Nine To Noon for Friday 28 November 2025

09:05 ComCom to watch gas disconnections, prices up

As more households and businesses get off gas, the Commerce Commission is proposing to let distributors moderately lift prices on those who remain. It says it will now put more scrutiny on the way disconnections are being carried out and priced. Yesterday it released its draft decision on how distribution companies could charge for gas delivery over the next four years. These will be $4 a month for Auckland households, and about a $2 increase for the rest of the houses in the North Island. These would begin in October next year and go for two years, with increases after that limited to inflation, the commission says. The regulator also noted there had been high reported disconnection costs. It would now begin collecting data on how disconnections were being priced - as it expects the issue to grow in the next few years. Vhari McWha, a commissioner at the regulator, speaks to Kathryn about the draft decision.

 

09:15 The stroke survivor on mission to boost the health and wellbeing of our construction workers  

Jamie Summers was just 39 in 2019 when he had a haemorrhagic stroke. A construction industry project manager by trade, after getting back on his feet, Jamie wanted to make a difference to his colleagues across the sector. Launched as a trial in 2023, Health15 supports busy construction workers by providing free 15-minute on-site health checks. The trail was set up as a partnership between Jamie's employer, The Building Intelligence Group, and Stroke Aotearoa New Zealand. It’s so far reached 2400-plus workers across 66 sites, involving 19 industry partners, including Naylor Love, Fletcher Living, and Christchurch Airport. Now the trail is being expanded in collaboration with eight of Aotearoa’s leading health charities. The checks are for conditions like diabetes, arthritis, cancer, epilepsy, and heart-related diseases. Jamie Summers speaks to Kathryn on why the scheme is so important.

Note: This interview was cut short by a fire alarm.

09:30 The music festival that'll shut down Auckland's K'Road and turn it into a big stage

This weekend one of Auckland's best-known roads will be partially closed for a music festival - the first time that's happened for a ticketed event. The Others Way music festival  is celebrating its 10th anniversary - Covid years notwithstanding. It's an eclectic festival that takes place over between 5pm and 1.30am at nine different venues, including on K'Road itself. There's a mix of international and local artists, and here to talk about the logistics and how the festival's evolved over the years, I'm joined by Reuben Bonner, festival director. 

09:45 Asia correspondent Ed White

Ed has the latest on the fire that  tore through multiple high rise residential buildings in Hong Kong, a long running court case over India's air pollution is gaining momentum and China's efforts to boost the number of marriages appears to be bearing fruit.

Ed White is a correspondent with the Financial Times based in Shanghai.

10:05 Helen Goh mixed baking and psychology - and rose to the top of both careers

By day she's a psychologist. By night, a pastry chef. It's perhaps an unusual mix, but Helen Goh has managed to rise to the top of both professions. She was born in Malaysia to Chinese parents, moved to Australia when she was eleven, did a science degree majoring in psychology and worked in the pharmaceutical industry. But the allure of food remained - she ran a cafe, worked in fine dining and eventually moved to London. She went to work in one of Israeli-British chef Yotam Ottolenghi's restaurants, became his head pastry chef and eventually, a collaborator on two books with him: Sweet and Comfort.  Along the way, she earned her doctorate. Now she's found the perfect way to combine both interests, a book of her own called Baking and the Meaning of Life: How to find joy in 100 recipes. She joins Kathryn for a philosophical and flavoursome chat.

10:35 Strikes by health workers and Firefighters 

17-thousand health workers are due to strike in just a few hours time, as they take action over what they call chronic underfunding of the public system. The allied health staff, policy specialists, mental health and public health nurses and healthcare assistants will strike for four hours, from 1 oclock. And at midday, the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union is also taking industrial action for an hour. RNZ's Ruth Hill has the latest on what services will still be available.

10:35 Book review: Giving Birth to My Father by Tusiata Avia

Harry Ricketts reviews Giving Birth to My Father by Tusiata Avia, published by Te Herenga Waka University Press.

10:45 Around the motu: David Hill on North Canterbury

David discusses reactions to the proposed local government reform that could see Environment Canterbury scrapped, efforts to support for Kaikōura penguins and Hurunui Council  backs a $1.4m proposal to secure access to a local beach golf course.

11:05 Music reviewer Grant Smithies​

Recently, cult 90s Californian band Pavement has been having a burst of unexpected momentum: a sold-out reunion tour, a feature film, a doco, even a stage musical and soundtrack album. Now, added to that list, comes a new compilation. We’ll hear two key tracks from that today, followed by some Latin soul from King Nando and a classic from London soul singer, Omar.

11:30 Sports commentator Sam Ackerman

New Zealand Cricket boss Scott Weenink is said to be "fighting for his survival" in his role, as Amelia Kerr is given a huge contract in the women's IPL. The Tall Blacks are back in action, while a polarising figure in golf has died. 

11:45 The week that was

Te Radar and Pinky Agnew bring the end-of-week laughs.