RNZ: The Detail

There are pros and cons ethically with mined and lab diamonds, but one certainly gives you more sparkle for your dollarDiamonds may be forever but at the moment they're not holding up in value. Prices are sinking as a major disruptor floods the market.…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Boots, banjos, and big crowds - country music finds its voice in New ZealandHeartfelt and homegrown, country music is enjoying a Kiwi revival, with two dedicated stations and a boom in artists…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Gambling regulation is moving to take online operators into account, but doubts are being expressed as to how effective it will beThe Problem Gambling Foundation fears the details we don't know about when it comes to licencing online casinos will be the devil that trips up addicts…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The small plan routes that keep our country connected are becoming increasingly fragile links…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Climate fix, or fossil fuel lifeline - the truth behind the country's first carbon capture and storage projectThe country's first carbon capture and storage project raises hard questions - like whether it's over before it begins…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Donald Trump's claims of a white genocide in South Africa betray the influence of his billionaire expat friends, including Elon Musk The US President was at his undiplomatic worst when his South African counterpart turned up at the Oval Office, but the ambush did swing the spotlight on what's happening there…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Local councils have more effect on our daily lives than policies from the Beehive. But more than half of eligible voters fail to have their say on who represents them.Freed from the shackles of a re-election campaign, Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry talks honestly about rates, funding, and the balance of power between central and local government…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The end to spin off stories from 1977's first Star Wars movie looks like being a galaxy far, far away…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A global report ranking New Zealand as the worst for youth suicide rates grabbed headlines. But two researchers say the numbers are wrong…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A precedent-setting High Court case could be the key to a better attitude towards cleaning up our waterways…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

With meth use on the rise, one former addict shares her brutal story and remarkable recovery.Kiwis from every background are now smoking meth, and the fallout is devastating. One former addict shares her story, in hopes of stopping others from picking up the pipe.…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Why trial and error isn't the best way to learn financial literacy, and how a new curriculum could help A new curriculum will teach financial literacy to students starting in Year 1. Experts say it could save people learning their lessons the hard - and expensive - way.…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Detail's Amanda Gillies talks to NZ Rugby CEO Mark Robinson about crowds, international fixtures, financial turmoil and personal strainNZ Rugby's boss Mark Robinson is one of those 'up' people, something that shines through in spite of all the 'down' news surrounding the sport…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

When it comes to studying how bots affect human behaviour, there are other ways to do it than pretending to be one of those bots…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The language of the Budget sometimes takes a professional to decode. A look at what's real, and what's nominal. Even if the government throws more than a billion extra dollars into health and education, those sectors will be standing still - the money eaten up by inflation…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The government's lightning blitz on pay equity claims has left whole sectors devastated, and the public confused about what just happened The opposition, unions and media have all been accused of scaremongering on the pay equity legislation. But the issue's been clouded by the government's actions, which left no time for debate.…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

On top of a turbine in the windy city, The Detail learns why too much wind isn't a good thingAfter a year of drought, heavy rainfall has brought relief to the energy sector. Whether that carries over to consumers is a different story.…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

More than 80,000 Kiwi smokers need to quit their habit before the end of the year to meet the Smokefree 2025 goal, but a public health professor says there's no chanceOur world-leading Smokefree Aotearoa 2025 legislation barely survived to see this year, and the reality of addressing tobacco use is "like whack-a-mole"More than 80,000 Kiwis must quit smoking before the end of the year to meet the goal of Smokefree 2025, which was launched 14 years ago.But Professor of Public Health Chris Bullen tells The Detail that it is unlikely to happen - "I don't believe so, sadly"."The evidence suggests we are not heading in the right direction fast enough," says Bullen, who is also the director of the National Institute for Health Innovation."We have got more work to do in 2026 and beyond."The smokefree goal aims to have less than 5 percent of the population smoking by December, but the latest data reveals there are still about 300,000 daily smokers across the country.Bullen says part of the issue is, last year, the Coalition government repealed three areas of the Smokefree law, most importantly the denicotinisation of tobacco products (where the nicotine is basically taken out of cigarettes) and banning the sale of tobacco products to those born after January 1, 2009."I think we could have gotten to the goal under the previous legislation, but that was repealed by the current government."The lack of policies to support and motivate more people to think about quitting means there's an awful lot of effort on the ground that's got to go on to get 84-, 85-thousand people to quit smoking between now and the end of the year and I just don't see it happening fast enough."He says the denicotinisation strategy needs to be revisited, and a smoke-free generation approach needs to be adopted to encourage young people not to start smoking."Other countries picked up the baton when we dropped it, and I think that would lock in the very low levels of smoking in our young people, forever, and this would be a real boost for their future prospects."The Detail also speaks to Bullen about illegal tobacco and vaping, and the role they play in Smokefree Aotearoa.A tobacco industry-funded report has just revealed that 25 percent of cigarettes sold in New Zealand are from the black market, smuggled into the country, largely from China and South Korea, and available on Facebook Marketplace, at construction sites, and in some dairies…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Changes made in haste in vocational education are being met with dismay by sectors that feel left out of it Years-long disruption in the vocational education sector is risking the loss of experienced trainers, and students who should be driving the country's future growthIt's been called 'change fatigue' and the tertiary sector covering vocational education is exhausted by the meddling of successive governments.Since 2020 there have been major upheavals with vocational training and polytechnics, and the key word for those in the industry is uncertainty.There's also frustration at the amount of money spent rearranging the deckchairs for ideological reasons instead of just getting on with the job of equipping students for work…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

