Nine To Noon

09:05 What will happen to regional council port assets worth billions?

Regional councils own assets worth billions of dollars, but what could happen to them with plans to scrap regional  councillors? The government wants to install district and city mayors as Combined Territories Boards instead of regional councillors, with two years to propose a longer term structure. But the Government has made little mention of the very large assets owned by the regional councils and what will happen to them if regional councils are eventually bundled into unitary authorities like the Auckland Council. One of the most notable examples is the Port of Tauranga - a $2 billion asset majority owned by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Doug Leeder has just finished a 12-year stint as chair of that council and Hilary Calvert is the new chair of the Otago Regional Council. 

09:20 Intermediates make renewed call for middle school options 

Intermediate schools say it should be easier to keep pupils on past year 8, and grow a year 9 and 10 roll. The value of intermediate and middle schooling has been debated in the past, with a 2018 report concluding that a middle school - or junior college - would be far more beneficial to a child's development, than the more common two year intermediate experience. However, the costs of expanding an intermediate school, or building a new junior college that would include years 7 to 10, far outweigh the cheaper option which is turning a contributing school - which ends at year 6 - into a full primary. The New Zealand Association of Intermediate and Middle Schools - better known as AIMS - says middle schooling is exceptionally important, with children in formative pre-teen and early teen years, but the current two-year model doesn't give teachers or the children enough time to get the best out of the experience. Cambridge Middle School principal Daryl Gibbs who is also the president of the Intermediate and Middle Schools association discusses with Kathryn Ryan. 

09:35 New trunk line in South Island

The Southerner's back with a new name as passenger rail to the South Island main trunk line. The Mainlander rail service will begin in January, with trips from Christchurch to Dunedin and then Invercargill taking place over several days. The company has bought and refurbished old carriages from Kiwirail's 'Capital Connection' service that travels between Wellington and Palmerston North. Mainland Rail chief executive is Paul Jackson.

09:50 USA correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben

President Trump demands the closure of Venezuelan airspace and denied reports that his defense secretary ordered the killing of a drug-smuggling boat’s crew, while also signalling interest in regime change in Caracas. After a fatal shooting of two National Guard members in DC, his administration froze asylum decisions and vowed a sweeping pause on immigration from “Third World countries.” 

Danielle Kurtzleben is a political correspondent assigned to NPR's Washington Desk.

10:05 Electrifying Auckland's passenger ferries just the start for the 'boat guy'

  When Michael Eaglen was a child his parents feared riding his bike on the road was too dangerous ... so they steered him toward the sea instead. Having caught the sailing bug from a young age, he has never been far from the water since. Responsible for leading the electrification of Auckland's passenger ferries, the naval architect's career has spanned over 25 years in the marine industry, encompassing yacht design, working with Team New Zealand for America’s Cup optimisation, structural engineering, and shipyard management. He is now at the helm of company EV Maritime which works with cities around the world to electrify vessels. Current projects include a hybrid-electric ferry in San Francisco, shipyard collaborations in Canada and Australia, and also has developments in train in Southeast Asia, and Europe. He was recently awarded a 2025 Blake leader award, which celebrates New Zealanders driving environmental change.

10:35 Book review: Nadia's Farm Kitchen by Nadia Lim

Leah McFall reviews Nadia's Farm Kitchen by Nadia Lim, published by Nude Food Inc.

10:45 Around the motu: Jimmy Ellingham in Manawatu 

Jimmy talks to Kathryn about how the community is reacting to  the recent Sanson fire, a split within Palmerston North City Council, and he reminisces about the burnt-down Palmerston North pub The Fitz and an ongoing stink over some local public toilets.

11:05 Business commentator Victoria Young

The latest in the Du Val saga as former employees speak out. There's an election at Fonterra with three well known candidates putting their hands up. And the new Air NZ chief executive is off to a rocky start. 

BusinessDesk editor, Victoria Young

11:30 Births, deaths and marriages: unpacking the numbers 

Fewer babies were born in New Zealand in the year to September than in the previous year. There were 57,393 live births registered, down from 58,047. This continues a trend of our fertility rate dropping, while life expectancy increases. Meanwhile, fewer couples are tying the knot. Statistics NZ's population insights analyst Rebekah Hennessey joins Kathryn to unpack some of the numbers.

11:45 Sports correspondent Glen Larmer 

Glen assesses the Black Caps' chances against the West Indies in Christchurch in the first test match of the summer, looks ahead to the second Ashes test which gets underway later this week and other goings on in the world of sport.