RNZ: The Detail

This just finished season of reality TV show Love Island UK kicked off with misogyny and bullying - and soaring viewershipReality TV shows are becoming increasingly problematic as bigotry and sexism thrives - and the audience starts to believe that it's all very normalFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

With starvation reaching a crisis point in Gaza and an impetus to pressure Israel to pull back, New Zealand's reactions to the conflict remain mutedAs Palestinians in Gaza increasingly bear the brunt of conflict, and international support for Israel wanes, there are questions over New Zealand's continued low key approachFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

It may seem as if no one cares about the level of government ruling over potholes and parks, but the number of candidates for his year's elections are up Local body elections are struggling to spark interest in spite of candidate numbers rising. Councils govern so much of our lives, but it seems we don't care who's in charge.Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

There are signs that the previously unwavering MAGA base of Donald Trump is starting to turn on him as he becomes increasingly embroiled in the Epstein files.Donald Trump's supporters said he would be going after the satanic cabal of pedophiles in the Democrat party when he gained power again. But now they are in charge, the rhetoric has dried up.Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

FBI Director Kash Patel's visit to New Zealand has been described as important, useful, and mutually beneficial - but it's also business as usualThere was a flurry of excitement when parliamentary journalists outed the head of the FBI at the Beehive - but was Kash Patel's visit really a big deal?Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

There's no doubt that money laundering is a problem in New Zealand, but we shouldn't be catching parents trying to open bank accounts for their kids in our criminal net  Past government moves to chase down dirty money have had the unfortunate effect of tying up ordinary New Zealanders in red tape. Now there are moves to change thatFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

It doesn't matter if it's health messages or supermarket campaigns, consumers are having their behavioural buttons pushed in expert waysTwo of our big supermarket chains are in the throes of promotional giveaways that couldn't be more different - but they're pushing the same buttons to make us change our shopping habitsFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Great for netball fans, maybe not so great for players - it's unlikely they'll be hit in the pocket after a new deal with free to air TV was signed this weekNew Zealanders will be able to watch the 2026 netball premiership live and free to air for the first time in 18 years, but there are many unanswered questions over the TVNZ dealFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

When one of our smallest ministries is shredded in the name of saving taxpayer dollars, critics say it feels like cultural vandalismA world class website documenting New Zealand's history could be allowed to wither and die with cuts confirmed at the Ministry for Culture and HeritageFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The government's suite of amendments to electoral law haven't gone down well, but that's not stopping them from pushing ahead with the changes…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Rights groups are concerned a government spotlight on terror laws will see protest, freedom of speech and advocacy endangered …Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

More funding's been announced to train up domestic violence support workers, but turning our horrific figures around is expected to take generations There's one call to police every four minutes about domestic violence, but it's just the tip of the country's crisis…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Proponents of offal-eating point out that it's just polite to use every part of a beast we've killed .... it's really the least we can doIt's cheap, it's nutritious, it's full of protein - so why are we still steering away from eating every part of the animal, including offalOne of Hannah Miller Childs' go-to bar snacks is chicken hearts."A bit of mustard, you can eat it with a toothpick," she says.You could also chop it up, add it into mince and make it a full nutritious meal.Adding offal to mince in government school lunches last week hit the headlines because parents hadn't been warned it was coming…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Youth Parliament is there to give aspiring politicians a taste of a future career, but after three decades the value of the event is in question A former politician says change is needed to the Youth Parliament system if it's to stay relevant.MP-turned political commentator Peter Dunne says the scheme isn't just "a rag-tag collection of young people coming together for a couple of days to play at being MPs," but if the event is going to be taken seriously, more consistency is required around its processes.That's not the case at the moment, in everything from how the teens are selected to the quality of the mentorship they're getting.The tri-annual event usually passes under the media radar, but this year's event was overshadowed by what a handful of Youth MPs said was censorship of their speeches.…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Laws over international deep sea mining are being thrashed out at a meeting in Jamaica, but the process has so far taken over a decade and we don't even have a draft set of rules A tiny Pacific nation that stands to make millions from a deal over deep sea mining in international waters may have found a way around the rules it signed up to…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Refugee Family Support Category is supposed to allow refugees to reunite with family. Instead, it's a waiting game which could take another decade to clear. It could take 10 years to clear a refugee visa waiting queue - but those applicants have already been waiting for seven years, and some have families in danger…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Henare vs Kaipara: Legacy, loyalty and the fight for Māori representation in the Tāmaki Makaurau by-electionTwo Māori heavyweights battle it out in a pivotal political contest for the Tāmaki Makaurau seat after the death last month of Takutai Tarsh Kemp…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

