RNZ: First Up Podcast

First Up - The Podcast, Friday 26 September 2025

First Up - The Podcast, Thursday 25 September 2025

First Up - The Podcast, Wednesday. 24 September

First Up - The Podcast, Tuesday 23 September 2025

First Up - The Podcast, Monday 22 September 2025

On today's First Up pod: Excitement for the Breakers tonight with their first game of the ANBL season - Nathan catches up with the legendary Dillon Boucher. The Black Ferns are into their Rugby World Cup semifinal tomorrow against Canada - Ella Ferguson has her analysis. Bevan Hurley has details of Jimmy Kimmel's MAGA cancellation. And it's become a landmark for Auckland drivers on the North-Western Motorway.... We take a tour of the Toroa ferry boat's restoration.

On today's First Up pod: Hamish Kerr is our latest world champion, we hear from him and talk sport with Joe Porter; there's some real treasure on Trade Me this week for vinyl junkies out there, a classic record from a classic Kiwi band; a sad day in Hollywood as Robert Redford dies at the age of 89 and reporter Ke Xin Li hears from Kiwis who've lost their social media accounts after being wrongfully accused of breaching the rules. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: the Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour talks about the possibility of more big concerts for Eden Park; in the Tasman region, reporter Max Frethey updates us on the 13 tonnes of hazardous waste at a residential property and heading overseas, athletes are battling the Tokyo heat at the World Athletics Championships and so is our correspondent Chris Gilbert. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod with Melissa Chan-Green: our Middle East correspondent Alex Baird lives close to where Israel has targeted Hamas leadership in Doha - we find out about the implications of this attack and our producer Ross McNaughton reports on New Zealand's deadliest fishing spot - where the council's considering stopping access. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod with Melissa Chan-Green: What happens now after Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has quit - less than a year in the job; Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour on when pet bonds for tenants are going to be enacted; we hear from an expert on Aotearoa's Indian history, following anti-immigration rhetoric at New Zealand First's weekend conference and on a lighter note, new stand up comic Lydia Sainsbury has won the Wellington Raw Comedy Quest - we asked if this is fulfilling a childhood dream. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod with Melissa Chan-Green: the Black Ferns are about to face their toughest test of the World Cup when they take on Ireland - we catch up with hooker Atlanta Lolohea and if the Springboks win this Saturday, it'll be the All Blacks first loss there in more than 30 years - our producer Ross McNaughton takes a look back with commentator Keith Quinn and AB France Bunce. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod with Melissa Chan-Green: we go to Japan where our correspondent Chris Gilbert has the details on bear attacks, and a local community's struggle with too many tourists trying to get a view of Mount Fuji; deputy Prime Minister David Seymour this week talks foreign buyers and housing density and they come in all shapes and sizes, producer Ross McNaughton goes for a ride-along with the team dealing with Auckland's abandoned vehicles. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod with Melissa Chan-Green: another Black Ferns victory at the Rugby World Cup! Rikki Swannell has been over in the UK commentating on matches, she joins us with the latest; all the latest news from around the globe too with our correspondents in Europe and the United States and here at home - reaction to that announcement of a Government loan for for regional airlines with the New Zealand Airports Association chief executive. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod with Melissa Chan-Green: the school shooter in Minneapolis had links with the Catholic school he targeted and in Pakistan the army's helping rescue people from areas devastated by floods - we catch up with our correspondents; in Aotearoa we're seeing a second peak of influenza before winter ends, immunologist Dr Lisa Connor talks about the work she's doing to create a longer lasting flu vaccine and on Auckland's Karangahape Road, it's fashion week and the rainbow crossing is turning into a runway. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod with Melissa Chan-Green: fast-track consenting for supermarkets and a few more Costcos, the government says this will bring down grocery prices - we ask Labour's Consumer Affairs spokesperson Arena Williams for her reaction; the manhunt continues for armed suspect Dezi Freeman in Australia and in Queenstown, reporter Katie Todd tells us there are fears it could be the next Barcelona. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: Trump's meeting with Putin was short, Katherine Firkin beams in from New York to tell us if it was sweet; we catch up with swim champ Lewis Clareburt after he made an important announcement on social media and our reporter Ke Xin Li wades into the confusion around sick notes from Pharmacies. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: Japanese scientists found out what happens when you strap a camera to a seabird - Chris Gilbert explains; the government's scrapping the building consents regime, Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour tells us about it and we catch up with local leader Aayden Clarke in Wairoa, where they're getting ready for the legendary Ross Shield rugby tournament. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: we get world news from the UK and Australia; Labour's education spokesperson Willow Jean Prime talks teachers pay, NCEA and the scrapping of te reo Maori in some school books and our Waikato reporter Libby Kirkby-McLeod tells us about the moment firefighters ran out of water at a Hamilton blaze. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: the presidents of Russia and the United States are planning to meet in Alaska on Friday, we find out why Ukraine's not invited; wildfires have torn across parts of Europe; the Minister of Fruit and Vegetables Glenn Forsyth brings us the connection between teeth health and veggies and we look at the rise in boutique clothing scam stores - telling sob stories about closing down, and selling fake flash clothes. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: South Park's had another crack at the Trump administration, Bevan Hurley has his review from New York; Glenn Forsyth is here with fruit of the week and the Farah Palmer Cup kicks off this weekend, we catch up with former Black Ferns captain Les Elder. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: Labour's Justice Spokesperson Duncan Webb talks through the week in politics; and it's the Inaugral First Up 7th of August Kids are talented special - we meet a group of Palmerston North students who are off overseas for the World Kids' Lit Quiz and we catch up with the proud coach of 10 year old world champion golfer, Joanna Ke First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: Alex Baird has the very latest from the Middle East; in business we hear about a big spike in the number of over 50s looking for work, meanwhile, with long wait lists for surgery here in Aotearoa - producer Ross McNaughton talks to Kiwis travelling as far as Turkey for health treatment. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: our correspondent Chris Gilbert explains why pressure is growing on the Japanese Prime Minister to resign; in we hear about a 91 year old council candidate who's actually following his friends' advice NOT to spend his most of his remaining years at council board tables and the government's planning to replace NCEA, we ask uni students what their experience was like at high school. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: producer Ross McNaughton finds out how much Netball NZ is paying for TVNZ to broadcast ANZ championship games; we have the fresh juice from Minister Glenn Forsyth at the produce markets and reporter Ke-Xin Li looks at the rules around medical certificates and sick notes. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: we have all the very latest news from South Asia and the US; Fruit of the Week with Glenn Forsyth; we catch up with the perfectly named running champ Lisa Cross - who's at the New Zealand Cross Country Champs this weekend and we meet a team of trained ferrets - leading the charge in the battle against Queenstown's exploding rabbit population. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: the UK announces it will recognise the state of Palestine at the UN in September; the World Press photo exhibition has opened in Auckland, with thought provoking images from international photojournalists... the curator takes us on a tour and with high unemployment and competition for jobs - reporter Ke Xin Li finds out about ageism in the workforce in Aotearoa. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: rugby could be the latest game to get the Saudi sports-washing treatment, producer Ross McNaughton looks at what R360 is all about; we look back to a musical moment that shocked the world and reporter Ke Xin Li asks Auckland office workers what working from home means to them. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: we have latest from Trump's USA as MAGA bite back over the Epstein files; the latest boxing heavyweight decider is here - Oleksander Usyk and Daniel Dubois in the ring this weekend with Kiwi fighter Joseph Parker watching in the wings; and we hear from recently retired principal Maurie Abraham about how Modern Learning Environments worked well at his secondary school. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: Australian news and in the UK we hear about the fallout from huge data breach from Britain's Ministry of Defence; Labour's Willow-Jean Prime talks about open plan classrooms and New Plymouth is winning the war on rats. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: In South Korea, medical students have gone back to class after a boycott of more than a year; we celebrate the birthday of a Dutch artist who turned black paint into magic; Nicola Willis talk about electricity, and Australian police trying to take our cops and Tess Brunton checks out a seaside suburb in Dunedin, to find a taste of Italy. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: the jury yesterday reached a verdict in the mushroom murder trial - and Erin Patterson has been found guilty on all charges; it's 20 years since the July 7th suicide bomb attacks in London, we find out how it's being remembered and health minister Simeon Brown tells us why Commissioner Lester Levy is staying on as the chair of Health New Zealand. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: we have the latest on the weather which has been hitting hard across the country overnight; Glenn Forsyth's here with Fruit of the Week and in rugby league, teachers and police by day, Warriors by night! We meet the women returning to the NRLW. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: Selwyn District Council claims it has "the lowest rates" in Canterbury, but not everyone is convinced; we have the latest from overnight with our correspondents including Henry Riley in London where that heatwave is moving up from Spain and raising temperatures in the UK and Finance minister Nicola Willis tells us she has NOT failed to fix FamilyBoost. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: one business in Queenstown just had at least 400 people line up for one of their jobs on offer; the Minister is here with the best fruit and vege for your dollar and the latest from the US and Europe on reaction to the United States carrying out air strikes on Iran. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: the power moves and mind games have begun ahead of this weekend's Super Rugby final - our reporter Adam Burns talks to fans on the street in Christchurch; Labour MP Willie Jackson is here to catch up on the week in politics - sick leave, census and more and hangi master Rewi Spraggon is cooking a Matariki feast at Government House. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: our Middle East correspondent Alex Baird has the latest on the conflict between Iran and Israel; astronomer and educator Josh Aoraki reminds us how to look for Matariki and Puanga in the sky this Maori New Year and Super Rugby Pacific chief executive Jack Mesley is here for the grand final - he tells us what's planned for fans next year First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: we have news and reaction from around the world as the G7 summit kicks off in Canada; its a very important day for the lovers of the chocolate chip cookie and finance minister Nicola Willis says the plans to change sick leave are about being clear. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod with Melissa Chan-Green: We have the latest from the Air India crash in Ahmedabad.. where at least 290 people have been confirmed dead; US correspondent Bevan Hurley talks to us about this weekend's planned protests against President Trump on his birthday; apparently everyone's talking about our gin, thanks to a Coromandel distiller and we hear from the Chiefs, ahead of the weekend's Super Rugby Pacific semi finals. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: we check in with our people around the world, around the regions, and talk politics with Labour deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni; at Fieldays, Barry Dawe chats about the ride-on lawn mower racing and golfing legend Ryan Fox joins us - fresh from winning the Canadian Open, and now he's getting to know the greens in Pennsylvania ahead of the US Open First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: One week into the reign of South Korea's new president, we get an update on his progress; we hear the sad news that hosiery manufacturer Columbine is shutting up their factory in Gisborne; we talk about Ryan Fox's superb win at the Canadian Open and we ask Finance Minister Nicola Willis what's next for our supermarket duopoly. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: Donald Trump has sent National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles - US correspondent Katherine Firkin has the latest; we're into the semis of Super Rugby Pacific now, one Aussie team in the mix - we talk sport and our reporter Ke Xin Li visits Auckland's urgent care clinics, where it's from 60 to 130 dollars, depending where you go. And those fees hit hard for some. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!

On today's First Up pod: what is a cherimoya? We explore the world of produce with the Minister of Fruit and Veggies Glenn Forsyth; we get the latest from around the planet with our correspondents in Africa and in North America as the world responds to President Trump's travel ban on 12 countries and as we settle into winter, how are those winter illnesses tracking? Doctor Allan Moffitt joins us to explain. First Up - Voice of the Nathan!