RNZ: The Detail

After another wild week of weather, The Detail looks at the surge in declarations of states of emergency, and whether we risk 'crying wolf' Once-in-a-hundred-year storms are coming thick and fast, and the number of states of emergency declared across the country has skyrocketedFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Unemployment is at its highest level in more than a decade, but one expert offers a silver lining, saying that could actually be a sign of early economic growth New Zealand's unemployment rate is the highest in a decade, but a leading economist is cautiously optimistic about the country's economic outlookFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Too many grapes, international headwinds and a dramatic drop in drinkers is proving problematic for our wine producers Perfect growing conditions for grapes at a time when demand for wine is dropping is likely to result in more fruit left on the vine again this harvestFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

It hasn't been ratified yet but the terms of New Zealand's free trade deal with India have been agreed on, even though the details are somewhat mysterious Workers, wine, and building new alliances - what New Zealand and India get from our free trade deal Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

It's not so much what's in the recommendations as how they were put together that's concerning some in the medical and nutrition worldsNew dietary guidelines from the US have upended the traditional food pyramid, moving protein into the spotlight - but some of the maths doesn't add upFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

What started as an experiment has become a global phenomenon. MAFS is a ratings powerhouse and one of the world's most argued-about shows. Former New Zealand cricket star turned Australian love expert John Aiken talks love, scandals and the show that changed reality TVFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Government's LNG plan has triggered an explosive row over the difference between a tax and a levy, but the major question is whether it will keep the lights on Imported liquified natural gas could be a stopgap insurance policy against dry years - or an expensive, dirty fuel that will hit Kiwis in the pocketFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

More than 600 million litres of untreated sewage have poured into Wellington water, leaving beaches empty and questions over who's responsible  A Breaker Bay local with a long history of fighting for clean water in Wellington explains why the sewage dump is so catastrophic, for health, history, and the environmentFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Auckland could become a victim of Sail GP's success, with harbour cities around the world bidding for hosting chances Great photos, terrific facilities and enthusiastic crowds don't necessarily mean Sail GP is a certainty for the city in the futureFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

From boom to brake - we look at what went wrong for EVs in New Zealand, and what needs to happen to get the spark backThe EV slowdown: How Government decisions changed the road ahead Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Auckland Council's planning has been thrown for a loop after what looks like yet another government-imposed rule change over housingGovernment interference in planning rules for Auckland housing has reached new heights with another u-turn frustrating the councilGuests:Richard Hills- North Shore Councillor Kristen De Monchy- Sandringham residentPhilip Bradley- Sandringham residentLearn more:Read more about Richard Hills and intensification on RNZ NZ Initiative opinion piece on the intensification rowAuckland Council clarifies the 2 million myth Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Skins, snow and scrutiny: How the 2026 Winter Olympics is unfolding for our athletes This year, the most contested "ice" at the Winter Olympics isn't on the rink - it's U.S. Immigration and Customs EnforcementGuest:Nathan Rarere, RNZ First Up presenter and sports reporterLearn more:See Olympic winter games key facts and figuresRead more about New Zealand's Olympic team hereRead more about ICE agents in Italy and why ICE agents are at the Olympic gamesRead more about the crotch-enlarging scandal here Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Weeks after the January floods wreaked havoc on the east coast, The Detail visits two towns to see how locals are holding up - and what the future holdsSharon Brettkelly visits Ōpōtiki and Te Araroa to see how the towns are faring after the devastating January floodsGuests:Tani Atkins-Waitoa - Te Araroa localRobin Hapeta - Te Araroa localDavid Moore - Ōpōtiki mayorFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Where does New Zealand sit in a new world order that ditches traditional international rules and favours the mighty over the tiny? There's a rupture in the international rules-based order, but that doesn't mean New Zealand will be crushed by bigger powersGuest:Tim Groser- former NZ diplomatJayme Poisson- Front Burner podcast hostLearn more:Former National leader Todd Muller's view on how New Zealand should react to the new world order. (Stuff)Steve Maharey on why New Zealand needs to listen to Mark Carney. (NZ Herald)The Conversation piece by Nicholas Ross Smith on NZ surviving and thriving in Trump's new world of great-power rivalryMark Carney's World Economic Forum addressFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

