Nine To Noon for Wednesday 13 August 2025

09:05 Buyer beware: extra clauses found added to home purchase agreements 

Real estate agents have been caught adding additional clauses into standard sale-and-purchase agreements, which lawyers say could have dire consequences for homeowners. The Real Estate Institute says it has been made aware of some real estate agencies inserting clauses into the Agreement for Sale and Purchase of Real Estate, forcing buyers to waive their title requisition rights and authorise early release of their deposits. Title requisition rights allow a purchaser to request the vendor to rectify defects or issues on the property title before settlement, and if a sale falls through after an early release, the buyer may have no way to recover the funds. This risk is heightened for buyers using KiwiSaver, as the terms for using KiwiSaver funds require the deposit to remain in trust until settlement. The Law Association's Property Law Committee alerted the Real Estate Institute to the clauses that were being covertly added. The REINZ declined to comment. The president of the Law Association is Tony Herring. 

09:20 The regional organisations trying to keep their polytechnics going

Regional organisations are trying to keep their polytechnics going, despite questions around their viability. Last month, the Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds said polytechnics in Northland, Taranaki, Wellington, and the West Coast were not in a position to be financially independent. The minister said a decision on their future was expected in 2026. They have been told to work toward viability or face potential closure or a merger into the federation being managed by online-based Open Polytechnic. A hui was held at the end of last month attended by parties concerned about slashes to forestry courses and the impacts. In Taranaki, the economic development agency Venture Taranaki is calling on local stakeholders to get involved to support the Western Institute of Technology. Deputy chief executive at Venture Taranaki is Stacey Hitchcock. 

09:35 United Nations urged to investigate New Zealand's rollback on pay equity

A formal request has been made to the United Nations to investigate the government's changes to pay equity laws. The Pay Equity Coalition Aotearoa has made an urgent appeal to the UN Commission on the Status of Women to examine what it calls the "historic and deliberate regression" of women's economic and political rights in New Zealand. Back in May, the government rushed through changes to the Equal Pay Amendment Act under urgency - casting aside the opportunity for hearings at a select committee level and effectively canning 33 claims from female-dominated workforces seeking to prove they were underpaid in comparison to similar male-dominated ones. A People's Select Committee led by ten cross-party former MPs started hearing submissions on the new law this week. The appeal to the UN argues the law breaches the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - which ensures access to effective legal remedies. The Coalition says it's informed the Prime Minister's office and other relevant parties of the appeal. Dame Judy McGregor is from Pay Equity Coalition Aotearoa.

09:45 Australia: Palestine recognition, rate cut, algal bloom, beach booze protest

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton joins Susie to talk about Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's decision to recognise a Palestinian state, the Reserve Bank's decision to cut interest rates to their lowest in two years, and the worsening algal bloom on the South Australian coast - could it lead to beaches being closed this summer? Also the small group of residents - which include a Hollywood director - who are upset at a trial of BYO booze at their local beach.

Karen Middleton is a political journalist based in Canberra

10:05 Dr Ratu Mataira on entrepreneurship and the potential of nuclear fusion

The efforts of physicist  Ratu Mataira to deliver almost limit less energy through nuclear fusion have been recognised by Victoria University  in Wellington in its  Distinguished Alumni awards for the brightest and boldest innovators. Dr Mataira, Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Kahungunu, completed his PhD in Applied Superconductivity at the Victoria's   Robinson Research Institute at bit over three years ago. He leads OpenStar Technologies a Wellington-based start-up working with nuclear fusion - as opposed to nuclear fission - in an attempt to capture a source of almost limitless clean energy. Multi-national groups have been trying to achieve this same goal for decades, but with  massive teams and enormous budgets. He joins Susie to talk about his work 

10:30 Invercargill council staff facing rising aggression

Verbal abuse and threats to damage equipment have increased in Invercargill City Council's latest health and safety report. Overall it listed a total of 100 events in the two months to the end of July, including an uptick in what is described as psychosocial incidents. It follows reports earlier this year that showed a near doubling of total incidents for 2024 over the year before. At the time it was said animal control and parking had  experienced an increase in verbal abuse and threatening behaviour. Invercargill City Council's group manager is Trudie Hurst.

10:35 Book review: The Cut Throat Trial by S. J. Fleet

Lisa Finucane reviews The Cut Throat Trial by S. J. Fleet, published by Macmillan Publishers.

10:45 Around the motu: Diane McCarthy in Whakatāne 

Diane discusses a petition for a second bridge across the river in Whakatāne, worries over the state of the existing bridge and green bins and a three strikes policy over incorrect contents.

Eastern Bay of Plenty Local Democracy Reporter - Diane McCarthy with the Whakatāne Beacon 

11:05 Music with Maggie Tweedie

Maggie Tweedie shares a palette of refreshing sounds with lyrics she is fond of. Like Aerodynamism from the ever-evolving experimental Australian band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard—who recently removed their music from Spotify, alongside Bring Summer by the Bristol folk and soul collective Me and My Friends, Blood by UK rapper Little Simz, and Nice to Each Other by rising alternative pop artist Olivia Dean.

Maggie Tweedie is a broadcaster and music commentator based in Spain

11:20 How to have a good separation and divorce

Therapist, educator and researcher Jo Robertson joins Susie to talk about how couples can separate well, and what makes for a "good divorce". She'll take your questions - text them to 2101 or email ninetonoon@rnz.co.nz

11:45 Science: Walking for your heart, black carbon underestimated

Science correspondent Laurie Winkless joins Susie with three new studies. The first has found that taking more steps - even below the recommended 10,000 target - and increasing your walking pace are associated with reducing your risk of a heart event or stroke. Black carbon emissions in the 'global south' are almost 40 percent higher than previously reported. And researchers in Japan have developed the strongest underwater adhesive hydrogel to date.

Laurie Winkless is a physicist and science writer