Podcasts about Auckland

The 2025 Predator: Badlands movie takes the Predator and Yautja mythology into a new, unforeseen realm. Dek, who's ridiculed, persecuted, and then banished from his family, winds up on a strange planet where he befriends a synthetic organism played by Elle Fanning, known as Thia. She has a punk look with a new wave, futuristic charm. Thia and Dek team up to battle monsters and the greedy, evil Weyland-Yutani Corporation, with Elle playing a second synthetic organism known as Tessa. Susie Glass, makeup designer on Badlands, talks about the concepts behind the characters, early mornings on set, the importance of teamwork, and why caring for the actors is of the utmost importance.-Susie Glass is a New Zealand-born hair and makeup designer based in Auckland who's become known for her versatility and leadership with a portfolio that includes feature films, streaming series, and high-end television. With over 30 years of experience, she's dedicated herself to high-quality storytelling and strong craft skills, meeting a variety of demands across a range of genres and screens. As makeup designer on Predator: Badlands, Susie and her team brought a variety of characters to life, from rough ideas to proof of concept to production, including but not limited to synths Thia and Tessa, portrayed by Elle Fanning. Susie is a three-time New Zealand Film and Television Award winner, and her art, craft, and design reflect a dedication to collaboration and storytelling, and most importantly, an understanding of the unique demands of screen work at the highest levels. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0322007/https://www.instagram.com/susiesparkle67/-Predator: Badlands (2025)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31227572/-Predator: Killer of Killers (2025)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36463894/-Prey (2022)https://www.emmys.com/shows/prey-Other movies and shows discussed:Alien: EarthA Rainy Day in New York (2019)

FULL INTERVIEW: Since founding Halter as a 22-year-old in 2016, Kiwi CEO Craig Piggott has built the company into the darling of the New Zealand agriculture tech sector. . The company's latest funding round valued Halter at more than NZ$1.5 billion. They're expanding their virtual fencing technology rapidly into new markets. . Does New Zealand have the support systems in place to foster more successful startups? Q+A sits down with Piggott in Halter's Auckland office. . Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Sir Tony Robinson is one of the world's most recognisable history presenters. After four career-defining series of British sitcom ‘Blackadder', he fronted 20 seasons of the archaeological dig show ‘Time Team'. His humorous hooks and accessible presentation has helped to demystify history and inspire passion in a whole new generation. Robinson has written over 30 children's books, ‘Maid Marian and Her Merry Men', ‘The Worst Jobs in History', and ‘Tony Robinson's Weird World of Wonders!' just a few of the titles. His latest work, ‘The House of Wolf', is his first foray into fiction directed at an older audience, covering the Anglo-Saxons, Alfred the Great, and the making of England in the 9th century. Writing for adults is quite different to writing for children, and Robinson said it scared him “rigid” when he first started. “I had massive imposter syndrome”, he told Jack Tame. “It's ridiculous, isn't it, like I've been on the stage for 60 odd years, and yet when it came to writing a book, terror gripped me.” His subject matter is also a bit of a balancing act, as weaving historical fact with the narrative one wants to convey can sometimes be a challenge. “I did go quite bonkers writing it,” Robinson told Tame. Upon finishing the first draft, his publisher sent it off to reviewers, journalists, and some historical novelists – people Robinson respected. “I was in even more terror,” he revealed. “And then after six weeks, the writer Dan Jones, who wrote a stormingly popular historical novel called ‘Essex Dogs', he wrote a review of it really, and it was so fulsome. “Immediately, all that paranoia that I'd had dispelled completely.” ‘The House of Wolf' is now out, and fans will be able to see him live on stage in 2026 in ‘An Audience with Sir Tony Robinson'. He'll be performing at Auckland's Bruce Mason Centre on February 17th, and at Christchurch's Isaac Theatre Royal on February 18th. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A world-first study by the University of Auckland contributes to the growing body of evidence that climate change effects the likelihood of earthquakes. 

