Nine To Noon

09:05 Some Kiwirail assets face significant decline as budget cut by $200m

Some regions could be left without rail access as the focus goes on investment in electrifying and upgrading within the so-called Golden Triangle of Hamilton, Tauranga and Auckland. KiwiRail has said it will manage some rail assets in other parts of the country under a state of significant decline. While it says that's not the preferred option - it's the only one it has to meet budget cuts of $200m over the next three years. Kiwirail had to re-write its three year Rail Investment Plan as a result of the government budget directive. The new plan revealed there were more repairs and upgrades needed, than had been realised, and that deferring that would cost more in the long run. Michael van Drogenbroek is a Rail, Freight and Public Transport Consultant & Advisor at Heriot-Edievale. He was KiwiRail's Group Strategy and Reporting Manager from 2008 to 2011 - more recently the Director of Railway Planning for Etihad Rail in Abu Dhabi and the Executive Director overseeing network planning for Melbourne's / Victorias tram, bus and rail networks.

09:25 Pt Chev sports ground stoush heads to High Court

A dispute over ownership of a central Auckland sports ground is being taken to the High Court, amid concerns from the community it could lose a long-standing sports site to housing development. Point Chevalier's Hallyburton Johnstone Sports Club has hosted tennis, bowls and croquet on the site since 1928, but the Anglican Trust for Women and Children argues it's the legal owner and is set to test that at the High Court. A meeting to voice concerns was held yesterday. Simon Munro is president of the Pt Chevalier Bowls Club and explains his concerns.

09:20 Charlisse Leger-Walker hopes to become the second New Zealander to ever play in the WNBA

Charlisse Leger-Walker is back on the court in United States college basketball, following much of last season on the sidelines with a torn ACL. Leger-Walker began her NCAA career with Washington State University, but now a graduate student working towards her masters, she has made the move to UCLA. The Tall Fern, and Commonwealth Games bronze medalist had been considered a strong candidate for the 2024 WNBA draft before she withdrew from consideration following her injury. But now she's back playing, I spoke to her on Friday afternoon just before UCLA took on the Washington Huskies. She says the WNBA draft is back in her sights this year. 

09:45 Europe correspondent Seamus Kearney 

Ukraine marks 4th anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, klling of far-right activist sparks political storm in France, Austrian climber convicted of manslaughter in test case, and it's the final day of snow-packed Winter Olympics in Italy.

10:05 The post-war world where humans are on an equal footing with androids and AI

Two Iranian-born brothers who now live in Palmerston North and the United States have come together to write a dystopian novel which considers the future artificial intelligence. Tomorrow Brings Joy: Elysium is set across three timelines and looks at a post-war world, what it means to be human, and the rapid growth of technology. It's the fifth book for Mahyar  Amouzegar, but his first with brother Mahbod. 

10:35 Book review: Clawmarks Down the Jetty: A nearly but not quite circumnavigation by Jill Harris

Sally Battson of The Next Chapter Bookshop in Wanaka reviews Clawmarks Down the Jetty: A nearly but not quite circumnavigation by Jill Harris, published by WBJ Publishing.

10:45 Around the motu: Keiller MacDuff in Christchurch

Reserved court decision on Howard Temple's appeal of sentence expected to be delivered this week, concern over delays in opening Lake Forsyth during last week's storm, and crowds expected for Electric Avenue this weekend. 

11:05 Political commentators Gareth Hughes and Ben Thomas 

Gareth Hughes is the Director of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa is a former Green MP and is no longer a member of any political party.

Ben Thomas is a former National government press secretary, a columnist and a director of public affairs firm Capital.

11:30 Hastings Meatball Festival back for a second year

Much like last year, when a rollicking 15,000 meatballs were sold, punters can enjoy helpings provided by renowned chefs and top local talent. Hastings Meatball Festival takes place on Heretaunga St East from 5.30pm on Friday 6 March and tell us all about it, Kathryn is joined by Vicky Roebuck, Chief Meatball Officer at Hastings District Council, and celebrity chef Ben Bayly.

11:45 Off the beaten track with Kennedy Warne

Today, an endangered land bird, and endangered seabird, and the science behind forest bathing. Kennedy discusses Department of Conservation's live kakapo cam, which is giving viewers a 24/7 recording of Rakiura the kakapo, sitting on two eggs in her nest burrow on Whenua Hou / Codfish Island. One of the eggs is very close to hatching, but it's not quite as simple as it seems. The egg in question is actually an electronic egg that mimics a real kakapo egg in every way, including making peeping noises that match those of a real kakapo chick.