Podcasts about life and society

Christchurch City Council has approved a million-dollar support package for residents living directly around a damaged wastewater treatment plant. A fire in November last year has left rotting material - sending a stench across Christchurch's Eastern suburbs. Communities across the city have been feeling trapped and concerned for their health, but the financial aid will only reach residents in Bromley, where the plant is. Tessa Guest reports.

What are the best ways for whanau to foster communication skills in a child's first 1000 days? Emma Quigan (Ngai Tahu) is co-president of the Speech and Language Therapists' Association, teaches at Massey University and was co-founder of Talking Matters - which partners with whanau, communities, practitioners, iwi and government to build and support language-rich environments for children. She says it's all about involving the village to raise the child.

Professor Lucy Easthope is one of the world's foremost disaster planners. Her first major job in emergency planning was responding to 9/11 and since then, her career has covered almost every major disaster; the Boxing Day tsunami, the London bombings, the Christchurch earthquakes, the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 shot down over Ukraine, the Grenfell Tower fire, Covid-19 and many more. It's her job to help get the bodies identified, repatriate survivors, return personal effects, look after the bereaved, and advise governments for the future. She speaks to Kathryn about her memoir, When the Dust Settles: Stories of Love, Loss and Hope from an Expert in Disaster.

Spanish divers have freed a 12 metre long humpback whale caught in an illegal drift net off the Balearic island of Mallorca. Although the rescue was a success, it has raised some important questions. Humpback whales do not typically migrate through the Mediterranean, so what was this one doing there? And if drift nets were banned by the UN 30 years ago, why are they still in our oceans? Marine biologist Gigi Torras was one of the divers who leapt in to untangle the whale.

In Tauranga, bus drivers and patrons are being terrorised by passengers brandishing tasers and knives and hurling racial abuse. And the shocking reality is that the perpetrators are young teens, under 14 years of age. Now the regional council has cracked down on free student fares, in a bid to stop the hoodlums wreaking havoc anytime they please. Bay of Plenty reporter Leah Tebbutt has more.

A Wellington park that's turned into a trouble spot is getting a makeover - in a bid to improve safety and stomp out anti-social behaviour. 

Auckland's being told to start a campaign to bring back workers, visitors and students back to the city. A global expert in revitalising cities after the pandemic says Auckland needs to catch up. Hundreds of business and civic leaders met in Auckland today to discuss the city's future at an event hosted by the economic development agency Auckland Unlimited. Reporter Amy Williams was there.

Today neuro-psychologist Hannah Korrel talks to Wallace about neurodiversity in adults and what its like to be diagnosed as an adult.

Public and community-run cemeteries around the country are struggling to recruit staff and volunteers. One volunteer at a Christchurch cemetary is holding the fort alone, and he, like many others, are crying out for help. Lydia Lewis has the story.

Today Brad Foster talks all about their new Prime Minister across the ditch. He explains why the voters turned on Scott Morrison and what it means for trans-Tasman relations. He also has some non-election news about upcoming festivals and the State of Origin series.

A former drug dealer, who's spent half his life in prison, says gangs are a scourge and must be outlawed. Rotorua based Bill McFarlane once ran a large methamphetamine operation in the Bay of Plenty, for which he was jailed in maximum security prison for 14 years, following earlier incarerations. Now he runs a residential rehabilitation programme for ex-offenders called Puwhakamua. But gang members are not welcome in the programme, and he says he's turned down hundreds of them.Billy McFarlane says he's worried that gang numbers are growing, and in Rotorua, there have been gang skirmishes even in primary schools between children of gang families. He says no one is calling it out and he's had enough.

Tairawhiti police are worried the local community is developing a tolerance towards gang-related violence. This comes as two shootings took place within days of each other in Wairoa earlier this month. In the most recent one, a child's bedroom window was destroyed by a shotgun blast. Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Moorhouse says people heard gunshots in both cases but did not report them. MP for Ikaroa-Rawhiti Meka Whaitiri spoke to Corin Dann.

Puzzles aren't just a fun pastime, they can save the world. At least AJ Jacobs thinks so. He's a lifelong lover of crosswords, jigsaws mazes, riddles and sudoku.

Caitlin talks about the NBC podcast The Thing about Helen and Olga and How to Fail with Elizabeth Day.

A lot has been spoken about the demise of the local butcher. But one Blenheim butcher says his business is booming. Mike Newman from Meaters of Marlborough talks to Jesse.

The New Zealand Defence Force is facing it's very own battle; trying to attract and keep people in the services Army, Air Force and the Navy. Royal New Zealand Air Force Flight Lieutenant Emma Raven talks to Jesse.

New research into the protests at parliament earlier in the year has explored how social media inflamed tensions and finds a dozen local accounts spreading disinformation were at the heart of it. The Disinformation project - part of Te Punaha Matatini - studied data from tens of millions of online posts, tweets and comments, alongside hundreds of hours of live-streamed footage from the protest. Kathryn speaks with Director of the project, Kate Hannah.

Financial Planner Liz Koh says a common mistake people make in retirement, if they have a nest egg, is that they underspend. They die with more money in the bank than they intended to leave, or they live in poverty in order to preserve their investment capital. She says there is no need to feel guilty or anxious about spending retirement capital and explains why she thinks it is imperative.

Seventeen-year-old Blackpool FC midfielder Jake Daniels has become the first mens professional footballer in the UK in more than 30 years to come out as gay. He told Sky Sport UK he had been weighing up the decision for a while. The Sun chief sports reporter Martin Lipton spoke to Susie Ferguson.

