Podcasts about life and society

Locals in northern Auckland say busloads of people are turning up to beaches and taking everything from sea cucumbers to starfish out of rockpools. Jessica Hopkins reports.

SPCA inspectors in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato have been getting up to 4 calls a day for dogs left in hot cars this summer. Jason Blair leads the team and spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

The Northland town of Kerikeri has been smashing temperature records in recent days - but the sweltering conditions come as the town loses access to once-popular swimming spots. Reporter Peter de Graaf reports on what locals are doing to cool off.

The run of hot weather is ideal for the estimated 160,000 recreational boaties who launch into the waters in and around Waikato each year. RNZ's Waikato reporter Libby Kirkby-McLeod jumped on a harbourmaster boat as it set out on an Operation Neptune patrol.

Despite record visitor numbers and hundreds of job opportunities, workers in Queenstown say the cost of living is making it increasingly difficult to stay. Katie Todd reports.

This time of year sees a surge of people filing for divorce or breaking up with their partners. Divorce coach, Kelly Sutton spoke to Lauren Crimp.

A Southland GP says skin cancer is reaching an almost epidemic level. She's so concerned that she's opening the region's first specialist clinic. Dr Sophie Sharpe spoke to Lauren Crimp.

A Christchurch father has been left out of carpet - and out of pocket - after pulling it up during a major recall of coloured sand. He spoke with Kim Baker Wilson.

Scrabble boards were put to serious use as New Zealand hosted its first national women's Scrabble championship in Auckland. Twenty competitors battled for the title, with Joanne Craig finishing third after losing her final match to the eventual champion. She spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

The phrase "cost of living" has become synonymous with a struggle faced by increasing numbers of Kiwi families just to make ends meet. The news is full of stories about the price of butter, pain at the pump, and pay parity - but it's not a new concern. Our reporter Kate Green takes a dive into the history of tough times.

We all know that we should use public transport more but there's nothing fun about being left on the side of the road when you're trying to catch a bus. Bill Hickman headed to the streets to ask people if you have to wave to get that bus to stop.

While parts of the country experienced scorching temperatures yesterday, other areas were hit with heavy rain, thunder and lightning. Napier almost broke a near 50-year record, reaching 36 degrees; New details in the Manage My Health data breach show more than 80,000 of the 125,000 patients affected by the hack are based in Northland; Kiwi-based Iranians are watching with worry as Iranian military forces continue their violent crackdown on anti-government protesters. Forough Amin who has been in New Zealand for 11 years, says she hasn't heard from her family in Iran since the phones and internet were switched off there; The owner of a new supermarket in Christchurch says sales in the first three days were more than double what they expected. Ethan Vickery and his father Shane opened Kai Co to give shoppers an alternative to the Woolworths and Foodstuffs supermarket duopoly; Scrabble boards were put to serious use as New Zealand hosted its first national women's Scrabble championship in Auckland. Twenty competitors battled for the title, with Joanne Craig finishing third after losing her final match to the eventual champion.

It was a deadly weekend at the country's beaches and rivers as kiwis hit the water to escape the scorching sun. Water Safety NZ chief executive Glen Scanlon spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Woolworths sold more than 1.7 million hot cross buns last Easter - and that demand has them back on shelves just days after Christmas. RNZ's Life Editor Lucy Corrie spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Reporter Peter de Graaf talks to the Puzzleman about his puzzle shop's remarkable longevity.

** OHH: Episode 166: What's Poppin'! ** _We're back this week with an episode of What's Poppin' - this week we dive into the latest, right before we wrap up 2025. Tune in, and let's get into it! _ Brandy & Monica “The Boy is Mine Tour” The Chocolate Nutcracker review Our picture featured on ABC news Happy Holidays!! Snoop hosts a star studded half time show in AZ New Shows: High Horse - Compton Cowboys featured (Peacock) Bel-Air (Final Season on Peacock) Anjela Johnson Comedy special - Say I Won't Dave Chapelle Comedy special “The Unstoppable Nigger” 50 Cent's Diddy documentary on Netflix Music Box series on HBO New Movies: Marty Supreme w/ Timothy Chalamet and Tyler Okonma, Gweneth Paltrow Avatar Fire and Ash - Nubia the Creator Favorite Christmas Movie - Jake Paul & Anthony Joshua fight (Jake finally got his ass KO'd) Jamie Foxx comes to Compton!! Invited by ChefBoy Beyonce, Venus Williams & Nicole Kidman will co-chair the next Met Gala in May 2026 Venus Williams gets married Andrea Preti Beyonce and Jay-Z expand their home - next album is rock & roll - we suspect In September, Nicole Kidman filed for divorce from Keith Urban. Ya'll know she Australian? *Article in OK Magazine: Three Siblings, One Mic, and the Art of Uncovering Conversations on Pop Culture & Politics *

