Nine To Noon

The All Blacks' test against South Africa sees Richie Mo'unga returning to number 10. The Black Ferns face France with some major players making returns, while the Warriors open their NRL Finals run against the Dolphins.

Irene Pink and Jeremy Elwood with a lighter take on some recent stories.

James discusses the nurses strike over staffing levels in the local ED, rebuilding work starts on a relocated the marae, hecklers at Shane Jone's election meetings and a regional community trust buys a city centre site as part of a revitalisation push.

Melissa Oliver reviews: Dance-Floor Romance by Chris Tse (Auckland University Press), and The Crown Ain't Worth Much by Hanif Abdurraquib (Button Poetry). Melissa also talks about the Verb Readers & Writes Festival and the launch of Dance-Floor Romance and HIDE by Rebecca Hawkes.

Hamish Mouat is the director and choreographer for Matilda. He has extensive musical theatre experience in New Zealand and overseas, and performed himself, as a child for the company he now works with - G&T Productions.