There's a mysterious yellow vessel in the Waitematā Harbour. The Detail investigates. …Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

As a new announcement on compensation for Abuse in Care victims looms, one expert says the waiting has been another form of psychological abuseAbuse in Care victims have had different responses to compensation offers, from those who've taken the money and moved on, to those who feel they're being seriously shortchangedA warning, this story references abuse…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

There's buoyancy and optimism in the tourism industry in spite of New Zealand's long slow slog when it comes to the post-Covid airline bounce-back…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Online violence, against high-profile women in particular, has prompted the government to look at ways to help them deal with it The price of having a public face, especially for women, is having to deal with a rising tide of abuse. It could have a chilling effect on local body election candidates this year…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The only certainty surrounding the election of the new pope is that he will be a man, and that's a tradition unlikely to change soonWith a patriarchy deeply rooted in tradition, women in the Catholic Church are split on the urgency - or even need - to ordain women as priests…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Central Otago District Council has a plan that could save millions, but many locals say it comes at the cost of history, heritage and community…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The cultural extravaganza festival that is Polyfest was a record-breaker this year - but its finances are in perilIn spite of the rain this year's Polyfest hit record numbers, but organisers are back to looking for coins down the back of the couch to get it running next year…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Australia could be the second major nation where voters in a federal election have done a u-turn on hardline, Trump-light style leadersAustralians go to the polls tomorrow in a tight contest. During the lead-up public sentiment has changed globally, and that could have some sway.…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Iwi and hapū are legally entitled to their Treaty Settlements, but a new report from the auditor general has found widespread breaches by the Crown A new report from the auditor general found that every public agency audited had difficulties meeting at least some of their Treaty settlement obligations to iwi and hapū…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Increasing numbers of politicians are failing to manage real or perceived conflicts of interest, and there are calls to strengthen protocols over themPoliticians claim there are rules in place to make sure they don't have conflicts of interest - but an increasing number of incidents suggest those rules might not be strong enough…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

New Zealand's remotest community relies heavily on public money, but it's not what the community wants for itself For the 600-odd residents of the Chatham Islands, failing infrastructure and tight fishing quotas are a roadblock to more independenceFor generations, New Zealand's remotest community existed without outside help.Now the 600-odd residents of the Chatham Islands can't live and thrive here without a lot of public money.Millions of dollars is needed for a long -awaited new ship to freight goods on and off the islands, replacing the old Southern Tiare. Residents also want a fairer share of the fishing quota in the waters surrounding the Chathams, better wharf facilities and cheaper electricity…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The current threat level for travel to the US is 'exercise increased caution', but a growing number of people say it's not high enough…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Auckland University nuclear physicist David Krofcheck is recognised for his work on the world's greatest science experiment …Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

New Zealand will inevitably be pulled into the world's economic gloom to some extent, but we have some cushioning in place…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A two billion dollar industry faces new rules to protect new parents - and it's pushing back…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A bank account is a passport to the economy, but some Kiwis can't get onboard. A new scheme aims to change that.Opening a bank account isn't a simple process, and for some people the requirements are too hard. Westpac is trialling a basic account that gets around the rules.…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The places where hot cross buns and Easter eggs are taking a back seat to deep-rooted traditions…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A measles outbreak in the US has already killed three. Just how worried should New Zealand be?Measles is highly contagious, and spreading rapidly in the US. Whether we can stop a deadly outbreak here depends on one variable.…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Uncertainty over Antarctic research funding is unnerving scientists, who say time is running out for climate change solutions on the ice…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

After knocking on more than 20,000 doors, New Zealand researchers have found high numbers of people who have dementia, but not the diagnosisResearchers knocked on doors to gather data on dementia. They found that somewhere between half and a third of interviewees didn't know they had memory problems.…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A high rate of sedimentation means our estuaries are getting shallower, but the road to fixing the damage is a much deeper issueThe health of New Zealand's estuaries is on the decline, and climate-induced heat waves mean they are quite literally 'in hot water'…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Government has declared a war on road cones, but the industry thinks it's the wrong approach to an issue they're already working onA pilot programme will allow peeved drivers to report over-zealous use of road cones, but one critic says it's just a further waste of resource for a problem that's already being solved…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Trump's tariffs crashed global markets and are causing fears of a trade war. What happens now is the 'trillion-dollar question'. …Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details