Nine To Noon for Friday 23 May 2025

09:05 Budget 2025: Finance Minister Nicola Willis

Finance Minister Nicola Willis on the choices and trade-offs in yesterday's budget. A promised boost to health, education, and law and order and defence, plus tax breaks for businesses to boost investment But $12.8 billion came from funds set aside for pay equity claims to boost 180,000 mostly female, low income workers. There's also pared back government contribution to KiwiSaver less support for Best Start, and shifting responsiblity to parents to pay for unemployed 18 and 19 year olds. Meanwhile a return to surplus keeps getting pushed out further- the books expected to stay in deficit until 2028, with a wafer thin surplus of $200 million forecast for 2029. Nicola Willis joins Kathryn.

09:30 Putting the fun in maths 

Polymath founders have their game being used in half of New Zealand's primary schools. Sophie and Christian Silver were looking for a solution to kids' anxiety to try doing maths work when they landed on creating a game. Polymath is a website and app game that lets kids control a character and explore a virtual world, with their own island. Players interact with and build new objects, but to continue the game there are maths questions that need answering along the way. It's spread to schools largely through word of mouth, and as it is free, teachers do not need to make a budget request to get their classes started on the game. As well as New Zealand schools, Polymath is being picked up by schools as far as the US, UK and Canada. Sophie and Christian Silver speak to Kathryn about the inspiration behind the game and where they want to take it.  

09:45 Pacific news: geopolitics, military operations and deep-sea mining concerns

Samoa's PM warns of growing geopolitical interest in the Pacific, increased military operations in West Papua, concern over a deep-sea mining frontrunner sidestepping UN oversight and Tonga's kava Committee calls for more support for growers.

Koroi Hawkins is RNZ Pacific Editor

10:05 Game Changers: how board games are making a comeback

Board games can be the subject of pure delight or intense anger - some people play them every week; others flat-out refuse. Either way, board games are making a comeback, and author Tim Clare says there's something out there for everyone. In his book The Game Changers, he argues games are a human universal instinct. With examples from Roman anti-cheating devices, to organised crime card syndicates to the combative domestic bonding ritual of Monopoly. Tim's book explains how games help us learn to be better losers and make smarter decisions.

10:35 Book review: The Names by Florence Knapp 

Laura Caygill reviews The Names by Florence Knapp published by Hachette 

10:45 Around the motu: Samantha Gee in Nelson

The government is yet to confirm Nelson Hospital's redevelopment Budget, the Māori Queen makes first official visit to Whakatū and Te Tauihu, the little spotted kiwi has returned to Nelson 'turning clock back a century', and snapper are being trialled in a new open ocean aquaculture farming system in Tasman Bay. 

Samantha Gee is RNZ's Nelson reporter.

11:05 New music with Jeremy Taylor

Jeremy Taylor from Slowboat Records plays "joyful, spritely" pop  from Robert Forster, former Go-Betweens co-frontman's new album;  an indie rock debut from Auckland group, Bub; and he celebrates the 30th anniversary of Bernard Butler’s first post-Suede effort in collaboration with Thieves vocalist David McAlmont.

11:30 Sports commentator Sam Ackerman

Sam looks at Auckland FC's date with destiny, Moana Pasifika are the buzz of Super Rugby and the "Enhanced Games" inaugural competition set for May 2026 in Las Vegas,  for athletes using substances banned in official competition.

11:45 The week that was

Comedians te Radar and Michele A'Court look at some of the funnier stories of the week, including the small city of Carmel-by-the-Sea in California, which requires visitors to get an official permit in order to legally walk in heels higher than two inches.