Podcasts about South Island

My husband has been a big game hunter in British Columbia and Hawaii for decades.  We eat what he kills.  For as long as I've known Mike, he has always wanted to hunt for New Zealand red stag with his bow.  We have checked that box.  Today's episode is all about the location where this incredible hunt took place.  Gary Herbert's New Zealand Mountain Hunt, at South Island, New Zealand, was a once in a lifetime event.  His lodge staff, guides, and his incredible property are all part of the memory big game hunters like Mike drool over.  For me, it wasn't about the location or the animals or the food – all of which were amazing – it was about supporting Mike in achieving a bucket list item.  Join me as I walk you around the hunting lodge and talk to you about this incredible experience. 

NCAA Flag Football girl's inclusivity plan for a national championship, emu found wandering the streets of Louisiana, Colossal Biosciences developing technology to bring back the South Island giant moa, interval training, popular songs from when The Infomaniacs were 16 years old, alien species types, the pyramids in Egypt, interesting facts — plus the latest news and sports. 

A new week means new questions! Hope you have fun with these!Which actress is set to take on the role of Jessica Fletcher in a new Murder She Wrote film, which unfortunately probably won't premier on Halloween?In quantum mechanics, all subatomic particles are classified into two categories, both pulling name from physicists, name either of them.What was the first superhero movie to be nominated for Best Picture Academy Award?Located on New Zealand's South Island and currently 12km (7.5 miles) long, what is Franz Josef?In 2010, Roy Holladay became the second pitcher to throw a postseason no-hitter, pitching for which team?How many amendments are there to the Constitution?Which Welsh Singer tossed garters at his fans when he got his Hollywood walk of fame star?Rogan Josh (India), Souvlaki (Greece), Döner Kebab (Turkey), and Lancashire Hotpot (England), traditionally all contain what meat?What is the outer layer of a human cell called?The killer whale is part of what family?Which literary character is the ship's cook that led a mutiny on the Hispaniola?Leslie Scott invented jenga after learning about a game in what African country?Duke Weaselton in Zootopia, Gary in the new Superman, Heihei in Moana, and Valentino in Wish are all voiced by which actor?Who was the King of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War?What is the largest Roman archaelogical feature in Britain?MusicHot Swing, Fast Talkin, Bass Walker, Dances and Dames, Ambush by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Don't forget to follow us on social media:Patreon – patreon.com/quizbang – Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Check out our fun extras for patrons and help us keep this podcast going. We appreciate any level of support!Website – quizbangpod.com Check out our website, it will have all the links for social media that you need and while you're there, why not go to the contact us page and submit a question!Facebook – @quizbangpodcast – we post episode links and silly lego pictures to go with our trivia questions. Enjoy the silly picture and give your best guess, we will respond to your answer the next day to give everyone a chance to guess.Instagram – Quiz Quiz Bang Bang (quizquizbangbang), we post silly lego pictures to go with our trivia questions. Enjoy the silly picture and give your best guess, we will respond to your answer the next day to give everyone a chance to guess.Twitter – @quizbangpod We want to start a fun community for our fellow trivia lovers. If you hear/think of a fun or challenging trivia question, post it to our twitter feed and we will repost it so everyone can take a stab it. Come for the trivia – stay for the trivia.Ko-Fi – ko-fi.com/quizbangpod – Keep that sweet caffeine running through our body with a Ko-Fi, power us through a late night of fact checking and editing!Quiz, trivia, games, pub+trivia, pub+quiz, competition, education, comedy

