Nine To Noon RNZ Radio

Steve looks at the recent success of the The Black Caps and Kane Williamson's contribution, the Crusaders beating the Blues and he looks ahead to the All Whites two home games this week. Also Kiwi golfer Danny Lee's golf winnings and the dollar value.

Landscape designer and gardener Xanthe White talks to Kathryn about why wood is one of our most valuable resources when developing healthy gardens. She explains why it is particularly useful in restoration work but also food production.

Rebecca looks at the OECD's new global economic outlook which says central banks shouldn't be distracted by weaknesses in banking and financial systems or economic recovery, and monetary policy needs to remain restrictive until there are clear signs that underlying inflationary pressures are lowered durably. Also, the Reserve Bank hiking rates, with Governor Adrian Orr pointing out, there are other options to cool inflation that don't involve NZ's central bank hammering the populace with high interest pain. Rebecca Stevenson is a senior writer at interest.co.nz

An earthquake swarm in Kawerau over the weekend has lots of people rattled with over 600 earthquakes recorded on Saturday and Sunday. The Ohiwa Harbour has an oversupply of starfish, that is wiping out shellfish species, particularly mussels. And Waka Kotahi is holding community information meetings in Whakatane and Awakeri next week to allow people to have their say on safety improvements on SH30 Awakeri-Whakatane. Eastern Bay of Plenty Local Democracy Reporter, Diane McCarthy is with the Whakatane Beacon.

Ralph McAllister reviews The New Life by Tom Crewe, published by Chatto.

Whether it is extreme flooding in the north and east, or drought in parts of the south - water has been a key focus around the country in recent times. Award-winning independent journalist and author Erica Gies says that just as floods and droughts are the first obvious sign of climate change, we are making things much worse by the way we manage or mismanage water. In her book Water Always Wins: Thriving in an Age of Drought and Deluge, she travels the world, examining "Slow Water" innovations, where wetlands, floodplains, high altitude grasslands and forests soften flood peaks, store water for droughts, and keep natural systems healthy.