** OHH: Episode 167: New Music ** We're back with this episode dedicated to all the NEW MUSIC of 2025. Tune in as we track what was in our ears the last year. New Music *Top Artists and Hits of 2025 * K-Pop Demon Hunters, Shaboozy, Elton John, Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Kehlani Folded Single, Beyonce Album, Bad Bunny, Drake, Kedrick Lamar & Sza tour, Summer Walker Album, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, Lil Wayne, Pink Floyd, Mariah Carey, Biggest Tour: Chris Brown and Beyonce _ **Year started off with _** * Sexxy Redd / Bruno Mars - Fay Juicy, Wet - SINGLE * Leon Thomas - MUTT single POP * Sabrina Carpenter - Expresso * DRAKE - $ome $exy $ongs 4 U * Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - Die with a Smile - SINGLE ** R&B** * Lady Wray - Cover Girl / BEST for US single * Thundercat - Upside Down (Candy Crush) - * Leon Thomas - PHOLKS / Just How You Are - SINGLE * Jane Handcock - It's Me, Not You / Stare at Me - SINGLE * Jenevieve - CRYSALIS * Kehlani - Folded * Cardi B - AM I THE DRAMA * Summer Walker - Finally Over It, The Afterparty * Heart of a Woman - SINGLE * Go Girl * SAULT - 10 * TEYANA Taylor - Escape Room * 803FRESH - Boots on the Ground * Mariah Carey - Here for it All * SZA & MoRuf - PT Cruiser - SINGLE * Chris Brown - RAP * GloRilla & Sexxy Redd - Whatchi Kno about me Gospel Say the Name - Deitrick Haddon

** OHH: Episode 168: Politricks ** _since we last had a politricks episode, the government shut down then unceremoniously re-opened. Let's get into this episode will al the frills and trickery that happened in 2025. _ US * End of government shutdown * DOJ released Jeffrey Epstein files, redacted pictures with Trump * Trump Tariffs and long term impact on American people of changing decades long trade policies * Nikki Minaj supporting Trump at recent rally Local * New Dept of Homeless services LA County effective Jan 31 * Running for mayor in city of compton - Andre Spicer * Starting Jan 2026 - landlord responsible and have to provide a working stove and refrigerator * New law - folic acid added to corn tortillas, can cancel contract with contractor for homeowners via phone or text message Global * LA preparing for 2028 Olympics - cleaning house with homeless population

Mihingarangi reports live from the Northcote Saturday Market where they are using recycled materials to build a miniature town centre. 

Whatever Christmas means to you, there is no doubt that the way we celebrate it looks very different to the way it was celebrated a generation or two ago. 

The irony of course is that despite it being the season when people come together to break bread and party, it's also an increasingly stressful time for many. And what do you do when you're stressed? You call Chris Parker. Chris is withe Jesse to share his Christmas survival guide.

Weekend stuff with Lynda Hallinan

On Monday we spoke with the director of 'The Age Of Disclosure' about his new documentary on UFO's .. which are now officially known as UAP's or Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. Loads of you got in touch with your own theories, and stories. Including Peter Hassall, he's the author of 'The NZ Files' - a history of UFO sightings in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Andrew Clay and Denise L'Estrange-Corbet. First up, a Tauranga-based social services organisation is being stretched to the brink by the number of people living in hardship. SociaLink chief executive Lix Davies gives the lowdown. Then, does the introduction of bigbox retail like IKEA mean the death of local 'block of shops' retail in New Zealand? Butcher and local retail advocate, Reuben Sharples, joins the show.

In part two, New Zealand's Yoga Teacher of the Year, Hamish Kenworthy, celebrates the rising popularity of the practice.

We hear from Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson, along with ACT Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour.

Time for some more Christmas messages from political party leaders. We hear from New Zealand First leader Winston Peters and Te Pati Maori co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.

We've got some Christmas messages from the political leaders at Parliament to bring you throughout the programme. First up we have the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, and Labour leader, Chris Hipkins.

It's time to talk about the topics clogging up your group chats, the conversations offering respite from Christmas chaos. It's our last chat of 2025 so we've got the whole gang together, Culture 101's Perlina Lau, film critic Kate Rodger and Afternoons Senior Producer Olivia Wilson. Today they talk about: the BBC versus President Donald Trump, voice messages and highlights of 2025.