New Christchurch flights are being hailed as a key step for global connectivity. From October, Air New Zealand will fly direct between Christchurch and Singapore, Tokyo and Perth. Christchurch Airport chief executive Justin Watson says Christchurch is in a really good place, and more people will want to experience the city. "People want to come and visit, they want to go to events, they want to see the place, they want to access the South Island - and so I'd say that's the primary draw card." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Christchurch flights are being hailed as a key step for global connectivity. From October, Air New Zealand will fly direct between Christchurch and Singapore, Tokyo and Perth. Christchurch Airport chief executive Justin Watson says Christchurch is in a really good place, and more people will want to experience the city. "People want to come and visit, they want to go to events, they want to see the place, they want to access the South Island - and so I'd say that's the primary draw card." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christchurch City Council is debating a major rewrite of the central city's noise rules after live music venue owners warned they were liable to be exposed to noise complaints. Some bars are limited to 45 decibels, which is about the same as the hum of a refrigerator. But with the City's new stadium, venues say they need less restrictions to make the most of the buzz. City Councillor Andrei Moore is campaigning for the removal of these noise limits, and he told Matt and Tyler that these restrictions are, 'a number of years behind.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In February last year I wrote a piece for the Herald about government department and ministerial overload. It was partly informed by observation and partly by New Zealand Initiative paper on the subject. Luxon's Government has 81 portfolios, significantly more than similar-sized countries and far more than most larger ones. Ireland, Norway, Singapore, and Finland all have fewer than 20. The UK, Canada, United States, and Korea have fewer than 30. Australia's population is five times larger than ours, but even they have almost half the number of portfolios. The number has shot up under MMP. Winston Peters got the reincarnated rail portfolio. Michael Wood got Auckland. James Meager got the South Island. Judith Collins got space. This has all got a bit out of hand. I argued then, as I argue now, there are too many reporting lines and departments designed to report into them. We have a plethora of related portfolios that get chopped up and spread out for no good reason; think universities, vocational education, and education. We have three portfolios for young people; children, child poverty reduction, and youth. Imagine if we had 15 Ministers with 15 portfolios. If you're health, you're health. If you're transport, you're transport - yes, that would include infrastructure. Nicola Willis last week hinted that change was coming; "Wait 'till you see the budget, I think you'll like what's in there". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"'Slow down and soak up the truly remarkable surroundings'. That simple tourist maxim has taken on new meaning in Queenstown, as the wellness wave washes over our premier resort town with unprecedented relish." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In case you missed it... Dom talks with Fred Thomas from Thomas Brothers about their fresh fruit export business, being the largest kiwifruit grower in the South Island and being part of seven generations of the Thomas family on the farm at Riwaka in the Tasman District. 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.

Synlait chief executive Richard Wyeth is leaving - after one year in the job. The South Island dairy processor's released an NZX market update, saying Leon Fung will be acting CEO, effective immediately. Wyeth will remain supporting the transition, until the end of June. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Synlait chief executive Richard Wyeth is leaving - after one year in the job. The South Island dairy processor's released an NZX market update, saying Leon Fung will be acting CEO, effective immediately. Wyeth will remain supporting the transition, until the end of June. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's REX Daily Podcast, Dom talks with Fred Thomas from Thomas Brothers about their fresh fruit export business, being the largest kiwifruit grower in the South Island and being part of seven generations of the Thomas family on the farm at Riwaka in the Tasman District... And he talks with Steve Chappell, Programme Manager for the New Zealand National Fieldays Society, about this year's Fieldays Innovation Awards, the range and mix of entrants for this year's awards and the evolution of the awards since they started alongside the inaugural Fieldays in 1968. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

Dom talks with Fred Thomas from Thomas Brothers about their fresh fruit export business, being the largest kiwifruit grower in the South Island and being part of seven generations of the Thomas family on the farm at Riwaka in the Tasman District. 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.

→ Need help sorting out the big picture of your upcoming New Zealand trip? Get my 1-on-1 support with my VACATION BLUEPRINT DESIGN service ← Throughout this New Zealand, Your Way series, the consistent advice has been to keep your itinerary simple and focus on one island. But if visiting both the North and South Island is truly what you want from your trip — this episode is your permission slip. It's your trip, and it's absolutely possible. On this episode, we're breaking down exactly how to get between the two islands, what each option actually looks and feels like on the ground, and what it's going to cost you — so you can weigh the decision clearly and make the right call for your trip. Because if both islands are on your itinerary, figuring out this crossing is one of the most important logistical anchors you'll need to sort out before anything else. Connect w/ Angela on Instagram   LISTEN BACK: Episode 201: My #1 Hack for Taking a Stress-Free Vacation Episode 230: The Perfect Pace for a Multi-Leg Trip Episode 286: Independent Travel Tips to Feel Confident Traveling Abroad

Megan Young is a UK-based ultra cyclist and bike packer from Dorset. She's raced the Atlas Mountain Race in Morocco as a pairs entry with her husband Angus, taken fastest female honours on the Dorset Divide, spent six months cycling through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile on sabbatical, and then finished that stretch with the Tour Te Waipounamu, a 1330km ultra race down the South Island of New Zealand. And right now she is  lining up for Lostdot 101, a women-only road race across Spain and Portugal where riders plan their own routes.In this episode we discuss:How Megan got into ultra racing and what it was like competing as a pairs team at the Atlas Mountain RaceThree months in the Andes: kit, food, altitude, wild camping, and choosing when to get a busMax, the stray dog in the mountains who became their guardian for a day and then vanished on the descentThe Tour Te Waipounamu: 30km of hike-a-bike, river crossings she'd never trained for, and a DNF 100km from the finish lineHer mindset heading into Lostdot 101, planning her own route, and racing with six friends from Girls That Ride BikesWild camping confidence, the earplugs trick, and what she learned from getting her food strategy badly wrong on her first ultraWomen in ultra racing, what's changed, and why communities like Girls That Ride Bikes are helping to get more women to the start lineYou can follow Megan via her instagram - @MeganOnTwoWheels Check out the Manzanita Cradle from Old Man Mountain Support the showBuy me a coffee!I'm an affiliate for a few brands I genuinely use and recommend including:

