Nine To Noon

Former news head Mark Jennings on the collapse of Newshub

February 27, 2024 22:30 - 13 minutes - 12.5 MB

Former Newshub head of news Mark Jennings on his shock at today's announcement Newshub is to close. And what now for the media landscape? Kathryn speaks with Mediawatch's Colin Peacock.

Around the motu: John Freer on the Coromandel Peninsula

February 27, 2024 21:45 - 10 minutes - 9.97 MB

John talks about why the legacy of the late potter Barry Brickell is growing.

Julie Legg on her ADHD diagnosis at 52

February 27, 2024 21:05 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MB

When Julie Legg was diagnosed with ADHD in her early 50s, many of her personal challenges made sense. She shares her own story, alongside those of other Kiwi women, in a new book called The Missing Piece.

Australia: Bodies found, gender pay gap, see you ScoMo

February 27, 2024 20:45 - 11 minutes - 10.8 MB

Australia correspondent Karen Middleton has the latest details about the story of murdered Sydney couple, former TV presenter Luke Davies and flight attendant Jesse Baird.

Update on use of early earthquake warning technology

February 27, 2024 20:35 - 12 minutes - 11 MB

Scientists here have started using a sensor system to estimate the extent and location of earthquakes before they hit.

Tauranga and its return to an elected council

February 27, 2024 20:05 - 21 minutes - 19.5 MB

After three years of being run by commissioners, Tauranga is set to return to local democracy with July elections.

Supermarket spotlight: Consumer's Gemma Rasmussen

February 26, 2024 22:30 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MB

It's been a big year already for the supermarket sector. Woolworths has rolled out a new loyalty programme, while Foodstuffs is embarking on a trial of facial recognition technology. And across the Ditch, Woolworths Australia boss Brad Banducci called it quits following a disastrous interview he gave on the issue of price gouging. Gemma Rasmussen, head of communications and campaigns at Consumer NZ, joins Kathryn to break down the developments.

Book review: The Painter's Daughters by Emily Howes

February 26, 2024 21:35 - 6 minutes - 5.83 MB

Harry Ricketts reviews The Painter's Daughters by Emily Howes published by Hachette

Journalist's decade-long, cross-continental hunt for origins of the feijoa

February 26, 2024 21:05 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MB

Kate Evans is an award-winning journalist and regular contributor to National Geographic, and she's also a self-proclaimed feijoa fanatic. But for the tangy and gritty fruit, New Zealand is not home - its origins are in South America. Over the course of a decade, Kate has spoken to scientists, historians, and horticulturalists worldwide, and visited four continents, to trace the feijoa right back to its Brazilian beginnings. Her new book - Feijoa: A Story of Obsession and Belonging - is ...

There's something in the water at Scapegrace Distillery

February 26, 2024 20:40 - 8 minutes - 7.87 MB

It's been a rapid rise for Scapegrace Distilling Company. The distillery - producing gin, vodka, and more recently single malt whiskey - began as an idea between two brothers-in-law 10 years ago. It's now exporting to more than 40 countries with a revenue of $12.7m in the 2023 financial year. In April, it's due to complete a $26m development on the banks of Lake Dunstan in Central Otago making it the largest distillery in New Zealand. Managing director and co-founder Daniel McLaughlin sp...

Can a wasp be genetically modified to eradicate all wasps

February 26, 2024 20:20 - 17 minutes - 15.9 MB

Work is underway to create a genetically altered wasp, which would be capable of eradicating all wasps. A collaboration of researchers are looking at whether a 'flaw' could be modified in to an invasive wasp species, which would subsequently spread it through a colony. Even if they're successful, the wasp they create will never actually be let out of the fully contained lab in Dunedin. The main outcome of the $11m dollar project is to determine the ethics of gene-driven pest control, and...

Principals welcome school property inquiry

February 26, 2024 20:05 - 17 minutes - 16 MB

Principals hope the ministerial inquiry into school property will flush out why the Ministry of Education has lacked clarity, transparency and consistency in approving and providing classrooms to accommodate booming rolls. The Government announced the review yesterday, amid growing anger from schools whose projects had been put on hold. Around 350 projects have been identified where the scope of what was planned was unrealistic or unaffordable. The inquiry should report back in three mon...

