Nine To Noon for Monday 31 October 2016

09:05 Coroner calls for overhaul of KiwiRail level crossing assessments

A Coroner is recommending that KiwiRail overhauls how it assesses the safety of level rail crossings, including collecting more information on near-misses. Coroner Elliott from the Christchurch Coroner's Office has released his findings into the death of George Robert Ellis who died after a train hit his truck on the Northpark Road crossing in Ashburton, in July 2014. Kathryn Ryan speaks to Lawyer Garth Gallaway who represented the family and David Gordon, Group General Manager at KiwiRail.

09:20 The rise of arbitration: should justice be done in private?

The Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute says more and more people are turning to alternative dispute resolution, partly due to backlogs in the court system. Kathryn Ryan talks with former High Court judge Robert Fisher QC, who has been a full time mediator and arbitrator since 2004.

09:45 South America correspondent Joel Richards

A United Nations panel says Argentina has arbitrarily detained the indigenous leader Milagro Sala and is calling for the government to release her immediately. Joel also discusses the latest from Colombia on the peace process with the FARC guerrilla group.

10:05 Urzila Carlson: Rolling with the punchlines

Kathryn Ryan speaks with comedian Urzila Carlson on her accidental beginnings in stand-up,  and the comedy career she's carved out since then.

10:45 The Reading

Passing Through by Coral Atkinson read by Amanda Billing (Part 5 of 14)

11:05 Book review - "The Hate Race" by Maxine Beneba Clarke

Reviewed by Jenna Todd, Published by Hachette NZ.

11:10 Political commentators Stephen Mills & Matthew Hooton

Andrew Little starting the Mt Roskill by-election bid with a promise to fast track light rail, US elections & the Ross Sea sanctuary deal.

11:30 Cheeses! It's nearly Christmas

Jean Mansfield is a long-time cheesemaker from Waihi who specialises in teaching cheesemaking to beginners. She talks to Nine to Noon about why cheese makes the perfect festive gift. She has recipes for feta in olive oil with herbs, halloumi cheese (perfect for the Christmas BBQ) & cream cheese dips.

11:45 Scare and the City: A Halloween Special​

Urbanist Tommy Honey takes a look at the intersections between Halloween and urbanism including, scary movies, ghost trains & trick or treating in the city and how to get more candy…