RNZ: The Detail

There's a silent epidemic in our national game, and it's leaving a trail of tragedy here and overseas Shane Christie wanted a hard look at the link between head knocks and long-term brain injury, and he asked for his own brain to be studiedFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Despite the scandals and leaky pipes, Wellingtonians want the rest of the nation to know that their city is still unbeatableThe capital city has been getting a tough time in the headlines lately, but locals say it's the same creative, beautiful place they've loved for a long timeFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

AI-hallucinated scientific research and legal precedents are making their way into academic papers and court cases, highlighting AI's real-world impactThe world's most cited cat had a brief, successful run. Then Google Scholar brought his career to an abrupt halt.Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Cruise ship visits to Aotearoa are down, and industry insiders worry that the economic fallout for the tourism industry will be severe Red tape, high costs and tough rules have cruise companies turning their backs on New Zealand, and our cruise industry on the brink of sinkingFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

As the natural gas supply dwindles, a glasshouse grower fears for its future, and the future of growing food in New ZealandTomato grower warns the gas supply crisis could threaten the hothouse industry, end thousands of jobs and send consumer prices even higherFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Inside the Auckland event where tech startups pitch to New Zealand's wealthiest investors, the economic outlook is sunny At the Icehouse Showcase, tech start-ups vie for the attention - and cash - of some of New Zealand's richest, in a stark contrast to the economic slump across the countryFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

When it comes to making the internet safer for children and better for society the devil is in the detail - and those details are often overlooked A recent wave of morally-motivated lobbying has succeeded in making big changes to global gaming and internet laws. Critics say there are potentially dangerous consequences.Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Amanda Gillies speaks with media chaplain and broadcaster Reverend Frank Ritchie on his podcast re_covering, to unpack the one story that most impacted her personally and professionally. Gillies was on the way to an interview when she got a call confirming Newshub's closure. Despite the shock, she continued on – and in the telling of a brave Te Kūiti amputee's story was reminded what had first drawn her to journalism.Watch the video version of the episode here.After a tip-off, Amanda Gillies drove to Te Kūiti to meet Bev McIndoe – a woman who had survived a catastrophic accident that left half her body amputated, and who now faced losing her home after an ACC funding cut.But just five minutes from her destination, Amanda's phone rang with news that turned her own world upside-down: Newshub was closing.In shock, she decided to push on – and in sharing Bev's story of grit and generosity, found her own perspective shifting and a timely reminder of why she became a journalist in the first place.In this kōrero with Rev Frank Ritchie, Amanda Gillies opens up about the moment she learned her workplace of 23 years was shutting its doors, reflects on her time fronting The AM Show, and talks about her new role hosting RNZ's The Detail.re_covering is a Media Chaplaincy New Zealand podcast series produced by not-for-profit production house Love It Media for RNZ.If you know a media professional who'd appreciate a free, independent, and confidential chat, encourage them to get in touch at mediachaplaincy.nz.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Lord of the Rings cast members still hold New Zealand close to their hearts after 25 years, and several are making plans to returnKiwi actor Bruce Hopkins catches up with his fellow cast members from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, when they appear at a massive fan convention in LondonFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Two of the big stars from last weekend will be coming to Auckland for Labour Weekend's Armageddon convention in Auckland - Elijah Wood, or Frodo Baggins to Rings fans, and Andy Serkis who plays Gollum. Hobbit actors Evangeline Lilly (Tauriel, an elf) and Graham McTavish (Dwalin the dwarf) will also be there.In this podcast, Bruce Hopkins speaks to Elijah Wood, Dominic Moynihan, Billy Boyd, Sir Ian McKellen, David Wenham, Sean Astin and John Rhys-Davies at the For the Love of Fantasy convention in London. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

New Zealand's first-ever conviction for attempted espionage has been handed down, but the solider at the centre of the case was less James Bond and "maybe more like a bumbling wannabe-spy" A former New Zealand soldier convicted of attempted espionage wanted to defect to a foreign country. Instead, he'll serve time in military detention, and is likely to have his name suppression removed.Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

As rate payers feel the pinch, plans for rate capping offer welcome relief. But councillors here and across the Tasman have warnings. New Zealand householders are likely to get some relief if councils are forced to cap rates - but the plan could punish those already keeping rates lowFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A growing list of rollbacks of Māori language and culture beg the question: is the Government pushing New Zealand towards an identity crisis? From taking Māori words out of children's books and government agency names to switching the order of languages on passports, te ao Māori's place in NZ - and the country's cultural identity - are under threatFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Auckland's economy is falling behind that of the South Island and rural areas, and there's no government hero coming to the rescueRetailers say it's the City of No Sales, productivity is wasted sitting in traffic and much of the inner city is broken. Does Auckland have better times ahead?Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Beautiful Northland should be New Zealand's paradise but a surge in violent crime, drugs and poverty is even putting off police from moving up thereNine homicides in just four months have stretched Northland police, who have had to turn their back on other crimes, triggering an "unprecedented" mayday call for out-of-town helpFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Queen of Goth - Frankenstein author Mary Shelley - is the inspiration behind a new play written by Jess SayerThe playwright behind a new production centring on the gothic author of Frankenstein shares her inspiration for the storyFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

It's gone from a boozy pub game to a mega millions sport - darts' world tour is on in Auckland this weekend At the New Zealand Darts Masters in Auckland this weekend, there's big money, professional mindsets, and for spectators, a 'very exciting night out'Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

New Zealand is on track for a record number of liquidations this year - again - but it's not all doom and gloom for Kiwi businesses The rising cost of living and a pandemic hangover have put the pressure on businesses, sending nearly 1300 into liquidation already this yearFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

After a risky rescue mission to Antarctica, the commander and pilot's blow-by-blow of the 20-hour round trip to McMurdo Station The Defence Force's Antarctic rescue mission involved hot refuelling, night vision goggles, minus 30 degree temperatures and the black hole effectFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A lesson in the big NCEA reset. The Detail puts an RNZ education specialist to the test on the major education system overhaul. Reactions to the government's NCEA reset vary from welcoming the abolition of a confusing system, to fear that poorer communities will be left behindFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Auckland museum's asbestos problem is being described as an octopus with more than eight tentacles - and one that comes with a whopping price tagTwo Auckland heritage buildings have been the centre of attention - one because it's finally getting funding for restoration, the other because it's facing a mult-million dollar asbestos problemFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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