Recreational fishermen from around the country are converging on Auckland this morning in protest of The Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection Act. 

Jeremy Armstrong, Professor of Classics & Ancient History at the University of Auckland and author of Children of Mars: The Origins of Rome's Empire,  joins the show to discuss the early history of Rome, the role of family and clan in the structure of its military, the transition from monarchy to republic, and the nature of warfare during this formative period.  ▪️ Times 02:28 The Problems of Early History 06:05 Warfare in Early Rome: A Complex Picture 11:52 The Importance of Myths in Roman Identity 15:01 Aeneas and Romulus: Founding Figures of Rome 18:00 The Significance of Aeneas in Roman Culture 20:48 The Function of Rome 33:09 The Role of Land and Mobility in Early Rome 36:07 Understanding the Monarchy and Military Structure 42:32 Transition from Monarchy to Republic 53:26 The Impact of the Sack of Rome 1:01:27 Shifting Towards Imperial Ambitions Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find more content on our School of War Substack

Step back to February 22, 1992, Eden Park, Auckland. The opening match of the Benson & Hedges Cricket World Cup wasn’t just another game; it was the dawn of a new era for New Zealand cricket. In the first episode of Kärcher’s “Blast from the Past,” hosts ACC Head G Lane, Jeremy Wells, and Dylan Cleaver revisit this iconic day, unpacking the drama, the personalities, and the legacy that still echoes through the sport. The episode dives into the tense build-up: a team struggling for form, selectors doubting their skipper, and a nation bracing for disappointment. But as the match unfolded, bold tactics (like Dipak Patel opening the bowling) and unlikely heroes emerged. Crowe’s century, the “dibbly-dobbly” bowling brigade, and a string of fielding miracles turned the tide, toppling defending champions Australia and igniting a World Cup run that would captivate the country. Blast From The Past is brought to you by the legends at Kärcher! Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The BYC Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The time is right for New Zealand to join the rest of the world with a privately-backed, franchise Twenty20 league. That's the message from Don Mackinnon, the man standing at the front of the group looking to achieve just that. Some 22 years on from cricket introducing the shortest format, T20 has become the vehicle in which the sport is growing around the world. And, as is the case with sports like football and basketball, strong club-based franchise competitions have proven to be the main driver of that. Led by the Indian Premier League, established in 2008, the franchise game has slowly but surely expanded to all corners of the cricket-playing world. First to India, then England, Australia, Pakistan, the West Indies, South Africa and so on. Even non-cricketing strongholds such as the US, Canada and even Nepal have franchise domestic leagues. The only exception to that is New Zealand. Since the inception of T20 cricket, New Zealand has maintained a domestic competition made up of the six major associations – Auckland, Northern Districts, Wellington, Central Districts, Canterbury and Otago – known as the Super Smash. However, the lack of any franchise-style model has left the Super Smash outdated. Instead of operating as NZ Cricket's (NZC) main driver of revenue, the Super Smash instead operates as a breeding ground for local talent, allowing Kiwi players to develop and step into the Black Caps and White Ferns respectively. And while that might be beneficial for New Zealand's national sides, the Super Smash being left off Sky's new cricket broadcast deal from the start of next summer shows the model, as it stands, is broken. But, led by Mackinnon, a consortium that includes former Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming and NZ Cricket Players' Association boss Heath Mills wants to take New Zealand into the franchise world. The proposed “NZ20″ would involve teams created by the major associations being sold to private owners, and establish a league to be played at the height of the Kiwi summer in January, as early as the start of 2027. It would also provide parity to what has been shown to work around the world. While the format is still to be finalised, the NZ20 would theoretically be a Kiwi-based league providing New Zealand's players the opportunity to play a franchise competition at home. As and when a format is decided, and agreed to by NZ Cricket, the major associations and the players' association, the NZ20 would revolutionise the sport in Aotearoa. Speaking to Weekend Sport with Jason Pine, Mackinnon – the chairman of the NZ20 Establishing Committee – explained that while similar attempts to implement a franchise league in New Zealand haven't materialised, the state of the sport in 2025 has changed that equation. “If we go back a decade, I was on the board of NZ Cricket,” he said. “We looked at setting up a franchise league back in 2013-14. “At the time we didn't think it was viable. But as one highly respected figure put to me, there's never been more money in the international game of cricket at the moment. “So many people around the world are excited by it and investing in it, but New Zealand is not part of that. “I just think the time is right to tweak that model and create something in our domestic league that fans are excited by. The money is there, the interest is there. The timing is perfect.” Naturally, with this kind of expansion, falsehoods have materialised. For a