Podcasts about Cook Strait

He Swam Through Sharks, Cold, and Addiction | Steve “Moby” Leitch Ultra-marathon swimmer Steve “Moby” Leitch joins Pastor Joseph Spurgeon for a powerful conversation about endurance, discipline, addiction recovery, and the grace of Christ. Steve has crossed some of the most dangerous channels in the world, including the English Channel, the North Channel, Cook Strait, and the Strait of Gibraltar. But the greatest battle he ever fought was not against cold water, exhaustion, or sharks. It was the battle against addiction, purposelessness, and sin. In this episode, Steve shares how Christ rescued him from destruction, rebuilt his life, restored his purpose, and led him into a ministry helping men escape addiction and rebuild their lives. This conversation dives deep into suffering, discipline, masculine endurance, morning habits, family leadership, and what it means to keep going when everything in you wants to quit. If you are tired of soft Christianity and passive masculinity, this episode will challenge you to reject excuses, embrace discipline, and endure faithfully for the glory of Christ. In This Episode Steve’s journey from addiction and collapse to redemption in Christ Swimming the world’s most dangerous open-water channels What cold water, darkness, and isolation teach a man How discipline is built through habits and suffering The importance of morning routines for Christian men Why boredom destroys men Addiction recovery and rebuilding purpose Biblical endurance and masculine perseverance Fatherhood, consequences, and trusting God through pain The mission behind Rising Tides Ministry Chapter Breaks 00:00 – Cold Open: Swimming Through Darkness, Fear, and Sharks01:34 – 1 Corinthians 9 and the Call to Endurance03:47 – Steve “Moby” Leitch’s Story05:26 – Addiction, Collapse, and Crying Out to God09:13 – Returning to Swimming After Years Away12:47 – What Is the Ocean Seven?15:09 – Swimming in Freezing Water17:16 – Sharks, Fear, and Open Water Danger21:27 – The Closest Steve Came to Quitting23:36 – Mental Discipline vs Physical Ability25:26 – King’s Council Promo27:36 – Morning Habits and Masculine Discipline32:50 – Seeing God’s Glory in the Ocean34:51 – The Final Ocean Seven Swim35:30 – Rising Tides Ministry and Helping Men Recover37:22 – Coaching Men Out of Addiction38:38 – Pornography, Mission, and Fighting Sin39:49 – Practical Steps for Breaking Addiction43:34 – Pain, Consequences, and Steve’s Relationship With His Son45:06 – What Comes After Catalina?45:58 – Pastor Joseph Prays for Steve48:09 – Steve’s Final Encouragement to Men49:05 – Closing Charge: Reject Passivity and Endure Resources & Links Steve “Moby” Leitch: stevemobyleitch.net Rising Tides Ministry: risengtidesministry.com The King’s Council Men need more than shallow answers and soft leadership. The King’s Council is a gathering for men who want biblical truth, real brotherhood, and strength under the lordship of Christ. Join us June 20 from 5:00–8:00 PM at Sovereign King Church in Jeffersonville, IN. Pastor Michael Clary of Christ the King Church in Fort Thomas, KY will speak on Piety Without Pietism. Food, discussion, and fellowship included. Take your seat at the King’s Council: https://sovereignkingscouncil.com About the Show The Patriarchy Podcast features in-depth conversations on faith, culture, theology, and leadership. Each episode equips Christians to live boldly and biblically in an age of compromise—exploring the challenges and opportunities of standing firm for truth in the modern world. Support the Mission We’re still raising funds to expand Sovereign King Academy and keep tuition affordable for families. Want to invest in the future of Christ’s Kingdom?Give here: https://sovereignkingacademy.com Connect with The Patriarchy Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePatriarchyPodcastSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/58tm5zjzApple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/f3ruzrsaWebsite & All Links: https://linktr.ee/thepatriarchypodcast Follow Joseph Spurgeon:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePatriarchyPodcastX/Twitter: https://x.com/PatriarchyPodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepatriarchypodcastGab: https://gab.com/thepatriarchypodcast Sponsored By Steadfast Cigars – For men who reject passivity and take dominionOrder: https://steadfastcigars.com/ Fit Father Project – Dr. Balduzzi built the Fit Father Project to help men stop drifting, reclaim discipline, and get strong for life. If you're ready to take ownership of your health, don’t wait. This is the first real step toward lasting strength—for your body, your family, and your legacy. Start: https://secure.fitfatherproject.com/a/transformation/4539 Books by Joseph Spurgeon:It’s Good to Be a Boy – https://a.co/d/7zpEh5DIt’s Good to Be a Girl – https://a.co/d/6VlBTzS Final Call to Action Subscribe for more conversations that sharpen men for battle.Turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.Like and share to support biblical masculinity. https://youtu.be/TC-SYn5y-do

