Nine To Noon for Thursday 27 November 2025

09:05 Principals: Schools shouldn't have to pay asbestos sand cleanup costs

Some principals say their schools will be left tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket for decontamination and refurbishment costs, because the Education Ministry has told them the asbestos sand clean up is their responsibility. Multiple sand products are now subject to recall notices in New Zealand, after a testing fluke in an Australian lab prompted further investigation. Some 40 schools were closed while testing was done - among them, May Road School in Auckland's Mt Roskill,  which had students home for four days. Its new 15-classroom space is out of action for two weeks until asbestos removal is finished. Likewise Newton Central School in Auckland is out six classrooms. The heads of both say it's unfair and unrealistic to expect individual schools to bear the financial burden of the clean-up costs, and that money will have to come out of already-squeezed operational budgets meant to support student learning. Joining Kathryn: Bryan Rehutai, principal of Newton Central School and Lynda Stuart, principal of May Road School. What legal options do schools have? Consumer law expert Alex Sims weighs in.

09:20 Parole conditions limited under Supreme Court precedent 

The Supreme Court has effectively limited the parole conditions that can be imposed on an offender. The case was tested recently with an appeal by child sex offender Brett David Grinder, who was sentenced to preventative detention in 2003 for sex offences against 13 young victims between 1976 and 2001. When his prison term ended the parole conditions placed on him included a ban on loitering near any place where children might congregate such as schools, parks and swimming pools. He disputed whether these conditions were proportionate to the risk he posed, and the appeal reached the Supreme Court in October 2024. The Court agreed that imposing conditions not proportionate to the risk, is a breach of the Bill of Rights Act. Julie-Ann Kincade is the Vice President of the Law Association of New Zealand.

09:35 Buying a house with Bitcoin

Those in the housing market are all too familiar with all the foibles of dealing with banks and making sure the money side is all lined up. But what would be needed if you tried to sell a house using a crypto currency? At the moment a Remuera home is for sale with the vendor accepting either New Zealand dollars or Bitcoin. To ensure compliance if a crypto-currency deal goes ahead, the law firm MinterEllison, which specialises in cryptocurrency and blockchain. Kathryn speaks to Victoria Tatam, a property lawyer with the firm and Jeremy Muir is a specialist in Fintech, also at Minterellison.

09:45 UK: Chancellor delivers her Budget - what's in it?

UK correspondent Rob Watson looks at what's in Chancellor Rachel Reeves Budget - including some new taxes and a lifting of the two-child cap on benefits.

Rob Watson is a BBC political correspondent 

10:05 Backyard fight clubs: thuggery or a way to heal?

The world of backyard fight clubs is a controversial one. and when TVNZ in depth journalist Indira Stewart began investigating them in Auckland and Northland, she wasn't sure what she'd find. Dangerous unregulated thuggery dressed up as sport? Or a place where fighters can come together in a controlled setting, with official referees and health and safety checks? What she found is a large community of participants - many of them gang member with criminal convictions  - who say the fight clubs are bringing rival gang members together, easing inter-gang tensions, and creating positive change. She's made a two part series for TVNZ + called Backyard Gang Wars - part 2 is due to be released on Saturday. Indira was named Reporter of the Year at the New Zealand Screen Awards last week. She joins Kathryn along with one of the people featured in the series - Jon Paul "Fight Dog" Te Rito - known as JP.

10:30 Waipukarau gets cash back

Waipukurau is to get a cash depot, as part of a Reserve Bank trial, meaning businesses no longer have to drive 50 kilometres to the nearest bank. The Reserve Bank's project is looking at the best ways to expand cash services across the country, particularly in more remote areas. Earlier this month it launched a cash depot in conjunction with Central Hawke's Bay District Council, where local businesses and community organisations can use it to get cash, free of fees. It's an ATM that will be inside the Waipukurau library - Te Huinga Wai - in the town's CBD. In 2020 Waipukurau lost its Westpac and BNZ bank branches. Ian Woolford is director of cash at the RBNZ.

10:35 Book review: The Mushroom Tapes by Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper & Sarah Krasnostein

Dean Bedford reviews The Mushroom Tapes by Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper & Sarah Krasnostein, published by Text Publishing.

10:45 Around the motu: James Pocock

James discusses Gisborne's "in-house" water services plans getting government approval,  the local deer hunt feeding families, Tairāwhiti schools pledge to uphold Te Tiriti despite law change and a long serving  search and rescue volunteer is recognised.

11:05 Tech: Chip war, AI recipe slop, 2025 local tech highlights

Tech commentator Peter Griffin joins Kathryn to talk about a revival of Google's AI ambitions, with news Meta may look at buying its AI-centric computer chips for its data centres - so where does that leave Nvidia? Googles AI overviews are taking over its search engine - but that's also meant when someone looks for a recipe, they might be getting a complete mashup with unrealistic photos. And Peter shares the biggest developments on the local tech scene for 2025.

Peter Griffin is a Wellington-based science and technology journalist.

11:25 Parenting: understanding the adolescent brain 

In parenting today, when puberty hits and suddenly you don't recognise your own child. Clinical Psychologist Kathryn Berkett says adolescence is the most intense period of brain development since early childhood. She says the teenage years are like an essential software update - which can help explain moody, reckless and avoidant behaviour. Her new book is called What's Going On In There: The Neuroscience of the Adolescent Brain. Text in your questions for Kathryn - 2101 or email us ninetonoon@rnz.co.nz

11:45 Screentime: Death By Lightning, The Chair Company, The Lowdown

Film and TV reviewer Tom Augustine joins Kathryn to talk about Death By Lightning (Netflix), a historical drama about the election, presidency and assassination of James A Garfield, starring Michael Shannon and Matthew Macfadyen. The Chair Company (Neon) is a comedy thriller series about a man who investigates a far-reaching conspiracy after a  workplace incident. And The Lowdown stars Ethan Hawke as a "the man who knows too much" in Tulsa Oklahoma.

Tom Augustine is a Tāmaki based filmmaker and critic. He writes for Rialto Channel's View Magazine and Metro Magazine. Tom is the co-programmer of the Capitol Cinema Film Club, which shows rare and underseen gems from throughout cinema history monthly.