Nine To Noon for Monday 15 September 2025

09:05 Set net fishing temporarily banned to help yellow-eyed penguins

Government Ministers have put in an immediate emergency closure of all set net fishing around the Otago Peninsula to help preserve the local population of Yellow Eyed Penguins - said to be one of the world's rarest penguin species. Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones acknowledged fishers had voluntarily stopped set netting but the Government needed to step in with a more substantial ban. He has told officials to work on permanent measures to reduce the impact of fishing on Hoiho. Figures from Seafood NZ and the Ministry of Primary Industries showed 17 birds were killed in fishery incidents between October 2019 and June 2025, primarily as by-catch in set nets. The Environmental Law Initiative has been calling on Jones, and the Conservation Minister Tama Potaka to put a ban in for two months. The Environmental Law Initiative's director of research and legal Dr Matt Hall joins Susie to discuss the ban.

09:05 New voice for Wellington city water consumers 

As Wellington's five metro councils move towards joint water services, Wellington City Councillors have voted in favour of funding an independent Water Consumer Advocacy Group. . MetroWater, the joint council body, will be formed under the government's Local Water Done Well, which requires new water organisations to report to council owners as the key relationship, but not to customers. Tim Brown has been a Wellington City Councillor for the past three years. He spent nearly three decades with the infrastructure investor Infratil. He is not standing for council again, but in the final meeting of this triennium,  proposed a resolution that the Wellington City Council provide financial support to an independent water consumer advocacy group to be up and running by next March. It was unanimously passed. He speaks with Susie Ferguson, along with Gillian Blythe, Chief Executive of the industry body Water New Zealand.

09:35 Skin cancer doctors urge reform for screening on post-op patients

Skin cancer doctors are urging the Government to mandate and fund skin cancer checks for people who have had an organ transplant, due to their heightened risk of developing the disease. Patients who take anti-rejection immunosuppressant medications after a transplant are up to 500 times more likely than the general population to develop cancer. These cancers are also more aggressive, more likely to metastasize, and more likely to cause  significant illness and death. But regular screening for skin cancer is not mandatory, or funded. Dr David Hassan is a registered General Practitioner specialising in skin cancer screening and minor surgery. He has penned an open letter to the Health Minister Simeon Brown urging him to mandate and fund screening, and to make sure the sector is adequately resourced to accommodate appointments, and treatment.

09:45 Foreign correspondent Debora Patta in Johannesburg

The International Criminal Court has opened its war crimes case against rebel leader Joseph Kony - former Lords Resistance Leader. Israel reaches out to Somaliland to take forcibly removed Palestinians, and Nigeria's albinism community gets its first beauty queen - significant in both Nigeria and elsewhere on the continent as there is such a stigma against people living with albinism.

10:05 Craig Hudson on work wellbeing

On the face of it, Craig Hudson has been hugely successful; a top Sevens player, and then a global business leader at Xero. But underneath that he's had multiple lows - describing himself as a high-functioning depressive who fell apart at home, away from the office. He grew up in Tauranga on a kiwifruit orchard, with the dream of being an All Black, and did have some success as a rugby pro, playing for the national 7s team. But while in Europe, overtraining led to an illness, and it was a long road to recovery before a manager in a family business back in New Zealand convinced Craig to address his mental health. Craig is now recognised for his leadership on mental health in the workplace, and his ability to get leaders to recognise the importance of wellbeing alongside financial success. And Craig has a new gig - he's joined startup Givenwell, a platform where employees get to choose with confidentiality their preferred way of managing their mental health.  

10:35 Book review: Seascraper by Benjamin Wood

Jenna Todd reviews Seascraper by Benjamin Wood, published by Penguin Books New Zealand.

10:45 Around the motu: Samantha Gee in Nelson

Funding boost to reopen the Great Taste Trail after floods, airline steps in for Blenheim to Christchurch route, a job loss tsunami with more than 140 jobs lost in sawmill closure and the proposal for 79 jobs to go at fish factory.

Samantha Gee is an RNZ reporter in Nelson.

11:05 Political commentators Gareth Hughes and Ben Thomas

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 SCOFF: The South Island food festival into its sixth year

What started as a way to help hospitality venues through the pandemic is now in full swing for the sixth year in a row. The South Canterbury Outstanding Food Festival - also appropriately known as SCOFF  - joins together growers, producers and artisan creators... It kicked off on September 5th and will continue through to the 21st - and those wanting to sample the best of what the region has to offer can try it out at any number of eateries. Joining Susie is Di Hay, she's the Operations and Destination Manager Venture Timaru and heavily involved in the organisation of the three weeks of the festival. Also with Susie, Lockie Broadfoot, owner and publican of Silverstream Hotel - and also president of the South Canterbury branch of Hospitality NZ.

11:45 Urban Issues with Bill McKay

Bill discusses proposed new planning rules in Auckland - and the impact that local elections has on debate. 

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