Podcasts about Massey University

Research has found that gender disparities in maths performance, favouring boys, shows up as early as four months into their formal schooling. Massey University professor Jodie Hunter spoke to Corin Dann.

On today's REX Daily Podcast, Dom talks with Samantha White from Whitehaven Wines in Marlborough about its association with marine environment group LegaSea via its Kōparepare wine brand, donating 100% of proceeds of Kōparepare to LegaSea for selected days in June and the nautical history of the vineyard, started by Samantha's parents in the 1990s... He talks with retired professor, ecologist and keen tramper David Norton about high deer numbers, the damage they're causing to native forests and farmland and what can be done to more effectively mange deer populations... And he talks with Professor Jackie Benschop from Massey University about presenting at the recent NZ Veterinary Association conference on the latest research into leptospirosis, the discoveries made following Cyclones Gabrielle and Hale and the subsequent flooding in 2023 and the best preventative actions. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

Dom talks with Professor Jackie Benschop from Massey University about presenting at the recent NZ Veterinary Association conference on the latest research into leptospirosis, the discoveries made following Cyclones Gabrielle and Hale and the subsequent flooding in 2023 and the best preventative actions. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

Ruby Keegan is working on a prosthetic limb which can be worn in and out of the water - giving amputees the freedom to move easily between land to sea. She's just won Massey University's Grand Ideas competition for student-driven innovation that tackles real world challenges.

Explore space, time, and technology in science fiction through indigenous lenses with award-winning author Dr Gina Cole (Black Ice Matter; Na Viro) and writer, critic and producer, Dan Taipua. Dr. Gina Cole is an award-winning author of Fijian, Scottish and Welsh descent. Her collection Black Ice Matter won the Hubert Church Prize for Best First Book Fiction in 2017. Her science fiction fantasy novel Na Viro (Huia, 2022) is a work of Pasifikafuturism following sisters wayfinding through sea and space. Awarded the 2023 Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writer's Residency in 2023, she is currently working on the second book in her Turukawa Trilogy. Dan Taipua (Waikato-Tainui) is a writer and critic working in Tāmaki Makaurau. His interests cross through art history, popular culture and Te Ao Māori with a particular focus on futurism and imagined worlds. In 2015, Dan Taipua and Sophie Wilson produced the documentary Aotearoa Futurism for RNZ Music, interviewing Māori and Pasifika artists whose works explore the boundaries of technology and time. This work has inspired further study of indigenous futurisms by scholars and creators alike and continues to shape Taipua's own critical practice. This talk is in association with our sci-fi exhibition 'Other Worlds' and the 'Tāmaki Untold' series. Exhibition is open from 19 February to 2 August 2025 in the Heritage Gallery, Level 2, Central City Library / Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero. Explore selected works by Dr Gina Cole and Dan Taipua along with some of the books, authors and works mentioned in this episode – all available either at Auckland Council Libraries or online. Na Viro by Gina Cole. Huia Publishers, 2022 Wayfinding Pasifikafuturism : an indigenous science fiction vision of the ocean in space : a thesis by Gina Cole. Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand, 2020 https://mro.massey.ac.nz/items/21b05630-28b2-4d93-85e9-f7156be8f0d9 Aotearoa Futurism Part One: Space Maori and Astronesians - podcast by Dan Taipua and Sophie Wilson, RNZ Music, 2015 https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/nat-music/audio/201782605/aotearoa-futurism-part-one Aotearoa Futurism Part Two: South Pacific Futurists podcast by Dan Taipua and Sophie Wilson, RNZ Music, 2015 Remains to be Told: Dark Tales from Aotearoa edited by Lee Murray. Clan Destine Press, 2023 Walking the Stars: An Anthology of Indigenous Science Fiction edited by Grace Dillon Star Waka by Robert Sullivan Auckland University Press, 1999 The Routledge Book of CoFuturisms edited by Taryne Jade Taylor, Isiah Lavender III, Grace L. Dillon and Bodhisattva Chattopadhyay. 1st edition, 2023. Full text available via Open Access with Taylor and Francis under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. How To Loiter in a Turf War by Coco Solid. Penguin Random House NZ, 2022 Island Time: South Pacific Futurism From a Contemporary Aotearoa Perspective by Jessica “Coco” Hansell published in The Funambulist, Issue 24: Futurisms, 2019 Navigator by Che Fu (Music CD) Sony, 2001 Lisa Reihana: Emissaries by Lisa Reihana. Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, 2017 Goddess Muscle by Dr Karlo Mila Huia Publishers, 2020 Waerea by Mokotron (Music LP). Stebbing Recording Studio, 2024 Terra Nullius by Claire G. Coleman. Hachette Australia, 2017 How Māui Defied the Goddess of Death by Peter Gossage. 3rd edition, Puffin Books, 2012 You Are Here by Peata Larkin and Whiti Hereaka. Massey University Press, 2025