Bountiful watermelon season after last year's crops decimated by floods

February 25, 2024 22:45 - 9 minutes - 9.02 MB

If you're a lover of watermelons you might have noticed prices are nudging down lately, with some supermarkets even selling them for less than five dollars a kilogram.

Could NZ learn from Italy's managed retreat?

February 25, 2024 22:45 - 13 minutes - 12.5 MB

Matthew Bradbury has recently returned from Italy, where he studied how communities are being shifted, to adapt to climate change.

Book review: The Women by Kristin Hannah

February 25, 2024 21:35 - 2 minutes - 2.33 MB

Gina Rogers reviews The Women by Kristin Hannah published by Macmillan.

The history of the opium poppy and its impact on the world

February 25, 2024 21:05 - 22 minutes - 20.5 MB

The opioid crisis gripping large parts of the world is well recognised: the widespread addiction to opium based pain killers, which have caused the death of millions.

How to make marae more climate-resilient

February 25, 2024 20:30 - 10 minutes - 9.62 MB

Last year's devastating weather events took their toll on any number of houses and buildings around the North Island, including many marae.

Auckland high school self funds new classrooms frustrated at Ministry of Education delays

February 25, 2024 20:05 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MB

Many schools around the country are at their wits end waiting for much needed classrooms to be built.

The week that was with te Radar and Michele A'Court

February 22, 2024 22:45 - 12 minutes - 11.6 MB

Te Radar and Michele A'Court look at the lighter moments of the week, including the unusual reason thousands of bodyguards are being hired across China. Media there is reporting a surge of interest in private protection as people look to impress love interests, or intimidate their neighbours. And the world of darts has been hit with a stinky scandal as a player is accused of passing gas, to throw off his opponent.

Sports commentator Dana Johanssen

February 22, 2024 22:30 - 16 minutes - 14.8 MB

Players will be kitted out with new technology as Super Rugby Pacific kicks off tonight. Smart mouthguards will monitor head impact events, so doctors can identify who needs further assessment. And the battle between High Performance Sport NZ and the Mahe Drysdale-led Athletes' Cooperative is headed to the Employment Court. HPSNZ indicated this week it will appeal an ERA decision allowing New Zealand's top rowers and cyclists to engage in collective bargaining.

Around the motu: Samantha Gee in Nelson

February 22, 2024 21:45 - 11 minutes - 10.1 MB

RNZ Nelson reporter Samatha Gee with news from the region.

Book review: Blackouts by Justin Torres

February 22, 2024 21:35 - 3 minutes - 3.62 MB

Martene McCaffrey of Unity Books Auckland reviews Blackouts by Justin Torres published by Granta.

Tongariro National Park's beauty through the eyes of an artist

February 22, 2024 21:05 - 26 minutes - 24.4 MB

Artist Desmond Bovey talks to Kathryn about his love of the Central Plateau, expressed in his book Tongariro National Park - an artists field guide.

Pacific correspondent Eleisha Foon

February 22, 2024 20:45 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MB

Funeral arrangements are being made for Fa'anana Efeso Collins after his sudden death at a charity run this week.

Haupai Puha is the first New Zealander to qualify for the world

February 22, 2024 20:35 - 6 minutes - 5.89 MB

Haupai Puha is the first New Zealander to win a card to the Professional Darts Corporation where he can play at the top table against the world's best. There are 128 players around the world given a card - the first 64 are based on rankings while the remaining half have to qualify through what are known as Q-Schools. A former pro golfer - Haupai funded himself to go to Germany in January, where he came out as one of the top qualifiers in a field of hundreds to claim his place on the worl...

Taking the long way to Northland with SH1 closure

February 22, 2024 20:25 - 13 minutes - 12.4 MB

Transport and tourism operators are bracing themselves for the imminent closure for repairs of State Highway One through the Brynderwyn Hills.

Stats show "an unprecedented depth of poverty" : Economist

February 22, 2024 20:05 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MB

A leading economist says latest statistics paint a picture of entrenched poverty, affecting hundreds of thousands of children.

