Nine To Noon RNZ Radio

Comedians Michele A'Court and Irene Pink with the Friday funnies, including smiling lessons in Japan for people who became so used to wearing face marks during the pandemic, they're being taught how to grin again.

At last there's peace in our times for golf - but who is the real winner in the proposed merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf? Dana has the details on the extraordinary development, and casts her eye over the Silver Ferns line-up for next month's Netball World Cup.

Wellington indie singer/ songwriter Lontalius (Eddie Johnston) releases his fourth album this week, and it's a luxuriously sad delight. We'll hear two songs from that today, followed by an early track from Northampton's Bigga Bush and a dancefloor classic from Grace Jones, who just turned 75.

Kawerau District Council is under fire from its community who are fed up with paru or muddy water coming from their taps. The town that once boasted it had some of the best drinking water in the country has been dissatisfied with the water since the council started chlorinating the system in 2019 to comply with new national standards. Diane also talks to Kathryn about submissions for the Eastern Bay of Plenty local alcohol policy and a quirky story about people making music with the aid of tractor noise.

Roger Christensen of Unity Books Auckland reviews Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley, published by Oneworld Publications.

Science writer Michael Spector isn't alone in thinking the Covid-19 pandemic has ushered in dramatic and lasting change across the world - he just thinks most of us have overlooked what could be the greatest scientific development in the history of humanity. In his new audiobook Higher Animals: Vaccines, Synthetic Biology, and the Future of Life, he explores how mRNA vaccines have transformed the scientific landscape and helped spark a biotechnology revolution. He also believes we have only just scratched the surface of what the technology is capable of. He talks to Kathryn about the many ways the technology is going to change the way we live and how we need to safeguard against it's potential misuse.