start, Mackinnon dismisses any notion the NZ20 is a “rebel league”, as suggested when first reported. Mackinnon concedes “it would be crazy to do this without the support of NZC”. Earlier this year, the NZ20 Establishing Committee presented the concept to NZC. In turn, two members of the NZC board are also part of the Establishing Committee, at a time when the governing body assesses multiple options as to how to revolutionise the shortest format here. Mackinnon also points out that what the NZ20 intends to do isn't new. Cricketing nations across the globe have implemented the same models, where privately-backed franchises co-exist with national boards to allow T20 to operate as the centrepiece of the domestic season. Those models have provided the blueprint for the NZ20 Establishing Committee to take on board. “What we're looking to do here is not novel,” Mackinnon said. “In actual fact, it's done all around the world. “The better question might be ‘why aren't we?' The South African league, for example, has gone from loss-making to extraordinarily successful. The Caribbean league has done exactly the same. “The Caribbean league is probably the model we've mostly looked at as replicating, in part. It's a relatively small economy, a relatively small talent pool. And yet it is reinvigorating the game in the Caribbean. “Will it be here in 30 years' time? I don't know. But the model is certainly doing great things for the game at the moment. There is absolutely no reason why we can't do it here.” What's more, there is also evidence of Mackinnon's suggestion of franchises having stakes controlled by the major associations, while selling ownership to investors. For example, England's “The Hundred” competition initially involved its franchises being co-owned by the English county cricket sides. However, when put to tender earlier in 2025, hundreds of millions of pounds were raised for the counties to use as they saw fit, including investing in the grassroots. The biggest potential worry for the NZ20 – if successful – is the window in which it would operate. If Mackinnon's suggestion of January eventuates, the NZ20 would clash with Australia's Big Bash League, South Africa's SA20 and the UAE's ILT20. The SA20 and ILT20 are both owned by Indian private equity, while the Big Bash League is almost certain to follow a similar path in seeking outside investment. Naturally, then, that would leave the NZ20 competing for talent, be it local or international. For Mackinnon, though, the priority is ensuring the competition is primarily an outlet for New Zealanders. “We're really conscious of that,” he said. “The first thing is we want to make sure our very best players are playing in it. “Heath [Mills] has been talking a lot to the Daryl Mitchells of this world, the Kane Williamsons – our best players. They are incredibly excited about this as a concept. “First and foremost, you're going to have a young kid playing for Otago, bowling to Finn Allen for example. That's got to be good for the game in New Zealand. “There's an awful lot of really good white ball cricketers playing around the world, not all of them can play in South Africa and Australia. “I have no doubt that there would be the opportunity to supplement squads. They would still be very good, exciting players that would put bums on seats.” However, the NZ20 isn't the only option on the table for NZC. The national body is also undertaking a review, led by Deloitte, to determine which direction it should move in. While a similar, privately-backed franchise model is also on the table – separate from the NZ20 – the biggest potential rival would be for the NZC to seek having at least one side join Australia's Big Bash. While that would mean New Zealand and Australia joining forces – as seen with the Warriors in the NRL, the Breakers in the NBL and Auckland FC and the Wellington Phoenix in the A-League – it would also mean NZC has less influence on how the team could be run. Regardless, Mackinnon, said that while the NZ20 Establishing Committee believes it has the best way forward, it ultimately wants to see what's best for the sport – even if it means NZC moves in another direction. “I'll be the first to applaud NZ Cricket for looking at all of their options, they're doing the right thing,” he said. “If they say that's better for cricket in New Zealand, we will live with that and I will wish that project every success. “It seems to me a competition that's played throughout New Zealand, ideally at holiday venues at the peak of summer, with some of our best players playing, some great international players is better for fans, it's better for players, it's better for our regions, and personally I think it's better for our Black Cap and White Ferns development programmes. “But that's just our opinion. I fully accept that NZ Cricket are looking at all their options – as they should.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland FC return to action this weekend after the international break. They made quite the statement in their last clash, the NZ derby against the Wellington Phoenix, winning 2-1 despite only having nine players on the field. This weekend will see them take on the Brisbane Roar, looking to cement their place at the top of the A-League ladder. Auckland FC Coach Steve Corica joined D'Arcy to look back at the derby performance and preview tomorrow's clash. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recreational fishers are towing their boats through the streets of Auckland tomorrow -- in protest at rule changes which allow limited commercial fishing inside two new High Protection Areas. 

