Nine To Noon RNZ Radio

Comedic duo Michele A'Court and Irene Pink bring this week's lighter moments, including the cat who climbed into a postage box and travelled more than 1000 kilometres across America.

Qatar has made a surprise bid to host the finals of the new Rugby Nations Championship from 2026.  And in Mini-Golf news, Kiwi Matt Ansley finished second in a major world tour.

Work on the almost-completed Palmerston North cycleway has paused as arguments rage. Also, why ratepayers are facing an eye-watering bill for a new sewage treatment plant. 

Lisa Adler from Unity Books Wellington reviews You Are Here by David Nicholls published Hachette

Jeremiah Manele has been elected as the Solomon Islands' new Prime Minister. Meanwhile police in Honiara are on high alert with the capital having a well-documented history of public unrest around political events. RNZ Pacific Editor Koroi Hawkins

The government has introduced new measures to increase school attendance, but some schools have devised their own initiatives to boost attendance and tackle the "truancy crisis".