Today's expert guest knows all there is to know about pampering man's best friend. We're focusing on dog grooming today. JR Alcantara has been in the grooming industry for more than 30 years he shares his tips today.

With just a week to go before election day in Australia, Brad Foster talks to Jesse about the latest polls, pointing to a win for the Labor Opposition Party. He's also got the latest on the sad news from the weekend about the death of former Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds in a car crash.

This week Emma John talks to Jesse about The Staircase, Four Lives and The Thief, His Wife and a Canoe.

Derelict and abandoned boats have been causing problems for harbour masters all over New Zealand. Auckland harbour master Andrew Hayton talks to Jesse about their facing.

We all talk about the cost of living, spiraling out of control and the pressure it's putting on families. Richard Fullard the Vice President of the Funeral Directors Association talks to Jesse about the issue and solutions.

Gardening with Lynda Hallinan

Our comedians Michele A'Court and Irene Pink bring some levity to the end of the week

Our Overseas Correspondent from Canada, Peggy Revell joins us from Medicine Hat Alberta.

Today Newsroom's LockerRoom Editor Suzanne talks to Jesse about the borders reopening and what tourism in New Zealand is going to look post pandemic.

Blending families almost led Lori and David Sims to separate. Now they coach stepparents on ways to have respectful relationships with your partner's children, without parenting them.

Today Paul Bushnell reviews podcasts with tricky branding issues. Podcasts have been around long enough that we can talk about brand issues - and Paul Bushnell picks up several of these today as he discusses Kermode and Mayo's Take and Don't Mind Cruxmont.

PR specialist Ben Thomas talks to Jesse about the apology from Simon Henry to Nadia Lim and what should have happened. The apology from the DGL CEO has only just arrived, after he sent it via courier!

Nights Philosopher Ann Kerwin looks at a book by former Google strategist turned Oxford-trained philosopher, James William called Stand Out of Our Light: Freedom and Resistance in the Attention Economy.

Today Hannah Korrel is talking about workplace relationships and how to navigate when workmates want to be friends, and it's not reciprocal.

The Governors Bay community weren't going to accept a Christchurch council decision to close the 140 year old jetty following earthquake damage in 2011. Nick Harwood's part of the group and handily a geotechnical engineer.

In another, very Australian move, there's now been an attempt for our trans-Tasman cousins to claim Taika Waititi as their own. Sydney based correspondent, Brad Foster, explains the move to Jesse.

A new docu-series has launched following the lead up to 21st parties for five babies born in 2000. Co-directors, Maggie Shui and Liam van Eeden talk to Jesse about the characters they followed and what's important to them.

Builder Stan Scott joins Jesse on the show to talk about DIY jobs and give tips to listeners on their projects.

A fishing contest called SAM's Waioeka Hook Up, which will focus on Dads and other significant adult male figures getting out fishing with their kids. Eastern Whio Link co-founder Sam Gibson talks to Jesse about their competition.

It's hoped that a new board game will play a bit part in future generations taking care of the planet. Called Earthcare, the game's being developed by Australian Lisa Wriley. She talks to Jesse.

America's Cup sailor Simo de Mari's life changed in the most unimaginable way in March 2019. He tells The Detail about his mission to walk again after a freak accident at Omaha Beach. 

New Zealand's first qualified Pacific Island Funeral Director is calling for better cultural understanding if there's ever a return to lockdown restrictions. Ese Tatupu says grieving Pacific communities have faced "extremely harsh times" during the pandemic. Lydia Lewis has the story.

The last remaining member of the 28th Māori Battalion has been knighted by Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro this morning. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6305586889112 Ninety-seven-year-old Sir Robert Gillies, known as "Bom" served in B Company during World War 2 from 1942 to 1945. He initially turned down the knighthood but accepted the accolade in the recent New Year's Honours. Our reporter Ashleigh McCaull and cameraman Samuel Rillstone have the story.

Panellists Teuila Fuatai and Guy Williams discuss the realities of getting your period as a sports person, compulsory bike training in schools, and Whangamomona's recent fame due to a BBC travel article.

Panellists Teuila Fuatai and Guy Williams discuss hospital wait times, couples upscaling and buying mansions, and wearing too much perfume in the office.

Nothing made Gina Rushton question her choice not to have children until she faced the possibility that she might not have that choice at all after an emergency surgery. She talks to Jesse about her research on the matter!

Ellie Jay reviews Man Hunt for Kevin Parle, A BBC ongoing series of a live manhunt and Liar Liar: Melissa Caddick and the missing millions, a podcast by the Sydney Morning Herald.

The first international flights have touched down in Auckland in over two years, bringing in tourists, family and Kiwis home from holidays or business trips. A historic and entirely unprecedented decision to close the border 767 days ago has ended - New Zealand is now "open for business". Our reporter Jordan Bond and cameraman Nick Monro were out there to welcome the flights.

A funny thing happened when a behavioral scientist and professor at Stanford University and a corporate strategist got together to teach a course called Humor: Serious Business. Some of the most ambitious business students in the world learned how to use humor to be better leaders and maybe even better humans. Dr Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas take behavioral science and principles of comedy, and apply them to business, leadership and our everyday lives. They've written a book based on their course called Humor, Seriously: Why Humor is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life.

Comedians Te Radar and Michele A'Court with a few laughs - including a gifting idea that involves sausages!.

Kathryn talks with parenting coach and education consultant Joseph Driessen about parenting skills for blended families.