People in Marlborough are being asked whether their council should borrow $110 million to build key infrastructure ahead of new Cook Strait ferries. Samantha Gee reports.

It'd be easy to draw comparisons and parallels between our upcoming election and the local and federal upsets in Australia and the UK at the weekend. But New Zealand is a totally different kettle of fish. In part, because, unlike the Brits and the Aussies, we run an MMP system. The smaller parties that have traditionally been overlooked, like One Nation and Reform, are doing well because the major parties have failed on immigration and the economy. Our system is designed to allow these smaller parties more say, with fewer wasted votes. But most importantly, mass-migration is not the hot-button political issue here it is in the UK and, to a lesser extent, Australia, where migration, and particularly illegal migration, is a problem. The vast distance you must travel to get here is our saving grace, in that regard. But our isolation is also a curse in many ways. Our labour productivity, low population base and lack of competition in key consumer sectors make us a relatively pricey place to raise a family. We're an open economy heavily reliant on international trade. So when there's a tariff war or international shipping routes get blocked, we are disproportionately affected compared to bigger economies with more domestic demand and buying power. A government report looking at our undersea infrastructure cables - power and internet - shows how vulnerable we are - 99% of our international internet goes undersea. The Cook Strait power cable provides up to 30% of the North Island's electricity. If the Russians or Chinese or somebody else tried to cut us off, we'd be in trouble, and our isolation makes replacing these things more difficult than others. A quarantine or blockade of Taiwan would be the worst-case scenario for our trade-flows. And, as we've been talking about for years now, could happen anytime from 2027 onwards. Our isolation protects us from the threats faced by the UK , America and the Aussies, but exposes unique ones we should guard against. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crossing the Cook Strait is about to get a whole lot more expensive for commercial operators and consumers. The Interislander is hiking its fuel surcharge to 54 percent on commercial vehicles and trucks crossing the Cook Strait due to soaring energy prices. International shipping company Maersk announced its own 27 percent fuel surcharge and Bluebridge adjusted its prices last month. As Alexa Cook reports, the high ferry fuel surcharge is going to hurt.

The Interislander has almost doubled its fuel surcharge on commercial vehicles crossing the Cook Strait due to soaring energy prices from the Middle East conflict. Ellen O'Dwyer reports.