"No matter the season, the mesmerising lakeside setting of Wānaka is a supreme body of beauty. Clad in floor to ceiling windows, I was staying at Marina Terrace Apartments on Lakeside Road, waking up to the yolky dawn of a new day as the first rays of sunlight torched the sprawling sweep of Lombardy poplars strutting the western shoreline, beneath Roy's Peak. Gazing across to the gilded glory of the morning light show, it vividly underscored to me Wānaka's elemental brag-power as one of our greatest natural playgrounds. And it beats to a less frenetic tempo than the throb of Queenstown. Unsurprisingly, most of the locals look strikingly fit, lithe and active. I guess it becomes second nature – as does using the Mt. Iron loop track as your open-air gym." Read Mike's full article. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

→ Need help sorting out the big picture of your upcoming New Zealand trip? Get my 1-on-1 support with my VACATION BLUEPRINT DESIGN service ← New Zealand may not be the first destination that comes to mind for wine—but it's an incredible wine destination. And while wine might feel like a small part of a vacation unless you're a wine connoisseur, it's something you can quite literally bring home with you—and with just one taste, you're instantly transported back to New Zealand, long after your trip has come to an end. In this episode of the New Zealand, Your Way series, we're taking a practical, travel-focused look at what to know about New Zealand wine so you can experience it in a way that actually enhances your trip. We'll walk through the key wine regions across both the North and South Island, what makes each one distinct, and how to think about where wine fits into your overall itinerary—whether it's a dedicated experience or something you layer in along the way. Connect w/ Angela on Instagram LISTEN BACK: Episode 124: The 8 Travel Style Avatars // Which Are You? Episode 222: 5 Types of Luxury Travelers Episode 269: Your Travel Style, Solved + Trip Ideas for Every Season

fWotD Episode 3287: Katipō Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Tuesday, 5 May 2026, is Katipō.Katipō (pronounced kah-tih-PAW or KAH-tə-poh; Latrodectus katipo) is a species of cobweb spider found only in New Zealand. It is one of many species in the genus Latrodectus and is most closely related to the Australian redback (L. hasseltii). It is venomous to humans, its bite being capable of producing the toxic syndrome latrodectism; symptoms include extreme pain and, potentially, hypertension or seizure. Bites are rare and antivenom is available in some hospitals. The female is 8–10 millimetres (0.31–0.39 in) in length; the male is 4–5 millimetres (0.16–0.20 in). In the South Island and the lower half of the North Island, the female has a distinct red stripe bordered in white on its abdomen; in more northern populations this stripe is absent, pale, yellow, or replaced with cream-coloured blotches. These two forms were previously thought to be separate species. The male is white with black stripes and red hourglass-shaped markings.The katipō is mainly found living in sand dunes close to the seashore. It is found throughout most of coastal New Zealand except the far south and the West Coast. It feeds mainly on ground-dwelling insects, caught in an irregular tangled web spun among dune plants or other debris. After mating, the female katipō produces five or six egg sacs in November or December. The juveniles hatch after 20–25 days, and during January and February they disperse into surrounding plants. The common name is from Māori for "night stinger", which is derived from the words kakati (to sting) and pō (the night). Due to habitat loss, colonisation of their natural habitat by invasive spiders and hybridisation with L. hasseltii, the katipō is listed as "in serious decline" by the New Zealand Threat Classification System.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:42 UTC on Tuesday, 5 May 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Katipō on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Stephen.

