Digital IDs are coming
If you want to live your life more seamlessly, you might have to swallow the dead rat of information seepage Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Oct 03, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1444
The Detail
Join The Detail team six days a week as they make sense of the big stories with the country’s best journalists and experts.
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Episodes
A royal pain for the House of Windsor
With Fergie, Harry and Andrew in the headlines again, The Detail speaks to an insider about whether they can weather yet another storm From Fergie's letter to Epstein to Prince Harry's ongoing conflict with his family, the House of Windsor has had a tough run Guests: Dickie Arbiter - Royal Commentator Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details...
Oct 02, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1443
NZ Football League caught in offshore betting storm
A Kiwi amateur league has become a global betting goldmine, raising red flags about the risk of illegal on-field activity New Zealand's time zone and poorly paid players make it vulnerable to match-fixing, opening the door for bad actors to manipulate matches - and athletes Guest: Dana Johannsen - In Depth sports correspondent Declan Hill - Investigative Journalist Learn More: Read Dana's stories here , here , here , here and here Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.n...
Oct 01, 2025•22 min•Ep. 1442
Port of Auckland hails remarkable turnaround
A new tripartite agreement for the Port of Auckland signals a turnaround for a workplace long dogged by controversy, including debt, delays and death The unexpected success story of the Port of Auckland includes an about-face on safety procedures, with the Maritime Union saying its work model needs to be replicated by ports around the country Guest: Roger Gray - Port of Auckland CEO Carl Findlay - Maritime Union New Zealand national secretary Learn More: Article on formal signing of Tripartite A...
Sep 30, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1441
Changing the future for organised crime
The final report from the Ministerial Advisory Group on Organised Crime is delivered today, and it makes for frightening reading It would give you chills - the chair of the Ministerial Advisory Group on Organised Crime lifts the lid on a scary future for New Zealand Guest: Steve Symon - Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Group on Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime and senior partner at Meredith Connell Learn More: This page includes links to the group's monthly reports Find The Detail on ...
Sep 29, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1440
The viral drift of misinformation
You can roll your eyes all you want at the White House reckons on panadol, autism and vaccines, but the alarming truth is they are damaging and will turn up here Even though he's been lambasted doctors around the world, Donald Trump's pronouncements on health issues none the less add to the less add to the mountain of misinformation in this area Guests: Isabelle Montgomerie - post-doctoral fellow at the Malaghan Institute's Infection and Vaccinology Group Helen Petousis-Harris - vaccinologist an...
Sep 28, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1439
Turtles, the pet turned pest
Turtles have a relaxed reputation, but in reality they're quick-moving and aggressive, and are wreaking havoc on our native wildlife Breeds including red-eared sliders, cumberlands and snake-necks are becoming New Zealand's worst pests at a turtle's pace - which, as it turns out, is pretty fast Guests: Imogen Bassett - Auckland Council Head of Natural Environment Specialist Services Donna Moot - Turtle Rescue founder Learn more: More on the influx of turtles in the South Island Why Auckland intr...
Sep 26, 2025•22 min•Ep. 1438
Inside Taiwan's powerhouse semiconductor sector
The Detail puts on a rabbit suit and gets special access to the incubators of Taiwan's semiconductor industry Inside Taiwan's booming semiconductor sector, rabbit suits, sanitising air showers and transistors smaller than a speck of dust Guests: Brian Travers - CEO of Christchurch's Syft Technologies Yuyi Chang - Electronic Engineering student Dr Sun-Zen Chen - Tsing Hua University researcher Zse-hong Tsai - Taiwan AI Centre for Excellence head Professor Yung-jen Hsu - Centre for Excellence chai...
Sep 25, 2025•25 min•Ep. 1437
Soft power, sneaky marketing
How New Zealand manages to develop brand awareness without spending a fortune on advertising itself New Zealand ranks pretty highly in this year's Global Soft Power Index, but we've been better in the past, and some of our key images are aging out Guests: David Downs - New Zealand Story CEO Alice Peacock - Newsroom business reporter Learn more: NZ Story Market Pulse report Global soft power report 2025 - David Downs' piece is on page 37 Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rn...
Sep 24, 2025•25 min•Ep. 1436
A race to change laws sees a sprint to the courts
A spate of legal cases have put the Government up against industries and unions who say fast-tracked laws have been undemocratic From a ban on greyhound racing to dismantling the Māori Health Authority, this Government's hallmark is fast becoming its speed of lawmaking - and the industries and unions in the firing line aren't happy about it Guests: Laura Walters - Newsroom political editor Learn more: Read Laura's article on the High Court's decision regarding greyhound racing here Watch Winston...
Sep 23, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1435
When AI in the workplace goes wrong
A workplace performance expert warns that introducing artificial intelligence simply to replace people will backfire badly for companies Companies trying to use AI simply to reduce staff costs are being told they risk weakening morale, diminishing trust and stalling innovation Guests: Craig Steel - Transforming New Zealand's Productivity author Learn more: Read Steel's paper on Transforming New Zealand's Productivity here RNZ's coverage on New Zealand's latest GDP data Find The Detail on Newsroo...
