Podcasts about South Island

Economic resilience is coming through from the regions, but people are still finding it hard to get a job. Infometrics' new report finds all 16 regional economies saw growth in the three months to June. Overall economic activity lifted 2.6% over the quarter. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Mike Hosking there is some employment growth across the South Island and a few areas in the North. However, Auckland's recovering slowly, and its unemployment rate of over 6% is contributing to the downbeat view. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The company behind the South Island's largest port has revealed an 800 million dollar upgrade plan it says will meet growing export demands and accommodate bigger ships Lyttelton Port Company's redevelopment involves an expansion of its container terminal and building a new deep-water wharf. But the union for port workers aren't happy, accusing company management of leaving them in the dark. Adam Burns reports

National is promising to invest in South Island's infrastructure, if re-elected. Southern Infrastructure CEO Ross Copland spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss

Govt to give councils power to recover costs of infrastructure; Weekly interview with Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon; Butchery bucks trend with good job prospects; National makes infrastructure pledge in South Island; New Children's Commissioner to focus on rural, disabled

The BYD ATTO 3 EVO has arrived, bringing faster charging, more range, improved performance and a refreshed design. But, can it still compete in an increasingly crowded EV market?Adrian and Riz also look at Mitsubishi's new ASX VR-e, based on the Foxtron Bria. Adrian has driven the Taiwan-market version that the Mitsubishi is based on.Plus:Riz visits New Zealand and gets to drive several current and upcoming Zeekr models on snow and ice in the South Island.Riz's week driving the Kia PV5 electric van.Tesla introduces vehicle-to-load capability on new Model Y models in the US.Listen to the latest EV Quest Podcast for the latest electric vehicle news and developments from New Zealand, Australia and around the world.Foxtron Bria video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEC9LHgKPaUEV Quest site: https://evquest.co.nz/

In case you missed it... Dom talks with Ben O'Carroll from Bocscan Ltd, about in-lamb results so far on the farms he scans for in the South Island. They also discuss feed levels, El Niño, becoming a new father, cycling and getting into the studio to record a few songs. 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.

Business people from across the South Island have met in Christchurch for the first South Island election conference to hear from politicians about their plans for the Mainland. They covered a range of topics from transport, productivity, infrastructure and immigration, with National announcing its election plan for the South Island. But the head of the Southland Chamber of Commerce said she still feels her region is badly overlooked and its potential underestimated. Rachel Graham has more.

Whether it's Woolworths' "Ooshies" or New World's Smeg knife promotion, many Kiwis are keeping these sought after items close. But down in the South Island there's one man who's built up a massive collection of his own and he's looking to the public to help him part ways with it. Producer Johnny Sutherland spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Viktoria De Dominicis left the rat race in Chicago a decade ago and now calls Queenstown home. She shares how a spur-of-the-moment first trip to India in her twenties opened up years of travelling through Southeast Asia and South America, before she landed in New Zealand and knew within a year that it was home. She talks about six years in Wellington, chasing the town-belt trails to a lookout where she could see the South Island, then moving south to Queenstown with her second baby on the way. From road trips through the Mackenzie to a Doubtful Sound cruise with her kids, Viktoria reflects on building community far from family, and why New Zealand can still make you feel like the only person for miles. Thank you so much for tuning in and coming along for the ride. If you love the show and enjoyed listening, please take the time to leave a review on Apple or Spotify. I would also love to connect with you, so send me a DM on Instagram, leave me a voice message and I can't wait to see you next time. Until then, keep adventuring :) Follow Viktoria on Instagram: instagram.com/viktoriawanders/Visit Viktoria's website: www.viktoriawanders.com/Read Viktoria's Substack: viktoriawanders.substack.com/ Follow Aotearoa Adventures on Instagram: instagram.com/aotearoa_adventures_/Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/

Ngai Tahu has unveiled a plan to reorganise the South Island's council boundaries, replacing the 24 councils within its rohe with five bigger ones aligned to major river catchments. Ngai Tahu kaiwhakahaere Justin Tipa spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss about the proposal.