Ferry Holdings' chair insists buying two new Interislander ferries and improving docks to accommodate them won't blow out costs. In a Treasury briefing last September, officials raised concerns building portside infrastructure could exceed the budget. But chair Chris Mackenzie says that briefing was premature. "You've got to remember that this report that was done last September was done before we'd even started detailed negotiations with the ports." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's some concerns about cost blowouts on the new Cook Strait ferries, but Minister Chris Bishop isn't too worried. A Treasury briefing from September warned of risks costs could overtake the budgeted $1.8 billion dollars. Associate Finance Minister Chris Bishop says the Government's working at pace on this project and the new ferries are on their way. "It's going to be tight, there's no doubt about that. But things are going pretty well." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A union says the taxpayer pays the price for any cost blowout to the Cook Strait ferry replacement programme. A Treasury review last year found “back-to-front” planning and decaying port infrastructure's left the project exposed to delays and higher costs. Maritime Union Secretary Carl Findlay told Ryan Bridge Ferry Holdings was set up to sort all of this out. He says they should've pulled together the Port of Wellington and Picton, both councils, and KiwiRail so they're all on the same page. Findlay says they've known about these issues for several years, and from his understanding, nothing's been done at either port to accommodate the ferries. Ferry Holdings says the groups planning shows costs are within the allocated budget. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever looked at a map of New Zealand and wondered—why isn't there a bridge between the North and South Islands? They're not that far apart… so what's the holdup? Is it secret sea monsters? Wild weather? Or something even weirder? Hit play to dive into the surprising reasons behind this missing mega-bridge and find out what's really going on beneath the waves. You'll never look at the Cook Strait the same way again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fewer than 50 people on the planet have completed the Oceans Seven Challenge. Putting that in perspective over 7,000 people have summited Mt. Everest , Steve “Moby” Leitch is one swim away from being in such an elite club. You can train for months and still get humbled in minutes when the ocean decides to change the rules. After swimming the Strait of Gibraltar from Europe to Africa, elite endurance athlete, Steve “Moby” Leitch, joins us to break down what makes ultra marathon open water swimming so unforgiving: funnelled currents where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, tight wind restrictions, and real-world hazards like commercial freighters.Steve is a member of the Greenville Splash Masters in South Carolina and is coached by Carolyn Moore and Leslie Scott. We also go deeper than one crossing. Steve shares how he returned to swimming after decades away, how 15+ years of sobriety reshaped his definition of strength, and why these Ocean Seven Challenge swims are “sweat equity” that helps fund long-term sobriety living facilities. Along the way we talk about the behind-the-scenes reality that most highlights never show: nausea, cramps, cold water, sleep struggles, and the mental handbrake that tries to pull you out before your body is actually done.What makes this conversation special is the inspiration and the team element. Steve explains how his wife Kelly supports him on the boat with preparation, feeding, and calm communication under pressure, and why that partnership has strengthened their marriage. If you're a masters swimmer, triathlete, or anyone searching for practical endurance training advice, you'll take away a clear framework: train for the worst day, keep your self-talk simple, and anchor every hard stroke to a purpose bigger than the finish.You'll hear:• why the Strait of Gibraltar is uniquely hard with currents, wind rules, and shipping traffic• how Steve returns to swimming after decades away and builds a life around faith, family, and sobriety• why (Steve's wife) Kelly's role on the boat matters and how their swim communication strengthens their marriage• what “endurance” means beyond fitness and how training for worst-case conditions builds it• how sprint work, strength training, mobility, and sleep support long channel swims• mental self-talk in the pain cave and the simple reset of one stroke at a time• English Channel and Cook Strait moments with cramps, sickness, cold, and being pushed off course• using an honest past to help others through addiction recovery and long-term sobriety housing• what a champion mindset means when you stop trying to fit in• the final Ocean Seven target with Catalina and why the next swim is always the hardestIf this helped you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a comeback story, and leave us a review so more swimmers can find the show.Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.You can learn more about the Host and Founder of Champions Mojo at www.KellyPalace.com

In 2010 the Psa-V bacterial disease was found in a Bay of Plenty kiwifruit orchard. This was the beginning of a terrible ordeal for many kiwifruit growers. It devastated crops, resulting in the loss of hundreds of jobs, and hundreds of millions of dollars. But though it spread to some other areas in the North Island, it never made it across the Cook Strait. Claire Concannon learns about the science behind keeping this microbe out of Te Waipounamu. Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.Learn more:The Plant and Food Research (today the Bioeconomy Science Institute) team who worked on science to help with the kiwifruit Psa crisis won the Prime Minister's Science Prize in 2017.In 2012 Alison Ballance reported on the hunt for resistance genes so kiwifruit plants could be more resilient in the face of this bacteria.As In-Depth reporter Farah Hancock detailed earlier this year, 95% of the kiwifruit grown here are actually exported - an earner of $4.5 billion in 2025.Guests:Falk KalamorzRebecca Manners, Bioeconomy Science InstituteDr Ed Morgan, Bioeconomy Science InstituteLeanne Stewart, Kiwifruit Vine HealthGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

In part two, rumour is spreading among overseas operators that New Zealand's Cook Strait ferries are unreliable. What does that deteriorating reputation mean for surrounding regions? Tracey Green is the general manager of Destination Marlborough. Then, which little chapel in Wellington has taken the 21st spot on a list of the most beautiful buildings in the world? Futuna Chapel.