As more and more discount chain pharmacies open, locally owned and operated chemists worry their customers won't get the high level of care that saves trips to GPs, and EDs In less than 10 years, nearly 100 Chemist Warehouses and Bargain Chemists have opened across the country - so where does that leave local pharmacies?Guests:Vicky Chan - Pakuranga pharmacistClive Cannons - Wainuiomata pharmacistLearn More: Read Dr Eric Crampton's article on pharmacy competition hereRead the press release on 12-month prescriptions hereFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Once the election date is announced, politics can disintegrate into a toxic mess. Don't expect this year to be any different.Politicians sharpen their knives and their tongues as we bump our way to November 7Guests:Laura Walters, Newsroom's political editorThomas Coughlan, NZ Herald's political editorFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The real treasure hidden in the wrecks of some 2500 ships buried along New Zealand's coasts isn't jewels or gold bars - but the stories of the people who were on boardThere are concerns divers are plundering one of New Zealand's famous shipwrecks. Are they treasure-hunting pirates, or just amateur souvenir-seekers?Guest:Garth MacIntyreLearn more:Stuff story on divers getting away with crockery at historic Mahia shipwreck Information about the sinking of the TasmaniaRNZ's award-winning podcast on Kelly Tarlton Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

New Zealander Khol Gillies was fighting in Ukraine when he was badly injured, and he spent days in a bunker waiting to be evacuated Three months after an injury that cost him his leg, Khol Gillies tells RNZ's Lisa Owen the story of how he ended up fighting for Ukraine, and what it was like waiting in a bunker for days to be evacuatedGuests:Khol GilliesJasmine Gillies Learn More:To contribute to Khol's recovery, find his Givealittle hereFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The record number of prisoners are bouncing between facilities around the country, stretching court resources and rehabilitation programmesWith prison numbers at their highest ever and still rising, one former prisoner and critic of this government's tough-on-crime policies has put his hope in a controversial programmeGuests:Emma Priest, criminal barristerDr Paul Wood, formerly incarcerated PhD Learn more:View the most recent prison statistics from Ara Poutama Aotearoa/ Department of CorrectionRead about plans for the next boot camp, in March Compare stats on prison populations around the worldFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Extreme weather may be the trigger for deadly and devastating slash, but the lines on who is responsible for prevention and clean-up are blurredThe slash debate heats up - again - in Gisborne as forestry operators urge the government to remove their legal accountability for the devastating dischargeGuest:Dr Mark Bloomberg - adjunct senior fellow at the School of Forestry at Canterbury UniversityLearn More: Forestry group urges Government to remove legal accountability for slashFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The floods keep coming, and we keep rebuilding. Is there a better way to cope with increasing numbers of infrastructure-wrecking storms?New Zealand's most common natural hazard is flooding, but we're often unprepared for it, and more preoccupied with earthquakes or eruptionsGuests:Nick Leggett - Infrastructure NZ Chief ExecutiveRehette Stoltz - Gisborne Mayor Kate Newton - RNZ Climate Change ReporterFox Meyer - Newsroom political reporterFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The news year, unpacked, by five divas with microphonesAs the year draws to a close, The Detail looks back at 12 months of deep dives, sharp analysis, and the kinds of conversations that helped New Zealanders make sense of a turbulent, fast-moving worldGuests:Alexia Russell - The Detail editorGwen McClure - The Detail producer/ hostAmanda Gillies - The Detail hostSharon Brettkelly - The Detail hostDavina Zimmer - The Detail associate producerLearn More:Catch up on The Detail's 2025 episodes hereFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

From storms to scorchers, what this summer's wild weather means for New Zealand tourism With tourism numbers back to pre-covid levels, New Zealanders are getting ready for a swarm of tourists. Experts say those tourists should be getting ready for New Zealand's wild, changeable weather.Guests:Chris Brandolino - Earth Sciences New Zealand principal scientist and meteorologistDr Stephen Espiner - Lincoln University associate professor of parks, recreation and tourismFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

From stray dogs to traffic jams to the most controversial topic of all - berms - councillors and mayors from across the country report what's getting on their residents' nervesWhen residents have a gripe about rain, stray dogs, berm maintenance, or even a tree root, they call their councillor. Today The Detail is calling those councillors, too.Guests:Bryan Cadogan - former Clutha mayorSam Jennings - Horowhenua District councillorMax Brough - New Plymouth mayorRichard Hills - Auckland councillorLearn More:Auckland locals reaction to fortnightly rubbish collection proposalNew Plymouth women gets fined for planting on her bermChristchurch man takes fine for parking on berm to courtFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