There's concerns the economic powerhouse of the South Island will fail if the Government continues to under-invest in its transport network. New research commissioned by southern regional councils shows the South Island accounts for 22 percent of the economy. Despite having nearly a quarter of the population, it gets just 11 percent of transport funding. Otago Regional Councillor Kate Wilson says the economic drive of the country is at risk. "Our challenge is, now, to ask the Government to provide for the funding in a much fairer way. Because if we fail in the South Island, it won't be great for the North Island either." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, lawyer Liam Hehir and senior New Zealand Herald correspondent Katie Bradford joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Opportunity Party has surged well above the 5 percent threshold, potentially giving it a decisive role in forming the next Government. Was Luxon wrong to rule them out? What could the next couple of months look like? Is it wrong to be angry with Erica Stanford and Chris Bishop over the leadership challenge? Did Chris Penk have to go? What will this whole saga mean for National's political future? Do we need more transport funding for the South Island? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dom talks with Ben O'Carroll from Bocscan Ltd, about in-lamb results so far on the farms he scans for in the South Island. They also discuss feed levels, El Niño, becoming a new father, cycling and getting into the studio to record a few songs. 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.

With a quarter of the population living in the South Island, the region's economy is humming. But, some leaders say they should be getting more funding for roads. Timothy Brown reports.

New Zealand's elite snow sports scene is being recognised, with it set to host superstar Shaun White's latest competition. The Snow League is in its second season, and this year will see the introduction of the World Challenge – a first of its kind event hosted at Cardrona in the South Island. The event is made up of four teams of athletes from around the world —North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Challengers— and features a couple of Kiwis. Kiwi freeskier Fin Melville Ives is returning after an injury, hitting the slopes as a member of Team Challengers, and told Mike Hosking he's both excited and nervous, as it's set to be a crazy and intense event. He says the event managers plan on making it a regular stop on the tour, which is exciting, and will give us an opportunity to showcase the crazy level of talent coming from New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The uncertain economic environment could be the reason for climbing unemployment and declining job ads. The latest Seek data shows job ads fell 0.8 percent last month, the third consecutive month of decline. It suggests conditions remain strongest in the South Island, while centres like Auckland, Wellington, and Waikato face greater headwinds. Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold says the labour market has not emerged unscathed from the Iran war. "Perhaps at the start of the year, they were looking forward to a much better year, but business confidence really got buffeted around the last three or four months." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The uncertain economic environment could be the reason for climbing unemployment and declining job ads. The latest Seek data shows job ads fell 0.8 percent last month, the third consecutive month of decline. It suggests conditions remain strongest in the South Island, while centres like Auckland, Wellington, and Waikato face greater headwinds. Westpac Chief Economist Kelly Eckhold says the labour market has not emerged unscathed from the Iran war. "Perhaps at the start of the year, they were looking forward to a much better year, but business confidence really got buffeted around the last three or four months." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's REX Daily Podcast, Dom talks with NZ First candidate and former All Black captain Taine Randell about why he's decided to turn his hand to politics, his views and experience in the primary industries sector and his thoughts on the All Blacks first two matches on their current tour of South Africa... And he talks with Ben O'Carroll from Bocscan Ltd, about in-lamb results so far on the farms he scans for in the South Island. They also discuss feed levels, El Niño, becoming a new father, cycling and getting into the studio to record a few songs. 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.

Send us a question/idea/opinion direct via text message!New Zealand's unemployment rate rose to 5.6% in Q2 2026 - the highest level in over a decade. However, beneath the headline number lies an encouraging trend for the residential property market: total employment actually expanded, meaning the unemployment jump was driven by an expanding labour force rather than mass job destruction.This week on the New Zealand Property Market Podcast, Head of Research Nick Goodall and Chief Economist Kelvin Davidson unpack the latest Q2 labour market data. They examine why insulated homeowner employment is keeping non-performing loans and mortgagee sales at near-record lows, alongside a striking North-South Island economic divide where North Island unemployment sits at 6.0% compared to just 3.7% in the South Island. The guys also break down Kelvin's latest analysis of Reserve Bank mortgage lending data. They cover why 50% to 60% of first-home buyers continue to secure low-deposit finance, the ongoing borrower shift toward two-year fixed mortgage terms, and why interest-only lending remains strictly controlled despite broader economic headwinds. This week we discuss:Q2 Labour Market Breakdown: Why 5.6% unemployment is driven by growing labour supply rather than job destruction. Housing Market Immunity: How steady employment among existing homeowners prevents non-performing loans and forced sales. Regional Labour Disparities: The North Island (6.0%) versus South Island (3.7%) unemployment divide, led by Northland (8.8%) and Auckland (6.5%). Reserve Bank Lending Trends: Key takeaways from mortgage data, including active refinancing and low interest-only volumes. Mortgage Term Shifts: Why borrowers are increasingly locking in two-year fixed rates as interest rate insurance. September 2nd OCR Runway: How subdued wage growth (2.0%) impacts Reserve Bank inflation expectations ahead of the upcoming OCR statement. 