An Auckland company is diverting plastic wrap from landfill and helping builders and other companies recycle products. 

Is the mobile phone becoming the dominate side dish during meals out? A top new resturant in London's Mayfair is banning phones in a bid to encourage diners to immerse themselves in the dining and social experience without device distraction. So is it a thing here? Auckland restaurant owner and chef Al Brown spoke to Lisa Owen.

The last time the All Blacks lost to Wales there was no Harbour Bridge in Auckland, Elvis Presley hadn't released any music and Queen Elizabeth II was about to make her first visit to New Zealand. The Welsh will need to channel the spirit of 1953 - the year they beat the All Blacks 13-8 - if they want to taste victory once again. But do they have any shot at snapping this seven-decade streak? Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.

Torika discusses the petition calling for an inquiry into voting in Paptoetoe, the latest in the measles outbreak, a fine over illegal earthworks on the North Shore and embers lead to a fire on a track in the Waitakere Ranges.

New Zealand may have lost over 90% of its wetlands, but the work of a small West Auckland restoration group has been recognised.

A west Auckland primary school has told parents the coloured play sand it's been using is positive for asbestos. It's arranging decontamination and air quality tests. The sand is part of a major recall of mulltiple products. Meanwhile, 23 schools and 12 early learning services around the country are temporarily closed or planning to close. John O'Regan, the Principal of Enner Glynn school in Nelson spoke to Lisa Owen.

Melbourne Storm star Eliesa Katoa will miss the 2026 NRL season as he continues his recovery from brain surgery. The 25 year-old copped multiple head knocks while on test duty with Tonga during the Pacific Championships earlier this month. He suffered seizure activity on the sideline and was taken to hospital, where he had surgery on a brain bleed. After a two-week hospital stay in Auckland, the Storm has confirmed Katoa is now back home in Melbourne and under the care of the club's medical team. Sports correspondent Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.

Rosetta and Milly catch up with Adam Whatton, who is Principal Ranger for the Auckland marine district keen to chat. His role is all about engaging the community around Auckland, the Coromandel and the Hauraki Gulf islands with the new marine protections in the Hauraki Gulf. Whakarongo mai nei!

A 20 year-old from Kapiti is travelling on foot from Auckland to Wellington, clocking 50-plus kilometres a day to support men's mental health. Emma Upton spoke to Corin Dann.

A sub-Antarctic white-headed petrel found in Auckland's Muriwai Beach carpark has been released back into the wild after weeks of recovery. BirdCare Aotearoa fundraising manager, Dr Rashi Parker spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Time now to catch up with Our Changing World's Claire Concannon, she's been talking to an Auckland-based team of chemists that have developed a new way to help oil and water mix.