If you don't want to face the unpalatable truth about your boozing, the alcohol lobby is on your sideOutdated alcohol guidelines put New Zealand out of step with modern research, but our health authorities are in no hurry to update themIn Canada, proposed guidelines for low-risk drinking set the weekly limit at two drinks.Here in New Zealand, the recommendation is to cap alcohol at 10 drinks weekly for women, and 15 for men, with two alcohol-free days per week.Despite these guidelines being nearly 15 years old, and documents from Health NZ showing that they consider a review of the guidelines to be 'necessary', for now, the guidelines are staying as they are."The complication is that the Ministry of Health has come in over the top of [Health NZ] and has said 'actually these are our guidelines ... we want to control this and we're putting a pause on that work'," says RNZ's Guyon Espiner."It certainly does show that they're listening to the alcohol industry, who are pretty exercised about this - because as you can imagine, this could have a significant effect on sales if people did take this advice and did drink significantly less."In a series of articles over the past few months, Espiner has reported on issues of alcohol harm and how the alcohol lobby has impacted policy in New Zealand…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

New Zealand's first play zone for children with disabilities is becoming a charitable trust, with the goal of expanding services to cater for people of all ages.Parents of a young autistic boy took his diagnosis head on, creating New Zealand's first play zone for children with disabilities and attracting international attention and recognition…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

When it comes to damage from serious weather events, the days of big pay-outs to property owners are coming to an endThe 100-year floods are rolling in on a regular basis; the rain doesn't let up; no one wants a cliff-top property anymore.Climate change is no longer just about things you can't see or touch. It's about running from rising water and bailing out the basement."I think there has been a lot of emphasis both in reporting and in people's understanding of climate change ... and the science behind that and how it's getting worse," says RNZ In Depth reporter Kate Newton."We're now starting to shift our focus because of these severe weather events that we're seeing more frequently, and at a greater level of severity, to what that actually means for us now, and the fact that climate change is no longer this far-off, distant prospect, but something that is affecting real people and real lives, at this very moment."Today on The Detail we look at how we adapt to this new normal, and who will pay for it, after a report by an Independent Reference Group recommended essentially that the days of property buy-outs have a limited life.The reference group included economists, iwi, bankers, insurance and local government representatives and was set up by the Ministry for the Environment.Newton goes through the findings on climate mitigation and adaption, which she says are politically unpalatable, and extremely expensive."There's a whole lot that goes into it and every step of it is complex and every step of it is expensive. But we also need to remember that even if we do nothing, it's still expensive."I think the top estimates of costs involved with cyclone Gabrielle was $14.5 billion - it's a huge amount of money."But you're looking at things like, even just understanding where the risk is, and how severe that risk is, and how it might change in the future - it's a huge amount of work."The government wants bipartisan support on decisions because future certainty is required but also, Newton points out, because of the bleak message it's likely to send - in the words of one critic: "you are on your own".…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Leaks, lies and leadership. The Wellington mayoral race was shaping up to be dull but now a dirty politics scandal is splitting the capitalIt was heading towards the most boring mayoral campaign in the country - now Wellington's race has turned chaotic with a backfiring bombshell of an email…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

With an increase in drugs coming through Auckland Airport, border officials focus on trying to stop the imports before they reach our shoresA customs officer at New Zealand's biggest airport says it's not just the amount of drugs coming across the borders that is surprising, but the fact that smugglers aren't really bothering to conceal it…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

New Zealand's orange roughy stocks are under fresh scrutiny, and a major fishery faces closureWhat was once called the "white gold" of our oceans is now at risk, and conservationists are fighting to save the country's orange roughy population…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

There are some horror stories about the wreckage left behind when people die without leaving a will, but now something watertight is easier to draw up than ever before Most people don't want to talk about their death and post-mortem wishes when they're young, but there are so many reasons to have that conversation, and to write a will…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

As the James Gunn version of Superman is released in cinemas, we look at the history of a character that truly owns the word iconicSuperman is, in theory, long past retirement age, but different iterations of the American hero continue to land on our screens and in comic books…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

There is no room for error when the All Blacks face French firepower in Wellington tomorrow night, and a long-time rugby journalist says fans would be smart to keep bets small Between injuries and a surprisingly strong French B-side, the All Blacks have their work cut out for them. A long-time rugby journalist says Saturday's showdown in Wellington is anyone's game.…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

There's a second life in single-use medical devices, but getting Pharmac on board with the money-saving venture has been a battleA Canterbury company is successfully remanufacturing so-called single use medical devices, with the potential to save our cash-strapped health sector a wad of money…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Erin Patterson case has gripped international audiences, in Australia's 'biggest crime story since the Azaria Chamberlain case' of the 80s.The Australian mum-of-two served up deadly mushrooms to her in-laws during a Sunday lunch. Nearly two years later, a jury has found her guilty of murder.…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