A day of tinkering for Supercars teams after unloading their shipping containers for this weekend's maiden event in Christchurch. Vehicles and surrounding infrastructure were shipped across the Cook Strait on Sunday, after racing was canned in Taupo due to the cyclone. Former Supercars driver Greg Murphy joined D'Arcy to discuss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's growing a reputation among the global tourism industry for its difficult inter-island travel. Industry workers who attended the world's leading travel trade show in Berlin have made claims that ferry disruptions are leaving tourists and travel companies wary about the possibility of getting stuck while here. Destination Marlborough general manager Tracey Green says it's now a common concern. "It's something that we try to ignore, but unfortunately the drum is getting a little bit louder as time goes on - and as more events occur with the Cook Strait crossing." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's growing a reputation among the global tourism industry for its difficult inter-island travel. Industry workers who attended the world's leading travel trade show in Berlin have made claims that ferry disruptions are leaving tourists and travel companies wary about the possibility of getting stuck while here. Destination Marlborough general manager Tracey Green says it's now a common concern. "It's something that we try to ignore, but unfortunately the drum is getting a little bit louder as time goes on - and as more events occur with the Cook Strait crossing." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The reliability of the Cook Strait ferries is dragging the country's reputation down, according to an international tour operator. Mary Argue reports.

News, Making culture accessible to all: Prague's Jewish Museum opens concerts to people with dementia, Czech swimmer Jakub Kačerovský first Czech to swim across Cook Strait solo, Voices of Dead Languages: Jan Bičovský on bringing ancient languages back to life

News, Making culture accessible to all: Prague's Jewish Museum opens concerts to people with dementia, Czech swimmer Jakub Kačerovský first Czech to swim across Cook Strait solo, Voices of Dead Languages: Jan Bičovský on bringing ancient languages back to life

Ever looked at a map of New Zealand and wondered—why isn't there a bridge between the North and South Islands? They're not that far apart… so what's the holdup? Is it secret sea monsters? Wild weather? Or something even weirder? Hit play to dive into the surprising reasons behind this missing mega-bridge and find out what's really going on beneath the waves. You'll never look at the Cook Strait the same way again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Residents in the Wellington suburb of Miramar are disturbed after sewage exploded out of their toilets. Work being done by Wellington Water contractors apparently caused the sewage to back up. It comes after a major failure at the nearby Moa Point water treatment plant earlier this month which has discharged millions of litres of raw sewage into the Cook Strait every day. Kaya Selby reports.

In Wellington, failure at the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant has led to millions of liters of wastewater being sent into the Cook Strait.  The incident has shed light on what scientific experts have been saying for years — that water infrastructure in New Zealand is out of date and incapable of handling the growing effect of climate challenges without deeper investment. The Salvation Army released their State of the Nation report which has found an increase in issues across the justice system, child welfare, and poverty contributing to declining social equality in Aotearoa. As well, NZ First leader Winston Peters is campaigning on a referendum on Māori seats in New Zealand. Wire Host Sara spoke to National MP Ryan Hamilton about all of these topics, starting with Moa Point. 

The Bondi gunman has appeared on a video link for the first time in a Sydney court. Naveed Akram is being held in custody at Goulburn supermax prison and his lawyer says he's doing as well as can be expected.15 people were killed and dozens more were injured during the shooting in mid-December which took place while a Jewish event was being held at Bondi Beach.The Federal Treasury is considering changes to Australia's tobacco excise, after previously rejecting the idea that cutting the cost of cigarettes would solve the problem of the illegal tobacco trade.Experts are pushing for a freeze to the excise, which has grown by 60 per cent since 2020 and is due to rise again next month.They say the tax's effectiveness is waning and that freezing it will allow the government to catch up to the illegal market. A state of emergency is in place for a large area north of Wellington in New Zealand due to wild weather, with tens of thousands of people without electricity across the country's North Island.Authorities say 20 vehicles are stuck in a mud slide in Taihape, and that mass evacuations are underway. Air New Zealand has cancelled flights in and out of Wellington and Napier because of strong winds, and Cook Strait ferries, which sail between the North and South Islands, are not running today.Preparations are now underway, as the weather makes its way to the South Island.