Step back to February 22, 1992, Eden Park, Auckland. The opening match of the Benson & Hedges Cricket World Cup wasn’t just another game; it was the dawn of a new era for New Zealand cricket. In the first episode of Kärcher’s “Blast from the Past,” hosts ACC Head G Lane, Jeremy Wells, and Dylan Cleaver revisit this iconic day, unpacking the drama, the personalities, and the legacy that still echoes through the sport.The episode dives into the tense build-up: a team struggling for form, selectors doubting their skipper, and a nation bracing for disappointment. But as the match unfolded, bold tactics (like Dipak Patel opening the bowling) and unlikely heroes emerged. Crowe’s century, the “dibbly-dobbly” bowling brigade, and a string of fielding miracles turned the tide, toppling defending champions Australia and igniting a World Cup run that would captivate the country. Blast From The Past is brought to you by the legends at Kärcher! Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The Agenda Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part two: Northland has always been notorious for its power cuts, but havoc wreaked by recent outages has called into question the robustness of the network. Far North Mayor Moko Tepania says a 'detailed investigation' into the cause of the power cuts is needed. Then, while many of you are preparing for the Metallica concert in Auckland we talk to one New Zealander who has an amazing story to tell about the band and their lead singer James Hetfield.

The Breakers' decision not to wear the rainbow pride flag in next year's NBL Pride Round has prompted mixed reactions. The Auckland-based basketball club is facing public backlash after becoming the second club to opt out of the pride jersey since the round began in January 2023. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland bars are heaving as Metallica prepares to rock Eden Park tonight - its first Kiwi concert in 15 years. About 40,000 visitor nights have been booked for the sell-out concert, with the city's hotels at 100 percent capacity. Roads near Eden Park are closed until midnight. Kingsland's Full-Time Bar manager, Shane Don, says business is booming this afternoon. "We're stacked in here, everyone's kitted out like bogans, I'm kitted out like a bogan, and I honestly feel like I've walked back 30 years." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've got a bunch of new economic numbers this morning. The recovery is underway. Finally. We've had false dawns before, so I'm not overcooking this, but things are moving in the right direction. Investor confidence is up for Q3. Most regions are getting a slice of the recovery action, according to Infometrics. What's most interesting is investor confidence, led by Auckland, is up quite a bit and they're not worrying so much about the dramatic headlines from Trump, etc. They're shrugging them off. And our attitudes to different types of investment are changing. The proportion of us who see owning our own home as the best investment is now at its lowest level since 2015, and young people are loving stocks. Which is no surprise - the S&P's up around 14% this year, house prices are falling or flat. Which might help explain why the mood on capital gains seems to have shifted a bit. But here's the thing with the capital gains: it will not lower house prices, it will not fix the structural deficit. It will provide tax revenue for doctors visits, sure. But can those doctors visits be delivered, or just advertised in some brochure like Kiwibuild? And to those who are enjoying success with stocks, congratulations. Your gains aren't taxed, but property is the canary in the coal mine. It's a warning of more to come. Give a politician an inch and they'll take a mile. Look at the fundamentals of it. This CGT won't fix the stuff you'd expect it to fix and still leaves the State short of revenue. So they'll eventually come for something else, and that something will be whatever's popular. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gianni was born and raised in Muriwai on the west coast near Auckland, on a farm that is still in the family. Gianni's father emigrated to NZ with his parents Zita ed Eugenio. They came as refugees from Istria, where after the Second World War the borders were changed and they village was no longer part of Italy. A great aunt had married a NZ soldier and Gianni's grandparents decided also to move to NZ. Gianni's grandfather was a language teacher, and Zita was a dressmaker who later set up her own high-fashion label, Moda Bella. Both were founding members of the Dante Alighieri Society and Zita was also the President in the '70s. Gianni is telling us about his time with relatives in Trieste learning Italian, his involvement with the mandolin orchestra and the big passion in life: his profession as a winemaker. Gianni is a qualified viticulturist and oenologist and has worked for major winemaker companies in NZ. In 2010, he started on the family farm a small vineyard of Nebbiolo, a difficult variety to grow in the Auckland climate, now producing about 300 litres of Flego Wines. https://flegowine.substack.com/ Per il supporto alla realizzazione di questo programma Ondazzurra ringrazia l'Ambasciata d'Italia a Wellington, https://ambwellington.esteri.it/en/ che promuove la lingua e cultura italiana in Nuova Zelanda, e il Ministry for Ethnic Communities che promuove la diversità ed inclusione in Aotearoa. https://www.ethniccommunities.govt.nz/