Global military expenditure reached a record high of two point seven trillion dollars in 2024, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. This is the tenth consecutive year that military spending has increased across the world. Last week's Budget announcement, as with declarations of investments earlier this year, in which $12 billion was committed to defence over the next four years, with an aim to reach 2% of GDP, demonstrate the New Zealand government's interest in keeping up with global standards.  Peace Movement Aotearoa have called this central government decision “deplorable”, as the same budget made cuts to crucial social services, and has underinvested in urgent issues within sectors like health, climate action, and infrastructure. Producer Sara spoke with Massey University's Associate Professor in the Centre for Defence and Security Studies, Anna Powles, about why both global and national military spending is increasing despite other crucial areas needing investment. Sara also spoke with Peace Movement Aotearoa co-ordinator Edwina Hughes about the effects of this increased militarisation taking priority over efforts to address humanitarian issues.  She began her interview with Associate Professor Anna Powles, by asking what some of the key drivers of this increased global military spending are. 

New Zealand is known has one of the most seismically active countries on the planet, however, there's no official early warning system in place. It's something that shocked Dr Chanthujan Chandrakumar, who has led a team of Massey University researchers to create a system that is a groundbreaking step toward earthquake preparedness. He speaks to Jesse about creating the Earthquake Early Warning System, which is the first real-time trial of a community-based EEWS in New Zealand.

The news is filled with chatter about language and gender these days - gender-neutral pronouns, sexist language, the C word in parliament - but what about the gender of language itself?  Associate professor Julia de Bres from Massey University joins Todd Zaner to break it down.

In Leaders Getting Coffee episode 42, our guest is Distinguished Professor Emeritus Paul Spoonley, of Massey University. Paul Spoonley is a career academic with a remarkable ability to explain complex matters in very straight-forward terms. But that straight forward manner is less surprising when we hear about someone who spent five years working in the freezing works,and later started writing his PhD thesis on that topic before abandoning it under pressure from the industry. And so a career in academia followed, and the independent thinker shows through in Spoonley’s discussion and in his attitude to the future of the country. If only the politicians would listen. Drawing heavily from his recent presentation entitled “The future of New Zealand: Demography as Desitny” Professor Spoonley conducts a wide-ranging discussion on the make-up of New Zealand and the challenges for our growing population. We learn that Auckland’s population is set to grow by up to 700,000 people in the next 13 years, and we discuss the implications of that growth for infrastructure, health services and education. Professor Spoonley discusses the reasons behind the most rapidly growing regions in the country. And we hear about how an ageing population at a time of declining fertility rates threatens the way of life we have come to enjoy. But there are solutions too, and plenty of advice for governments around the world who are grappling with immigration issues. Education, in particular, could become more relevant if greater access to apprenticeships was available and digital literacy more widely taught. This is a fascinating discussion, filled with insights from a man who has made the make-up of our societies his life’s work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A staff member at Massey University couldn't pay his rent when he didn't receive his salary after the introduction of a new payroll system at the institution. The man then had to show proof of the payroll mixup to his disbelieving landlord. RNZ has spoken with university staff affected by payroll problems, which they say are causing financial stress. Reporter Jimmy Ellingham spoke to Lisa Owen.