This week TSR goes international! We're headed to the South Island of New Zealand, a true bucket list motorcycle destination. Davin, Sanna, and Staci dive into what makes riding in New Zealand so incredible, from winding two-lane roads and single-lane bridges to snow-capped mountains, turquoise lakes, and some ridiculous scenery around every corner.  They also talk about renting motorcycles in New Zealand, the best time of year to visit, driving on the left, the NZeTA, riding gear import rules, and more trip planning trips.

Send us Fan MailNikau Point Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024A tasty Sauv Blanc from a family-owned, independent producer.Nikau Point is a beach on the North Island, and Marlborough produces 2/3 of New Zealand's wine from the NorthEast corner of the South Island.This is a tasty, balanced, inexpensive Sauvignon Blanc that drinks beyond its price tag.Not spiky or grassy, but bright and juicy.An excellent summer sipper at a nice price.Check us out at www.cheapwinefinder.comor email us at podcast@cheapwinefinder.com

Data centres are not a new phenomenon, but hyperscale AI data centres? Well, that's a whole other conversation. There are currently no AI hyperscale data centres in New Zealand, but that looks to change with plans already approved to build one in the South Island. Not everyone's happy about it, including the Greens who have called for one-year moratorium on consenting new AI data centres. Today on The Front Page, University of Auckland AI expert Dr Kerry McInerney joins Chelsea to discuss how big data became such a big deal. Host: Chelsea Daniels Editor/Producer: Richard Martin Executive Producer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do hand-drawn sketches help architects win clients? In this episode, Hamish Muir of Mason & Wales Architects explains how "messy" sketches foster vulnerability and empathy, allowing clients to feel more engaged in the design process than they do with rigid CAD renders.Discover the strategic benefits of working in scale and why traditional drawing boards remain a powerhouse in modern architectural firms. We dive deep into the design of Hawk's Nest House, exploring how to balance extreme South Island climates with a "resort-style" family legacy home. This session provides a masterclass on navigating client briefs, managing multi-generational needs, and the importance of "very good" architecture over outlandish design.⏩ EPISODE CHAPTERS:02:21 - Hamish Muir's journey: Growing up in an architect's life04:33 - The disconnect between architecture school and practice08:47 - The responsibility of siting a house: "Don't bugger it up"14:12 - Why young architects lose proportion by not working in scale25:12 - Keeping clients in the conceptual phase longer with pencil39:40 - The rising cost of what we build vs. the cost of building42:55 - Case Study: Hawk's Nest House & Lake Wakatipu design55:10 - Incorporating North American and Australian lifestyle cues01:03:51 - Designing for "everything to someone"01:12:03 - Join an Architectural Adventure with Adrian Ramsay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time for Mayoral minutes .. 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 Marlborough .. a stunning region located on the northeast corner of the South Island .. and that's from where Mayor Nadine Taylor joins Jesse.

In part two, with 10% of Creative NZ funding being awarded to South Island-based creatives, some believe a North Island bias is at play. Then, a river conservation group based in Geraldine is getting creative for their next fundraiser, by putting on a ceilidh.

South Island business leaders want to be recognised as the engine room of New Zealand's economy. The eight chambers of commerce have launched a joint manifesto, representing around seven thousand businesses. It calls for policies to lift productivity, with a goal of increasing South Island GDP per capita to at least $130 thousand by 2035. Business Canterbury CEO Leeann Watson told Mike Hosking it shows there's great alignment across the South Island. She says if New Zealand wants stronger productivity, higher incomes, and greater resilience, backing the South Island is the smartest investment. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jack and Cal return to the world of leather, kink, and fetish title competitions through Cal’s journey as Mr. Australian Leather, including his visit to Auckland for the inaugural MX Gear New Zealand title. We hear from contestants including a 74-year-old trans man finding his second wind in community, a South Island pup advocating for trans rights, and a self-proclaimed “comedy queen” channelling Princess Margaret on their path to the title. The conversation unpacks how these titles serve as platforms for sexual health advocacy, community building, and solidarity at a time when queer infrastructure is under pressure globally. Chapters 00:00 – Intro and Cal’s sash queen revelation 02:02 – Cal’s history in Melbourne leather community 02:55 – Origins of leather title competitions 03:37 – Evolution toward inclusive mixed gear titles 05:08 – Cal wins Mr Australian Leather title 06:21 – Inside look at leather community gatherings 10:53 – Titleholders as advocates and community leaders 13:10 – What judges look for in competitions 20:53 – Luca 74 year old trans man competes 28:44 – Chief represents South Island at competition 34:16 – Robbie Abundance wins inaugural Mix Gear title 44:18 – Producer Sean on launching the event All chapter timecodes are approximate. Want more Well Well Well? Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell. If there's something you'd like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at wellwellwell@joy.org.au Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org. Produced by: Jack Crnjanin & Caleb Hawk

Erin Harrington says the arts funding system isn't working and has been getting worse for 20 years.