So I was in Christchurch giving a speech to part of Local Government New Zealand - the South Island arm - so the room was full of mayors and councillors from across the South Island. One of the topics up for discussion was what councils around the country need to do, or could do, to win back public approval. I have to be honest: I left that room - and you know my views on councils - feeling just a little bit sorry for the councillors and mayors I met. The ones I spoke to seemed to be honestly trying. They admitted they've got more to do and that there are stupid costs they need to cut as well. But what they told me is that they're up against it. They're dealing with things they can't change: national laws like the RMA that tie their hands, and unelected staff who just go ahead and do their own thing. And sure enough, there's a story that illustrates at least some of that perfectly. Wellington City Council staff have spent $130,000 on new art for their flash new building - a building where they've hogged the top floors and shoved the mayor downstairs, where he's staring at a wall. Now, the thing is, they don't need art. They have no money and they're going hard on Wellington ratepayers. They do not need to be spending on art. They've already got an extensive collection they could draw from, which includes Colin McCahon, Toss Woollaston, Ralph Hotere, Dick Frizzell - Pablo Picasso, for goodness' sake.Judging by the criticism from elected councillors, it seems those councillors didn't even know the unelected staff were splashing out on fancy art. That's what these people are up against: bureaucrats who treat ratepayers like a bottomless ATM. That is a major problem. Now, I'm not making excuses for elected councillors or mayors - they have their own part to play in big spending. But some of them are genuinely trying. They're just up against decades of ingrained largesse like this. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Olympic paddler Luuka Jones-Yaxley's lined up an unexpected project after her success in Paris. Shortly after retiring from the high-performance canoe Slalom at the Paris Olympics, Luuka received a call and an offer to appear as Charlize Theron's stunt double in the Netflix film Apex. She says the offer felt like an 'April Fools joke' at first, but she was on a plane to the South Island to begin filming before she knew it. "I just received at text from a friend down in the South Island and he called me and said he's been doing a bunch of water safety on some films and that this film had approached him and they needs a kayak double for Charlize Theron - and it kind of went from there." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Tucked beneath the rugged Crown Range and richly wreathed in the charm of its gold-rush legacy, my abiding love-affair with Arrowtown is fully renewed with every visit. Long famed for its ravishing fall foliage, autumn's full flush is still on radiant display. The annual Arrowtown Autumn Festival celebrated its 40th anniversary a fortnight ago – no mean feat when so many events and cherished festivals around the country have struggled to continue. I happened to be in town for the tail end of the festivities. "This year's cooler temps have been a boon for leaf-peepers, because the cooler, crisp nights help trees retain their colourful leaves longer, while also producing even more vibrant hues. So even though it's now May, you can still feast on the flamboyantly coloured foliage if you hot foot it to Arrowtown in the next few weeks. The flaming colour palette moves like morning mist through the trees in the Arrow Valley: from mossy green and petal rose, to flaming copper and soft honey gold, all part of the unfolding medley." Read Mike's full article here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A rambling, meandering episode full of happenstance reminiscences that barely ties in to the Antarctic history thread of this series through an encounter with Antarctic novel author Evelyn and an interview with Cam Hawley about the restoration of the Beech Staggerwing carried south by the United States Antarctic Service Expedition.   Cam spoke to me in a hangar at Wanaka airport during the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow and the ambient sounds of Harvards and Strikemasters going about their skybound business outside offers a neat backdrop to our dialogue.  Photographs of the Antarctica connected airframes I encountered during my whirlwind South Island visit at the Wordpress site.  And some of the model Whirlwind Brian built and the model Hughes 500 I built during our evenings at his place. I don't often travel other than for work or family duties, so I loved every second of my time in Brian's company. No-one relying on me for data, consumables, or maritime services. No-one dying of cancer. A week well spent on every front.       

One New Zealand says a widespread internet outage this morning was caused by one of its technology partners. Ninety cell towers were taken down by technical problems - leaving some customers in the South Island and lower North without service or internet. The company says the outage began about 1:30 this morning and it took hours to be fully resolved. One NZ Chief Executive Jason Paris told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the issue was caused by a bug in one of their vendor's software. He says it tried to roll back the update it had made, but the bug didn't go away. The outage also affected 2 Degrees customers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rookies Review at Ruapuna Tony Whitlock looks at how Zac Bates and Rylan Gray found Ruapuna as these members of the 2026 rookie class handled the challenges of the South Island. From the race track to your device with Tony Whitlock on Inside Supercars Inside Supercars Podcast: Subscribe Apple Podcasts I Spotify I Google Podcasts Supported by: P1 Australia Link:P1 Australia MusicCreative Commons Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com MusicComa-Media from Pixabay #RepcoSC #TCRAust #Supercars #Motorsport #ADL500

Rookies Review at Ruapuna Tony Whitlock looks at how Zac Bates and Rylan Gray found Ruapuna as these members of the 2026 rookie class handled the challenges of the South Island. From the race track to your device with Tony Whitlock on Inside Supercars Inside Supercars Podcast: Subscribe Apple Podcasts I Spotify I Google Podcasts Supported by: P1 Australia Link:P1 Australia MusicCreative Commons Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com MusicComa-Media from Pixabay #RepcoSC #TCRAust #Supercars #Motorsport #ADL500