New Zealand has come in last place in a study comparing alcohol control policies across 11 international jurisdictions. Lead co-author and Massey University professor Sally Caswell spoke to Corin Dann.

Net migration is expected to stay low, with global affairs keeping many people where they are. Stats NZ data shows there was a net migration gain of only 26 thousand in the year to March, down from more than 100 thousand the year before. It says the fall is mainly due to fewer migrant couples arriving, with a slight increase in departures. Massey University Sociologist Paul Spoonley told Mike Hosking a big question mark hovers around the migration figures. He says he's unsure whether the numbers will keep, or if it's going to keep dropping and New Zealand will see something similar to the net loss seen during the global financial crisis. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve looked at headlines around the world lately, you’d be forgiven for thinking that immigration is the root of all our problems. Perhaps the most vocal anti-immigration critic at the moment is the United States, with mass deportations happening against undocumented migrants. Now the UK Government is vowing to fix a ‘broken’ immigration system with new policies, which are estimated to lead to a 100,000 drop in immigration per year by 2029. The move comes after the rise of Reform UK, with a staunch anti-immigration policy that has become more mainstream in recent years. So why are a lot of countries turning against immigration, and are those concerns valid or passing the blame? Today on The Front Page, Massey University distinguished professor Paul Spoonley is with us to explore the realities and fiction of immigration policy. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea DanielsSound Engineer/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest New Zealand Drug Trends Survey shows people are increasingly turning to social media to buy their drugs, and gangs are dominating the meth market. Massey University professor Chris Wilkins spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Dr Catherine Knight is an award-winning author, environmental historian, and policy expert with extensive experience in both strategic and operational environmental governance. Currently working in strategic policy in the government sector, Catherine is also an Honorary Research Associate at Massey University's School of People, Environment and Planning. Her writing on wellbeing, post-growth economics, and environmental policy frequently appears on platforms such as Newsroom, The Spinoff, and Substack.Catherine has authored several acclaimed books exploring the relationships between people, nature, and politics, including Nature and Wellbeing in Aotearoa, which we explored with her in a previous podcast episode. Her latest work, An Uncommon Land, is her most personal to date, tracing Aotearoa's environmental and social history through the lens of her own ancestors. It explores powerful themes like enclosure, colonisation, and the gradual denaturing of landscapes.In this episode:Her background in policy and current work beyond authorshipAuckland's lost tram network and the role of holistic city designRethinking the economy to serve both people and planetWhat inspired Catherine to write An Uncommon LandThe personal journey of understanding her ancestors to shape present-day insightsThe vulnerability of writing a deeply personal bookThe concept of The Commons—its historical significance and near-erasure in modern AotearoaDebunking the myth of the "tragedy of the commons"How the shift to enclosure and private property continues to shape society todayThe enduring systems of war, colonisation, and environmental degradation—and their modern parallelsOur complicity in an economy driven by exploitation and consumptionHow New Zealand's celebrated progress has often depended on the extraction of resources and environmental destructionEnvisioning alternative futures: post-growth models, food security, and land as a shared inheritanceWhy we must redirect public investment toward collective wellbeingWhat Catherine and her daughter learned from travelling together in the process of researching this book.To view all the links to the websites and documents, visit the show notes on our website.Please support our work and enable us to deliver more content by buying us a coffee or becoming a member of Athletes for Nature.Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky, subscribe to this podcast, and share this episode with your friends and family.