Tesla's self-driving Cybercab has been spotted on the roads of the South Island. Photos shared to the Rare and Unique Car Spotting New Zealand Facebook group show one of Tesla's gold Cybercabs travelling along Cardrona Valley Road, with reports confirming the vehicles are cold-weather testing. FutureCentre.nz founder Melissa Clark-Reynolds says Tesla's playing catch-up to robotaxi competitor Waymo. "They're deployed on the roads in the States, particularly San Francisco and a few other cities, and they're driverless. Weirdly, American regulations require them to have a steering wheel, but no one has to sit in the drivers' seat." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Life is full of turmoil and often, often that turmoil breads fear in our hearts. And instead of stopping, we just kind of – go with the fear. Well it's time to stop and know that God is God.   Our Refuge and Strength This week is the third message in a series of programmes that I have called "Do Not Be Afraid". Fear is an incredibly powerful force – for two reasons. Firstly it is a natural response when something happens to threaten us or our loved ones or our possessions, fear grips us. In a sense, it's a human response. But the more we go through that; the more we experience fear, the more – for many people – they learn the habit of fear. In other words, fear becomes more and more the normal response. There is an alternative of course; to learn how to deal with fear; to master fear with each new experience. But most people instead of growing through fearful experiences, actually, they go down and down and down into a bondage of fear and life is full of fear and worry. So many people spend so much of their lives worrying about this, that or the other. Do you think I am over estimating, do you? Do you think I am overstating the problem perhaps? Recently, during the global economic crisis, it was interesting to watch how it was reported – even the TV reporters and the newspaper reporters were fearful. You could see it in their faces on TV – you could hear it in voices on the radio – you could see it in the headlines on the front page of the newspaper – "THE WORST GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS IN DECADES". "BANKS ON THE BRINK". "GOVERNMENTS SHORE UP BANKS". Sure, it was international; the banks were at risk, but here in Australia at least, we were blessed by a very solid banking system, but if you listen to the media and the government and the banks, oh, it was terrible and they needed to be propped up. And the more they reported fearfully, the more fearful we all became and the worse the world economy became. See, fear is a downward spiral; fear is about a loss of confidence. On the TV news, one well known crisis counselling service reported a dramatic increase in the numbers of people experiencing not only stress, but in fact, mental illness through the fear of losing their homes – up from just a handful each year to several hundred per week. Now we generally don't cope well with fear. When we are afraid we start thinking irrationally. Fear truly grips us – we see all the fearful things and let our imaginations run away with those and we forget to take stock of our assets – the things that we actually have; the things that are on our side. And so what these four programmes are about, in this series "Do Not Be Afraid", is kind of giving us an opportunity by looking at what God says in His Word, an opportunity to relearn our response to fear. So what we have to do, instead of resorting to panic, resting in the sovereignty of God. And so today, I just want to look at one Psalm, Psalm 46 which is all about that very thing. Let's read just the first few verses together: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change; though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam; though the mountains tremble with its tumult. That's a good start! God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in time of trouble. And really it's only in time of trouble that we are afraid. It's only in those disastrous times that we are gripped with fear and doom and gloom; when the world is against us; when people are against us; when the economy is against us. And now look at the picture that the Psalmist paints – I want you to understand something about the Hebrew culture which is the culture that the Psalmist was writing into – they love picture language, and this language evokes real emotion. Psalm 46, verses 2 and 3: Though the earth should change; though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam; though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Ever been in an earthquake? I have, just a small one, actually it was some years ago now when my wife Jacqui and I were on our honeymoon on the South Island of New Zealand – one of the most beautiful and picturesque places on the planet – truly – and we were staying at a Bed and Breakfast on a sheep farm. We were having breakfast in this old country kitchen with a few other couples in this beautiful place – big old blue and white plates on display on the sideboard and the bacon and eggs was cooking away and you looked out the window and there were green fields and white sheep and snow capped mountains in the background. It was all good – life couldn't have been better – we didn't have a care in the world. Then all of a sudden the ground shook – man did it shake – there was this immediate sense of panic. And that's the picture the Psalmist is painting here: Though the earth should change; the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; the waters roar and foam; the mountains tremble with tumult. See, the Hebrews; they weren't a seafaring nation. The notion of foaming waters and mountains falling into the ocean was absolutely horrific to them. And it's when our life gets shaken to the core like that that fear grips us. It's not until then that we have a deep need to hear God's Word in our hearts – "Do not be afraid." When we look like losing our homes in a financial crisis, we are shaken to the core. When a loved one is dying, we are shaken to the core. When we discover that the child we love is addicted to drugs or injured in an accident or ... or whatever it is – when the mountains collapse into the roaring, foaming sea and the earth beneath our very feet shakes, then … then we need something – then we need an antidote to our fear. Listen to these few verses again. Listen, let the words sink in: "There is a river", verse 4, Psalm 46: There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of that city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns. The nations are in uproar, the kingdoms totter; He utters His voice and the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. See, this is the solution to the problem – God is our refuge; God is our strength; God is our very present help in time of trouble. In other words, He is right here … right here when we need Him – no "ifs", no "buts" – right here. The problem is we can find that so hard to believe – it's so counter intuitive – it's so impossible. How can God possibly … possibly make a difference in the middle of my fear? Well!   