Marcus previews Metallica's show in Auckland tomorrow, talks about things that've been banned in schools, and covers another big hit of rain for the top of the North Island. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United Kingdom is vowing to ‘restore order and control’ - through controversial, sweeping reform on the country’s asylum system. The new interpretations of human rights laws will make the UK less attractive for asylum seekers and make it easier to deport them. The tougher rules on refugee statuses mean people would need to reapply, and it would take 20 years for permanent settlement. Human rights lawyer and activist, Rêz Gardî, is a co-director and co-founder of the University of Auckland’s Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies - Tāwharau Whakaumu. She joins The Front Page to discuss the landscape behind The UK's policy overhaul and whether New Zealand should be reconsidering its own approach to refugee status. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marcus previews the Metallica concert hitting Auckland, words we no longer use, and things banned by schools. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to a brand new season of The Worst Idea of All Time. In late 2025, we set out to apply our method film review process to Joker: Folie à Deux.Join us, outside the front doors of The Classic, Auckland's only comedy club. A venue we will soon enter the doors of to live inside for one week, to watch and review Joker: Folie à Deux. 14 watches. 14 reviews. 14 chances for the movie to impress this pair of dedicated film critics.You can watch the video episode of this for free at twioat.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Health New Zealand has stepped up precautions after two confirmed separate outbreaks of antibiotic-resistant super bugs at Christchurch Hospital. It says there are fewer than 10 patients with the infection known as VRE but many are asymptomatic carriers. The bacteria is difficult to treat due to its resistance and in some case can be potentially life threatening. Associate Professor Mark Thomas, an infectious diseases researcher at the University of Auckland, spoke to Lisa Owen.

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown talks with Paul Spain about the future of technology in Auckland and New Zealand. The mayor shares his vision for making Auckland a leading tech hub and how he believes the city can better contribute to New Zealand's economy.From his experience leading business delegations to China and India, to his hands-on approach supporting the Auckland Tech Alliance and pushing for digital innovation within local government, Wayne Brown offers his viewpoints on city-to-city connections, global tech opportunities, and the sometimes-bumpy road of digital transformation and adoption.We explore practical challenges around balancing technological innovation with privacy and inclusivity, discuss Auckland's role in supporting the wider country, and hear why Mayor Wayne Brown believes collaboration, progressive development, and a willingness to take risks are key to unlocking Auckland's and New Zealand's potential on the global tech stage.This episode also touches on Council Digitisation, Rocket Lab, Halter, Bengaluru - India, Guangzhou - China, Sao Paulo - Brazil, Startup Week, Auckland Technology Alliance, Transport, Road Cones and more.A big thank you to our show partners One NZ, Spark, Workday, HP, 2degrees and Gorilla Technology.

Auckland-based professional triathlete Jack Moody broke the tape at the Queenstown Marathon in 2:25:02, posting a new men's course record by more than a minute. We chat to Jack about his race. IRONMAN make changes to their World Championship qualification system. Clare Fitzpatrick won a free race entry to the IRONMAN 70.3 in Melbourne. We find out how her day went. We catch up on the racing from the weekend including the race management issues arising from the T100 in Dubai. (0:06:06) – Jack Moody (0:03:07) – IRONMAN Arizona (0:25:48) – IRONMAN Qualification System (0:31:59) – Clare Fitzpatrick (0:42:21) – T100 Dubai LINKS: Follow Jack Moody on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jacktmoody/ Queenstown Marathon at https://queenstown-marathon.co.nz/ IRONMAN Arizona at https://www.ironman.com/races/im-arizona IRONMAN 70.3 Melbourne at https://www.ironman.com/races/im703-melbourne T100 Dubai at https://t100triathlon.com/dubai/pro/

A car retailer in Auckland says the car-sales industry needs clearer rules and stability. The owner of Simon Lucas Mitsubishi spoke to Corin Dann.