Voting is currently underway at the Vatican, in a secret ballot to elect a new Pope. Black smoke emanated from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel earlier today - indicating no new Pope has been elected yet. Massey University's Peter Lineham explained the process to the Afternoons team. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's REX Daily Podcast, Dom talks with Whitestone Cheese Managing Director Simon Berry about winning five trophies at the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards, including the Champion of Champions for its Monte Cristo sheep milk cheddar and Champion Cheesemaker for Whitestone cheesemaker Jonathan Emerson... He talks with former Kaipara Mayor Jason Smith about going from drought to excessive rain, the effect on the kumara harvest and the recent success of the Kauri Museum... And he talks with Paul Kenyon, Professor of Sheep Husbandry and Head of the School of Agriculture and Environment at Massey University, about his role in editing a revised and updated version of the publication, 'Hogget Performance - Unlocking the Potential of Hogget Lambing', the new insights in contains and the biggest pitfalls to avoid. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

Dom talks with Paul Kenyon, Professor of Sheep Husbandry and Head of the School of Agriculture and Environment at Massey University, about his role in editing a revised and updated version of the publication, 'Hogget Performance - Unlocking the Potential of Hogget Lambing', the new insights in contains and the biggest pitfalls to avoid. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

Dr. Viv Harris was born outside Wellington, New Zealand on a property with animals of all shapes and sizes. She knew early on that she wanted to be a Veterinarian.She earned a Bachelor degree in Zoology and also one in Veterinary Science from Massey University in 1986. After graduation, she went into mixed practice in New Zealand briefly, then went overseas for five years; doing locum work in the UK as well as working with camels in Kenya.Upon her return home, she purchased a small animal practice in Wellington and remained there for ten years. During that time, she started her holistic training, earning a certification in acupuncture by IVAS, certifying in NAET, and taking courses in Homeopathy, Trigger Point Therapy, Flower Essences, Herbal Medicine, and Neutraceuticals. While she was a practice owner, she also appeared regularly on radio and television, discussing veterinary medicine and natural living.She sold the practice and now sees patients in a room on her property as well as attending to her four acre garden.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Viv Harris as we discuss her education, clinical practice, holistic education, and her approach to natural health and gardening.

On today's REX Daily Podcast, Dom talks with new NZ National Fieldays Society CEO Richard Lindroos about what attracted him to he job, his extensive career in sports event management and what he's hoping to achieve in his new role... He talks with Pamu CEO Mark Leslie about today's tree planting and plaque unveiling for the late Dr Warren Parker, former Pāmu Farms of New Zealand chairman, the inaugural Dr Warren Parker and Pāmu Agricultural Scholarship at Massey University and Dr Parker's legacy and contribution to NZ agriculture... And he talks with Lincoln Young Farmers Club Chair Amelia Ridgen about being the largest club in the country, its upcoming trips and events and her pending study in the Netherlands. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

Dom talks with Pamu CEO Mark Leslie about today's tree planting and plaque unveiling for the late Dr Warren Parker, former Pāmu Farms of New Zealand chairman, the inaugural Dr Warren Parker and Pāmu Agricultural Scholarship at Massey University and Dr Parker's legacy and contribution to NZ agriculture. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

Our resident science expert, Dr Julia de Bres, sociolinguist and senior lecturer at Massey University has been giving this some thought.

Key services are lagging behind in Canterbury's Selwyn district as it tries to cope with exponential population growth. Stats NZ data shows it remains the fastest growing district in the country, with 3200 new arrivals in the year to June. Rolleston and Lincoln experienced the biggest jumps, at 9.6% and 8.1% respectively. Massey University sociologist Paul Spoonley told Mike Hosking Selwyn falls behind when it comes to infrastructure. For example, he says that of the 20-odd primary schools with more than 700 students, five of them are in Selwyn. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In The Space Business is... – the podcast series of The Space Business is Everywhere campaign, underwritten by ST Engineering iDirect – we take a look at the way the commercial space industry has spread itself to parts of the world where space and satellites were once only read about or dreamed of. Each episode will focus on a specific location and features an innovator who is shaping - and reshaping - the industry. In the final episode, we hear from Terry Bleakley, Regional Vice President of the APAC region at ST Engineering iDirect. Terry Bleakley is the regional vice president of the APAC region at ST Engineering iDirect where he is responsible for developing and executing strategies to accelerate the company's revenue growth. Throughout his extensive career, Terry held several senior leadership roles with leading satellite operators. From 2010 to 2023, he served as Regional Vice President for the Asia-Pacific at Intelsat, where he oversaw significant regional initiatives, strengthening the company's presence in the region. Prior to his tenure at Intelsat, he was the Chief Commercial Officer at MEASAT from 2007 to 2010, where he played a critical role in driving the company's commercial growth. Terry's journey in the satellite industry began in 1997 when he moved to Malaysia to join British Telecom. Since then, held senior sales management roles at PanAmSat and Intelsat. More recently, he served as Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives at Intelsat and as an advisor to Sky TV New Zealand. He is set to continue his advisory work with SkyPerfect JSAT through late 2024. With strong roots in the APAC region, Terry serves as the President of the Asia Pacific Satellite Communications Council (APSCC), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the satellite ecosystem in the Asia-Pacific region. Since 2023, he has been leading APSCC's efforts to advance satellite communications across one of the world's most dynamic markets. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Victoria University in Wellington and a Diploma in Aviation Studies from Massey University in New Zealand.  

Texting words like LOL and OMG may not be as cool as it once was. A US study has found people using abbreviations or slang in texts sound 'stupid' to others. Massey University linguistics expert Dr Arianna Berardi-Wiltshire says slang seems to have become less common. She says changing tech may play a part - with phones now having full keyboards and predictive spelling. "Young people are much more relationally aware than people were in the past - they know, quite often, when it's appropriate to use them." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A leading primary sector academic and columnist talks about young farmers and old farmers. And did she inhale at Massey University in 1977?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A careful balancing act on how far banks should have to go to prepare for a rainy day. Parliament's Finance Select Committee is currently seeking feedback on whether the Reserve Bank's capital requirements for banks should be changed. The current rules are stringent and costly. Massey University banking expert Claire Matthews told Mike Hosking we also can't go too far the other way. She says if a bank fails, and there isn't enough money to pay people out, that will have a huge impact on the whole economy. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A massive spike in meth use is being linked to a change in global shopping habits. Christopher Luxon has asked ministers to look into meth use, after annual wastewater results show a 96% increase in consumption last year compared to 2023. Massey University drug researcher Chris Wilkins told Mike Hosking it's likely a case of both people using more, and more people using. He says the increase represents the changes to the drug market, which is moving from a brick-and-mortar store, to a global online platform. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sociologist isn't worried about net migration inching closer to zero. New Stats NZ data shows there was an annual net migration gain of around 32,000 in the year to January, down on December. Migrant departures also rose 18% to almost 123,000 in that time, the highest on record for an annual period. But Massey University's Paul Spoonley told Mike Hosking we don't know about the skills of those departing. He says we also need to ask if we're also seeing unskilled and semi-skilled workers leaving and therefore exporting part of our unemployment rate. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A drug researcher is warning more fentanyl will arrive in New Zealand. The Government's working to tighten controls on 23 substances - helping to allow a police and Customs crackdown. Health Minister Simeon Brown want to categorise three drugs similar to fentanyl as Class A substances, with harsher penalties for manufacture. Massey University's Chris Wilkins says fentanyl is a cheaper alternative for many drugs. "They've been replacing heroin with fentanyl - but now, increasingly, a whole lot of other drugs. And given that economic incentive, it's hard to see that New Zealand is going to avoid this problem." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new public health report says the government's response to long covid has been inadequate. Massey University's Centre for Public Health Research Professor John Potter spoke to Corin Dann.

As global temperatures continue to rise through unprecedented global warming, the risk of urban and wildfires continues to expand. Many countries continue to fight increasing global warming by phasing out the sale of petrol cars. These countries include most in the European Union, and additionally Canada and China are expecting to do so by the 2030's. However, with the United States leaving the Paris Agreement following president Trump's inauguration, the future of mitigating global warming becomes more unlikely. A temperature rise of four degrees is projected should we not take any action to reduce it. Producer Sasha spoke with Professor Bruce Glavovic from Massey University about these issues in addition to urban fire planning in New Zealand. We talked about how we can avoid urban fire scenarios and the world's state of global warming.

For their weekly catch up with the Green Party, Oto spoke to Ricardo Menendez March about the 4th government investigation into school lunches, The proposal to cut Te Reo Māori resource teachers and the Greens call to the government to rule out joining AUKUS. He spoke to Esmé Hulbert-Putt from Aotearoa Christians for Peace in Palestine about the open letter from Christian leaders calling for humanitarian visas for Palestinians, as well as the Gaza ceasefire pilgrimages that will be happening across the motu later today. And he spoke to Shiva Gounden from Greenpeace Aotearoa about Greenpeace's call for reparations from the United States to the Marshall Islands for the impacts of the Castle Bravo nuclear bomb's detonation in the Bikini Atoll in the 1950s. Sasha spoke with Professor Bruce Glavovic from Massey University about Urban Fire planning and Global Warming. And he also spoke to Professor Robert Patman, from the University of Otago about recent global political developments.

Chinese scientists have analysed fire data from thousands of cities in 20 countries - and New Zealand topped the list of those facing a growing wildfire risk because of climate change. Massey University's School of People Environment and Planning Professor Bruce Glavovic spoke to Alexa Cook.

New Zealand's meth use has reached unprecedented heights. New figures show a monthly peak of 39.2 kg recorded in October - well above historic averages and nearly double the previous record of 20.6kg in 2021. Massey University Drug researcher Chris Wilkins talks to Mike Hosking about the reason for the surge, and what this means for the country. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Jacqui Snell was born and raised in Wellington, New Zealand. Veterinary Medicine was a career aspiration from childhood. She earned her veterinary degree from Massey University in 1988. Afterwards, she worked in a small animal practice in Wellington before spending a year doing locum work in London England.After returning to New Zealand, she worked at Taradale Veterinary Hospital in Hawkes Bay for 21 years, spending 16 years as an owner of the practice. She started her holistic practice, Veterinary Holistic Healthcare, in 2018, after earning a Western Herbal Certification. She completed a Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Western Herbal Medicine through CIVT in 2019.She worked part time in a holistic practice as well as a companion animal practice. She also worked part time for the Raw Essentials company, providing nutritional advice to pet parents who were transitioning their pets with health issues onto a raw food diet.Currently, she focuses completely on her holistic practice, seeing patients in person and via telemedicine.In addition to her clinical practice, she has lectured at the New Zealand Veterinary Association conferences and is the current newsletter editor for the Complementary Branch of the NZVA.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Jacqui Snell as we discuss her education, various clinical roles, and her current holistic practice.

On Sunday the government launched a new $500,000 tourism campaign aimed at getting Australians to visit New Zealand. Massey University professor in marketing Dr Bodo Lang spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Pension incomes are set at about $520 for single people and just under $800 for couples. A Massey University report released last week found that a single retiree with a no-frills lifestyle would need $196.59 per week over and above their NZ Super, dropping to to $183.54 in a metro centre. For a choices budget, with more luxuries, it cost a one-person household $234.80 in the provinces and $214.33 in the metro areas. Again that is over and above NZ super. Chief Executive of Age Concern, Karen Billings-Jensen spoke to Lisa Owen.

Surviving on mince and sausages, and wearing secondhand clothes. That's the plight some pensioners face as weekly expenses creep up and beyond the amount of money they have coming in. Even those living away from major cities are feeling the pinch, including those that don't rely solely on the pension. A recent report from Massey University has broken down just what New Zealand's pensioners are spending each week. Jimmy Ellingham spoke to people about the reality behind the numbers.

The Resource Minister is pushing back on criticism of his party's bill, which aims to stop 'woke', environmentally informed bank service withdrawals. A Massey University banking expert says the bill doesn't account for the commercial risks of lending to groups such as mining companies. Resource Minister Shane Jones told Mike Hosking banks have to assess credit worthiness, but the current situation is problematic. He asks when it became the banks' job to ascertain the emissions problem of each cow, and how often businesses should be shut down by these luxury beliefs. Jones says Massey University banking experts are disciples of woke-ism. NZ First has faith they have the backing to support their bill if it gets pulled from the biscuit tin. Jones says they have the support in two ways. Firstly, through his ability to gut the energy settings for New Zealand's power sector, and secondly through his belief Labour has realised they went too far when it comes to climate hysteria. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns have been rising about a possible diplomatic row between New Zealand and the Cook Islands. A couple of weeks ago, Foreign Minister Winston Peters publicly admonished the President of Kiribati for refusing to engage - and diplomatic aid was put under review. Peters also recently released a harsh statement directed at Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown as Brown prepares to sign a deal in China this week - a deal New Zealand hasn't been consulted about. Massey University's Anna Powles says these incidents are 'unusual' and don't reflect the diplomatic engagement between both nations. "It certainly doesn't reflect the type of more sensitive diplomatic engagement that we're used to New Zealand conducting in the region." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister has taken aim at the chief executives of New Zealand's largest banks saying it was 'utterly unacceptable' that some were withdrawing banking services from petrol stations and mines. Chris Luxon joined Mike Hosking earlier today to explain that the banks needed to keep funding businesses Kiwis need to keep moving forward - and expressed concern at rural petrol stations in particular losing their funding. Massey University banking expert Claire Matthews says the Government has the option to put regulations in place to reverse these changes - but warned this choices comes with consequences. "If the Government starts telling the banks what they have to do, then it's very much open to the banks to say - actually, it's too complicated, you're dictating too much what we can and can't do... the reality is, the New Zealand market is not that important to us, we're going to withdraw." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world's largest aid agency faces major cuts, and it could have a big impact on the Pacific. Massey University associate professor at the centre for defence and security studies Dr Anna Powles spoke to Corin Dann.

Last week the government announced their second climate target, in accordance with the Paris Agreement.  The target outlines how much emissions need to be cut by 2035. The government has chosen a target of getting emissions down by 51 - 55% compared to 2005 levels. This is only 1% higher than their previous target.  The announcement has been slated as unambitious, particularly in relation to comparable nations, as well as developing countries.  However, with the proposed climate policies from the government, many of which aren't even in place yet, Aotearoa isn't forecasted to reach this goal.  On Friday, Producer Evie spoke to Massey University's Professor of Sustainable Energy and Climate Mitigation, Ralph Sims about the target and how realistic it really is.

Thinking about how much money you might need to retire can be a scary prospect, particularly if you're already struggling to make ends meet while you're working. "FORO" or Fear Of Running Out is top of mind for many and it's true that retirees do need more than just their superannuation to live comfortably. But new figures by Te Kunenga ki Purehuroa, Massey University's Financial Education and Research (Fin-Ed) Centre, show that you may not need as much as has been previously reported. Jesse talks to Claire Matthews, Associate Professor at Massey University Business School. [picture id="4NUDZT3_Matthews_Claire_2018_005_jpg_1" crop="original" layout="full"]

New research from the Massey University's Financial Education and Research Centre has found less than $500,000 saved for retirement could be enough. Financial Advice NZ CEO Nick Hakes spoke to Corin Dann.