Gladness in the City of God In the days when this Psalm was written, nations often invaded other nations – it's just the way it was. And of course, little has changed in this world. There are still somewhere between forty and fifty wars raging in this world today – here and now. I just had an email from one of our staff in Africa who is having difficulties getting the programme CDs through to a couple of new stations who want to air them, because of the fighting that is going on around in those areas. Back when this Psalm was written, what the people did was they fortified their cities. They built walls around them to protect them from invading armies. They built defences and towers so the cities were safe. And they were often sited strategically on hilltops or with natural obstacles around to make them much harder to attack. In fact those walls were often so strong that they were impenetrable and so armies who wanted to attack them would lay siege to them. Sieges could last weeks, months, years – the idea was to starve them out of that impenetrable citadel. We read about one such siege – if you have a Bible, open it at Second Kings in the Old Testament, chapter 6, verse 25. Let's just read about a siege for a moment. As the siege continued, famine in Samaria became so great that a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver and one forth of a kab of dove's dung for five shekels of silver. Now as the King of Israel was walking on the city wall, a woman cried out to him, "Help, my lord King!" He said, "No! Let the Lord help you. How can I help you - from the threshing floor or from the wine press?" But then the King asked her, "What is your complaint?" She answered, "This woman said to me, "Give up your son; we will eat him today and we will eat my son tomorrow." So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, "Give up your son and we will eat him," but she has hidden her son." When the King heard the words of the woman, he tore at his clothes. Desperate stuff, isn't it? Can you imagine mothers eating their children and the King has no hope? And you see, when there is an army ready to strike you down; when we feel like we are under siege, as these people of Samaria were in their citadel, it's not enough to have a safe place to flee. We need to have food and water and joy and peace in that place. You see these Samarians were under siege – they were in a safe place but they were dying of starvation – they had no hope, no joy, no peace. So many people in fear – they retreat to what they think is a safe place; they think it is – they cut other people off, they withdraw, they build defences, they close off the rest of the world and yet this is such a miserable, fearful place. People live for years under siege of fear like that and it ruins their lives. So come the next four verses of this Psalm. We looked at them earlier; we are going to look at them again now. They tell us about a place of refuge and strength that is quite different. Have a listen again. Psalm 46, beginning at verse 4 – remember the Psalmist just talked about the mountains falling into the sea and the seas foaming and this fearful thing happening. Have a listen to his answer again. But … There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God; the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of that city and it shall not be moved. God will help it when the morning dawns. The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; He utters His voice, and the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. See, this city … this citadel, is not just safe but it is glad: "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God." A citadel, God's protection but also God's blessing in that place. Rivers of holy water – something Jesus talked about in John chapter 7, verse 38, the Holy Spirit flowing into us and out of us. Here, God talks about His River, of His Spirit and His joy and His peace flowing into our place of refuge when we take refuge in Him. It's not only safe but glad because God Himself is in the midst of that city; in the midst of this place and it shall not be moved. It is rock solid! Psalm 46, verse 1 says: God is our refuge and our strength; a very present help in trouble. You know something? The worst time when we are afraid is night time – have you ever noticed that - the sleepless nights – tossing and turning and things churning around in our minds and descending into this dark pit of fear, deeper, deeper into the abyss of fear? And that's why, here in verse 5: God will help when the morning dawns. You know that sick feeling of fear in our stomachs; when we are petrified of what will happen to us? This isn't just for fruit cakes or losers or people who will never succeed – this is for all of us – we all go through times of fear and God wants us to hear His Words: "Do not be afraid". There is such a sharp contrasting picture here – between the mountains collapsing into a roaring fearsome sea; between the earthshaking and on the other hand this rock solid city … this city of God into which flows the river of God's gladness in which God Himself dwells with us. "The nations are in an uproar; the kingdoms are tottering but He utters His voice and the earth melts. The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge." The nations may well be in an uproar; there may well be wars raging; the world economic system may well be in meltdown but when God speaks the earth melts – God is with us; He is our refuge. How does God speak? Through His Word! When is God speaking? Right now! God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, the mountains tremble with its tumult. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of the city and it shall not be moved. God will help it when the morning dawns. The nations are in uproar, the kingdoms totter; He utters His voice and the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Problem is how do we believe that? How do we get a handle of that? How do we experience that? How can we dwell in that city of safety and gladness – come on – how?   Be Still Let me ask you that same question again. The question is: how do we believe in this city of gladness? How do we get a handle on that? How do we experience that? Well, God give us the answer in the last four verses of this Psalm. Let's take a look together: Psalm 46, verses 8 to 11: Come, behold the works of the Lord; see what desolations He has brought on the earth. He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; He burns the shields with fire. "Be still and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations; I am exalted in the earth." The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge When it comes to fear, we have short memories. We go through something scary and God shows up and somehow it all works out fine. Perhaps we remember to say "Thank You, God", often we don't. And then things calm down again. They go along just brilliantly for a while and then the next storm hits and it's raging and we are afraid and fearful and life's a mess and we are running around like chooks with their heads cut off and we are living through some excruciatingly debilitating, immobilising fear – fear that comes when the ground moves beneath our feet. And we forget … we forget to look back and remember all the times that God showed up and brought us through those storms before. And even if we don't have many of those to look back on; let's say, worse case, we have none of those to look back on – let's assume that you and I have just, this moment, come to faith in Jesus Christ – just this moment put our lives in His hands – we've not experienced enough to look back on where we know that He showed up, without doubt, but He stepped in and saved us. We forget to look back on the God of the Bible and see how many times He stepped in to help His people. We do! It's what He does! And that's what the Psalmist is reminding us here in these words: Psalm 46, verses 8 and 9: Come, behold the works of the Lord and see what desolations He has brought on the earth. He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear and burns the shields with fire. God is saying, "Don't you realise that this is what I do? I protect My people. I make sure that it all works out. Get a handle on this!" "But God, how ... how can I get a handle on this? You don't understand; I've got all this pain happening. I've got all this fear happening. People are after me – my finances are in a mess. My loved ones are sick. My emotions are on a rollercoaster. The mountains are falling into the sea. The sea is angry and foaming and the ground is shaking and the nations are raging ... how do I get a handle on this?" Here's the answer, right here in God's Word – listen to it, remember it, let the Spirit of God write it on your heart. Psalm 46, verse 10: Be still and know that I am God! For I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth. It sounds so simple, "Be still and just know." But you know something? When we are afraid often the last thing we do is get still before God. Even when we are praying, we rant on and we don't shut up for long enough to hear Him speak - over and over and over again, I have had to learn this one. I'm like you – this doesn't come naturally. It is something I have had to learn – when I am travelling through fearful places and situations and times, more than ever, those are the times to take the time to get still before the Lord. Not just once, not just twice ... every morning; every time fear grips our hearts – just to draw away for a few minutes and just rest and say, "Lord, just speak to me – just witness Your Spirit to me. Just give me your peace. Lord, I'm here, I'm afraid, I just need to get still before You." I want to open a few simple passages … passages that God put there to write His faith into our hearts. We are going at these passages a whole bunch more next week on the programme. This particular Psalm is a favourite of mine – I come back to Psalm 46 again and again when I'm in one of those places of fear and turmoil. But listen to Philippians chapter 4, verse 13: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Romans chapter 8, verse 31: For if God is for us, who can be against us? Now when we just get still before God, those two verses are so short, even I can memorise them. Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Romans chapter 8, verse 31: If God is for us, who can be against us? When we get still before God and we let those two Scriptures ring out in our heart, watch out devil; watch out fear because they are going to go away. When we just get still and focus on God and wait, day after day, wait! Because of what Psalm 46 tells me is the reality of God's gladness and His power and His protection – that He is so far above my circumstances. What Philippians chapter 4 tells me – that I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. What Romans chapter 8, verse 31 tells me – that if God is for me, who can be against me? See, God's Word promises us this! And then, it tells me just to sit still and wait and you know what happens when I do that? I experience the confidence that I need to make it through – not self-confidence, God confidence. I get a handle of the great unseen reality – God Himself – His power flows into me and through me. His peace guards my heart and mind and all of a sudden the panic goes away. All of a sudden the fear is replaced with faith. All of a sudden I have the clarity to think through the problem and to face realities and to do what I have to do and to trust in God for the things that I can't do. Let me tell you, ten minutes later – half an hour later, half a day later – the panic wants to come back; the fear wants to come back and when they come knocking on the door of my heart, I get still with God again – I go back to Him again. I wait on Him, expecting and waiting – that's what it means to live in that city and to drink of the streams of that river that make glad the city of God. We need to drink … drink Him in; His presence; His Spirit; His Word and then a peace that surpasses all understanding, guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Be still and know that I am God.