Labour's getting flak, especially in Auckland, for their capital gains tax. Rightly so. But National's approach, as is usually the case with centre-right parties, is user-pays. It's a way to get revenue without appearing to tax-grab your starving constituents. Yesterday it was whacking a new tax on our power bills in order to make them cheaper - we hope. Last week they scrapped the full driver licence test but then NZTA came out and said they may need increase fees for the first test and other bits to make up costs. We'll pay tolls to get the roads we want. We're about to get hit with congestions charging. International tourists pay the tourists' tax. Domestic tourists pay to use DOC huts and, more recently, carparks at peak places. Wellington will probably soon get a targeted special rate for pumping their number twos into the Cook Strait. Now, so long as this stuff is ring-fenced, I prefer things are charged this way because if you don't want to use a toll road, use a taxed one. User pays make more sense and is fairer to those who use, and more importantly, those who don't use a particular good or service. But at some point, your household budget is hit with so many fees and charges that you have to stop and ask how long it can continue. It's death by a thousand cuts. And then you ask, can't the government cut wasteful spending elsewhere to cover some of this stuff or give me some back in tax? In case you needed examples of that, this week, Shane Jones' half-billion slush funds would be a good place to start, I would've thought.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All eyes are on the government's response to the Moa Point sewage plant meltdown. Wellington Water's chief executive is warning the public the capital's south coast could be off limits for months. Meanwhile the city's mayor wants a ministerial inquiry. Crews have spent the weekend trying to clean up the wastewater plant and get to the damage after it was shut after being flooded by raw sewage. In the meantime, millions of litres of untreated sewage have been spilling out into the Cook Strait since early Wednesday. Nick James reports.

It's been an idea floated for nearly 100 years - shifting the Picton ferry terminal to Clifford Bay for a faster Cook Strait crossing but so far, the Government has dismissed the proposal. Mary Argue reports.

A huge study has been underway to find prime locations for underwater turbines, which are powered by the tides - something known as Tidal Stream Energy. As it turns out, the Cook Strait might be the perfect place, and researchers estimate that Aotearoa could produce up to 93 percent of the electricity it currently using methods like underwater turbines. To give us his reaction, Craig Stevens, Professor of Physics at the University of Auckland chats to Jesse.

Rail Minister Winston Peters said the budget for the new Cook Strait ferry project is less than half the cost of the previous Government's ill-fated mega ferry plan, even though the new ferries cost a bit more.The total project cost will be under 2 billion dollars. In making the big announcement in Wellington, he lost no opportunity to stick the boot into the iReX plan, which was scuppered by Finance Minister Nicola Willis in 2023.

The Rail Minister has lifted the lid on how the government plans to save cash on the new Cook Strait ferries. Nick James reports.

Minister for Rail Winston Peters believes the binned iRex ferry plan would have meant major infrastructure issues that are no longer a worry. He's announced the two new Interislander ferries are expected to come in on time and under budget, for less than $2 billion. Peters told Mike Hosking Tasmania is struggling with two new ferries and no infrastructure and he doesn't want to see the same problems here. He said he got a really hard-nosed, tough, experienced team to sort out the ferry plan, and they've done a marvellous job. “In less than 11 months they have put together a solution at all ends.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters says logic has prevailed, as he confirms our new Cook Strait ferries are coming in under $2 billion dollars. The new Interislander vessels are expected to arrive in 2029 under budget. The Rail Minister claims it's saved the taxpayer more than $2 billion on the canned mega-ferries project. Peters says he's confident the Government's done the right thing. "This is common sense we're applying here, there are contingencies in our plan as well. And to cover off any concerns you've got...we've got together a hard-nosed team." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, broadcaster Mark Sainsbury and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Government has moved to pause prescription on puberty blockers - what do we make of this? Winston Peters is celebrating how much money he's saving the country with our new Cook Strait ferries. Do we see the costs blowing out on this one? The Breakers are being criticised for deciding not to wear a rainbow flag on their jersey for the NBL's Pride Round. What do we make of the backlash? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health officials working on contact tracing measles patients have now identified patient zero on the Cook Strait ferry crossing. 

