11:00 DEFU - State of the government's books

Brent Edwards, RNZ Political Editor

The latest Treasury figures have been unveiled this morning showing a sharp deterioration in both the government's books and growth forecasts even since the pre-election fiscal update.

Unemployment is expected to rise and there's plenty of red ink on the ledger.

11:05 New Technology with Nathan Torkington

Twitter - Nathan calls it the on-line equivalent of the water cooler conversation.

http://www.twitter.com

11:30 Ed Byrne

Irish comedy sensation Ed Byrne joins us with a few tips for the holidays, including how to hide your drinking habits from judgmental neighbours.

11:45 Television Review with Simon Wilson

Simon takes a look back at the best and worst we've seen on the box this year.