NSP:314 The Nordic Endeavour, NZ Tahr Hunts & Near-Blackout Lessons | Josh Halley Josh Halley of Souls Untapped is back on the Noob Spearo Podcast. He's a spearo, adventure filmmaker, and self-described chaos merchant from the Shetland Islands, Scotland — and this time he's got big news: he's rowing the entire coastline of Norway with an ex-Olympic rower, a freediving coach, and a fellow adventurer, spearfishing and cleaning up the ocean along the way. That's before we even get to the near-blackout in Bali, the 50kg dogtooth he deliberately left at depth in Papua New Guinea, and the mouthfill EQ technique that changed everything. Mix in a helicopter tahr hunt in the deep south of New Zealand, honest talk about ADHD and self-discovery, and some straight-up safety wisdom on float lines and reel guns with big fish — and this is one of those episodes you finish and immediately want to send to someone. KEY TOPICS COVERED: The Nordic Endeavour: rowing the full coast of Norway with Glen Sadler, Martin Helseth (ex-Norwegian Olympic rower and freediving coach), and Anders — July 12 departure ADHD and neurodivergence: Josh's experience of self-discovery through expeditions and why the ocean has been his best classroom New Zealand hunting: helicopter drop into the South Island for Himalayan tahr, camping in the rain, and a bull shot with a bow Near-blackout in Bali: what happened, why it happened, and how Josh had to completely relearn how to breathe The 100% framework: how tides, solo diving, thick wetsuits, cameras, and a floating boat all chip away at your safe dive capacity Mouthfill equalisation: the technique that finally unlocked diving below 20m Float line vs reel gun safety: real stories of lost gear and close calls with big kingfish and dogtooth tuna Papua New Guinea: tent living, ear infections, and the 50kg dogtooth Josh spotted — and chose not to chase CONNECT WITH JOSH: soulsuntapped.co.uk Instagram and YouTube: @soulsuntapped Nordic Endeavour Instagram: @nordic_endeavour_2026 BOOK MENTIONED: Scattered Minds by Gabor Mate UPCOMING TRIPS WITH NOOB SPEARO: 1770 Agnes Water Beginner Retreat (July SOLD OUT - Sep 7 Spots LEFT): spearfishingcourses.com.au/1770 Sail and Spear Whitsundays (August, 2 trips): spearfishingcourses.com.au/sailxspear PNG Intermediate+ with Tim McDonald (September 12-20): spearfishingcourses.com.au/png NOOB SPEARO: Spearfishing Courses and Retreats: spearfishingcourses.com.au Instagram: @noobspearo Website: noobspearo.com Newsletter: noob-spearo.kit.com/floater PARTNER DEALS: Adreno Spearfishing: spearfishing.com.au - use code NOOBSPEARO to save $20 on orders over $200 Neptonics: neptonics.com - use code NOOB10 to save 10% storewide Old Man Blue: oldmanblue.com.au - use code NOOBSPEARO for a free vinyl filleting apron on orders over $300 Aqualyte Hydration: aqualyte.com.au - use code NOOBSPEARO to save 10% Dog and Gun Coffee: dogandguncoffee.com - use code NOOB10 to save 10% HohnkeOutdoors: hohnkeoutdoors.com - use code NOOBSPEARO to save 20% Audio Engineering by Nick Santalucia

The food you see on the supermarket shelves doesn't end up there by accident. It's often been rigorously tested for likeability. This week on Our Changing World, Liz Garton finds out about the science behind those decisions, given that individual taste can be very varied. Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.Learn more:Export markets are a key consumer group. Look at who's eating our food with this story from RNZ's Farah Hancock.Our Changing World looked at how science can help pair foods with the School of Chemical Science at the University of AucklandFinding a Psa-V-tolerant golden kiwifruit was one of the success stories from the Consumer and Health sciences team. Claire Concannon looked at the ongoing efforts to prevent the disease from getting to the South Island. Guests:Christina Roigard, Science Team Leader – Sensory & Consumer Health, New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science LimitedDavid Jin, Scientist, Health and Consumer Science Team - New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science LimitedDr Roger Harker, Principal scientist - Health and Consumer Science Team - New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science LimitedGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Kathryn Graham and David Farrar. First up, the Government has pulled the funding from Sail GP event in Auckland next year. Auckland businesses are hopping mad, but the government says it didn't meet the criteria for funding. AUT sports professor Dr Mark Orams says Auckland's reputation will take a hit. Then, residents in the South Island town of Darfield are on tender hooks waiting to learn more about the fate of their local hospital. The 10 bed hospital stopped taking admissions last year due to a lack of doctors. Harvey Polglase, the chair of the Darfield Residents' Association, outlines the community's fears.

David talks to Susie about the impact of fuel prices on household budgets in North Canterbury, the local regional council calls for fairer transport funding for the South Island, the Hurunui and Kaikoura Mayors' Job Programme Taskforce punches above it's weight despite cutbacks and a Kaikoura waterfront proposal cops criticism.

