Nine To Noon

09:05 The host of new government instructions to make it easier to mine and quarry 

The New Year has started with 10 new or amended national policy statements intended to make it easier to mine, quarry and establish more aquaculture.  These national directions enable central government to set out objectives and policies to guide local consent decisions. The amended statements cover such things as  Indigenous Biodiversity, freshwater management, highly productive land  and coastal policy. The RMA Minister, Chris Bishop, has said that it is an unavoidable fact  that to build more infrastructure and grow the economy, the nation needs more quarries and mines. Already the scrapping of the Resource Management Act, in favour of new legislation due to come in later this year, is expected to trigger a surge in changes to National Policy Statement. Elizabeth Macpherson is a law professor at Canterbury  University specialising in Environmental Law, says the changes could lead to more legal challenges.

The  RMA Minister, Chris Bishop,  provided this explanation about why the changes to the National Policy Statements were necessary. Our approach aims to support economic growth while continuing to protect the environment. Councils as consent authorities will still be required to assess the resource consent applications and have the ability to impose consent conditions to manage effects on the environment.

0925 Much of North Island hammered by wind and rain.

RNZ reporter Nick James with the latest

09:35 Year 13 student's study into aged care loneliness gets peer reviewed

When Christchurch school student Bill Li volunteered in an aged-care home, he noticed some residents went days or weeks without visitors. He wondered: Are they lonely? He's now completed a study into rates of loneliness among those in long-term care - drawing on anonymised data collected as part of an assessment for anyone living in public aged residential care. His findings? Younger residents  - those aged between 65 and 85 - tend to report being lonely, but overall rates of loneliness are declining. Women were more likely to report being lonely, as were Europeans, compared to those who are Māori and Pasifika. He presented his findings last week to the interRAI Research Network Knowledge Exchange held in New Zealand, and his paper is under peer review with the Australasian Journal on Ageing.

09:45 Middle East correspondent Sebastian Usher 

Middle East correspondent Sebastian Usher on talks between the US and Iran happening this week in Geneva, how the post-Assad leadership regime is faring in Syria, and the latest developments in Gaza. 

Sebastian Usher is a BBC Middle East analyst, editor and reporter.

10:05 Alice Topp on creating the Royal New Zealand Ballet's bloodiest work yet

 The Royal New Zealand ballet will premiere Macbeth next week- a reimagining of Shakespeare's tragic tale by choreographer Alice Topp, who was once herself a member of the company. This version moves from the 17th century and into the 21st, amidst a backdrop of corporate power and surveillance culture - where Macbeth's downfall is predicted, not by three witches - but by social media influencers. Alice studied ballet for years and spent two years under contract with the Royal New Zealand Ballet, until a badly broken foot intervened. After lengthy rehab, she landed a job with The Australian Ballet. But it was a chance offer to choreograph that really launched her career in a new direction. She joins Kathryn to talk about her journey. The Royal New Zealand Ballet’s Macbeth will make its debut at Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts in Wellington, February 25-28; then it will tour to the Auckland Arts Festival, March 4-7. From there, it'll go to Dunedin and Christchurch at the end of March. More information can be found here.

1030 Manawatu remains in a State of Emergency amid heavy rain and wind

We hear from Power Co and Manawatu Mayor Michael Ford.

10:35 Book review: The Good Economy by Craig Renney and Diana Russell

Harry Broad reviews The Good Economy by Craig Renney and Diana Russell, published by Bridget Williams Books.

10:45 Around the motu: Torika Tokelau

Torika discusses the two year ban on collecting from rock pools on Auckland's East coast, the best all-tide Auckland family beaches, the scrutiny on the Papatoetoeby-eolection re-run and call for changes at the Mt Albert aquatic centre after accidents.

11:05 Political commentators Neale Jones and Liam Hehir 

Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of public affairs firm Capital.

Liam Hehir is a Palmerston North lawyer, political commentator and a National Party member.

11:30 The Chatham Islands seafood company

In the Chatham Islands an award winning fishing company is making waves with its blue cod, kina and other products. Waitangi Seafoods is also celebrated for its sustainability practices - it shuts down in the off-season to prevent overconsumtion of kaimoana. The company is run by Pita Thomas and last year they won Seafood Champion in the Outstanding Food Producer Awards for their blue cod fillets, and minced paua. Laura Marks, general manager at Waitangi Seafoods, and the company owner and founder Pita Thomas speak to Kathryn.

11:45 Urban Issues with Liz Moncrieff

Liz Moncrieff is chief advocacy officer at the New Zealand Planning Institute (NZPI). She breaks down what impact the National Policy Statements, that came out in mid-January, will have on planners, developers, and anyone doing work on their own land. 

Liz is a proud planner, having worked in the planning and resource management policy space for 25 years. She has worked in planning policy roles across local and central government and the private sector.