With Fiji in the midst of an HIV outbreak, UNAIDS warns that other Pacific Islands countries have all the risk factors of a similar crisis…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

New Zealand is one of the best places in the world to grow dope, but producing marketable medicinal cannabis is a regulatory nightmareNew Zealand has very few ventures producing medicinal cannabis, and the one that's doing really well doesn't sell directly to New Zealanders…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Tourism can only happen when conflict ends - and there's been recognised with a Nobel Peace Prize nominationA Washington-based, Auckland-educated Samoan man nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize says tourism is the only real peace dividend…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Getting people out and home when they're trapped in a war zone is a dangerous and politically delicate task - here's how it's doneWhen you're away from home, huddling in a bomb shelter with the missiles are incoming, getting out isn't just a matter of boarding a planeIt is dangerous, diplomatically delicate and extremely expensive…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The terrorist label has been dropped from extremist group the Proud Boys, but its ideology still lurks online in New ZealandNew Zealand has lifted the terrorist group designation from the extremist group the Proud Boys, sparking fears their members may resurface…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

After a rebuild was cancelled, the former tenants of a social housing development in Auckland have seemingly 'disappeared' Despite a housing crisis, Kainga Ora is scaling back new builds. In one Auckland suburb, a cancelled development has uprooted hundreds.…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Is the Regulatory Standards Bill the key to better law making for the future, or a gigantic waste of time and an affront to democracy? A look at what the Regulatory Standards Bill will do, and why there's no clear answer to the question of whether it will achieve its aims…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Rather than shrug helplessly over a lack of trust in journalism, two New Zealand journalists are rolling up their sleeves to tackle the issueTwo Kiwi news executives are part of a very serious effort by journalists to try to claw back not just trust in media institutions, but in society…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Two non-traditional sports - hobby horsing and pickleball - have gained popularity in the last several years, and Kiwis are joining in the funHobby horsing involves elements of gymnastics and horse riding, and pickleball is a mashup of several other racket sports. Both are unconventional - and gaining traction quickly.…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

New Zealand is running out of gas and prices are rising - but that hasn't stopped some households from hooking upNatural gas is a dwindling resource, and exploration isn't turning up much. So what happens when New Zealand runs out - and why are some new users still hooking up?…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Information about Iran's nuclear programme is highly secretive, but experts say the bombings may not have been a huge setback US President Trump said his bombs 'obliterated' nuclear facilities in Iran, but a nuclear scientist here in New Zealand says 'you can't destroy knowledge'It's a long time since we've been on the edge of our seats wondering if a full-blown nuclear war is about to happen.But many had that sensation when the US President said last weekend that Iran's nuclear facilities had been "completely and totally obliterated".Trump's bullseye claim is now in question but the bombing had many experts talking about the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 at the height of the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union."They were very real fears and there were some very close calls, in particular during the Cuban Missile Crisis we now know the world came incredibly close to nuclear conflict," international law and nuclear weapons expert Anna Hood of Auckland University says.People feared then that the "Cold War would turn hot". Since then we have had volatile moments and right now the risk is heightened, she says."There were higher numbers of weapons during the Cold War. We have seen some level of disarmament since then but we haven't seen enough movement in the last few years. The numbers are still very high."Not only have the numbers stayed high, but countries are trying to upgrade and enhance the weapons they do have, she says."I would like to hope that most states, all states, wouldn't go there [nuclear war] or even if they've got nuclear weapons that that's not what they'll use but I think there are very serious risks in terms of what happens in the heat of a conflict, in terms of accidents."Hood focuses much of her time on the numerous nuclear issues afflicting the world today and how to work towards a nuclear-free world."We are a long way unfortunately from that," she admits, pointing to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists' annual Doomsday Clock showing we are closer than ever – 89 seconds to midnight, and catastrophe.Hood tells The Detail why the US strike on Iran is a violation of international law and the possible consequences.While the impact of the B2 stealth bomber attacks is still not clear, senior physics lecturer at Auckland University David Krofcheck says it does not end Iran's nuclear amibitions…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

As far as New Zealand's economic recovery goes, we're still crawling out of our deep recessionary hole - and we've just hit a global glitch Quarterly figures are supposed to point to where our economy is heading, but any hopeful messages in them last week have just been blown out of the water…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Sir Graham Henry beamed into the world's most prestigious ad awards to congratulate New Zealand on being 'the best place in the world to have herpes'Of a pool of more than 26,000 entries at the Cannes Lions, a New Zealand ad came out on top. Turns out, Kiwis are good at ads - and having herpes.…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Unaffordable housing, the high cost of living, and 'very intentional decisions' by the government see a spike in homelessness.An advocate for people sleeping rough says homelessness is reaching 'crisis levels' and he's seeing children as young as nine turn up for emergency accommodation. What's gone wrong in Aotearoa?…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details