New Zealanders are being warned to make sure they're immunised against measles if they're travelling off shore with active outbreaks in a number of countries and a rising number of cases here. Four local measles cases have been connected to the Bluebridge ferry sailing from Picton to Wellington on October the third. Health authorities have contacted about 350 passengers from the sailing to give them health advice. Cases have been identified in Northland, Auckland, Manawatu and Nelson. Health New Zealand public health medicine specialist Dr Matthew Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

Experts says New Zealand is in the danger zone for a measles outbreak, but it could be prevented if more people get vaccinated. It comes after Health NZ identified a possible super spreader event on board a Cook Strait ferry during the school holidays. Felix Walton reports.

In part two, it's to Wairarapa and an update for the weather event there. Then, marine safety experts are warning the government's new Cook Strait ferries will be too big to safely cross the current route to Picton. And finally, the first cohort of a new 'earn as you learn' programme for manufacturing jobs is about to graduate.

Tonight on The Huddle, journalist Clare de Lore and Thomas Scrimgeour joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger passed away - what memories do we have of him? It's been revealed the new Cook Strait ferries will be built by a Chinese company which US analysts have warned have very strong ties to the Chinese military. Should that worry us? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns have been raised over the Government's new choice for a ferry-builder. Guangzhou Shipyard International will build and deliver two new Cook Strait ferries by 2029. It's a state-owned company that also builds Chinese warships, but Foreign Minister Peters says the military links and espionage concerns aren't a worry. Canterbury University professor and China expert Anne-Marie Brady says this a confusing signal delivered by Peters. "He's very concerned about the strategic infrastructure and also the harmful aspects of our relationship with China. So it's odd that they have chosen a military shipyard, which is what the Guangzhou Shipyard International is." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several fast-track listed projects have hit stumbling blocks as the Government seeks a list of businesses that can transition off natural gas. Oli also discusses which company might have received the new Cook Strait ferries contract and the moves for a new terminal at Clifford Bay.

Smooth sailing so far for Ferry Holdings, as a preferred supplier of two new Cook Strait vessels is selected. Rail Minister Winston Peters has announced a fixed price has been agreed for two 200-metre-long ferries with road and rail decks, and room for 1500 passengers each. Ferry Holdings Limited Chair Chris Mackenzie says final negotiations have started - and contracts will be signed by the end of the year. He told Mike Hosking a letter of intent was signed with the shipyard and now technical discussions have begun before contracts can be signed. The name of the shipyard will be released when the contracts are signed. Mackenzie told Hosking 60 shipyards were in the mix to begin with, and it had shipyards in four countries, that's now come down to one. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Those in charge of buying our new Interislander ferries are confident a good deal has been reached. The yet-to-be-named preferred supplier has signed a letter of intent, and agreed with Ferry Holdings on a fixed price. Chair Chris Mckenzie says they're now at the technical negotiation stage. "We now negotiate what's inside that boat - arrangements even down to what sort of sinks we have in the kitchens - and then a final contract will be signed before the end of the year." The 200-metre long ferries will have road and rail decks, and room for 1500 passengers each. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mystery still surrounds a mayday call that sparked a massive search operation in Cook Strait. Wellington Harbour Master Grant Nalder spoke to Corin Dann.