New Zealand is overflowing with unforgettable experiences—but the real magic happens when you discover the activities that actually light you up, so your trip feels like more than just a checklist. In this episode of the New Zealand, Your Way series, we're taking a different approach to "things to do" in New Zealand. Instead of running through a long list of recommendations, we're breaking activities down by travel style—so you can focus on the experiences that will resonate with you the most. We'll walk through the four main excursions travel styles—active, sightseer, social, and introspective—and explore how each one shows up across both the North and South Island. From high-adrenaline adventures and iconic must-see landscapes to food, wine, and more relaxed experiences, all the way to quieter, more meaningful moments—you'll start to see which activities are actually worth prioritizing for your trip. Because the goal isn't to do everything. It's to do the right things—the ones that will make you fall in love with New Zealand and come home feeling like your trip was truly your own. Connect w/ Angela on Instagram LISTEN BACK: Episode 24: Learn Your Travel Style (Part 2): Excursions Episode 124: The 8 Travel Style Avatars // Which Are You? Episode 258: From Must-See to Meh: My Latest Thoughts on Sightseeing

An advertisement calling for an intellectually curious librarian or curator at a multi-million-dollar remote coastal estate in Golden Bay has sparked widespread interest. The job? To build and furnish an End of the World Library for Eva and Toni Piëch on their sprawling property overlooking the Whanganui Inlet. More specifically, the entrepreneurial couple, who will split their time between Europe and their South Island bolt hole, want a library that will help them survive if the world ends. Samantha Gee has more.

In 2010 the Psa-V bacterial disease was found in a Bay of Plenty kiwifruit orchard. This was the beginning of a terrible ordeal for many kiwifruit growers. It devastated crops, resulting in the loss of hundreds of jobs, and hundreds of millions of dollars. But though it spread to some other areas in the North Island, it never made it across the Cook Strait. Claire Concannon learns about the science behind keeping this microbe out of Te Waipounamu. Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.Learn more:The Plant and Food Research (today the Bioeconomy Science Institute) team who worked on science to help with the kiwifruit Psa crisis won the Prime Minister's Science Prize in 2017.In 2012 Alison Ballance reported on the hunt for resistance genes so kiwifruit plants could be more resilient in the face of this bacteria.As In-Depth reporter Farah Hancock detailed earlier this year, 95% of the kiwifruit grown here are actually exported - an earner of $4.5 billion in 2025.Guests:Falk KalamorzRebecca Manners, Bioeconomy Science InstituteDr Ed Morgan, Bioeconomy Science InstituteLeanne Stewart, Kiwifruit Vine HealthGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Michelle Watt talks to Mat Cullen the South Island Regional Head for Farm Source, about the Co-op returning capital to farmer shareholders, and the expansion of the organics programme to the South Island. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Residents of the Waitaki District in the South Island may face a 19 percent hike in rates. Officials say the proposed increase will costs ratepayers an average of about 13 dollars a week. Rachel Graham report.

Send Us A Message! Let us know what you think.While some commentators are calling the current New Zealand property market slow, we are actually seeing an incredibly exciting window of opportunity. In this episode of The Week in Review, Debbie Roberts breaks down the localized wealth booms, massive zoning changes in Auckland, and why high-net-worth foreign buyers are flooding the premium market.In this episode, we cover:The South Island Boom: While national property values only increased by 0.2% in March, wealth is highly localized right now. Invercargill jumped 1.7% for the month (up 7.1% year-on-year), and areas like Central Otago are hitting brand new all-time peak values.6 Years Post-COVID Reality: The latest QV House Price Index shows national home values are 21.6% higher than they were in March 2020. Christchurch values have skyrocketed 55% since pre-lockdown, while Wellington is sitting slightly lower than March 2020 levels.ANZ's Forecast Shift: With Auckland now accounting for 37% of New Zealand's housing inventory, ANZ has revised its 2026 house price predictions. We discuss why they shifted their forecast from a 5% increase to a potential 2% fall, and why this extends the buyer's market window.Auckland Plan Change 120: The government has mandated a new 1.4 million homes capacity floor for Auckland, allowing the council to downzone outer suburbs. However, 15-story zoning is locked in around the City Rail Link (like Maungawhau and Kingsland), legally protecting the development potential of transit-hub land.The Golden Visa Rush: Since the Active Investor Plus scheme changes on March 6th, foreign buyers froSupport the showDisclaimer: The information provided in this video is for educational purposes only and does not constitute personalized financial advice. We recommend seeking advice from a qualified professional before making any investment decisions.*Property Advice Group Limited trading as Property Apprentice has been granted a FULL Licence with the Financial Markets Authority of New Zealand. (FSP Number: FSP157564) Debbie Roberts | Financial Adviser (FSP221305) For our Public disclosure statement please go to our website or you may request a copy free of charge.

At the top of the South Island, in the heart of New Zealand's aquaculture and fishing industries, artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to provide better information about what's going on underwater. Scientists and engineers are working together to develop new tools that give marine farmers better metrics, in a bid to push growth in the sector. Samantha Gee has the story.