At Auckland Museum's new shark exhibition, all the models are to scale, allowing visitors to get face-to-face with some of the largest creatures on the planetFrom a shark the size of a cigar to the long-extinct 400-kilo 'buzzsaw' to those that glow in the dark, sharks are an incredibly diverse species - and according to the exhibition's curator, 'the most misunderstood animals on the planet'Guests:Clinton Duffy - Auckland Museum curator of marine biologyLearn More:Details about Auckland Museum's Shark exhibition hereFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Between the high cost of living and a slew of toys failing safety tests, buying Christmas presents for kids is fraughtHow to shop for your kids this Christmas, in the wake of the asbestos-contaminated sand, toy recalls, and children's products failing safety testsGuests:Gemma Rasmussen - Consumer NZ head of research and advocacyMareta Hunt - Safekids Aotearoa Poutokomanawa/DirectorLearn More:Toy safety tipsMore about recent tests of toys from Shein, Ali Express, eBay and Amazon here and hereFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A year of highs, lows and hard questions: Inside New Zealand's rollercoaster sporting seasonThe country's biggest sports teams delivered everything from turmoil to triumph in 2025, with a mixed bag of results across rugby, league, netball and cricket, with off-field drama often dominating headlines.Guests:Rikki Swannell - Sports commentator and journalistLearn More:The Post's All Blacks season player ratingsRNZ's deep dive into the Netball NZ and Dame Noeline Taurua incident RNZ's piece on the Silver Ferns' win over England More rugby news here and hereMore on the Warriors here More on NZ football hereLiam Lawson's 2026 season confirmationFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The opening has been pushed back again, the price is extraordinary, but Auckland's City Rail Link is expected to deliver the region the wow factor Those in charge of the country's most expensive transport infrastructure are confident the new timetable for opening will stick - but they won't name a dateGuests:Alan Trestour - CRL Head of Delivery for Auckland TransportPatrick Brockie - CRL chief executiveStacey van der Putten - Auckland Transport director of public transport and active modesRussell McMullan - CRL Assurance and Integration general managerAdrian Price - Auckland Transport head of completion of Karanga-a-Hape stationLearn More:CRL official websiteFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

There's a lot of hand-wringing but few answers when it comes to culling New Zealand's rapidly expanding deer populationIn a war between hunters and conservationists over the control of one of our most damaging pests, only the deer are winningGuests:Richard Dawkins - Federated Farmers meat and wool chairJill Herron - Newsroom journalistJohn Bissell - hunter and conservationistLearn More:RNZ's podcast Deer WarsMore on Herd of Special Interest Details of talks on special interest wapiti herd revealedFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Aviation under pressure: Airbus A320 glitch adds to a year of crashes, questions, and shaken confidenceThe Airbus A320 fault sparked worldwide delays and airport chaos, and has renewed fears over aviation safety in a turbulent 2025Guests:Grant Bradley - Aviation commentatorDan Lake - Travel commentatorLearn More:Planes grounded after Airbus discovers solar radiation could impact systemsVictim identified following fatal mid-air collision between two planes in Sydney's southwestFleet of UPS planes grounded after deadly crash expected to miss peak delivery seasonUS fears cover-up in Air India crashWashington DC plane crash: Aircraft plunges into Potomac River after colliding with Black Hawk helicopter, major emergency response, flights groundedFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Regional councils have to find a different way of operating that cuts down on double ups and layers of bureaucracyRegional councillors who've just been sworn in have been shown the writing on the wall by the government, which is plotting a swift end to their termsGuests:Glenn McConnell - Stuff political reporterLearn More:Read Glenn's piece on the regional council shake up hereBeehive news release on local government changesFurther details from the Department of Internal Affairs Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

An HIV diagnosis used to be a death sentence, but that hasn't been the case in years - so why hasn't the stigma changed with the science?More than four decades after the first New Zealander was diagnosed with HIV, medical advances have completely changed the face of the once-fatal virus, but one man living with it says he doesn't "think that the HIV stigma has changed radically"Guests:Rodrigo Olin German - Head of Services and Outreach, Burnett FoundationLiz Gibbs - Chief Executive, Burnett FoundationLearn More:Liz Gibbs talks about the ongoing HIV outbreak in Fiji - listen to our podcast episode on that hereLearn more about HIV in Aotearoa hereFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