Screentime: The Zone of Interest, Shogun, Boiling Point, Miles from Nowhere

February 21, 2024 22:45 - 11 minutes - 10.1 MB

TV and film reviewer James Croot talks about The Zone of Interest, Shogun, Boiling Point, and Miles from Nowhere.

Healthy brain development and how to promote it

February 21, 2024 22:35 - 17 minutes - 23.6 MB

Neuroscience educator and parenting coach Nathan Wallis discusses the incredible development of the human brain - particularly in the early months and years. He talks about research which identifies critical or sensitive periods in early childhood which can impact brain development. What are these "windows"? And once closed, can they ever be re-opened?

Technology: How law enforcement took down the Lockbit ransomware gang

February 21, 2024 22:05 - 15 minutes - 13.8 MB

Technology correspondent Tony Grasso looks at how Lockbit, the world's largest ransomware gang, was taken down by law authorities.

Around the motu: Kate Green covering Gisborne

February 21, 2024 21:45 - 10 minutes - 9.92 MB

The recovery of a stolen motorbike in a gang affiliated house is unlikely to result in charges.

Book review: Lovers in Auschwitz by Keren Blankfeld

February 21, 2024 21:35 - 3 minutes - 3.66 MB

Quentin Johnson reviews Lovers in Auschwitz by Keren Blankfeld published by Penguin Random House NZ

UK: Commons chaos on Gaza, Trident missile fails, Wootton investigation dropped

February 21, 2024 20:50 - 8 minutes - 7.34 MB

UK correspondent Harriet Line reports on the chaos in the Commons today after Penny Mordaunt accused Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle of "hijacking" the Gaza ceasefire debate.

Overseas demand for NZ deer meat driving record farmgate prices

February 21, 2024 20:35 - 10 minutes - 9.55 MB

Since the 1970s New Zealand has been running large-scale commercial deer farms and exporting the meat overseas.

Combo of drugs could be used to treat leukaemia patients instead of hospital chemo

February 21, 2024 20:20 - 13 minutes - 12.4 MB

A medicine regime that can be taken at home could mean patients suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia will be much less likely to need hospital chemotherapy.

New report claims plastics industry knew for decades recycling wasn't viable

February 21, 2024 20:05 - 18 minutes - 16.6 MB

A new report has found the majority of plastics can't - and never will - be recycled. It comes from the Center for Climate Integrity, which also says the world's plastics industry knew recycling wasn't technically or economically feasible.

Science: Why blueberries aren't blue, printing colour from a single ink

February 20, 2024 22:45 - 9 minutes - 8.99 MB

Science correspondent Allan Blackman looks at a new study which has found the skin of blueberries don't actually have a blue pigment - instead, it's their natural wax coating that gives it a blue appearance.

Biz Bell: A pest assassin taking her home-grown skills global

February 20, 2024 22:25 - 20 minutes - 18.4 MB

Elizabeth - Biz - Bell has been an assassin-in-training from the time she could walk.

Around the motu : Che Baker in Invercargill

February 20, 2024 21:45 - 8 minutes - 7.42 MB

Negotiations between Contact Energy and mining giant Rio Tinto aimed at keeping the region's large employer, the Tiwai Smelter open. As media companies are feeling the heat and cost pressures, Southland is getting a new newspaper. And Waimumu, near Gore has just hosted Southern Field Days, and the Prime Minister dropped by and Mayor Ben Bell had a go at shearing.

Book review: Bird Child and Other Stories by Patricia Grace

February 20, 2024 21:40 - 5 minutes - 4.61 MB

Lynn Freeman reviews Bird Child and Other Stories by Patricia Grace published by Penguin Random House NZ

Green MP Efeso Collins has died

February 20, 2024 21:32 - 8 minutes - 7.4 MB

Green MP Efeso Collins has died after taking part in a charity event in central Auckland this morning.

Rachael King on darkness, excitement and her new young adult novel The Grimmelings

February 20, 2024 21:00 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MB

In recent years, Christchurch writer Rachael King has been free to immerse herself in (and write about) her favourite books from childhood. In the new young adult novel The Grimmelings, she takes inspiration from Scottish folklore, South Island landscapes and the "wild magic" that enthralled her as a 12-year-old reader.

Episodes

Books