The countdown is on until Ikea opens its doors in New Zealand. Money correspondent Susan Edmunds has been checking it out and asking what it means for other shops.

We're trying something new here on Afternoons, we've decided Monday is club day, a chance for Jesse to hit the clubs. If you have a club you'd like Jesse to join for the day please get in touch at afternoons@rnz.co.nz Today, we're starting Jesse's clubbing adventure with Barbara Preston from Auckland based choir Stimmung.

Bill discusses the recently changed laws around building a granny flat on your land. Bill McKay is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of Auckland.

Last week saw the release of the Global Tobacco Interference Index. In it, Aotearoa ranked 53rd in the world - a whopping 52 places down from two years ago. This ranking two years ago was reflective of our robust anti-smoking laws - since the current coalition government has repealed them, however, that reputation has come seriously into question. These rankings now serve as a warning about the role that the tobacco industry plays in health policy, and New Zealand's failure to manage smoking and tobacco lobbying. Monday Wire Producer Alex spoke to Professor of Public Health at the University of Auckland, Chris Bullen, about the ranking, Tobacco influence in the government, and what it says about Smoking in New Zealand as a whole.  

On the 8th of November, a wildfire tore through 3000 hectares of Tongariro National Park, before being extinguished four days later. The fire resulted in multiple walks in the region to be closed, including the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. However, as of today, many of these tracks have reopened. However, the full extent of the fire on the region's ecosystem is yet to be fully investigated. On Friday, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to George Perry, a Professor in the School of Environment at the University of Auckland, about this wildfire, and how detrimental this fire will be on the region's ecosystem, from what we are currently seeing

More yellow-legged hornet nests have been uncovered on Auckland's North Shore - and Biosecurity New Zealand is stepping up its eradication push. Biosecurity New Zealand's Commissioner North, Mike Inglis spoke to Corin Dann.

In episode 44, Johnny talks to Auckland film and book lover Kelly Gordon. As well as working at Auckland's Academy Cinemas - alongside previous guests Cameo England (episode #4), Gorjan Markovski (episode #21), and Stefan Moon (episode #43) - Kelly's currently a key member of the team at Unity Books, New Zealand's leading independent book store. Their chat includes lots of insider tips from Auckland's book and rep cinema landscape, they discuss Jim Jarmusch, Alan Clarke, Danny Boyle and the majesty of Wim Wenders' 1984 film Paris, Texas, and they talk about running into one of the stars of Luca Guadagnino's Challengers, when all they want to do is get out onto a New Zealand road trip…This conversation was recorded face to face in mid-October of 2025.Thanks to James Van As who wrote and performed the brilliant podcast music (check out James' ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Loco Looper⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ game) and to Willow Van As who designed the amazing artwork and provided general podcast support.You can contact My Movie DNA on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @mymovieDNA or email mymovieDNA@gmail.com.Check out Johnny's new podcast series, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠500 Films: A Journey Through Genre Cinema⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, available wherever you get your podcasts. 

Chris Luxon is standing firm on his opposition to a capital gains tax. A New Zealand Herald-Kantar Poll shows New Zealanders are evenly split on Labour's proposal for a tax on gains on commercial and investment properties. Opposition is strongest in Auckland, while support for the CGT is stronger in every other region. The Prime Minister told Mike Hosking Labour's proposal is ultimately a bad idea, that will harm businesses and leave everyone's KiwiSaver worse off. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Little General ... just telling it how it is! An awesome interview!Sponsored by Cooks Plumbing Supplies. Check them out @ https://www.cooksplumbing.com.au

A Rotorua women's refuge says it has been shocked at the increase in the number of those needing to escape abusive homes over the past 18 months. But the rise in those affected by family violence isn't just a Rotorua problem, with one Auckland provider telling RNZ the economic situation has compounded the problem there, too. Libby Kirkby-McLeod reports.

