Scheduled interviews and reviews on to Noon this week - Radio New Zealand National

Nine to Noon episode archive

Monday 1 December 9-10am Assistant police commissioner defends new drink-driving laws. When counselling and psychotherapy do more harm than good.              Auckland's theatre community prepares for the annual awards - but why are the judges anonymous? Europe correspondent Seamus Heaney. 10-11am South African Professor of Biology Justin O'Riain on the clash between humans and animals in the wild. Book review: "Funny Girl" by Nick Hornby, reviewed by Louise O'Brien. Reading: "Carnival Sky", written by Owen Marshall and read by Adam Gardener (Part 6 of 10). 11-12pm Politics from the right and the left with Matthew Hooton and Mike Williams. Cooking a whole fish with chef Tom Hutchison. Off the Beaten Track with Kennedy Warne.

Justin O'Riain is a South African Professor of Biology who can provide insights into wildlife wars  and the clash between human habitats and animals in the wild. He is currently focussing on  mammalian social systems using baboons and seals as models for exploring selfish rules within group living mammals.

Tuesday 2 December 9-10am News and current events. How businesses can best protect themselves against cyber attacks. How much dogs can understand. US correspondent Jack Hitt. 10-11am Book review: "Shamejoy" by Julie Hill, reviewed by David Hill. Reading: "Carnival Sky", written by Owen Marshall and read by Adam Gardener (Part 7 of 10). 11-12pm Business commentator Rod Oram. Children's author and illustrator, Jason Chin, on how to stimulate the scientific curiosity of children. He teaches kids about gravity in his latest book. Media commentator Gavin Ellis.

Award winning children's author and illustrator, Jason Chin loves nothing better than stimulating the scientific curiosity of children. His latest book delves into the fundamental force that is gravity - by imagining what would happen to us if it did not exist.

Wednesday 3 December 9-10am News and current events. The new tool that evaluates whether medications are being prescribed unnecessarily. Australia correspondent Karen Middleton. 10-11am Pulitzer prize-winning writer Hector Tobar on the incredible story of the 33 Chilean miners who spent 69 days trapped underground before they were rescued. Book review: "The Petticoat Men" by Barbara Ewing, reviewed by Anne Else. Reading: "Carnival Sky", written by Owen Marshall and read by Adam Gardener (Part 8 of 10). 11-12pm Marty Duda plays the music of his artist of the week. Legal commentator Charles McGuinness discusses employment law. Arts with Courtney Johnston.

Novelist Hector Tobar had unprecedented access to the 33 miners who spent 69 days trapped underground when the San Jose mine collapsed in Chile four years ago. All the miners survived following an epic multi-national rescue effort during the process, NASA and the Chilean navy submarine corp experts were called in to help to address the psychological toll the isolation can take on the miners. Image by Doug Knutson

Thursday 4 December 9-10am News and current events. British journalists take legal action over state surveillance. UK correspondent Matthew Parris. 10-11am Feature guest. Book review: "Poetry Notebook", by Clive James, reviewed by Graham Beattie. Reading: "Carnival Sky", written by Owen Marshall and read by Adam Gardener (Part 9 of 10). 11-12pm New technology commentator Sarah Putt. Parenting commentator Nathan Mikaere Wallis. Film reviewer Dan Slevin.

Friday 5 December 9-10am News and current events. Why science research is so vital for industry, innovation and ultimately human health.  Asia correspondent Jamil Anderlini. 10-11am The winner of the Prime Minister's Science Communication Prize. Book review from Unity Books. Reading: "Carnival Sky", written by Owen Marshall and read by Adam Gardener (Part 10 of 10). 11-12pm New music with Jeremy Taylor from Slow Boat Records. Sports commentator Brendan Telfer. Comedians Te Radar and Elisabeth Easther have their satirical take on the week that was.

The Reading: Carnival Sky by Owen Marshall Separated from his wife Lucy, immersed in his journalistic career and lost in his own grief for his baby daughter Charlotte, Sheff has become distant from his family. Yet, with encouragement from his sister Georgie, he joins her to return to Alexandra to support his parents. Although he is initially reluctant to assume the role of a dutiful son, Sheff finds this quiet time spent with his dying father, Warwick, brings an unexpected closeness and an acceptance of where he is in his own life.