It doesn't have to be extravagant, expensive or loaded with tinsel and tat - bring your smile to host the perfect seasonal party If you're fed up with Northern Hemisphere listicles on how to prepare for a cold Christmas, here's a taste of what it takes to host a summer celebrationGuests:Trudi Nelson - Food writer and broadcasterColin Mathura-Jeffree - Model, TV personality, and professional guestFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

We've failed to reach our smokefree obligations, but has New Zealand done well enough to relax our efforts?New Zealand was once a world leader in getting people to give up cigarettes, but we seem to have pulled up the brakesGuests:Chris Bullen - University of Auckland public health professorAnaru Waa - University of Otago professorJasmine Graham - Hāpai te Hauora general managerLearn More:Read more about the history of nicotine drinks hereFind the New Zealand health survey hereFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The West Coast has long been mining country, but a proposed expansion of coal mining operations - and the backlash - leaves the region's economy and ecology uncertainA proposal to expand mining operations on the Denniston Plateau pits the economy against ecology, leaving the Government facing a high-stakes decisionGuests:Fox Meyer - Newsroom political reporterLearn More:Read more about the Plateau proposal and protests here, here, here, here and hereFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

As the cost of insurance rises, Consumer NZ sees worrying signs that more people are dropping their house insuranceFrom house insurance to health insurance, mortgage to pet to funeral, the list of what can be insured seems to be growing. Insurance experts list the ones you can cancel.Guests:Rebecca Styles - Consumer NZ head of investigationsBianca Russell - North Shore office managerChris Walsh - MoneyHub founderLearn More:Insurance Council of New Zealand's survey reveals Kiwis are concerned about natural hazards driving up consumer costsFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Unions who won an employment case for four Uber drivers in three different courts could find the ruling short-lived, with the introduction of new legislationAn expert in employment law says new legislation will override a Supreme Court ruling, but that bill is full of holes - and will itself end up being tested in the courtsGuests:Simon Schofield - University of Auckland professional teaching fellowLearn More:Workers First Union media release on the Supreme Court decision, with a timelineSupreme court finding on Uber caseFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Psychological tricks and traps using deceptive website design techniques are starting to overwhelm online shopping.What's being termed 'dark patterns' are becoming increasingly prevalent on shopping websites as online businesses scramble for your dollarsGuests:Chris Shulz - Consumer NZ senior investigative journalistAlex Sims - University of Auckland commercial law professorLearn More:Read Consumer NZ's Invisible Influence report hereHere's the report Alex mentioned that found websites using dark patterns had double, sometimes quadruple participation rate compared to websites that didn'tRead more about the Hello Fresh case hereFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Two big political memoirs have hit the bookshops this year - but which high profile politicians are missing from the shelvesFrom memoirs to biographies; autobiographies - both authorised and unauthorised - to the mid-career manifesto, the documented lives of politicians come in many formsGuests:Tim Murphy - Newsroom co-editorJim McAloon - Victoria University professor of political historyLearn More:Listen to previous podcasts from Tim Murphy with The Detail here and hereListen to a previous podcast from Jim McAloon with The Detail hereFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A surprise reversal on high beef tariffs has been a welcome relief for farmers, but with Trump in the White House, celebrations are muted U.S President Donald Trump no longer has beef with some Kiwi exports, but others are still stuck paying a high price - and an economist warns it's anyone's guess how long the relief will lastGuests:Brad Olsen - New Zealand economistKate Acland - Beef and Lamb New Zealand chair and New Zealand Meat Board chairLearn More:Read more about the tariff removal and what it means for New Zealand here, here and hereFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Kākāpō numbers are recovering at such a rate that we are running out of pest-free islands to put them on 2026 could be the year that the kākāpō breeding programme takes such a big leap forward that conservationists can finally take a step backGuests:Alison Ballance - Kākāpō FilesLearn More:Read DoC's blog on the 2026 mast season Learn about Auckland Zoo's kākāpō programmeFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Government pressed for action as scandal over police handling of McSkimming complaints sparks national reckoningA week after a bombshell IPCA report raised allegations of high-level cover-ups and triggered accusations of corruption, the fallout continues to grow, with public trust in our Police in the spotlightGuests:Jared Savage - New Zealand Herald's senior investigative journalistSam Sachdeva - Newsroom national affairs editorLearn More: Read Sam's article on the case here A Newsroom analysis written by Tim Murphy Jared's New Zealand Herald article on the McSkimming caseFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details