Nine To Noon for Monday 16 August 2021

09:05 Taliban take Kabul, Afghan president flees

Extraordinary scenes from Kabul, as 20 years of history was erased in a matter of hours. The Taliban capped off a week of swift advances across much of Afghanistan to take over the capital, with footage of Taliban soldiers appearing to seize the presidential palace. The president, Ashraf Ghani, fled the country earlier is now reported to be in Uzbekistan. All commercial flights out of the city's airport have been suspended, with only military aircraft allowed to operate, according to Nato. Many of those military flights belong to the US, UK and other nations frantically trying to remove their diplomatic staff. The Security Council is due to hold an emergency meeting in New York. BBC correspondent and presenter Yalda Hakim has been reporting on the country she was born in for over a decade. She was live on air when a spokesperson for the Taliban called the show to say they were "awaiting a peaceful transfer of power".

09:20 US reaction to the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan

US correspondent Ron Elving with how Washington is responding to the unfolding situation in Kabul.

09:30 Shortage of building timber "worst in living memory"

A building industry leader says the shortage of structural timber in New Zealand is now the worst in living memory - and it could still get worse. Imports have slowed due to disruptions in the supply chain from Covid-related shipping delays. Meanwhile New Zealand's own supply is struggling to keep pace with high demand, both domestically as result of a post-Covid building boom, and internationally - particularly from our biggest buyer, China.  Recent timber mill closures means the country no longer has the capacity to process as many logs as it could. The shortage in timber is stymying house building projects, at a time of an acute housing crisis. Calls for a limit on timber exports have been rejected by the Government, so what else can be done to increase the supply of the fundamental building blocks of our homes? Susie is joined by Julien Leys, chief executive of the New Zealand Building Industry Federation and Brian Stanley, the chairman of the Wood Processors & Manufacturers Association.

09:45 Middle East correspondent Sebastian Usher

The latest on the massive fuel tanker explosion in Lebanon which has killed 20 people and wounded dozens.

Sebastian Usher is a BBC Middle East analyst, editor and reporter.

10:05 Dancing for life: Kura Te Ua

For all round performing powerhouse Kura Te Ua dance is at the core of who she is.  A performer of twenty years, Kura grew up surrounded by kapa haka in a Black Power family in the village of Ōtāhuhu.  For Kura dance is a means of turning a life around, and not just her own.  Today she makes good things happen for rangatahi.  Kura's passion is haka theatre.  She is co-founder of award-winning Māori contemporary dance and haka theatre collective Hawaiki TŪ, which turns ten years old this year. Kura is also the driving force behind the exciting and evocative show Taurite, which opens in Auckland next month, mixing traditional kapa haka with western and contemporary dance, choreographed by a who's who of the heavyweights of contemporary dance.  Kura takes a break from rehearsals to speak with Susie Ferguson.

10:35 Book review: The Turnout by Megan Abbott

Lisa Finucane reviews The Turnout by Megan Abbott, published by Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand

10:45 The Reading

11:05 Political commentators Jones & Thomas

Neale and Ben discuss the government's plan to gradually re-open the borders, the power outages last week the the fall out from that, and what will New Zealand take to the next global climate change meeting in Glasgow? Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of Capital Government Relations. Ben Thomas is a PR consultant and a former National Government press secretary.

11:30 All taste no waste vegies

Wellington chef and restaurateur Max Gordy's zero-waste philosophy should inspire us to use of every last bit of the vegetable, save money and waste, and expect delicious results. Max has already delivered a sold-out zero-waste veggies workshop for Wellington On A Plate.

11:45 Off the beaten track with Kennedy Warne

Kennedy travels the Coromandel Coast, he also talks about Tui and their many and varied sounds and looks ahead to National Poetry Day.

Music played in this show

Artists: Japanese Breakfast
Track: Be Sweet
Time played: 09:50

Artists: Age Pryor
Track: Backbone
Time played: 10:35

Artists: Jose Gonzalez
Track: El Invento
Time played: 11:45