Nine To Noon for Monday 25 August 2025

09:05 The water bills are coming

A South Island mayor is warning that coming water bills could decimate finances for councils and households. Next Wednesday councils need to deliver their plans for providing water services in a financially sustainable way to the Government. Around the country, local authorities have been consulting with ratepayers on what model they want with most choosing to form council-controlled organisations, and 38 of them joining with other councils to do so. A further 23 councils will go alone, and will be able to do so if they can prove to the Government they can viably deliver water services. Bills for ratepayers will be separated from normal rates bills and estimates for some will be several thousand dollars a year. Outgoing Clutha, Bryan Cadogan, talks to Kathryn about his fears over water costs in the future, she is also joined by Tauranga mayor Mahe Drysdale about his decision to backtrack on an earlier decision by his council go alone and Water New Zealand chief executive Gillian Blythe speaks about what the expectations on the new water entities will be.

09:30 Does the prohibition of recreational drugs cause more harm than good? 

The use of recreational drugs is fraught with risk - with users putting their lives at risk, substances being missold on the black market, and the potential for users to dealt with through the criminal justice system. Pharmacist Dr Rhys Ponton is a senior lecturer in the University of Auckland School of Pharmacy. He says much of this risk comes from the unhelpful prohibition of substances and legislation struggling to keep up with new drug types and technologies. His work explores the risks of recreational drugs with and how to reduce harm through legislation changes and drug checking. Dr Rhys Ponton speaks to Kathryn Ryan.

09:35 NZ designed re-useable walls snapped up by Australian banks

A New Zealand building firm, which produces re-useable wall partitions, has secured a big contract to roll out its modular system for a one of the big Australian banks. Xframe is to install its wall cladding system in ATM walls for the Commonwealth Bank in Australia at about 650 branches over 18 months. The partition system is made entirely of wood and is reconfigurable and aims to reduce building waste. Ged Finch is Xframe's  founder and Chief Technology Officer.

09:45 Foreign correspondent Seamus Kearney

Ukraine marks Anniversary Day by vowing to continue fight for freedom, Sweden reverses decades-old policy of phasing out nuclear energy, figures show Europe's summer of wildfires worst on record, and France shocked by death of influencer during livestreaming "challenge".

Europe correspondent Seamus Kearney reports from Lyon.

10:05 The profound ways music influences our mind

Music is seen as a powerful coping mechanism and source of escapism. Now a major study has shed light on the effect music can have on our imagination and the role it could play in helping stimulate social interaction. The study was carried out at the University of Sydney's Music, Mind & Body Lab. The lab operates at the intersection between the arts and science and is located at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Researchers wanted to establish scientifically how music affects imagination - and if music really can be good company? PhD Candidate Ceren Ayyildiz is based at the lab, and is studying the profound ways in which music influences our minds.

10:30 Device locations to be available to first responders 

As of 9am this morning, emergency responders will be able to access the location information of someone's phone.  The new technology, the Device Location Information service, can be used by emergency services to locate the mobile phone of a person who has not called 111 themselves but there are grave fears for their health or safety. The DLI capability was announced on Friday by Minister of Police Mark Mitchell. Steve Ferguson is lead entity director at Next Generation Critical Communications - a Government agency that works across police, fire and emergency, St John and Wellington Free Ambulance. He speaks to Kathryn about the new technology.

10:35 Book review: Become Unstoppable by Gilbert Enoka

Dean Bedford reviews Become Unstoppable by Gilbert Enoka, published by Penguin Random House NZ.

10:45 Around the motu: Simon Wilson in Auckland 

Simon discusses in the latest in the mayoral contest, housing density, a rural rates revolt and reclaiming land at the Port of Auckland.

Simon Wilson is a Senior Writer NZ Herald 

11:05 Political commentators

Gareth Hughes is the Director of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa is a former Green MP and is no longer a member of any political party.

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

11:30 The food truck bringing New York bagels to Queenstown 

After eating his way though New York City's food abundant food offerings, Ben Davies decided to bring the bagel experience back to New Zealand. Ben now sells NYC-style bagels from a food truck in Queenstown - all made with local ingredients - and was also a finalist in this year's Toastie Takeover Awards. All Good Bagels owner Ben Davies speaks to Kathryn Ryan.

11:45 Off the beaten track with Kennedy Warne

Kennedy discusses the short film Think Like a Forest, screening on TVNZ+. The film expresses the vision of Recloaking Papatūānuku, an ambitious environmental restoration proposition aimed at restoring our indigenous forests and wetlands.