A strong and shallow earthquake jolted the central North Island at 4.51am, around five kilometres southwest of Taumarunui, Measuring 5.9, and only nine kilometres deep, the intensity was severe - felt as far as Auckland, right down to the top of the South Island. Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton joins MIhi.

Roading crews and emergency vehicles are assessing the damage following a shallow earthquake in the central North Island this morning. The 5.9 magnitude struck south of Taumaranui just before 5am, and was felt by more than 20,000 people, some in the South Island. The Manawatū-Whanganui Emergency Management Group says minor slips have been reported in the area, and motorists should take care while driving. Kevin Milne felt the quake this morning, and he joined Jack Tame to discuss the experience. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Six thousands toy cars are set to be sold over three days by a Dunedin auction house. All the toy vehicles come from private South Island collectors. Among them, an Invercargill man in his 90s who died recently after spending decades amassing match box cars. Ronnie Proctor from Proctor Auctions in Dunedin spoke to Lisa Owen.

Parts of the Grey District in the South Island were flooded in an overnight thunderstorm. Fire and Emergency crews responded to about half-a-dozen homes in Greymouth, Cobden, Brunner and Runanga. The flooding also forced the closure of State Highway 7 between Greymouth and Stillwater. Grey District Mayor Tania Gibson spoke to John Campbell.

This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Denise Martin, founder of BEO Science, for an engaging conversation about building science, Passive House design, and why healthier buildings begin with understanding the invisible forces that shape them. Drawing on her experience in Germany and New Zealand, Denise explains how air tightness, ventilation, moisture control, and energy modeling work together to create buildings that are not only more efficient, but significantly healthier and more comfortable for the people inside them.The discussion explores everything from blower door testing and thermal bridge analysis to condensation modeling, indoor air quality, overheating, and the growing importance of ventilation in modern buildings. Denise also shares why airtight buildings are often misunderstood, how poor moisture management contributes to mold and respiratory illness, and why occupant comfort can—and should—be measured just as rigorously as energy performance.It's a fascinating look at the science behind truly high-performing buildings and a reminder that the healthiest spaces aren't defined by the materials we can see—they're defined by the invisible systems that allow people to breathe easier, live more comfortably, and thrive every day.More About Denise MartinDenise Martin is a consulting Building Analyst in the residential and commercial building sectors of New Zealand and Australia and the founder of BEO Ltd. Her work spans energy efficiency and building performance modelling, hygrothermal detail analysis using WUFI, isothermal detail analysis (Flixo), and building envelope permeability testing (blower door). Denise is an Accredited Passive House Certifier, an ATTMA tester and training provider (blowerdoor).Notable projects NZ's first Passive House (Glendowie, Auckland): blower door testing support through certification.South Island's first Passive House (Wānaka): airtightness verification and performance support.Bader Ventura (Kāinga Ora): Passive House multi-residential housing support (airtightness/performance verification as required).Wellington City Library (renovation): large-scale airtightness testing, including New Zealand's first multi-fan test on a major public building.…and many projects in between: residential and commercial buildings across New Zealand and Australia, focused on comfort, moisture safety, and verified performance.CONTACT:beoscience.com https://www.youtube.com/@beo_buildingscience https://www.linkedin.com/company/beo-building-envelope-optimisation https://www.instagram.com/beo_buildingscience/ https://www.facebook.com/BEObuildingscience Where To Find Us:https://bbfhpod.advancedglazings.com/www.advancedglazings.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/better-buildings-for-humans-podcastwww.linkedin.com/in/advanced-glazings-ltd-848b4625https://twitter.com/bbfhpodhttps://twitter.com/Solera_Daylighthttps://www.instagram.com/bbfhpod/https://www.instagram.com/advancedglazingsltdhttps://www.facebook.com/AdvancedGlazingsltd

The latest news including a Dubai-based consortium emerging as the group behind a big to run Lyttleton Port.

