Nine To Noon for Friday 27 February 2026

09:05 A buyers market but interest rates tipped to rise

09:15 New report details disadvantages faced by blind or low vision Kiwis

New research out this morning has found significant disparities in life outcomes for those New Zealanders who are blind or visually impaired. Almost 2.2 percent of the population has some kind of visual impairment, and advocacy group Blind and Low Vision NZ sought data to better understand the breakdown and how it affected people. Using anonymised data from StatsNZ, the Shining a Light on Blindness report found inequities in nearly every key indicator of wellbeing and general life quality. Life expectancy for those with severe visual impairment was nine years lower than for those with none.  They were twice as likely to be hospitalised in a year, four times more likely to have no qualifications, half as likely to own their own home and three times more likely to live in emergency housing. Only 26 percent of people with severe visual impairment are employed, and 86 percent earned less than, or equal to, $60-thousand dollars a year. Blind and Low Vision says this report goes further than any other, by using population-level data for the first time ever to illuminate the lived experience of sight loss in Aotearoa. Kathryn speaks with lead researcher Cain Richardson and Andrea Midgen, CEO of Blind and Low Vision NZ.

09:20 Northland organisations turning old clothes into mattresses

Old clothes that are unfit for resale are being collected from Northland charity shops to be turned into mattresses and insulation for families in need.  The project is a collaboration between the Kaitāia-based Community Business and Environment Centre, Auckland processing company Textile Products, and more than a dozen Northland op-shops. As part of a six month trial currently underway, the used textiles are shredded before being turned into new products which are distributed by Cbec. The centre's manager of ecosolutions, Joanne Shanks, says they have a number of people waiting on mattresses. 

09:45 Asia correspondent Anna Fifield

The latest from Asia, including the German chancellor's visit to Beijing ahead of a US diplomatic trip next month, low fertility rates in South Korea and what it means for the region, and why the world has gone bananas for an emotional support toy monkey called Punch who lives at the at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan.

10:05 How surviving an earthquake as a child lead to a career exploring seismic activity 

Watching his father lead the rebuild of his hometown in Macedonia (now known as Republic of North Macedonia), after it was destroyed by an earthquake, inspired Misko Cubrinovski's 40-year career as an engineer. Professor Misko Cubrinovski is retiring after 20 of those years with the University of Canterbury. And while many people move away from disaster zones - he is drawn to them - and has explored sites around the world to learn how the ground responds to quakes, and the impact on infrastructure. Following the Canterbury earthquakes his expertise in liquefaction and soil composition saw him become a leader in the city's rebuild. Misko speaks to Kathryn from the Christchurch studio.

10:30 Faux-co: Alternative chocolate production on the rise

Manufacturers are working to create chocolate alternatives that don't rely on cocoa amidst volatility in supply for the product. The price of cocoa hit historic highs hit in 2024 - rose and fell sharply into 2026 - and has recently slid again back to its pre 2024 prices. Currently it's going for about $3,063 US dollars a tonne. At its peak was about $11,000 US a tonne. There are numerous pressures affecting the industry - climate change, shipping costs, ethical labour issues, ageing cacao plantations, deforestation due to palm oil cultivation, heavy metal contamination, and tariffs. Rabobank's recent report titled 'Beyond the Bean' explores what manufacturers are doing to shore up some certainty for their product. Rabobank analyst Paul Joules tells us about the chocolate alternatives being turned to. 

10:35 Book review: Shadow Thieves by Peter Burns 

Roger Christensen of Unity Books Auckland reviews Shadow Thieves by Peter Burns, published by Farshore.

10:45 Around the motu: Logan Savory - The Southland Tribune editor

The future of Southland’s outdoor stadium, Environment Southland has asked the Government to delay its local government reform, and Southland is preparing for a major surge in attention - both on the ground and online - as the Gore-based 2026 MAGNIficent Adventure Race takes place from February 28 to March 7.

11:05 Music reviewer Jeremy Taylor

Jeremy Taylor from Slowboat Records brings along some tracks he's been listening too, including Bob Dylan covers from a new compilation by black artists, the latest Bic Runga album, and new music from local artist Sugar. 

11:25 Friday funnies: Te Radar and Donna Brookbanks

A look at some of the funnier headlines of the past week — including a drunken passenger disrupting a murder mystery train ride in Napier, a mum whose trip to a public toilet ended in embarrassment in front of her son's football team, and a man who accidentally took control of 7000 robot vacuum cleaners. 

11:45 Sports commentator Sam Ackerman 

T20 at home, White Ferns v Zimbabwe, and abroad with the Black Caps World Cup semi-final. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe retires, again. The Super Rugby weekend ahead and the New Zealand Golf Open underway.