As the teachers head back to school, like all the other strikes, nothing got achieved. It never does. For a strike to work you need to scare people, you need to bring a place to a standstill. Cook Strait ferries and the bus and train services were unavailable for weeks on end at a time. That's what works. But those days are gone, thank the good Lord. These days it's a day here, a day there. Yes, we get you are not happy. Yes, you might deserve a better deal. But your day off with your one minute of placard waving on the TV news that isn't watched the way it used to be anyway, doesn't really shift the dial. I think also the country has changed in the past few decades. Although unionism had a bit of a spike under six years of Labour, the Employment Contracts Act of the early 90's largely broke the unions for good. Not literally, but when people got a choice, they chose to back themselves. I wish those who are unionists could see the freedom and potential of non-union opportunity. Not all jobs can be individualised, but most can, and teaching is one of them. We all know good teachers, great teachers, and ordinary teachers, the same way we know good waiters, and restaurants, and doctors, and accountants, and retail outlets. In a nation of small businesses, it tells us we back ourselves. We revel in the idea that we, and our skills and determination, can make a decent living. The fact the rote response to merit-based pay for teachers goes something like "how would you judge on exam results?" shows how little they understand their individuality and ability to make a difference. It's like that Radio NZ report last week where most of them thought they were in a sunset industry, when in fact the exact opposite is true. It's Stockholm Syndrome. Your captors, the unions, have told you this is the only way. It isn't and never has been. I have argued this for years and have got nowhere, but that doesn't make it a bad argument. What I know, like hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders know, is that being your own boss and your own person is a winning formula, if you want to win. I know, like hundreds of thousands of other New Zealanders, that I love my job and my lot. I don't see the same fizz from teachers. Why do you reckon that is? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Interislander's Aratere ferry has cruised to the other side of the Cook Strait for the last time. The ship is now retired after its final trip from Picton to Wellington this morning. Nick James reports.

After 26 years plying Cook Strait, the Aratere will be retired after its final sailing from Picton today.

The Interislander ferry "Aratere" is making its last round trip across the Cook Strait this morning, after nearly 30 years in service. Nick James looks back at its history.

The government has forked out over $144 milliion dollars in a final payment for breaking the contract with the Korean shipbuilders that were signed-up to make the Cook Strait ferry replacements. That brings the total costs for the scrapped iReX Cook Strait ferry project to $671 million according to Kiwi Rail. Minister for Rail, Winston Peters spoke to Lisa Owen.

Tourism operators aren't sure whether they'll welcome smooth sailing or face choppy waters once the Interislander service loses one of its ferries. The Aratere retires in August, reducing the Cook Strait fleet to two until the expected arrival of new ones in 2029. KiwiRail operates the service and is confident the remaining ferries can handle the demand. Tess Brunton reports.

On this episode we sit down with Mike and Steff from North Actionsports in New Zealand, diving into the rise of parawinging and their game-changing Ranger parawing. From a daring Cook Strait crossing to decades of kiteboarding roots with pioneer Peter Lynn, they share how the Ranger was born for downwind foiling with safety and ease in mind. This episode uncovers the passion and innovation driving North's foiling revolution.In this episode, you'll discover:Origin Story: A 2022 Cook Strait foil sparked a single-skin wing for self-rescue, inspired by Mike's kiteboarding past.Ranger's Design: Easy to use, durable, and powerful (2.2m to 5.2m), perfect for beginners to advanced downwinders.Key Features: D-Rib tech for less drag, a depower tab for strong winds, and a harness line for upwind ease.Safety Backpack: Stores multiple wings, straps on for offshore trips, and doubles as a safety device.Material Choice: Ripstop nylon with a strong coating for longevity in harsh conditions.Downwind Edge: Grunt to get on foil without paddling, plus board and foil tips.Community Drive: A passion project with North's team, fueled by New Zealand's wild swells.Check out the Ranger at https://northactionsports.com. Join the foiling community and ride the next wave!

