Nine To Noon for Monday 23 June 2025

09:05 World waits for Iran's response to US bombing

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian says the US "must receive a response for their aggression", following yesterday's strikes on Iran's nuclear enrichment sites. The US President Donald Trump claimed the strikes were a "spectacular military success" and warned Iran could face more attacks if it didn't "make peace". So where do things stand now?  Kathryn speaks with the BBC's MidEast correspondent Seb Usher. David Smith is The Guardian's Washington DC correspondent and joins Kathryn to talk about the US President's decision to carry out the strikes and American domestic reaction to it.

09:20 Auckland's rain radar 'vulnerable' at end of life

Auckland's rain radar has reached its end of life and is vulnerable to significant outages in the  event of a component failure. The coverage of country's largest city and biggest international airport relies on outdated technology, which limits forecasting and warning capabilities in the region. This was the advice given to Associate Minister of Transport James Meager -- who has oversight of the Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited (MetService) contract for forecasting. The Auckland rain radar, commissioned in 1989, is the oldest in the network and while periodic upgrades  have allowed it to extend its useful life well beyond the typical 20-year horizon, it is now in need of urgent replacement. To discuss are MetService's General Manager of Observing Systems Kevin Alder and MetService's Chief Meteorologist Chris Noble.

09:35 Google search changes turning web into 'wild west' 

Google is transforming online search, and businesses wanting to get their websites in front of customers must change with it, according to a leading digital marketer here. The vast majority of searches online are done on Google, and the tech company began incorporating AI into its searches a little over a year ago. Last month its CEO announced a further step where the typical experience of getting links to websites would be gone entirely, replaced with an AI-generated article answering the search question. Auckland digital marketer Richard Conway says he has had to overhaul his business, moving from a focus on search engine optimisation to 'generative engine optimisation'. He says the ongoing changes to Google search are turning the web into something of a 'wild west' for those who operate businesses online.

09:45 Germany: New chancellor's controversial Israel remarks

Germany correspondent Thomas Sparrow looks at the reaction to comments by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, after he praised Israel for attacking Iran's nuclear enrichment sites. It earned the German ambassador a summoning to Iran's Foreign Ministry. And Austria plans tighter gun control measures following the school shooting in Graz which left 11 dead, including the 21-year-old gunman.

Thomas Sparrow is RNZ's correspondent in Germany 

10:05 How Debbs Murray found freedom and safety 

Debbs Murray has spent more than two decades working tirelessly in the family violence sector, for refuge, and various government and non government agencies including the police. She is the founder of ECLIPSE family violence services based in Waikato, through which thousands of frontline family harm prevention workers have been trained. The training focusses on helping practitioners build greater understanding of the complexity of family violence and coercive control - and why so many victims don't or can't get out. But through all of that advocacy over 20 years, Debbs has never really shared her own experience in writing, of the seven years she was in a relationship marked by severe family violence and absolute coercive control. She's now written a book about her extraordinary journey - and that of her four children. It's aimed at anyone experiencing family violence and their loved ones who want to help.

10:35 Book review: The Unquiet Grave by Dervla McTiernan 

Harry Broad reviews The Unquiet Grave by Dervla McTiernan published by Harper Collins    

10:45 Around the motu: Simon Wilson in Auckland

Auckland Council will be deciding whether to restrict off-leash dog walking on a number of beaches and various parks this Thursday, there have been a few updates involving the Maungawhau Railway Station, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop wants changes to be made to Auckland's urban density rules, the year long trial regarding bikes on the NX1: Northern Express bus is about to start, and Desley Simpson is not standing for mayor.

Simon Wilson is a Senior Writer for the NZ Herald.

11:05 Political commentators Dale Husband and Ben Thomas 

Dale Husband is a long time broadcaster and Radio Waatea presenter hosting a Maori focused current affairs programme.

Ben Thomas is a former National government press secretary, a columnist and a director of public affairs firm Capital.

11:30 Food: From a Corrections gig to Taco Bandit

After 12 years delivering arts and well-being programmes in the prison system, Beth Hill made quite the pivot... starting up a Mexican food truck. She'd found herself without work last year after Government funding cuts. It led her to inject her creative passion into starting Taco Bandit, which serves up bold fusion-style tacos in Northland. Taco Bandit will be at Brew of Islands on June 28th in Kerikeri.  

11:45 Urban Issues: The case for keeping the Gordon Wilson flats

Urban issues correspondent Bill McKay discusses the government's decision to introduce a bill to demolish Wellington's Gordon Wilson Flats and why he believes it's a new low in the story of our architectural heritage.

Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland.