Podcasts about Otago

Otago fullback Max Hore joins Ric & Chappy to chat about his team's season so far, and to preview their last round match against Auckland tonight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mornings with Ric & Chappy - Full Show featuring F1 legend Damon Hill, former Blackcaps quick Shane Bond, Otago fullback Max Hore, and Nick Quinn from Entain Victoria. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Zealanders are working. The economy is growing. So why aren’t we getting much more out of it? For more than a decade, New Zealand’s productivity growth has been painfully weak – and that could be one of the biggest economic problems facing the next Government. But you wouldn’t necessarily know it from the election campaign. The parties are promising tax cuts, more housing, cheaper groceries, changes to immigration and more spending on public services. But how many of those policies will actually make New Zealand more productive? Today on The Front Page, University of Otago economics associate professor Dennis Wesselbaum reckons productivity is the economic elephant in the room this election. He joins us now. 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 DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayoral minutes is where we speak with a local mayor about the challenges they're facing - how they're working to solve them - and what makes their community special. Today we're heading to the Waitaki District in the Canterbury and Otago regions of the South Island ...where you'll find Oamaru .... Mayor Mel Tavendale joins Jesse.

Central Otago District Council is set to vote on whether to send human waste over to farmland in Lauder, and Federated Farmers has voiced disapproval with the move. The vote will determine whether thousands of cubic metres of sludge from Alexandra and Cromwell will be sent to the region. Federated Farmers Otago president Anna Gillespie says this is being done to cut costs and there's no risk to the environment - but she's sceptical. "If there's no risk, why would you truck it an hour and a half down the road?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 29 September, 2026, Nicola Willis "opens the books" before the election - and it's looking better than even four months ago at the Budget. We delve into the numbers with the Finance Minister, Labour spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and on the Huddle with Maurice Williamson and Mike Munro. A big stink in central Otago. Why Federated Farmers are upset about some plans for "poo". Plus Scott Barrett on his All Blacks comeback and why he's wary of the Wallabies. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're going to turn our attention to bats now .. because for a long time scientists have been puzzled about how bats evolved .. where they originated from and how the different families are related. Now a major international study has essentially redrawn the bat family tree ... solving the evolution puzzle. The study brought together 137 researchers from 64 countries .. including the University of Otago's Professor Neil Gemmell. He joins Jesse.

It's time to chat about something that fascinates kiwis young and old - it's the ozone layer. Turns out there's a giant ozone hole above the Antarctic right now. This month it peaked to a cool 27 million square kilometers, the biggest in 20 years. So, is this as alarming as it sounds and what is going on with our efforts to protect it? Joining Emile for a chat is Postdoctoral Fellow in Physics at the University of Otago, Hannah Kessenich, who's been writing about this for The Conversation.

Former All Black Ant Strachan joins Tony Johnson and Maia Wilson to discuss Wallabies win over South Africa, Black Ferns upset loss to England, and an NPC Wrap: Counties Manukau take the Ranfurly Shield off of Northland, North Harbour comeback to beat Otago & NPC wrap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Squaring off at this weekend's national school chess champs is a team from a tiny Otago school. Macandrew Bay School on the Otago Peninsula has around 140 students. Its year six team beat off tough competition to represent the region at the national interschool chess champs in Auckland. Principal Nic Brown spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Southern medical officer of health wants a freeze on new liquor off licences in Dunedin's high deprivations areas, including the student quarter. It is part of a submission on Dunedin City Council's draft alcohol plan close in about an hour. Te Whatu Ora Southern Medical Officer of Health, Dr Michael Butchard spoke to Lisa Owen.

President Donald Trump has welcomed his Chinese counterpart to the US for a historic three-day visit. The two have struck a deal to extend their trade war truce, which was initially due to expire in November. Associate Professor at the University of Otago, Nicholas Khoo spoke to John Campbell.about what this could mean for New Zealand.

As wildlife flourishes in a fenced Otago ecosanctuary, mahi is ramping up to protect the birds flying the coop. In July, Predator Free Dunedin received $3.9 million over three years from the Department of Conservation to boost its predator elimination work. That funding means they'll soon be targeting mustelids, rats, rabbits and feral cats lurking around the Orokonui Ecosanctuary. Tess Brunton reports. 

On today's Agenda Podcast, ACC Head G Lane and Tony Lyall get into it quickly and within minutes there is chat about cutting off faces and stapling them to soccer balls (00:00)... Next up, it's back to sports, and Fehi Fineanganofo might not be off to Newcastle after all (11:45), India have bullied the Umpires into changing their minds on a crucial wide call to stop Japan from beating them at cricket (16:00), and we track down the person who fell at the Otago rugby game and get her first official interview (28:55)! Finally it's "Yours Please' and for the first time in recorded history we get a compliment that isn't immediately followed by a devastating insult (43:50)... Did you know that we've launched a new Facebook Group called 'The Caravan' JOIN HERE! Brought to you by Export Ultra! Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The Agenda Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Otago Coastal area prevention manager community and youth, Senior Sergeant Iain Notman spoke to Lisa Owen about youth drinking culture in Dunedin.

An emergency department doctor is urging the University of Otago and Police to get tough after a party of 400 people in the city's quarter left one person with serious injuries and others having to be treated for alcohol and drug-related harm. The party comes less than a week after a Coroner warned students about excessive alcohol consumption following the death of a 20 year old who choked on his own vomit at a Dunedin party in 2023. Anastasia Hedge reports.

The ribbon has been cut as The University of Otago's 292-million-dollar Wai Ora building has held its opening ceremony today. The new facility will expand the university's capacity for biomedical research and clinical trials, with space for about 15-hundred researchers, clinicians and students. John MacDonald visited the new building earlier this week, joining Associate Dean of Research Professor Logan Walker and Ōtautahi Campus/Wai Ora Project Owner Professor Suzanne Pitama to find out how the new collaborative hub will support research, teaching and healthcare innovation. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police and the Defence Force are launching a new search for a charter plane that vanished almost 50 years ago with seven people on board in South Westland. It follows decades of work by volunteer investigators who believe their sonar equipment might have detected the submerged of the plane in Lake Moeraki. Otago Southland reporter Katie Todd reports.

Three hour school bus rides... missed firefighter call outs .. loads of Queenstown locals say traffic jams are having a real impact on their day to day life. Residents say it's not just a peak-hour problem - congestion can strike at almost any time of the day. Now the council has set up an anti-traffic congestion taskforce to tackle the issue. But, what can actually be done? To look at some of the potential solutions, Jesse is joined by Ross Copland from Southern Infrastructure. [picture id="4NJZCPJ_copyright_image_180186" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Send Us A Message! Let us know what you think.Will New Zealand house prices rebound to their 2021 peak, or are we in for a prolonged flat cycle? In Episode 27 of New Zealand Property Insights, hosts Paul and Debbie Roberts unpack ASB's latest housing outlook, which projects national home values will not return to 2021 peak levels until at least 2029. They examine what flat growth in 2026 and a 3.5% lift in 2027 mean for buyers, how disposable income multiples have dropped from 9.8x to 6.7x, and how a proposed 5% deposit scheme could impact first-home buyer demand. Next, they explore the ongoing structural shift in non-bank mortgage lending. Featuring insights from XCEDA CEO Daniel McGrath and BaseCorp CFO John Moody, Paul and Debbie explain why non-bank lending is moving from a fallback option to a proactive strategy for self-employed borrowers, property flippers, and investors needing approvals within 24 to 48 hours. Finally, they break down fresh Realestate.co.nz rental figures to determine whether national asking rents have officially hit a floor. With the national average asking rent reaching $637 per week (+1.5% YoY), they analyze major regional variations—from strong gains in Marlborough (+8.2%) and Waikato ($587/wk record) to drops on the West Coast (-6.5%)—and reveal why pushing for a $10–$20 weekly rent increase can cost landlords up to $1,400 in vacant downtime. What You'll Learn in This Episode:ASB Price Forecast: Why house prices are expected to remain flat through 2026 before rising 3.5% in 2027, and why a 2029 peak recovery is positive for long-term market stability. Income-to-Price Multiples: How house price-to-disposable income ratios dropped to 6.7x (down from 9.8x in 2021), helping first-home buyers capture nearly 30% of sales. Proposed 5% Deposit Rule: How raising income caps to $300,000 for couples could accelerate first-home buyer entry. Non-Bank Lending Tactics: How writing clear application narratives enables specialist lenders to approve complex scenarios (bridging, self-employed, property additions) in 24–48 hours. Rental Market Floor: Why asking rents act as a leading indicator, and how provincial cashflows in Canterbury, Otago, and Waikato are supporting local rental gains. Tenant Retention vs. Vacancy Costs: Why keeping reliable tenants and avoiding 2–3 weeks of vacancy easily outweighs aggressive rent hikes in an adjusting market. Free Educational Masterclass & ResourcesReady to build a resilient, data-backed property portfolio without sales pressure or developer hype? Join financial adviser Debbie Roberts live for our free online training session: How to Succeed with Property Investing. 100% Independent Education (Property Apprentice does NOT sell real estate) Live Q&A Session Included

For City Counselling this week, Wire Host Caeden spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about the opening of the City Rail Link on Sunday and what Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori looks like in Tāmaki Makaurau.  And for our politics catch-up with Whakaata Māori, they spoke to Daniel Perese about the results of the new Whakaata Māori-Curia poll.  Flo spoke with Labour MP Shanan Halbert about Labour's new price gouging policy and their proposed Capital Gains Tax as well as the possibility of a hung parliament. Producer Eloise spoke with Dr Olivier Jutel from the University of Otago about the fallout from Macklemore being dropped from Ed Sheeran's Loop tour.

We're going to start today's show by talking about political polls and whether they're reliable. This election is looking really close - and polls are consistently showing both National and Labour below the 30 percent mark. That means polls could take on an added importance .. helping shape narratives .. but how do we know we can trust them? Our next guest has concerns about who gets polled, how the numbers are calculated and who pays for the research. Ben Gray is an Associate Professor at University of Otago - for the past twenty years he has convened a course that covers appraisal of evidence, research ethics, cultural competence and health law. [picture id="4JPVS66_reid_poll_1_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

James Meager is the Minister for the South Island, Minister for Hunting and Fishing, Minister for Youth, and Associate Minister of Transport. He is the MP for Rangitata electorate which runs from the Rakaia River in the north to Timaru in the south.James was born and raised in Timaru where he now lives. He has a degree in Law and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Otago.Before serving as an MP, James practiced law as a public law litigator for the law firm Simpson Grierson and has also previously worked in pest and predator control in the central South Island. He also worked in Parliament, including for Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett.ContactEmail J.Meager@ministers.govt.nzPortfolios Hunting and Fishing - Minister Youth - Minister South Island - Minister Transport - Associate MinisterCome check us out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ashburton Eyecare⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/ashburton.eyecare/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ryanoconnornz/  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stagryan/  Twitter https://twitter.com/stagryan  Tik Tok @ryanstagoconnor  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WaiKeto/  Blog https://stagryan.com/

The University of Otago's largest build, both in size and cost, will open at the end of this week in Christchurch. The building, to be known as Wai Ora, will bring together most of Otago's medical campus into one six-storey building in Christchurch's central city. Rachel Graham reports.

I denne episoden av Statsvitenskap og sånt snakker Sondre med Stephan Essendorfer om det nylige valget i Sachsen-Anhalt. Essendorfer har en doktorgrad fra University of Otago, og jobber som konsulent i Tyskland. Han går mer i dybden på tingenes tilstand i Tyskland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us a question/idea/opinion direct via text message!The latest suburb-level data confirms that the housing market's gentle downward drift is highly widespread, with approximately 79% of house suburbs and 74% of townhouse suburbs recording value drops over the three months to September.This week on the New Zealand Property Market Podcast, Head of Research Nick Goodall and Chief Economist Kelvin Davidson discuss Cotality's newly released Mapping the Market interactive data. They outline the sharp geographical splits - where Auckland and Wellington suburbs sit firmly at the bottom of the pile, while farming-backed hubs in Canterbury, Southland, and Otago continue to show structural resilience.The team also looks ahead to Thursday's highly anticipated Q2 GDP release. With the Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) marking its 14th consecutive month above neutral expansion and the services sector (PSI) edging back into growth at 51.2, the guys discuss whether a surprisingly resilient economy gives the RBNZ a green light to hike the OCR again sooner rather than later.This week we discuss:Mapping the Market Suburb Release: Why nearly 80% of suburbs saw declines, and how to use the interactive map to compare townhouses versus standalone homes.The Regional Agrarian Shield: Why farming economies are keeping southern suburbs buoyant while services-heavy Auckland and Wellington softenEconomic Green Shoots: Analyzing the 14th consecutive month of PMI expansion (+50.0) and the PSI's return to positive territory at 51.2.Q2 GDP Preview: Why major bank forecasts of a +0.1% to +0.3% lift show the economy is weathering geopolitical headwinds better than expected.OCR October vs. December: Will a resilient GDP track encourage the RBNZ to implement a pre-election rate hike on October 28?

About 1300 people took the opportunity to explore the new Dunedin Hospital outpatient building as part of a free community open day on Saturday. Otago Southland reporter Tess Brunton was there.

INTERVIEW: Know Your Stuff's Otago lead Kirsten Gibson by Maddy Barnes and Sam Smith-Soppet on Radio One 91FM Dunedin

An Otago university researcher has landed what could be a significant scientific catch using a 2km line and a blob of marmite. What's believe to be a new species of fish was lured from the depths of Lake Manapouri and Lake Te Anau last month. The fish is being DNA tested, and if confirmed as a new species it could reveal the secrets of a whole new eco-system. University of Otago Zoology researcher Doctor Roe Stuart discovered the fish and spoke to Lisa Owen.

A multi-national company is seeking to fast track plans to prolong the life of its Otago gold mine for the next decade. OceanaGold's fast-track application wants to expand the existing open pit and underground areas at Macraes mine, revisit previously mined ground and process stockpiled low-grade ore. The company says the extension will produce about 130-thousand ounces of gold a year and support hundreds of jobs, but Forest and Bird has concerns. Tess Brunton has more.

You do wonder if National have an agenda pre-election over race-based issues. The Waitangi Tribunal review is on Tama Potaka's desk and has been for a while. It hasn't gone to Cabinet. Why not? The report into what they call MAPAS (the Maori and Pacific Admissions Scheme) for medical school at Auckland and Otago university was a coalition deal between Act and National to review it. They have done it. It's on Associate Health minister Matt Doocey's desk. Has it gone to Cabinet? No. Why? Could it be National aren't all that gripped by race-based issues and don't want to rock the boat before polling day? The medical school programme is a scam. It's defended by the universities because they want the gap closed in terms of race representation in medical studies. In simple terms if you are a Maori or Pacific Islander, your entry to medical school is easier than if you are not. That is indisputably discrimination. What makes it worse is access to medical school for non-Maori or Pacific Islanders is extraordinarily high. You need a score into the very high 90's to even get close. There has been much debate over the years as to whether that actually produces great doctors or not. As a result Auckland take a slightly different approach to Otago over admissions, but the truth remains race gives you an easier pathway. Their defence also suggests that once in you still have to achieve, no matter who you are and that they also run a rural programme that favours students from regional backgrounds. My argument is race and geography should play no role. What I want in a doctor is competence and professionalism. Do they know what they are doing? My GP's have been women, Asian, Indian, male, British, Irish, older and younger. None of it mattered. Some were quite obviously good, some weren't. Their medical acumen was, and is, what I'm interested in. I assume it's even more relevant by the time you are on a surgery table getting cut open. It will be interesting to see what the report says. I find it hard to believe the conclusion isn't inevitable i.e race is discrimination, and this Government promised that sort of thing would stop. So, where is the report? Why isn't it public? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's Agenda Podcast, ACC Head G Land and Tony Lyall are coming in hot from Queenstown, where the evening before finished off with a show from an Instagram model (00:00) Next up, are influencers ruining sport after the US Open had to be stopped so the umpire could tell off a group of them (05:00), the Black Ferns are in South Africa for a doubleheader before the All Blacks test, so will there be a flyover (11:00), and Liam Lawson is back in the Red Bull for Monza (16:00). We wrap it all up with 'Yours Please', and G Lane tells us about a game called 'Spouf' that surprisingly no one has ever heard of (18:05)... Did you know that we've launched a new Facebook Group called 'The Caravan' JOIN HERE! Brought to you by Export Ultra! Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The Agenda Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So many of us have been struck down with winter illnesses but if you're a parent to toddlers, it might feel like you're more nurse than parent right now. Which got us thinking about early child daycare .. and whether the endless bugs that often come from there help or hinder kids .. does being exposed to more germs build immunity ahead of school or is that an urban myth parents cling to? Peter McIntyre is a professor in the University of Otago's Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, he's with Jesse for some myth busting.

Our Changing World takes a deep dive into controversial plans by US company Colossal Biosciences, backed by filmmaker Peter Jackson, to de-extinct the Moa. In part two of a two-part series, Sharon Brettkelly looks at whether it SHOULD be done.Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.LEARN MORE:Check out this explainer from Katie Kenny for the proposed Gene Technology changes.RNZ's Monique Steel looks at who is backing the stalled Gene Technology Bill.Listen as Kathryn Ryan talks to Kennedy Warne about how de-extincting the moa might fit with conservation efforts.Ben Novak talks to RNZ's Saturday Morning show about de-extincting the passenger pigeon.GUESTS:Professor Amanda Black, Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, Lincoln University and Director of Bioprotection Aotearoa.Professor Phillip Wilcox, bioethicist and quantitative geneticist, University of Otago.Andrew Pask, Chief Biology Officer, Colossal BiosciencesAssociate Professor Nic Rawlence, Director of Otago Palaeogenetics Laboratory, University of Otago.IN THIS EPISODE:(00:00) Should we bring moa back?(01:36) Colossal's plan to bring back moa(03:00) Who benefits from de-extinction(07:33) Māori perspectives, consent and data sovereignty(10:55) Could New Zealand stop the project?(14:43) Considering all the aspects of de-extinction(18:30) De-extinction vortex and the ethics of breeding and consultation…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Our Changing World takes a deep dive into controversial plans by US company Colossal Biosciences, backed by filmmaker Peter Jackson, to de-extinct the Moa. In part one of a two-part series, Sharon Brettkelly looks at whether it CAN be done.Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.LEARN MORE:Colossal Biosciences claims they have de-extincted the dire wolf, from CNN.More detail on Colossal Biosciences' artificial egg.Listen to Kathryn Ryan speaking with ‘Mr Moa' - paleozoologist Trevor Worthy about his long career.Auckland Museum research associate Daniel Thomas talks to Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira about the discovery of million year old moa footprints.GUESTS:Dr Andrew Pask, Chief Biology Officer, Colossal BiosciencesAssociate Professor Nic Rawlence, Director of Otago Palaeogenetics Laboratory, University of Otago.IN THIS EPISODE:(00:00) Could we bring the moa back?(02:30) Sequencing the moa genome(06:00) DNA data(08:00) The artificial egg breakthrough(10:20) How a "moa" would actually be created(12:30) Critics challenge the science(17:20) The conservation implications(22:00) Māori consultation questions(23:51) Will we ever see moa roaming again?(26:08) Coming up in Part 2Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The arrival of a cruise ship in Auckland marks the start of the cruise season .. an estimated 200,000 passengers are expected to visit between now and June next year. It's expected the cruise sector will contribute more than two hundred million to the local economy over that time. From 2028 Princess Cruises plans to expand its port visits to include Tauranga, Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, Picton, Napier and Timaru. We know many of you feel passionately about the environmental impact of cruising .. but we also wanted to know how people in port towns feel. Professor Maree Thyne from the University of Otago has looked into that and joins Jesse to discuss what she found.

Is platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) a game changer for osteoarthritis, or is the evidence still catching up with the hype? On this week's episode of Joint Action, Dr Hamish Osborne joins Professor David Hunter to cut through the noise on PRP exploring what the research currently shows, where the gaps in evidence lie, and how patients and clinicians can navigate the decision together.Dr Hamish Osborne is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians. He works part time in private practice and part time as a senior lecturer at the University of Otago, in Dunedin, New Zealand. His main role is teaching the Post Graduate Diploma in Sport and Exercise Medicine to general practitioners and physiotherapists. He has a varied interest in research and is completing his PhD in cardiac screening in New Zealand elite basketballers.CONNECT WITH USNaia Health: https://www.naiahealth.com.au/st-leonards-hubJoin one of our trials: https://www.osteoarthritisresearch.com.au/current-trialsInstagram: @ProfDavidHunterTwitter: @ProfDavidHunter @jointactionorgEmail: hello@jointaction.infoWebsite: www.jointaction.info/podcastIf you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe to learn more about osteoarthritis from the world's leading experts! And please let us know what you thought by leaving us a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By some estimates, the war with Iran has now cost the United States more than 180 billion dollars. After peace talks broke down, US President Donald Trump this week announced a complete change in strategy: economic, rather than military, action. Professor Robert Patman from the University of Otago joins Jack Tame six months on from the start of the conflict. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Willie Jackson: Labour's record on Māori issues Labour lost all but one of the seven Māori seats at the 2023 general election. This year, to rival a controversial tactic from Te Pāti Māori asking voters to engineer an overhang in Parliament, Labour says they want to win them all back. Willie Jackson, a front bench Labour MP and leader of the party's Māori campaign, joins Jack Tame to make his bid for the Māori vote. Should NZ break up the gentailers? Energy boss responds In an election year marked by energy policy, both New Zealand First and the Green Party are campaigning on breaking up the country's four gentailers, citing soaring household energy bills. Malcolm Johns, the CEO of gentailer Genesis Energy, joins Q+A, and previews the potential effects on bills if the government goes ahead with its promised LNG terminal. Election 2026: The new electorate that's 'got issues' Wellington Bays is the new name for what was the second-most left-voting electorate in the country in 2023. In the redrawn lines for Green MP Julie Anne Genter's electorate, residents are grappling with big water bills and a visible spike in homelessness. Reporter Whena Owen meets the candidates vying to take those issues on in parliament in this year's election. War in Iran: NZ must reset foreign policy - expert By some estimates, the war with Iran has now cost the United States more than 180 billion dollars. After peace talks broke down, US President Donald Trump this week announced a complete change in strategy: economic, rather than military, action. Professor Robert Patman from the University of Otago joins Jack Tame six months on from the start of the conflict. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Over the last couple of weeks - there have been wildfires in places like Otago's Albert Town and Canterbury's Hurunui. So as we head into warmer, dryer seasons - what should we look out for and how can we prepare our properties? Tim Mitchell is National Wildfire Manager at Fire and Emergency NZ. He joins Susana on the show to share his advice. Check out more info here: https://www.checkitsalright.nz/reduce-your-risk

On today's Agenda Podcast, ACC Head G Lane and Tony Lyall are joined by Matt Heath for another prime opportunity for a celebrity death mana munch (00:00)... Next, the fellas jump straight into Matt Heath's F1 Corner and it could be the most in the racing weeds they've been (05:40)... The NPC is alive and well and Otago could be the team to beat (19:00), and why can't the All Blacks feed the beast and release the team earlier to give us something to talk about (28:20)? Finally, it's 'Yours Please' and a simple question about fighting your dad ends up in one of the wilder tangents about alleged activity between Noah and his son Ham (31:15)... Did you know that we've launched a new Facebook Group called 'The Caravan' JOIN HERE! Brought to you by Export Ultra! Follow The ACC on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok Subscribe to The Agenda Podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! iHeartRadio Apple Spotify YouTube THANKS MATE! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Otago mayors are heading back to the drawing board after National's change of heart over a bed tax. The Central Otago, Queenstown Lakes, and Otago Regional councils were on the cusp of signing a deal delivering critical initiatives – including exploring a bed tax. It's now off the table after the Government proposed replacing the bed tax, raising questions about its long-term plans. Central Otago Mayor Tamah Alley told Mike Hosking they're pretty gutted the deal they thought was good to go has been halted, but they're pretty confident there will still be a deal. She says they just have to be really clear on what their responsibilities and obligations would be under a new deal when they get to the point of signing something. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some of New Zealand's most serious runners are in Otago for the race, thought to be the country's longest ultramarathon. Organiser Jill Wolff spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss about the 320 kilometre race.

We don't think it'll come as any surprise that taking the stairs is good for your physical health ... but now researchers have found it benefits your mental health too. Professor Liana Machado from the University of Otago's Department of Psychology and Brain Health Research Centre joins Jesse to explain the hows and whys. [picture id="4L0KVK7_044_B47901602_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Influenza A is hitting the country hard right now .. some hospitals have set up dedicated flu wards and some elective surgery has been cancelled to deal with the influx of flu patients. Of course it is winter, viruses are super contagious and there's a cold snap so illness is to be expected to some degree, but are there steps you can take to ward off winter illnesses? And is taking Vitamin C one of them? University of Otago's Professor Margreet Vissers chats to Jesse. [picture id="4L744FG_diana_polekhina_GHp78jdvOZY_unsplash_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Back in 1993, a Dunedin farmer stumbled upon a sea lion mother nursing a pup near Taieri Mouth, and Mum - as the pup was named - is considered the founder of Otago's sea lion population. Fast forward and the city is teeming with sea lions, captured in a new documentary.

Dr. Saki is serving as the associate dean for the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Otago. He is involved in leadership roles, research on antimicrobial resistance, and advocating for more Pacific people to pursue post-grad and PhD studies. He emphasizes the importance of networking and supporting Pacific students in their research endeavors.TakeawaysLeadership in Biomedical SciencesResearch on Antimicrobial ResistanceChapters00:00 Leadership in Biomedical Sciences and Pacific Student Support03:08 Research on Antimicrobial Resistance and Pacific Community Impact13:47 Mentoring Pacific Students and Scholarships for Post-Grad Studies17:43 Collaborative Research and Advocacy for Pacific Communities

New Zealand's government is making big changes to its education system. The aim is to reverse declining student achievement and give more opportunities to disadvantaged children. The subjects of reading, writing, maths and science form the core of the new curriculum. But there are concerns particularly among the Indigenous community that the Māori language, culture and identity have not been considered as an integral part of the reforms. And that in the longer term, a lack of access to Indigenous teaching might have repercussions beyond the classroom, in wider society. This is not just an issue for New Zealand, decisions on heritage-based learning are of concern for Indigenous populations across the world. In Canada's public school system, whilst courses in Indigenous knowledge are not mandatory, there are concerted efforts to include Indigenous perspectives in the curriculum. In the province of Ontario, children from kindergarten age up to the age of 15 to 16, learn about their Indigenous communities. However, it's not the same story everywhere, so is Indigenous education at risk?(Photo: Six children sitting on the floor of a classroom with their backs facing the camera listening to their teacher, Auckland, New Zealand. Credit: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)Contributors: Dr Mere Skerrett, associate professor, school of education, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Dame Elizabeth Rata, professor of education and social practice, University of Auckland, New Zealand. Dr Lindsay Morcom, professor and Canada Research Chair in language revitalisation and decolonising education, faculty of education, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada Dr Liana MacDonald, associate professor of peace studies and co-director of The National Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Otago, New Zealand Presenter: Charmaine Cozier Producers: Evie Yabsley and Jill Collins Researcher: Amelia Cox Technical producer: Nathaniel Danter Production co-ordinator: Phoebe Lomas Production management assistant: Liam Morrey Editor: Tom Bigwood

This episode covers real-life horror far more extreme than usual, including a Russian professor arrested in 2011 for keeping the mummified corpses of 29 women and girls in his apartment, each one fitted with a hidden music box. It also includes the story of a 19th-century whiskey heir who paid six handkerchiefs for a 10-year-old girl so he could watch cannibals kill and eat her, and the theory that Alexander the Great was declared dead nearly a week before he actually died. Content is more graphic than usual, so listener discretion is advised.EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/necropolystREAD or DOWNLOAD the full transcript of this episode: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8e5emeCHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding00:00:47.354 = Show Open00:01:58.356 = Alexander the Great00:05:52.710 = The Ravenous Beast of Gévaudan00:09:41.943 = The Rape and Burial of Jessica Lunsford ***00:11:55.911 = The Dyatlov Pass Incident00:15:29.080 = The Torture Dungeon of Leonard Lake and Charles Ng00:19:10.197 = Robert The Doll00:23:08.785 = The Disappearance and Eerie Return of Bobby Dunbar ***00:26:33.271 = Albert Fish – The Brooklyn Vampire00:30:06.498 = The Strange Disappearance of the Sodder Children00:34:28.570 = Anatoly Moskvin, The Russian Who Mummified Dead Girls00:38:41.505 = The Jameson Whiskey Cannibal ***00:42:29.572 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakLISTEN ON PODCAST APPS: Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*SOURCES and RESOURCES:“Real-Life Horror Stories More Freaky Than Fiction” by Marco Margaritoff for AllThatsInteresting.com:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8p9c72(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.Originally aired: March 2022Weird Darkness this episode gathers real-life horror too extreme for scripted television, spanning from ancient Macedonia to the Congo basin and landing, along the way, in a Russian apartment stacked with mummified girls.It opens with Alexander the Great, who collapsed in Babylon in 323 B.C. after a 24-hour drinking binge triggered a sudden fever, a stabbing pain in his back, and creeping paralysis that eventually left him speechless; doctors pronounced him dead at 32. His body reportedly stayed "pure and fresh" for six days afterward, evidence ancient Greeks took as proof of his divinity. In 2019, Dr. Katherine Hall of New Zealand's University of Otago proposed in the Ancient History Bulletin that Alexander actually suffered from Guillain-Barré Syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that paralyzes the body while leaving the mind fully intact; since fourth-century-B.C. doctors checked for breath rather than a pulse, Hall's theory suggests Alexander may have been declared dead nearly a week before he actually died, and was buried alive.From there, the story moves to 18th-century France, where a wolf-like creature killed or mauled close to 300 people across three years in the Gévaudan region, most of them women and children. Fourteen-year-old shepherdess Jeanne Boulet was the first confirmed victim in 1764; a fifteen-year-old girl killed a month later survived long enough to describe her attacker as "a horrible beast". Militia leader Jean-Baptiste Duhamel organized a 30,000-strong hunting party, and King Louis XV eventually dispatched his own bodyguard, François Antoine, who killed a large wolf in September 1765; the attacks resumed within months regardless. A farmer named Jean Chastel is credited with killing the actual beast using silver bullets, reportedly after finding human remains inside its stomach.Next, the episode turns to the 2005 murder of nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford in Homosassa, Florida. Convicted sex offender John Evander Couey broke into her family's home, took her to his trailer, raped her over three days, sealed her inside garbage bags, and buried her alive in his yard while she still clutched a stuffed dolphin her father had won her at a state fair. Prosecutors later determined Jessica may have still been alive in the house during Couey's first police interview. Couey was convicted of first-degree murder and kidnapping in March 2007 and died on death row of natural causes in 2009.From Florida, the episode jumps to the Ural Mountains and the Dyatlov Pass incident of January 1959, when hiking leader Igor Dyatlov and eight fellow students from the Ural Polytechnic Institute died during an expedition toward Otorten Mountain. Investigators found their tent slashed open from the inside and shoeless footprints leading nearly a mile into the forest; the first bodies recovered, dressed only in underwear despite temperatures near negative 20 degrees Fahrenheit, were ruled hypothermia deaths. Two of the last four bodies found, Lyudmila Dubinina and Semyon Zolotaryov, were missing their eyeballs, Lyudmila was also missing her tongue, and both had clothing that tested positive for radioactivity. More than sixty years later, no single explanation, from avalanche to secret Soviet weapons testing, has been confirmed.The episode then moves to a cabin in California's Sierra Nevada foothills, where Leonard Lake and Charles Ng tortured and killed as many as 25 people between 1983 and 1985. Lake, a Vietnam veteran discharged for psychological reasons, built a cinderblock bunker behind a one-way mirror where he and Ng held women as sex slaves before killing them, dismembering the bodies, and dissolving the remains in acid; investigators eventually recovered twelve victims' remains along with roughly 40 pounds of charred bone. The pair was caught in June 1985 after Ng tried to shoplift a bench vise; Lake swallowed a cyanide capsule sewn into his jacket lining and died in custody before trial, while Ng was convicted of eleven murders in 1999 and remains on death row at San Quentin.Next comes Robert the Doll, manufactured by Germany's Steiff Company in 1904 and given to a Key West boy named Robert Eugene "Gene" Otto, who reportedly carried the doll everywhere and spoke of it in the first person. After Gene died in 1974, new owner Myrtle Reuter said the doll continued moving through her house with no explanation and eventually donated it to the Fort East Martello Museum, where curator Cori Convertito now oversees a steady stream of visitors who claim their cameras stop working in Robert's presence.From there, the episode circles back to 1912 Louisiana and the disappearance of four-year-old Bobby Dunbar from Swayze Lake. Eight months later, authorities found a boy matching his description traveling with a man named William Cantwell Walters, who insisted the child was Bruce Anderson, son of field hand Julia Anderson; the Dunbar family claimed the boy as their own anyway. It took until 2004, after years of research by Bobby's granddaughter Margaret Dunbar Cutwright, for a DNA test to prove the man raised as Bobby Dunbar shared no blood relation to the Dunbar family, meaning the real Bobby likely died in 1912 and the family had unknowingly raised Julia's son instead.The story turns next to Albert Fish, born in 1870 and later known as the Brooklyn Vampire, who spent decades torturing, killing, and cannibalizing children after enduring severe abuse in a New York orphanage as a boy. In 1928, posing as a farmer named Frank Howard, Fish lured ten-year-old Grace Budd away from her family and killed her; he wasn't identified until November 1934, when a letter he sent to Grace's mother describing the murder in graphic detail was traced back to him. Fish was executed in the electric chair at Sing Sing Prison on January 16th, 1936.Following that, the episode covers the unresolved 1945 Sodder children case in Fayetteville, West Virginia, where a Christmas Eve house fire killed, or apparently killed, five of George and Jennie Sodder's nine children. No bones were ever recovered from the wreckage despite a coroner attributing the deaths to the blaze, and the family spent decades chasing tips and alleged sightings after strangers had made ominous threats about the house burning down in the months before the fire. George and Jennie erected a billboard along Route 16 asking for information and died in 1968 and 1989, respectively, without ever learning their children's fate.From there, the story turns to Anatoly Moskvin, a Russian journalist and college professor fluent in thirteen languages who dubbed himself a "necropolyst" and visited 752 cemeteries around his hometown of Nizhny Novgorod. Moskvin was arrested in 2011 after police investigating the desecration of Muslim graves found him painting over photographs of the dead; a search of the apartment he shared with his parents turned up the mummified remains of 29 women and girls, dressed, made up with buttons for eyes, and fitted with music boxes inside their chests. Moskvin told investigators he dug up the bodies because he was lonely and confessed to 44 counts of abusing graves and corpses.The episode clos