We're being told not to be scared of the latest retirement savings figures. The latest Retirement Expenditure Guidelines have found less than $500 thousand in savings is enough for most retirees. Massey University Associate Professor Claire Matthews told Mike Hosking that research consistently shows that the amount people need to save for retirement is less than other people would suggest. She says that if you start early, the amount you need to save isn't as daunting, since you're saving for a much longer time frame. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BYO is nothing new but now it seems there's an increasing trend towards workers picking up pretty much the whole tab for the Christmas party. Checkpoint is aware of some organisations limiting their festive spend to $20 a head with a rider that the money can't be spent on alcohol. Another is stumping up $5 a person; while some functions are completely staff funded. Massey University school of business management, Professor Jarrod Haar spoke to Lisa Owen.

Dr. Katie Woodley was raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She did her undergraduate work at the University of Notre Dame, and earned her Veterinary Degree in 2010 from Massey University in New Zealand.After working in small animal practice in New Zealand, she moved back to Colorado Springs to work in small animal practice there. She had some exposure to holistic medicine in veterinary school, but a health challenge with her husband and her own curiosity started her journey into integrative medicine.She was certified in acupuncture by OneHealth and has earned a Graduate Diploma in Chinese Veterinary Herbal Medicine from CIVT. She has additional training in Veterinary Natural Nutrition and Chinese Food Therapy.She started her mobile holistic practice in Ft. Collins, Colorado in 2018 and during the pandemic expanded her practice online to share her knowledge with both pet parents and veterinarians.Please enjoy this conversation with Dr. Katie Woodley as we discuss her education, practice history, and expansion into online education as well as her participation on the AHVMA's Board of Directors.

Author and poet* Dr Laura Jean McKay joins Liz and Ben for two of Terry Pratchett's short stories about intelligent animals: “Hollywood Chickens” (1990) and “From the Horse's Mouth” (1972). In 1973 Hollywood, a truck full of chickens overturned on a busy highway, depositing a population of chickens on the verge. A decade and a half later, scientists try to piece together the story of how they developed and evolved in pursuit of a very specific goal... In the town of Blackbury, rag and bone man Ron is amazed to discover that his carthorse, Johnno, can talk. Will their relationship be forever changed by the adventure they share together? These stories don't share too much in common beyond being about animals, but they are a nice sample of Pratchett's writing from two interesting points in his career: towards the end of his early phase of children's stories for newspapers, not long after his first novel was published; and at the height of his early fame - the year, in fact, that he published five novels. You can find “Hollywood Chickens” most readily in A Blink of the Screen, and “From the Horse's Mouth” in A Stroke of the Pen. Do you have a favourite Pratchett short story? What do you think of the way he writes animals? Should we have inserted an ad for Maggi noodles into this episode? What are your best horse pun names, and how would you get to the other side? We'd love to hear from you whether you're a horse, chicken, human or have mutant powers: join the conversation for this episode via email, or by using the hashtag #Pratchat81 on social media. Dr Laura Jean McKay (she/her) is an author, poet* and an Adjunct Lecturer in Creative Writing at Massey University. Her novel The Animals in That Country - “like Thelma and Louise with a woman and a dingo” - has won multiple awards, including the Arthur C Clarke Award. Her latest book is the short fiction collection Gunflower, published in 2023. You can find Laura as @laurajeanmckay on Twitter and Instagram, and find out more about her books on her website, laurajeanmckay.com.au. * Even if she doesn't know it. You'll find full notes and errata for this episode on our website, and you can hopefully still get tickets for Guards! Guards! at the Roleystone Theatre in Perth, which opens on 22 November 2024. Next episode we're back on track to crack the Clacks in the most recent Discworld board game: Clacks! If you have questions about this game recreating the race between Moist and the Grand Trunk company, get them in to us ASAP by tagging us or using the hashtag #Pratchat82 on social media, or emailing us at chat@pratchatpodcast.com.