→ Need help sorting out the big picture of your upcoming New Zealand trip? Get my 1-on-1 support with my VACATION BLUEPRINT DESIGN service ← Planning a trip to New Zealand can feel overwhelming at first—because New Zealand is bigger than it seems, you can't see it all, and you have to narrow it down. Before you can even start building an itinerary, you have to answer one major question: should you focus on the North Island or the South Island? In this episode of the New Zealand, Your Way series, we're talking all about the South Island. I'm walking you through what this island is known for, the types of landscapes and experiences you can expect, and which travel styles tend to love it the most. But even if you decide that the South Island wins over the North Island, the next step is deciding  which regions you should visit. So I'm also talking you through the regions on the South Island and what makes each one unique, helping you start to narrow down what your South Island trip could look like—and which areas might deserve a spot on your itinerary.   Connect w/ Angela on Instagram   LISTEN BACK: Episode 124: The 8 Travel Style Avatars // Which Are You? Episode 151: The Timeline to Your Next Vacation Episode 288: New Zealand, Your Way // 4 Things to Know Before Planning a Trip

"Where are the small fish?" This is a question that routinely comes up when fly fishing for trout in areas of New Zealand. Mike Dawes joins up with Ben Hall and Sean Andrews, two highly experienced New Zealand trout guides, to share some of the highlights of a recent trip to the Taupō region of NZ's North Island. These guys discuss some of the characteristics of South Island and North Island fly fishing, the necessity of team work and strong wading, and the thrill of observing Ben maneuver the helicopter into super narrow and super fishy areas! 

Christchurch Airport has landed a bumper summer, with international visitor numbers 22 percent on last year, pumping an estimated $860 million into the South Island economy. Between November 2025 and March 2026, 287,000 international visitors passed through the airport. Aussies were top of the arrivals list, followed by visitors from China; those numbers increased more than 100 percent on last season. Christchurch Airport Chief Executive Justin Watson spoke to Lisa Owen.

