Nine To Noon for Thursday 20 November 2025

09:05 Concerns over FENZ plan to cut specialist wildfire roles

One of the country's most experienced wildfire experts is concerned over Fire and Emergency NZ's restructure plan which would see rural wildfire specialist roles disestablished. Staff were told last week of sweeping changes designed to slash $50 million from FENZ's annual costs. Over 140 roles could be cut if the changes go through. FENZ says none are frontline - but the proposal does include the loss of six wildfire specialist roles and 45 roles in the prevention branch are to be disestablished. The PSA and the Professional Firefighters Union are trying to stop the restructure through the Employment Relations Authority. Richard McNamara is a former Regional Rural Manager for FENZ. He was Incident Controller at the first Port Hills fire in 2017 and is current Civil Defence Controller for Marlborough. Peter Hallett is a senior advisor for risk reduction at FENZ and speaks to Kathryn Ryan in his capacity as a delegate of the Firefighters Union. 

09:15 Palestinian journalist Plestia Alaqad on capturing the early days of the war in Gaza

When the bombs started hitting, Palestinians started the familiar process of stocking up, opening windows, getting their grab bag of important things together. But this was the day after October 7 2023. And it was not going to be like it was in the past. Plestia Alaqad's life as a Palestinian living in Gaza was not going to be the same. She'd gone to University, trained and worked as a journalist. Then came Israel's reaction to the horrific attack by Hamas which left more than 1100 of its citizens dead and 200 taken captive. In addition to reporting, Plestia kept a diary - just like she'd done as kid. It documents what happened in those first 45 days of the conflict in Gaza, until she and her family were lucky enough to be able to flee, first to Egypt, then Australia. She turned her diary into a book, called The Eyes of Gaza: A Diary of Resilience. She joins Kathryn from Lebanon, where she's completing her master's degree in media studies at the American University of Beirut.

09:30 Auckland wetland retoration project wins international award

New Zealand may have lost over 90% of its wetlands but the work of a small community group in West Auckland to restore theirs has been recognised with a coveted international award. Matuku Link took out a Gold Star Award at the Wetland Link International Star Wetland Centre Awards last month. One of only three gold star recipients out of almost 40 entrants, the award recognises their efforts to restore an important eco-system and educate and engage their community. Kathryn speaks with John Sumich, founding trustee of Matuku Link Charitable Trust and Rebecca Bowater,  lead educator. 

09:45 UK: Russian spy ship in UK waters, asylum crackdown, creaky No 10

UK correspondent Dan Bloom joins Kathryn to talk about a Russian spy ship that crossed in and out of British waters multiple times in recent weeks and directed lasers at UK pilots monitoring them. Labour's unveiled hardline plans to shake up Britain's immigration system and it's been home to Britain's leader since the 1700s, but is the sorry state of Number 10 Downing St impacting on the ability of those inside it to do their jobs properly?

Dan Bloom is Political Editor of Politico UK

10:05 Maegen Blom: Winning with mussels

From Southland to Marlborough with a few other places in between, Maegen Blom has grown into one of New Zealand's young leaders of industry. A winner of this year's Zanda McDonald Award, which recognises outstanding leadership in the Australasian primary sector, Maegen is the Operations Manager for her family business, Mills Bay Mussels. At just 25 years old, she is the first winner to be acknowledged for her work in aquaculture.

10:35 Book review: Nash Falls by David Baldacci

Sally Wenley reviews Nash Falls by David Baldacci, published by Macmillan.

10:45 Around the motu: Torika Tokalau in Auckland

Torika discusses the petition calling for an inquiry into voting in Paptoetoe, the latest in the measles outbreak, a fine over illegal earthworks on the North Shore and embers lead to a fire on a track in the Waitākere Ranges.

11:05 Tech: More friends, more division, super-scaled fakery, mind-reading AI

Tech commentator Mark Pesce joins Kathryn to discuss a new study which has found while our social circles have increased, so has polarisation. What happened between 2008 and 2010 to change us.... and what can we do about it? Deep fakes are coming for our payments systems, with receipts now looking so real can a human spot a counterfeit? It's now possible to create real-time audio deepfakes - is that really your boss on the phone telling you to move those funds to the Caymans? And new research has found AI can be used to 'mind caption', work out someone's thoughts before they become verbal. Scary perhaps, but potentially transformative for those who may be non-verbal through stroke or other impairment.

Mark Pesce is a futurist, writer, educator and broadcaster. 

11:25 Things to consider before gifting a child a phone for Christmas

As we barrel toward Christmas, you might be about to make the most of this month's crazy sales days. Perhaps a phone or a gaming device for a young family member makes your shopping list. But before you look to leave one wrapped under the tree - my parenting expert is along with some things to consider before handing out the technical toys. Anna McKessar is an online course producer with Parenting Place and joins me with some tips about alternatives to smartphones for younger kids, key steps for parents embarking on a device journey with their kids and how to set good boundaries and online expectations with older children.

11:45 Screentime: Pluribus, Die My Love

Film and TV reviewer Tamar Munch discusses Pluribus (Apple TV), a post-apocalyptic sci-fi drama from the creator of Breaking Bad.... what happens if you're one of the 13 people immune from an alien virus aimed at making the world's population happy and peaceful? And Die My Love is a film with two big hitters in it, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson which looks at a young mother's descent into post-partum depression and psychosis.