Nine To Noon for Friday 20 March 2026

09:05 Auckland resident questions flood mapping

A Glendowie resident disputes her property is flood prone despite it being designated as such on Auckland Council's online maps. Stephanie Burgess noticed part of her property was designated 'flood prone' on an Auckland council flood map that is made publicly available. She says she has had no experience of flooding in nearly 30 years living there. She says the techniques used to gather the data are broad brush, not reflecting an individual property's attributes in its potential to flood. She is getting her own consultants to assess the property and wants the council to incorporate that data into the public flood maps. Kathryn speaks to Stephanie, as well as Nick Vigar - head of planning networks at Auckland Council.  

09:25 What the latest attacks mean for oil and gas prices

Oil and gas prices have again risen after strikes continued against energy infrastructure in the Middle East, including Qatar's main gas facility. Brent Crude was trading at about 1-hundred-and-10 US dollars a barrel. Iran's South Pars gas facility was hit by Israel earlier in the week, they responded by targeting Ras Laffan, a major liquefied natural gas export facility in Qatar. Videos have also shown fire and smoke at an Israeli oil refinery in Haifa. The attacks come after the essential closure of the Strait of Hormuz - a major shipping route for oil and gas. US President Donald Trump says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed not to again attack Iranian energy facilities. Regardless, experts are warning oil prices are unlikely to drop any time soon. Dr Adi Imsirovic has 35 years of experience in oil trading, he has written two books on oil markets, and is a guest lecturer at the University of Oxford's Department of Engineering Science.

09:35 Dog adoption centre focused on finding the right fit, rather than cuteness

An Auckland dog adoption centre at Pukekohe is celebrating not only its first birthday, but a successful technique for better matching owners and dogs. Getting on for 300 dogs have found new homes in the year it's been running. The centre is using a walk-through system where potential owners can meet all the dogs available for adoption, not just one they've booked an appointment to see. The Pukekohe Adoption Centre's manager, Carly Triska says the system gives staff an opportunity to talk about what dog's would be best suited to a potential new owner's lifestyle.

09:45 Pacific Editor Koroi Hawkins 

Solomons PM refuses to convene parliament, Pacific Island governments warn against panic buying fuel, Cook Islands PM Mark Brown visits New Zealand and the curious case of PM Christopher Luxon’s matai title.

10:05 Aiming at a Pacific-wide drug-buying club  to secure cheaper  medicines

Years of campaigning to identify and treat hepatitis in the Pacific was the motivation for Hazel Heal to try to find a way to give nations in the region affordable access to treatments. Hazel Heal knows well the affects of Hepatitis C having lived with the disease for 30 years. 10 years ago she was facing level four Hepatitis and was in urgent need of medication. But the treatment came with a six figure price tag. Her search for a solution lead her to a generic medication buyers club and the purchase of medicine at a fraction of the cost.Hazel Heal says the  Hep C treatment cured her,  but the experience sparked a desire to let others know more about  their legal and medical options.

10.30 The artist who records sounds humans can't typically hear 

Multidisciplinary artist Brian House investigates sounds which are below the typical human hearing range - known as infrasound. These sound waves are at frequencies below 20hz and are transmitted by both natural and man-made sources - such as ocean currents, volcanoes and glaciers or sonic booms, wind turbines and data centers. House's work reveals the planet's hidden soundscapes and highlights how human activity alters them. He has released six albums of music, including one recorded during a 24 hour period in the Massachusetts woods, and his work has appeared at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Brian House speaks to Kathryn and listeners will hear his music productions. 

10:35 Book review: Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman

Jack McConnell from Unity Books Auckland reviews Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman, published by Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand.

10:45 Around the motu: Jimmy Ellingham RNZ's  Manawatu based correspondent

Jimmy discusses the Ministry of Education decision to pause its review of school bus routes,  the Kaimanawa  horse muster goes ahead, attempts to clean up Lake Horowhenua, a reversal on road speeds around Levin and the  Government's farmer cadet scheme. 

11:05 New music with Grant Smithies   

 Influential British art-punk band Swell maps is back with a new album after 46 years. We’ll hear one of their early classics alongside a new song today, followed by some dancefloor philosophy from Nigerian author/ spoken-word artist Joshua Idehen and new music from London producer/ DJ Shy One and singer Steve Spacek.

11:25 Friday funnies: Te Radar and Irene Pink

The Guinness World Record winning goldfish, the woman using AI to lecture parents, and congratulations on spring cleaning.  

11:45 Sport Editor Dana Johannsen

Decision looms on the future of Twenty20 cricket in New Zealand, White Ferns and Black Caps double header, grassroots rugby clubs around the country are ditching fees for junior players, and The World Indoor Championships get underway in Poland.