Nine To Noon for Monday 11 August 2025

09:05 New Zealand's piecemeal approach to corruption not enough to combat risks 

Transparency International says without a whole-of-government national anti-corruption strategy New Zealand remains at risk. The recently convened Ministerial Advisory Group on Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime reported earlier this year that corruption is growing, is being weaponised by organised crime, and that New Zealand must act now to protect its institutions, borders, and regional stability. It recommended developing a national anti-corruption strategy alongside a centralised reporting and investigative body, improving vetting for high-risk industries, and modernising corruption offences under the Crimes Act. New Zealand is the only Five Eyes Country that does not have such a strategy in place. The Public Service Commission recently published its long-term insights briefing and developed an action plan to combat corruption within the public sector. And last month, the Serious Fraud Office announced an anti-corruption taskforce pilot, which will run for six months gathering data, to test the current assessment and reporting processes. But Julie Haggie, the chief executive of Transparency International New Zealand, says while this is all good - the piecemeal approach still won't be enough.

Nine to Noon has repeatedly requested an interview with the chief executive of the Serious Fraud Office Karen Chang  since the Office announced its campaign to tackle foreign bribery, in May. Those requests have all been declined. 

09:20 Businesses welcome two new seasonal visas

BusinessNZ is welcoming the introduction of two new seasonal visa pathways saying they will support the agriculture and tourism sectors. The government has introduced a new three year visa and a seven month visa - each aimed at allowing experienced workers to return to the country for seasonal work. Susie speaks with BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich, who says the new visas are a common sense initiative to reduce the costs and time spent sourcing seasonal staff.

09:30 People's Select Committee starts pay equity hearings bypassed by law change 

The People's Select Committee gets underway in Wellington this morning, to hear submissions on the rushed-through changes to the Equal Pay Amendment Act. The legislation caused an uproar when it was passed under urgency in early May - with it effectively ending 33 claims from female-dominated workforces which sought to prove they were underpaid in comparison to similar male-dominated industries. The urgency bypassed the usual select committee process, where parties could submit their views on the changes. It led former National Party Cabinet Minister Dame Marilyn Waring to take the unusual step of creating the People's Select Committee, with nine other former female MPs from across the political spectrum. She speaks to Susie about who'll be submitting today and what the Committee hopes to achieve.

09:45 Foreign correspondent Seamus Kearney in Europe 

EU throws its weight behind Ukraine's President Zelensky ahead of Putin-Trump meeting. In a blow to Israel, Germany announces big U-turn on military support. Residents and ecologists vow to fight massive Sicily bridge project. And the man who lit cigarette from Paris memorial flame faces deportation.

10:05 'Underground' university in Afghanistan thriving

In Afghanistan, an underground university for girls and women is thriving, despite the Taliban regime banning females from higher education. The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, and since then authorities have cracked down on many civil liberties, including a ban on girls studying at schools after primary school. Earlier this year, UNESCO described the situation with girls' education as 'alarming' adding that almost 1.5 million girls have been deliberately denied access to secondary education since 2021. Zuhal, not her real name, lives in Afghanistan and, after researching the role of women in public life in the country, launched online courses for women. Despite the risk of identification and arrest for defying authorities, her courses have grown into an underground university, the Vision Online University, of more than 4000 girls, with 250 staff, all working voluntarily. Zuhal has taken instruction from a professor at another university, who is acting as the online university's Chancellor. They have faculties in midwifery, nursing, computer science, economics and psychology. Zuhal spoke to Susie about how it came about and what they have to do to avoid being caught.

Australian Chris Robinson is running a fundraiser to pay for the girls' internet connections so they can study at the cyber university. 

10:30 Optimism in construction sector: survey

Construction sector leaders are confident about the industry's outlook over the next five years, despite persistent  economic pressures.Equipment hire company Kennards Hire's annual Construction Confidence Check, which includes a survey of New Zealand business leaders for the first time, indicates confidence is high on both sides of the Tasman. The company surveyed 600 senior leaders of mid to large construction businesses in Australia and New Zealand - and 93 per cent of respondents were confident about the industry's growth performance over the next five years. Susie speaks with Kennards Hire General Manager Richard White

10:35 Book review: Ghosts on every corner by Ruben Woods

Sonja de Friez reviews Ghosts on every corner by Ruben Woods, published by Ghostcat.

10:45 Around the motu: Tom Hunt reports on  Wellington

Tom discusses the final line up of mayoral candidates in the capital,  an unresolved stoush that left waste water leaking into a local stream for years and an $80m blowout in cost of a sludge treatment plant

11:05 Political commentators Jones and Hehir

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 public affairs firm Capital. He is currently providing PR support for Andrew Little's Campaign for Mayor of Wellington, on a voluntary basis.

Liam Hehir is a Palmerston North lawyer, political commentator and a National Party member.

11:30 Hunt is on for the country's best toastie

The Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover competition now has its 13 finalists. Susie talks to Becs Caughey, who's the co-creator of the competition, which saw the judging panel munching their way around the 208 toasties on offer this year. She'll explain how the humble toastie has gone above and beyond the usual ham and cheese - with some incredibly unusual offerings vying for the top spot. And you, listeners, have a chance to try them out until August 20...when the supreme winner is announced.

11:45 Off the beaten track with Kennedy Warne

Kennedy joins Nine to Noon from the Twin Coast Cycle Trail, among the mangroves of the Waikare Inlet near Opua. He chats about the disappearing starfish of the Pacific Northwest Coast, and gives a salute to the humble hare.