As diagnoses of autism and ADHD rise, more people are thinking about how their homes can better support neurodivergent needs The aim of neurodivergent-friendly design is to help reduce stress and improve mood and focus. Eddie Page is an Australian architect and co-founder of firm Maxwell & Page. He speaks to Jesse.

For more than 40 years, Bernard Egan has been tasked with the job of being Santa's helper. Listening to Christmas wishes and taking notes from kids back to Santa. He spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A foundation born out of tragedy is helping young sportswomen compete on the world stage. Tania Dalton is a former Silver Fern who died in 2017, aged 45, after suffering a brain aneurysm. Her husband Duane set up the foundation in her memory. He spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Enthusiasts from as far as Australia, joined a convoy of the little cars from Christchurch to a working farm station in Canterbury's Avoca Valley, for the annual Great Honda City road trip The event's creator, Jared Campbell spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The concept of 'Last One Standing' or 'Backyard Ultra' events is simple but some might say, brutal. Participants run a 6.71km loop once an hour starting on the hour and they must complete the loop within an hour. This goes on hour after hour, day after day, until one runner is left standing. The West Coast is the latest region to host a 'Backyard Ultra' event, organiser Maggi Forsyth joins Jesse.

The classic summer festival is the latest loser in the cost of living crisis, with another iconic event announcing it's downfall today. Splore is part of a growing list of struggling festivals with big names like WOMAD and One Love also on pause. But with many young people still crying out for a summer experience, some smaller events are hoping they'll pick up punters let down by the big festivals. Evie Richardson reports. 

2.5 million passengers will travel through Auckland Airport in its busiest five weeks of the year. Travel can be a great joy but also a legal minefield; who covers costs with a cancellation, what if you get bumped from a flight that is over booked, and what's the deal if the replacement flight is more expensive. Jessica Walker from Consumer NZ spoke to Lisa Owen with tips for travellers.

This week Katy Gosset looks at the property market, and meets two friends who have pooled resources in order to make owning a home a reality.

As vigils for victims are held and more information about the alleged gunmen of the Bondi Beach attacks is revealed, Sydney residents are still reeling from the event. Brad Foster joins Jesse to offer a local perspective.

The Danes have hygge, a cultural inclination to try to make things cosy. In Finland, they have a very different cultural trait called sisu, a quiet, inner strength drawn from surviving hardship. Dr. Elisabet Lahti has spent years studying this Finnish concept, and in 2018 she put it to the test, running 2,400 kilometers across New Zealand to research sisu and promote nonviolence. She's the founder of the Sisu Lab and says anyone from any country can learn to have courage in the face of adversity.

An 81-year-old Gisborne great grandmother has joined the DJ line-up for this years' Rhythm & Vines festival Molly Pardoe aka DJ SuperGran will debut with a ten minute set.

If the Gold Coast theme parks are a little too spendy for you right now .. and you can't face the crowds at Rainbow's End .. fear not .. an Auckland dad might have the solution for you. Bjorn Burton, has listed his designer playhouse for sale - with the standard features... a sandpit, slide, climbing ramp - but wait for it, it also has a twenty-metre roller coaster, something he designed and made himself. Bjorn chats to Jesse.

NZ Post chief operating officer Brendon Main talks to Lisa Owen about the 10 million parcels being delivered in the two weeks leading up to Christmas Eve.

A Northshore woman's at risk of losing her guide dog after several encounters with out of control dogs have left her working dog fearful and potentially unable to do its job properly.

A family-run business is making sure pets get where they're going safely - transporting more than 100 animals at a time on a bus that runs from Auckland to Invercargill. Morning Report producer Rayssa Almeida jumped on board.

At 97, Maureen Maclean is one of several seniors to sign up for a 31-day New Year yoga challenge at their local studio in Hamilton. 

We all love to receive gifts - especially at this time of the year - but there is joy to be had in giving too. And the latest results from a study of over 200 children suggests that that joy can be experienced from a very young age. Professor Annette Henderson, director of the Early Learning Lab at Auckland University joins Mihingarangi to explain what this can mean for children and their parents.

Experts are warning there could be further drownings at notorious black spots this summer. 

At 50, Katherine Leamy packed her bag and headed off on a big international trip with nothing more than a backpack weighing 5 kgs. 

A group of law professionals is calling for a Commissioner for animals; claiming current animal welfare laws are out of date, not fit for purpose and the system is riddled with conflicts of interest. The New Zealand Animal Law Association has released a 60-page report making a detailed case for a commissioner for animals. President of the New Zealand Animal Law Association Marcello Ferrere spoke to Lisa Owen.

Christmas is fast approaching, and if you're looking for a gift for the gardeners in your life, Hannah Zwartz might just have the answers.