Nine To Noon for Thursday 10 April 2025

09:05 US Trade tarriff chaos:  some paused, sharp rise for China 

Donald Trump is pausing many of his new tariffs for 90 days, but again increasing the import tax on Chinese goods. The US is also lowering all its other reciprocal tariffs to 10 percent, for three months while countries try to negotiate deals. China and the US have been in a tit-for-tat tariff war since the President announced his sweeping new tariffs last week. Kathryn speaks with Bill Reinsch, an international trade expert with 20 years experience on Capitol Hill, and Tim Groser former Trade Minister, trade negotiatior and Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation.

09:20 Legal scholar concerned about use of artificial intelligence in court 

A legal academic is concerned about the use of artificial intelligence in court - after a fake case was referenced in the Court of Appeal. In the case of Wikeley vs Kea Investments in November, it was discovered one of the parties - Mr Wikeley - had put forward a memo drafted using generative AI, and which referred to previous legal decisions that did not exist. The respondents' lawyer pointed it out, and it was subsequently withdrawn. The judge noted the incident in a footnote to the case - and referred Mr Wikely to the judiciary's 2023 guidelines on using artificial intelligence. The case has piqued the interest of Auckland University Law School academic Matt Bartlett, who is questioning whether this country needs stricter rules around the use of AI in court. 

09:30 Nelson Jewellery Week shines amid closures of craft and design schools

Nelson Jewellery Week begins today bringing together makers, admirers and collectors for a week of workshops and masterclasses, floor talks and panel discussions, social events, and more than 35 exhibitions. Event director Kay van Dyk says there has been a decline and closure of tertiary level craft and design schools around the country which has had a big impact on the sector.

09:45 UK: 'Calm' reaction to tariffs, Universal theme park plans

UK correspondent Harriet Line looks at the 'cool and calm' reaction Downing Street has promised to the latest developments in Donald Trump's tariff wars. Sir Keir Starmer has hailed a deal to bring the first Universal theme park  in Europe to Britain and the King and Queen have been a convalescing Pope Francis at the Vatican on their visit to Rome.

Harriet Line is Deputy Political Editor of the Daily Mail

10:05 Wordle editor Tracy Bennett on why we're hooked on the puzzle

Five empty squares and six chances to crack the word. It's the puzzle which is now played by millions of people. Wordle was created by Josh Wardle, a programmer living in New York in 2021. He created the puzzle for himself and his partner. However after seeing his that relatives were hooked to the game, he made it public. The game went viral after he added a feature where the game results could be shared. Now owned by the New York Times it's popularity has shown no sign of slowing down. Last year it was played 4.8 billion times.  Tracy Bennett is Wordle's first and only editor and joins Kathryn Ryan.

10:35 Book review: Atlas of the New Zealand Wars by Derek Leask

Paul Diamond reviews Atlas of the New Zealand Wars by Derek Leask published by Auckland University Press

10:45 Around the motu: Robin Martin in Taranaki

Robin discusses the latest regarding rough sleepers in New Plymouth, the revamped Yarrow Stadium's upcoming open day, and the Shakespeare Festival.

Robin Martin is a RNZ reporter based in Taranaki 

11:05 Tech: Bad cyber dog, Australian super funds attack, fast flux technique

Cyber security expert Tony Grasso looks at how researchers have found a backdoor in Chinese-made robot dogs that could allow for spying. A coordinated cyberattack targeted several major Australian superannuation funds, with the criminals using stolen passwords for sale on the dark web - is this a tech version of a smash and grab? And cybersecurity agencies have issued a warning about the increased use of the "fast flux" technique by various hacking groups.

Tony Grasso is Principal Consultant at cybersecurity firm TitaniumDefence. He worked at GCHQ in the UK and is a former Intelligence Officer in New Zealand

11:25 Parenting: The transition to fatherhood: joys and challenges

A recent Australian study shows the transition to fatherhood can be a time of simultaneous joy and challenges. It found guilt and feelings of being ill-equipped for parenthood are commonplace for new fathers, with some new dads feeling 'ridiculously unprepared'. So what can we learn from these findings, and what are some strategies for navigating these challenges both at home and at work? Norma Barrett is a lecturer in Public Health and Health Promotion at Deakin University in Victoria, and is the co-author of the study.

11:45 Screentime: Dying for Sex, The Grand Tour, The Amateur

Film and television reviewer Tom Augustine starts by reviewing the White Lotus season three finale - did it live up to the hype of the previous two season? Michelle Williams stars in a new American dramady based on a true story of a woman diagnosed with breast cancer who ends her marriage to explore her sexuality before death in Dying for Sex (Disney). The Grand Tour (in cinemas) is an award-winning historical drama film about a man fleeing his fiancé in the dying days of the British empire. And The Amateur (cinemas), sees Rami Malek as a desk-bound CIA employee who seeks revenge following the death of his wife in a London terror attack.

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.