Nine To Noon

09:05 Thousands unable to access mental health support 

16,000 fewer people sought help from specialist mental health and addiction services than three years ago. But the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission - which has reported the figure - says this is not due to decreasing need, but to significant workforce shortages. The Commission's data shows in the year-ended June 2024 there were 176,261 people who used specialist services,   down from the 192,463 who sought help in the year ended June 2021. The decrease is mostly for mental health clients, rather than those battling an addiction, with non-government organisations seeing a sharper decrease than public health services funded through Te Whatu Ora. Significantly, young people between 19 and 24 - experienced the largest relative decrease in accessing a  specialist service. The chief executive of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Karen Orsborn joins Kathryn to discuss. 

09:20 Worldwide kiwifruit sales set to break records

The national marketer of kiwifruit, Zespri, has forecast exceeding a long held  target of  $4.5 billion in global revenue for the 2024/25 season. It's been helped by strong demand and it's largest ever crop. Picking for this season has just got underway just outside Edgecumbe in the Bay of Plenty, the earliest ever start to the harvest, and it's expected to be a bumper one with the crop predicted to breaking a milestone of 200 million trays. Kathryn is joined by the Chief Executive of the Kiwifruit growers Organisation, NZKGI, Colin Bond.

09:35 Seven decades of organ donation 

Dunedin man Eric Trump was born with one kidney, which was failing by the time he was 29, and he needed a transplant. It came from his 54-year-old aunt,  and he has gone on to live a relatively normal life. It is 70 years since the first successful transplant when American surgeon Joseph Murray transplanted a kidney from Ronald Herrick into his twin brother Richard. The twins shared immunity was a way around immunity rejection, which had scuppered previous attempts when the body treated the new organ as a foreign object and attacked it. Since then, organ transplants have become commonplace thanks to immunosuppressant drugs,  and the World Health Organisation estimates more than 1 million people worldwide have had an organ transplant. Organ Donation New Zealand says there are about 500 people on a waiting list for kidneys in this country. The organisation's co-ordinator Sue Garland talks to Kathryn, and Eric Trump shares his journey.

09:45 USA correspondent Ron Elving

The latest on moves from the US to split from its alliance with Europe when it comes to defending Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. Elon Musk continues to push for access to Americans' data at the Inland Revenue Service and the world tries to grapple with the moving feast that is the President's tariffs - although moves to further tax metals from other countries look set in place. 

Ron Elving is a Senior Editor and Correspondent, Washington Desk for NPR news.

10:05 The Comeback Code: Cancer survivor Jake Bailey's new guidebook for resilience

Jake Bailey first became a household name almost ten years ago. He delivered his head boy speech at Christchurch Boys' High in 2015 just a week after being diagnosed with an extremely aggressive form of cancer, and his inspirational words went viral. Told that without treatment, he had maybe two weeks to live, Jake went through three months of intensive treatment, and five years knowing the cancer could return, before being declared cancer free while still in his early twenties. Remarkably, Jake says he came of out of it all a much happier person than before cancer. He turned his experience into a book, became an inspirational speaker around the globe, and has studied positive psychology. His second book, The Comeback Code, is out today. He speaks to Kathryn.

10:35 Book review: Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney 

Gail Pittaway reviews Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney published by Pan Macmillan

10:45 Around the motu: Jonathan Leask in Ashburton

Jonathan discusses Rakaia community's response to speed limit reversals, the council is paying influencers to boost tourism, and Ashburton has a MAGA (make Ashburton great again) mayor candidate.

Jonathan Leask is from the Ashburton Guardian and a Local Democracy Reporter for Mid Canterbury.

11:05 Business commentator Victoria Young

Company results are coming out and market watchers are learning how painful the last six months have been. Victoria talks about the companies to watch - the strugglers and the bright spots - and what they say about the wider economic picture. Elsewhere there is an investigation into the company now behind the school lunch programme - the Compass Group - as well as the idea of a sovereign wealth fund for New Zealand. 

11:30 Hone Taukiri on turning his Hare Krishna childhood into a play 

Hone Taukiri's childhood on the Kāpiti Coast was far from conventional. Growing up in the world of Hare Krishna involved long days on street corners with a stack of books, chanting, meditation, food, and gurus warning that making films goes against God's plan. His play, as part of the Hamilton Arts Festival, is a deep dive into his youth, and the compelling memories he has from that time. He speaks to Kathryn.

11:45 Sports-chat with Sam Ackerman

Super Rugby Pacific kicked off its season with some dramatic late wins. The Halberg debate is on - and its the women leading the charge for the ultimate prize. Sam also discusses the upcoming cricket Champions Trophy and more snow sport success for New Zealand.