Nine To Noon

09:05 Users flock to gas app 

The fuel monitoring app Gaspy saw a ten-fold increase in users yestetday as people shop around for the best fuel price, given the rising costs of petrol and diesel. That as  Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones this morning told Morning Report he is "quite cross" with Gull, over pumps at some of its sites running dry. Shane Jones says there is plenty of fuel in the country, and the trucks running fuel to Gull stations are running behind schedule. Gull was invited on to Nine to Noon to respond to the Minister. A spokesperson declined, saying, 'the Gull team as you can imagine is very busy with our logistics providers ensuring fuel gets to motorists across the Gull network'. Kathryn speaks to Gaspy director Mike Newton about the sudden surge in usage of the price watching app.

09:15 Aside from oil, how else could the Iran conflict impact on NZ?

Farmers are raising concerns about the price of key inputs such as fertiliser and the potential impact on the cost of food. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says there is enough urea in the country for farmers to get through the Autumn season. She noted that while the price is up 54 percent on a year ago, it is still 75 per cent below what it was in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine. New Zealand growers import about two-thirds of the urea needed here, from the Middle East. Farmers here  - in particular those growing feed - are facing a double whammy with rising fuel costs impacting the current harvest. Federated Farmers arable chair is David Birkett and Rabobank's general manager of research in Australia and New Zealand is Stefan Vogel. 

09:30 Fresh calls for wider access to free meningitis vaccine for teens

The father of a teenager who died suddenly from meningitis says the Government needs to urgently act - and provide free vaccine against meningococcal disease to all students in Year 11 before they leave school. Gerard Rushton's 16-year-old daughter Courtenay Rushton died suddenly from meningitis in 2014. Last week two confirmed cases of meningitis were identified within the Dunedin student community. One at the University of Otago and one at Otago Polytech. The cases are not linked. The Meningitis B and ACWY vaccines are fully funded for NZ residents aged 13–25 years entering college accommodation. And a meningococcal C vaccine for close contacts of other meningitis cases or people who are immunocompromised, is funded. But Gerard Rushton says it's not good enough. He heads the Meningitis Foundation.

09:40 Telco users group disappointed in ComCom step-back  

The group representing telco users says it's disappointed the Commerce Commission wants to scrap the 2010 regulation that added a third player into the telco industry. The regulator is recommending the Government remove regulaton of mobile termination fees - which meant the two big network players of the day - Vodafone and Telecom could not over charge 2Degrees customers for texts and calls across different networks. The ComCom says now 2Degrees had grown into the third network operator alongside One NZ and Spark - the regulation had done its job and was no longer needed. The Telecommunications Users Association chief executive Craig Young says he disagrees the regulation should be removed and is concerned smaller telco retailers could face higher pricing for using the big networks. 

09:50 USA correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben

President Trump's focus on getting the Strait of Hormuz open with gas prices rising. Moves include easing sanctions on Russian oil and calls for international support. The President is also upset with media coverage of the Iran war and is also refusing to sign a restrictive voting bill. 

Danielle Kurtzleben is a political correspondent assigned to NPR's Washington Desk.

10:05 Sailor Dan sails the world 

After building a boat in his driveway, Australian sailor Dan Turner has jumped aboard it, and completed an epic 16 month journey circumnavigating the globe. Starting in February last year and finishing back in the Caribbean island more than a year later - Dan came in second in the Mini Globe Race. The 28,000 nautical mile journey challenged Dan mentally and physically. He battled homesickness, key parts breaking and big storms on the journey that took him to some of the world's most remote places - islands only accessible by boat. And his boat, The Immortal Game, built out of plywood in his driveway is to live another day. Dan is handing it on to a compatriot who plans to do the Mini Globe Race in 2029. Dan speaks to Kathryn from Antigua.

10:35 Book review: Lyrical Ballads by Bill Manhire

Harry Ricketts reviews Lyrical Ballads by Bill Manhire, published by Te Herenga Waka University Press.

10:45 Around the motu: Jesse Archer from Lake FM in Taupō

Jesse discusses the Tongariro Crossing shuttle operators who have had their licenses suspended for transporting  walkers to the track while a hazardous weather warning was in place, Taupō flights safe for now, a new tourism campaign selling the region's cycle trails to Australians and the Chiefs to play in Rotorua in April.  

11:05 Business commentator Victoria Young

As the Iran conflict goes on, Victoria assesses the impact on New Zealand businesses - specifically the national airline. The latest big contruction firm to collapse - and what's next for now departing Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell. 

BusinessDesk editor, Victoria Young

11:30 How going blind helped Esmeralda Lo Tam see a glaring gap in Pacific eye health

A keen sportsperson Esmeralda Lo Tam, like most young people, dreamed of one day wearing the black kit - whether as a Black Fern on Eden Park or a Silver Fern on the netball court. But a persistent irritation in her left eye not long after being a part of the winning Vailima Marist Touch Rugby Championship team, lead her away from the black kit and down a different path. She was faced with a diagnosis of severe keratoconus, a subsequent corneal transplant, and a strict instruction to stay away from contact sport. Esmeralda is now undertaking a PhD in the University of Auckland's Department of Ophthalmology - researching the prevalence of eye diseases in Pacific communities. And is part of a team screening the visions and eye heath of 1000 young people across 16 high schools and 2000 people in the community.

11:45 Sports correspondent Sam Ackerman 

Black Ferns sevens' win in New York, as the Black Caps and White Ferns take on South Africa in the cricket. Also, what is the issue causing headaches in Formula 1 racing.