Nine To Noon

09:05 Concerns over gaps in anti-money laundering regime 

An anti-money laundering expert is warning gaps still remain in New Zealand's legislation, despite a raft of changes to the regime in recent years and months. The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act facilitates co-operation among reporting entities, and various government agencies, in an effort to detect and deter financial crime. In October 2022 Cabinet agreed to Ministry of Justice recommendations which came into effect in a staggered way between July 2023 and June 2025, after a review found there were ways to tighten the regime. But concerns over red tape and the cost pressures the regime places on reporting entities - some of which are small businesses with minimal resources has lead to further clarification and tweaking of the system. One example of this was a recent change - just in November of 2025 - which means people no longer need to have their home addresses verified by their bank or other agency in order to open an account. But while a lot has been changing, expert Kerry Grass says critical gaps remain. Kerry has more than 20 years experience working in financial crime prevention and the anti-money laundering field. She is the co-founder of compliance tech company AML 360.

09:20 The stroke survivor on mission to boost health and wellbeing

Jamie Summers was just 39 in 2019 when he had a haemorrhagic stroke. A construction industry project manager by trade, after getting back on his feet, Jamie wanted to make a difference to his colleagues across the sector. Launched as a trial in 2023, Health15 supports busy construction workers by providing free 15-minute on-site health checks. The trial was set up as a partnership between Jamie's employer, The Building Intelligence Group, and Stroke Aotearoa New Zealand. It’s so far reached 2,400-plus workers across 66 sites, involving 19 industry partners, including Naylor Love, Fletcher Living, and Christchurch Airport. Now the trial is being expanded in collaboration with eight of Aotearoa’s leading health charities. The checks are for conditions like diabetes, arthritis, cancer, epilepsy, and heart-related diseases. Jamie Summers and CEO of Stroke Aotearoa New Zealand Jo Lambert speak to Kathryn about the scheme.  

Note: Jame returns after this previous interview was originally broadcast November 28 2025 was cut short due to a fire alarm.

09:45 USA correspondent David Smith 

The latest in Minneapolis after the shooting of Alex Pretti, after the state became the epicentre of President Trump's immigration enforcement plans. The President was also forced to walk back remarks that insulted Britsh troops, and his decision to attend the premiere of a documentary about his wife is being criticised. 

10:05 Tree, sculpture park culmination of 30 years hard work

Some 20 minutes out of Hamilton is the culmination of 30 years of hard graft and a dream to plant trees. 
Landowners John and Dorothy Wakeling bought a derelict quarry in the mid-1990s, and have since carried out an extensive planting campaign to transform the park into Waitakaruru Arboretum. It has become one of the country's largest outdoor galleries with an array of quirky and attention-grabbing sculptures set throughout the park. It didn't always go to plan, but they are now attracting 10,000 visitors a year and want more people to know about the venue. I spoke to them earlier, first asking about the early vision for the park. 

10:35 Book review: Three of the best from 2025

Elisabeth Easther reviews three of her favourite books from last year: Flashlight by Susan Choi, published by Vintage, Mana by Tame Iti, published by Allen & Unwin, Careless People by Sarah Wynn Williams, published by Pan Macmillan.

10:45 Around the motu: Kelly Makiha, senior journalist for the Rotorua Post 

Kelly discusses the two local women lost in the Mt Maunganui landslide, the release of a man convicted of snatching a toddler, local irritation over uncared for roadside gardens and the worrying items confiscated at Rotorua and Tauranga courts.

11:05 Business commentator Hamish McNicol

As a big year for capital markets kicks off, Hamish discusses a potential Rakon takeover, while there are some big potential IPOs on the way. Retail numbers dropped off in December and as inflation creeps above the Reserve Bank target band, what will that do to interest rates in the coming year? 

11:30 The people behind the thoroughbreds 

The stories of New Zealand's most well-known race horses often go hand in hand with those of the trainers and the jockeys. But the story of the breeders behind the thoroughbreds is much less known. From business magnates like the founders of Fisher & Paykel, to early settler farmers, and major wartime philanthropists, many of these breeders have played key roles in New Zealand's wider history. Author Brian de Lore tells their stories, in a book out next Monday. He fundraised from many in the industry to get it printed and all proceeds will go to spinal cord injury research charity CatWalk.

11:45 Sports with Sam Ackerman

Joe Schmidt has ruled himself out of the running for the All Blacks' job. In cricket, the Black Caps are beaten in the T20 series with India, while in May, Raglan will play host to one of the biggest surfing events in the world.