Lyttelton locals are worried the South Island's largest port may fall into the hands of an overseas company. Gerard Loader, a stevedore at the port for 15 years and is the local secretary for the Maritime Union of NZ, spoke to John Campbell.

The National Emergency Management Agency will investigate why the Civil Defence website crashed following last night's magnitude 5.9 earthquake in Southland. The site was down for several hours after the quake, which prompted a brief tsunami evacuation order for parts of the south-west of the South Island. Keiller MacDuff reports.

South Island wildlife tourism businesses say they're not panicking, but they are prepared for bird flu to spread. A second case of the deadly H5N1 strain has been confirmed in the North Island. One Dunedin operator is worried bird flu could wipe out one of the country's taonga species that is already on the brink. Tourism reporter Tess Brunton has more.

The much-loved actor Sam Neill had an unusual path into acting. Raised in New Zealand as a shy boy with a stutter named Nigel, he was 30 when he got his big break (R) Sam, who has died at the age of 78, was an acclaimed actor, a winemaker, an author, a cancer survivor and a Dad to four children. In recent years he had cared for cows, pigs, ducks and horses on his farm in New Zealand while making Pinot Noir.In his remarkable career as an actor he starred in more than 100 films including Jurassic Park, My Brilliant Career, and The Piano.A few years ago, stuck in Sydney while undergoing treatment for cancer, Sam found himself with a lot of time on his hands to reflect on his eclectic life.Sarah spoke to him in 2023 after the release of his quirky, funny and life-affirming memoir.Further information:Did I Ever Tell You This is published by Text

The pet food industry is also likely to be impacted if H5N1 bird flu strain makes it into poultry flock meanwhile the South Island's gateway to the world - Lyttelton Port - might get a new manager. The rural news with Gianina Schwanecke.

An overseas proposal to take-over running the largest port in the South Island is causing concern for some locals. Rural reporter Monique Steele reports.

Class A drug use is soaring in New Zealand. The Drug Detection Agency's latest workplace testing results show amphetamines are increasingly showing up, making up 32.7% of positive results nationwide – rising to 44% in Southland. The use of cocaine specifically is also increasing, with positive tests up 68.5% year on year and a 375.8% increase in Canterbury. Chief Executive Glenn Dobson told Mike Hosking that cocaine use on a global scale is up massively, with stats from Australia and the United States showing a similar picture. He says the significant increase in the South Island shows the supply is potentially fluid – suppliers moving around the country more than they have in the past. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Podcast is going back to South Island, New Zealand.Big fan of when you stumble on a winery you have never heard of and end up loving the wine and the story.Meet Steve Farquharson the Co-Owner of Wooing Tree Vineyard located in Central Otago.Steve went from IT to wine, Wooing Tree is woven within a community in Cromwell and his award winning line of wines go from Blondies to Beetle Juice.Bad a blast with this unexpected discovery. 

It's been a tough week for many of you in the South Island coping with the effects of flooding, closed roads and damaged infrastructure. For those not affected it can be hard looking on and not knowing how to help. Although that's not a problem for our next guest. Gagan Singh who owns Pizza Hut franchises in Mosgiel, dished out more than 200 free pizzas to flood-stricken Mosgiel residents. He chats to Emile. [picture id="4JLRGJP_Mosgiel_Volunteer_Fire_Brigade_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

RNZ journalist Keiller MacDuff and MetService meteorologist John Law with the latest on severe weather across the country.

Emergency services, including a specialist water rescue team, spent more than three hours freeing a driver trapped in his car, in rising flood waters near Lyford. Team Leader of Fire and Emergency's Specialist Water Rescue Team in Kaikoura, Hamiora Taite spoke to Lisa Owen.

The World Meteorological Organisation has found 2025 was the 2nd-warmest year on record for the South-West Pacific. The higher temperatures came with increased rainfall, marine heatwaves, and sea level rise - and below average amounts of snow on South Island mountains. Professor Nicolas Cullen is a climate scientist at Otago University, he joins Emile. [picture id="4JM7MWX_snow_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

Waitaki locals are cleaning up the mess after being battered by heavy rain overnight. The Waitaki District Council declared a state of emergency early this morning as stormwater and wastewater systems were overwhelmed. Firefighters tried to pump water from the area but at least nine homes and six businesses have been flooded and more will possibly be added to that list. South Island correspondent Timothy Brown reports.

With school holidays on the horizon, South Island ski fields are watching the temperatures and a forecast dump of snow. Warm, dry weather has been keeping it away, causing ski fields to delay their openings. But nearby businesses say some recent falls have padded the slopes and they're preparing for a flurry of visitors from this weekend. Tourism reporter Tess Brunton has more.