Improve your foiling skills in paradise! Join us in Montanita Ecuador May 23-30, 2026 for a foil drive / tow / prone foil camp with Ecuador Foil, KT Foiling & Julia Castro. Learn MoreOn this episode we sit down with Mike and Steff from North Actionsports in New Zealand, diving into the rise of parawinging and their game-changing Ranger parawing. From a daring Cook Strait crossing to decades of kiteboarding roots with pioneer Peter Lynn, they share how the Ranger was born for downwind foiling with safety and ease in mind. This episode uncovers the passion and innovation driving North's foiling revolution.In this episode, you'll discover:Origin Story: A 2022 Cook Strait foil sparked a single-skin wing for self-rescue, inspired by Mike's kiteboarding past.Ranger's Design: Easy to use, durable, and powerful (2.2m to 5.2m), perfect for beginners to advanced downwinders.Key Features: D-Rib tech for less drag, a depower tab for strong winds, and a harness line for upwind ease.Safety Backpack: Stores multiple wings, straps on for offshore trips, and doubles as a safety device.Material Choice: Ripstop nylon with a strong coating for longevity in harsh conditions.Downwind Edge: Grunt to get on foil without paddling, plus board and foil tips.Community Drive: A passion project with North's team, fueled by New Zealand's wild swells.Check out the Ranger at https://northactionsports.com. Join the foiling community and ride the next wave!

Thanks to Murilo, Alexandra, and Joel for their suggestions this week! The bird sounds in this episode come from xeno-canto, a great resource for lots of animal sounds! A cactus wren [picture by Mike & Chris - Cactus WrenUploaded by snowmanradio, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15876953]: The sultan tit [photo by By Dibyendu Ash - CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72070998]: A female scarlet tanager [photo by Félix Uribe, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81340425]. The male is red with black wings: The Northern cardinal: The yellow grosbeak [photo by Arjan Haverkamp - originally posted to Flickr as 2008-08-23-15h00m37.IMG_4747l, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9596644]: The purple martin isn't actually purple [photo by JJ Cadiz, Cajay - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4255626]: The dusky thrush [photo by Jerry Gunner from Lincoln, UK Uploaded by snowmanradio, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20762838]: The European rose chafer, not a bird [photo by I, Chrumps, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2521547]: Show transcript: Welcome to Strange Animals Podcast. I'm your host, Kate Shaw. This week we're going to learn about a lot of little birds that deserve more attention, because they're cute and interesting. Thanks to Murilo, Alexandra, and Joel for their little bird suggestions! All the birds we'll talk about today are called passerines, because they belong to the order Passeriformes. They're also sometimes referred to as perching birds or songbirds, even though not all passerines sing. Passerines are common throughout the world, with more than 6,500 species identified. I've seen about 150 of those species, so clearly I need to work harder as a birdwatcher. Passerines are referred to as perching birds because of their feet. A passerine bird has three toes that point forward and another toe pointing backwards, which allows it to wrap its toes securely around a twig or branch to sit. Its legs are also adapted so that the toes automatically curl up tight when the leg is bent. That's why a sleeping bird doesn't fall off its branch. Let's start with one of Murilo's suggestions, the wren. Wrens are birds in the family Troglodytidae, and are usually very small with a short tail, a pointy bill that turns slightly downward at the tip, and brown plumage. It mainly eats insects and larvae that it finds in nooks and crannies of trees, and many species will investigate dark places like hollow logs, the openings to caves, or your apartment if you leave the back door open on a warm day. Many sing beautiful songs and have very loud voices for such little bitty birds. Most wrens are native to the Americas, including the canyon wren that's native to western North America in desert areas. It's cinnamon-brown with a white throat and an especially long bill, which it uses to find insects in rock crevices. It lives in canyons and has a more flattened skull than other wrens, which means it can get its head into crevices without hurting itself. No one has ever seen a canyon wren drink water, and scientists think it probably gets all the water it needs from the insects it eats. Where do the insects get the water they need? That's an episode for another day. This is what a canyon wren sounds like: [bird sound] Not every bird that's called a wren is actually in the family Troglodytidae. Some just resemble wrens, like an unusual bird that Murilo brought to my attention. It's called Lyall's wren but it's actually in the family Acanthisittidae, and it was once widespread throughout New Zealand. By the time it was scientifically identified and described in 1894, it was restricted to a single island in Cook Strait. Lyall's wren was flightless,