Nine To Noon for Monday 10 November 2025

09:05 Simon Bridges: 'Auckland business sentiment is lifting'

Auckland contributes 38 per cent of the country's GDP,  but our biggest city is still facing headwinds. Unemployment is at a nine year high, the CBD shop vacancy rate is the highest in the country, and the government is considering measures to move rough sleepers out of the central city. On the bright side - the new Convention Centre is set to open, there are plans for more events at Eden Park and the long awaited City Rail Link is due next year. Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive Simon Bridges has been vocal about the need for more central government fiscal stimulus to help Auckland recover from a long, deep recession. But he's cautiously optimistic that sentiment is lifting and better days are ahead.

09:25 Country's most beloved ceramics museum closes

The country's only ceramics museum is closing to the public due a funding crunch. The Quartz Museum in Whanganui was founded by ceramicist Rick Rudd a decade ago, and holds over 4000 works from ceramic artists around the country. Rudd , who is 76, says he cannot continue working six days a week to keep the museum open. He has sought funding from the local council and Lotteries NZ for two part time workers to support him, but was unsuccessful. Rudd says he has reluctantly decided to close the Quartz Museum to the public, and will only be open by appointment. 

Rick and the Quartz Museum are the subject of a documentary by filmmaker Kevin Double and producer Melita Farley to be released in 2026. 

09:35 Blood service warns of national shortfall

The New Zealand blood service is warning of a national shortfall and is urging donors to come forward. In particular - plasma is in short supply with 1,300 more regular plasma donors urgently needed by next June. Plasma is known as "liquid gold" as its used to treat over 50 serious illnesses from cancer to immune disorders. Auckland primary school teacher and grandmother, Michaela Von Sturmer, received blood and blood products from 54 different donors after she was diagnosed with leukaemia. She's sharing her story to encourage others to donate blood, plasma, or join the bone marrow registry.

09:45 Europe correspondent Seamus Kearney 

Denmark to join Australia with social media ban on those under 15, likely youngest-ever Dutch PM tries to put together a coalition, Kremlin insists Putin and his foreign minister have not fallen out, an update on the incredible Louvre heist.

Seamus Kearney is RNZ's Europe correspondent based in Lyon. 

10:05 Temuera Morrison digs deep for his new travelogue show Earth Oven

He's known around the globe as Star Wars' Boba Fett, and locally as Dr Ropata or Jake the Muss. But Temuera Morrison has dug deep on this latest project, a documentary series which sees him travel the globe in search of other cultures who use an earth oven for traditional cooking. In Earth Oven, he explores Jordan, Mexico, Hawaii, Chile, Australia - and of course, New Zealand to look at how kai and culture intersect. The series, which is on Sky Go and Neon, begins in Jordan where Tem had to dig a zarb pit in the broiling heat, with an added challenge of keeping out the sand. He spoke to Kathryn last Thursday, the day before the death of acclaimed Kiwi film director Lee Tamahori, to whom he paid tribute as one of New Zealand's greatest directors. Tem admits to audiences that he's a little light on cooking ability - but happily, heavy on the eating. Kathryn talks to him about what drew him to making Earth Oven.

10:30 Sculpture competition to mark re-opening of Wellington City Art Gallery

Wellington City's Art Gallery, Te Whare Toi, is marking it's re-opening in Civic Square with a competition to create  a major outdoor sculpture. The competition is open to a New Zealand or New Zealand born sculptor. Until last year, the Gallery's rooftop was home to a 5 metre tall sculpture of a hand balanced on two fingers and featuring the artist's face on the back. It's hoped the winning sculpture will be a new civic landmark at street level. Kathryn's joined by Charlotte Davy the director at the Wellington City  Gallery, Te Whare Toi.

10:35 Te Pāti Māori Mps expelled from party

Te Pāti Māori's national council has voted to expel MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris, after a torrid period of internal conflict. The National Iwi Chairs Forum was hopeful the party's two factions could patch things up at a hui at a Wellington marae this week.That plan has been scuppered, after the co-leaders announced the party's council - made up of electorate representatives - met last night and voted "without opposition" to expel Kapa-Kingi and Ferris. In response to news of his expulsion, Te Pāti Māori MP Tākuta Ferris has issued a statement, saying the decision "is plainly unconstitutional" and has called the resolutions 'illegal'  Kathryn is joined by Craig McCulloch,  RNZ's acting political editor. 

10:35 Book review: The Loft by Marlen Haushofer

Stella Chrysostomou reviews The Loft by Marlen Haushofer, published by Penguin Random House.

10:45 Around the motu: Amy Williams in Auckland 

Amy has the latest on Auckland's homeless issue, who is leading committees at Auckland Council for the new term, a buyout scheme for at risk flooded homes is coming to an end and a new Christmas art installation for the CBD. 

Amy Williams is an RNZ Senior reporter in Auckland

11:05 Political commentators Andrew Kirton and Brigitte Morten 

Andrew Kirton was a speechwriter for Helen Clark, was Labour’s general secretary and 2017 campaign manager, and worked with Christopher Luxon at Air New Zealand. In 2023 he was Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and is now director of corporate affairs firm Richmond Bartley. He is married to a current Labour MP.

Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government, a National Party member and currently volunteering for the party's deputy leader, Nicola Willis.

11:30 From Thailand to Kapiti: Sone's Sauces

Kathryn meets Mark and Sone Edwards who make a range of Thai inspired sauces on the Kapiti Coast. Sone's Sauces are made in small batches from fresh ingredients. Their three main sauces are "Secret",  "Satay" and "Spicy Salad", which are now stocked in stores around the country.  

11:45 Off the beaten track with Kennedy Warne

Kennedy explores the newly opened exhibition at the NZ Maritime Museum in Auckland's Viaduct Basin called Nga Huhua: Abundance, which explores the promise of revived abundance in the Hauraki Gulf.