A group of residents at an Auckland retirement village are trying to put the brakes on a policy which could see electric vehicles banned within its gates. Fairview Lifestyle Village in Albany says they're concerned about the risk an EV fire would pose to the busy community's residents and homes. The policy is still in mediation, and residents who already own electric vehicles are allowed to keep them, but they're not letting any new EVs into the gated North Shore community. Retirement Village Residents Association chief executive Nigel Matthews spoke to Lisa Owen.

Earlier this week we held a special event in Auckland celebrating a decade of Critter of the Week. Forest and Bird Chief Executive Nicola Toki and Jesse sat in front of a live audience to chat about critters and conservation. We so appreciate the people who took part - in person or watching via the livestream - and it was such a terrific evening we thought we should share it with our radio audience too.

US based mega store Costco is branching out with a second store in the Auckland region. A 6.5-hectare site in Drury south of Auckland city has been ear marked for the big box store that sells everything from cut price groceries to designer denim. Retired Costco vice president country manager for Australia and New Zealand, Patrick Noone spoke to Lisa Owen.

In Neoliberalism and Race (Stanford UP, 2025) Lars Cornelissen argues that the category of race constitutes an organizing principle of neoliberal ideology. Using the methods of intellectual history and drawing on insights from critical race studies, Cornelissen explores the various racial constructs that structure neoliberal ideology, some of which are explicit, while others are more coded. Beginning in the interwar period and running through to recent developments, Neoliberalism and Race shows that racial themes have always pervaded neoliberal thinking. The book's key argument is that neoliberal thought is constitutively racialized—its racial motifs cannot be extracted from neoliberalism without rendering it theoretically and politically incoherent. The book aptly explores a wide variety of racial constructs through the structure of neoliberal ideology, deconstructing the conceptualizations in the works of landmark thinkers such as Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich Hayek, Peter Bauer, Thomas Sowell, Charles Murray, and others from the early twentieth century to the present. In this original—perhaps controversial—critique, Cornelissen asserts that neoliberal thinkers were not just the passive recipients of racial discourse, but also directly impacted it. Lars Cornelissen is a historian of neoliberalism. His writings have been published in History of European Ideas, Constellations, and Modern Intellectual History. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

It is common to define Europe by its democratic, scientific, religious, and cultural traditions. But in What is European? On Overcoming Colonial and Romantic Modes of Thought (Amsterdam UP, 2025), Dag Nikolaus Hasse argues that the search for Europe's essence has taken a troubling turn. He shows that many traditional ideas about Europe are culturally one-sided and historically and geographically distorted, and calls for a decolonisation and deromanticisation of the discourse on Europe. The book promotes an inclusive vision of Europe that reflects its long history of multiethnic cities, offers a cultural home to a wider range of people across the continent, and extends attention and respect to other continents, thus laying a more respectful foundation for shaping the future together.At the same time, Hasse demonstrates that overcoming colonial ways of thinking does not and should not result in anti-Europeanism. Criticising European arrogance may well go hand in hand with feeling culturally at home in other traditions of Europe. For this, it does not matter whether one is a resident of the European continent or not. There is no privileged access to European culture or to the culture of any other continent. Dag Nikolaus Hasse is professor of the history of philosophy at the University of Würzburg. Among his numerous publications, two monographs stand out: Avicenna's De Anima in the Latin West (2000), and Success and Suppression: Arabic Sciences and Philosophy in the Renaissance (2016). In 2016, Hasse was awarded the prestigious Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize, the highest disctinction for a scientist in Germany. Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network