Tourism operators are optimistic the bumper summers are here to stay. Christchurch Airport saw international visitor numbers climb 22% on last year. That's about 287 thousand visitors between November and March, which fed $861 million into the South Island economy. Tourism Holdings Limited Chief Executive Grant Webster told Mike Hosking there's no reason we can't be just as optimistic about next summer. He says short-term, there's clearly disruption from war, but right now operators are feeling positive. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 10th of April, former National Security Advisor to Donald Trump, John Bolton gives his opinion on the conflict in the Middle East and the ceasefire negotiations. Taupō Motorsport Park Owner Tony Quinn talks the biggest event of the weekend – Supercars is back at Taupō before it heads to the South Island for the first time ever. Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson talk the war, Artemis II, and jury duty as they Wrap the Week. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A small South Island football club is taking legal action against its local federation, alleging it is being charged excessive fees. But Mainland Football dispute Oxford FC's claims of price gouging, and the two parties will meet for a mediation. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 9th of April, Iran and the US have agreed to a ceasefire that looks increasingly tenuous – what will happen in the next two weeks? Reserve Bank Governor Anna Breman and Finance Minister Nicola Willis discuss the OCR remaining at 2.25% and the economic impact of the ceasefire for New Zealand. Kiwi Supercars driver Matt Payne speaks ahead Taupō this weekend and the first ever South Island race next weekend. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Max talks with Russell Ladbrook about a chance meeting in New Zealand that turned into one of the most delightful episodes of Aviation News Talk. Max was taking a glowworm cave tour when Russell noticed his Cirrus jacket, struck up a conversation, and soon realized he was talking to the host of a podcast he had followed for years. By the end of the day, the two were sitting down at the Fjordland Aero Club near Manapouri Airport for a conversation about flying in one of the most scenic and demanding parts of the world. How aero clubs keep flying affordable Russell explains that aero clubs fill a role in rural New Zealand that would often be handled by a flight school or FBO in the United States. In smaller towns, there may not be enough demand to support a traditional aviation business, so clubs become the way local flying survives. The Fjordland Aero Club has about 85 members, a hangar, and club-owned aircraft, along with privately owned airplanes brought in by members. What makes the model especially interesting is the economics. Russell says the club rents its aircraft wet for about 150 New Zealand dollars per hour, plus GST, and that includes fuel. The airplanes are microlights rather than larger certified aircraft, which helps reduce costs. Even more striking, much of the labor is donated. Club members help with maintenance, instruction, and field work. Russell himself mows the runway, and the club also earns revenue by mowing airport property and baling hay from the surrounding grass. It's a practical, community-based approach that makes flying accessible in a part of the world where a normal commercial model might fail. Flying near Milford Sound The conversation then shifts to the geography of New Zealand's South Island and the challenges of flying there. Russell describes the area around Te Anau and Manapouri as farmland on one side and steep mountains on the other, right on the edge of a huge national park. The terrain is beautiful, but it also makes aviation more demanding. ADS-B coverage can be spotty because mountains block signals, some aircraft operate without transponders, and local knowledge matters enormously. Russell gives an example of a nearby valley where 4,500 feet might provide a smooth ride while 3,500 or 5,500 feet can be rough. That local knowledge becomes even more important around Milford Sound, where tourism flying is a major part of the aviation scene. Russell says many of the flights into Milford use Cessna Caravans from Queenstown, and that it is not unusual to see dozens of aircraft lined up there. Helicopters are also everywhere, supporting sightseeing and practical work in remote terrain. Russell talks about helicopter flights into the mountains, helicopter barbecues in remote valleys, and the many ways rotary-wing aircraft are woven into daily life in the region. Weather, waterfalls, and helicopter work One of the strongest parts of the episode is Russell's description of the weather around Milford Sound. He confirms that many planned flights never happen because low clouds, wind, avalanche danger, and poor visibility can shut things down completely. He describes Milford as one of the wettest places in New Zealand and says it can receive astonishing amounts of rain, with conditions that may be dramatically different only a short distance away on the other side of the mountains. On wet days, entire mountainsides fill with temporary waterfalls, while only a few permanent waterfalls remain visible when the rain stops. Russell also explains that helicopters in New Zealand do far more than scenic flights. They recover deer, resupply backcountry huts, and haul waste out of remote wilderness areas where it would be impractical to carry supplies in and out by hand. That operational detail gives the episode a more grounded feel. This is not just a postcard version of New Zealand. It's a working aviation environment where flying is both practical and essential. Glowworm caves and an unexpected connection The final section of the episode brings the story back to where it started: the glowworm caves. Russell says his first full-time job in the mid-1980s involved both flying Cessna 172s and working as a cave guide, and that decades later he is once again guiding visitors through the same cave system. He explains that glowworms are tiny insects that live in dark, damp spaces and use light to lure prey into sticky threads. The cave tour includes a boat ride, narrow walkways, an underground waterfall, and a final passage through deep darkness where the glowworms shine overhead. Russell's description of guiding the boat through the cave is especially memorable. He compares it to a kind of cave IFR, navigating in darkness by feel and by markers on chains overhead. It's a funny comparison, but also a revealing one. The whole episode is built on that same blend of aviation mindset, local knowledge, and sense of wonder. Russell also shares his own story of returning to flying after doubting himself for years, and the joy he now gets from taking others aloft, especially children seeing aviation up close for the first time. That gives the episode a strong emotional finish and makes it about more than scenery. It becomes a story about community, confidence, and how aviation creates connections in the most unexpected places. If you're getting value from this show, please support the show via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or Patreon. Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. 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→ Need help sorting out the big picture of your upcoming New Zealand trip? Get my 1-on-1 support with my VACATION BLUEPRINT DESIGN service ← New Zealand is one of those destinations where it feels like every corner of the country looks incredible (spoiler: it is!). And that's exactly what makes planning a trip here a little tricky—because you can't explore every little corner. Before you can even start mapping out an itinerary, you need to answer one big question: should you focus on the North Island or the South Island? In this episode of the New Zealand, Your Way series, we're diving into the North Island. I'm walking you through what this island is known for, what kinds of experiences you can expect, and which travel styles tend to love it the most. I'm also introducing the key regions of the North Island and what makes each one unique, helping you start to narrow down the type of trip that might fit you best. Connect w/ Angela on Instagram LISTEN BACK: Episode 124: The 8 Travel Style Avatars // Which Are You? Episode 151: The Timeline to Your Next Vacation Episode 288: New Zealand, Your Way // 4 Things to Know Before Planning a Trip

A small South Island football club is taking legal action against its local federation, alleging it is being charged excessive fees that are pushing rural clubs to the brink. Sports reporter Jonty Dine reports.

From rolling hills full of sheep, to rocky peaks carved by ancient glaciers, the South Island of New Zealand is an epic travel location filled with awe-inspiring views and insane adventure opportunities. Add in a baby and you're in for a wild ride that will guarantee lifelong memories. If you're interested in exploring this amazing country, or are wondering if travel with a baby to an international location is doable, listen in as we start the newest season of Educate Your Travel!

Daren Grover was on vacation near the top of New Zealand's South Island when he got a call: some whales needed help. Hundreds of them had stranded on a spot so notorious for whale strandings, it's cause for celebration when a year goes by without a stranding: the Farewell Spit.  Check out Project Jonah: https://www.projectjonah.org.nz/ Giant searchable database of sustainable seafood (and seafood to avoid) from Monterey Bay Aquarium: https://www.seafoodwatch.org/recommendations Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why a former city council depot remains undeveloped, The South Island's 'Power List', and the untold story behind Heinz Wattie's proposal to close factories and restructure 350 staff.

A legend in tramping circles, Paul Kilgour has "bagged" over 1200 huts and walked the length of the South Island. He talks to Mihingarangi about the characters he's met in some of the most remote parts of the country and how being in nature gives him a unique perspective on time and space.