Sep 22, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1434
Canned peaches, canned
Hawkes Bay orchardists are pulling out their peach trees after Wattie's told them it's shrinking production of the canned fruit A gap in production in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle allowed Chinese canned peaches to get a perch in the market - now they're undercutting the local offering and are here to stay Guests: Andrew Bevin - Newsroom business reporter Gary Hamilton-Irvine - Hawke's Bay Today multi-media journalist Learn more: Discussion about peaches on RNZ's The Panel Andrew Bevin's story i...
Sep 21, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1433
Banter, beers and backstabbing at the Beehive
Parliament isn't all fiery debate and smart comebacks, in fact MPs of all political colours get along. But only some are willing to admit it. Lawmakers spend their days arguing with their opposition over decisions that shape our nation, but behind-the-scenes there's a bit of room for collegiality Guests: Find a list of the current New Zealand MPs (including those interviewed in this episode) here Learn more: How Parliament works Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz ...
Sep 19, 2025•21 min•Ep. 1431
Black Ferns battle injuries as they chase glory in England
The Black Ferns are one win away from the finals, and the mood of the nation depends on a much-needed sporting victory. "The Jonah Lomu of her time" will take on Canada this weekend in the Women's Rugby World Cup semi-final, with hopes of taking New Zealand to victory Guests: Suzanne McFadden - LockerRoom founding editor Learn more: Women's Rugby World Cup website The Spinoff's article about the many complex truths in the lack of Black Ferns coverage Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this...
Sep 18, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1432
NZ urged to build new trade blocs
BRICS is shifting the weight of global power, and one expert says it may be time New Zealand changed alliances With BRICS shaking up global politics and economics - and irking Donald Trump - would joining be smart diplomatic strategy for New Zealand, or just risk alienating an ally Guests: Chris Ogden - Associate professor in Global Studies at Auckland University Sam Sachdeva - Newsroom national affairs editor Learn More: See Professor Chris Ogden's story here Read about Trump threatening tariff...
Sep 17, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1430
A summer scandal on our shelves
The sunscreens under investigation for their labelling claims in Australia, but still for sale here Sunscreen law dictates how SPFs are labelled, but when a product doesn't meet its claims, enforcement is a grey area Guests: Belinda Castles: Researcher and Test Writer, Consumer NZ Learn More: See Consumer NZ's sunscreen database here See Choice's recent test results here See Ultraviolette's statement on Lean Screen Read ABC's reporting on other 'paused' products See the Suncreen (Product Safety ...
Sep 16, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1429
Politics sink landfill-saving law
It's still not clear exactly why the Greens' Right to Repair Bill faltered at select committee stage, after extensive cross-party collaboration on the details With the Greens' bill that would have encouraged more durable products gone, it's feared New Zealand may become the dumping ground for cheap, unrepairable goods Guests: Marama Davidson - Green Party co-leader Marc Daalder - Newsroom senior political reporter Learn More: RNZ's political reporter Anneke Smith's coverage on the issue Consumer...
Sep 15, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1428
Leaked papers, low votes, huge stakes
With local body elections less than a month away, The Detail looks at what's at stake Falling voter numbers, growing mistrust and leaked documents have local democracy under pressure, but the stakes for communities at local body elections are high Guests: Tim Murphy - co-editor of Newsroom Scott Necklen - Local Government NZ interim CEO Learn More: See Tim Murphy's story here See the complete guide to the NZ local elections 2025 here Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.c...
Sep 14, 2025•25 min•Ep. 1427
Outdoor education up a creek without a paddle
An overhaul of the secondary education curriculum will likely see outdoor education become a vocational subject, and critics say the change risks loss to New Zealand's identity and industry Changes to the secondary school curriculum will likely mean outdoor education becomes a vocational path, but feedback from across industries suggests the ministry can't see the woods for the trees Guests: Fiona McDonald - Education Outdoors New Zealand chief executive Claire Amos - Albany Senior High School p...
Sep 12, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1426
Pennies from the mega corps
The whole world is trying to chase down the likes of Google, Microsoft and Meta for more income tax, and New Zealand is no exception Global tech firms generate enormous amounts of money, and have brilliant ways of hiding their profits from the taxman - but a new report suggests a simple gotcha Guests: Craig Elliffe - Professor of Tax Law, Auckland Law School; Director of the Master of Taxation Programme ; Director of the New Zealand Centre for Tax Law Nick Miller - Author of the report Big Tech ...
Sep 11, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1425
Police under pressure as gunfire rocks quiet Levin
Entrenched gang conflict, personal grudges and methamphetamine use have fuelled a spate of gang shootings in Levin A Gang Conflict Warrant is in place in Levin, and locals say they're seeing the result of a heightened police presence, but fear for what happens when the police pack up and go Guest: Alecia Rousseau - Senior Journalist, Manawatū Standard Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details...
Sep 10, 2025•22 min•Ep. 1424
The confused and chaotic legacy of Tom Phillips
The Detail talks to reporter Tony Wall, who's covered the saga of the fugitive father and his children for nearly four years After nearly four years, fugitive Tom Phillips' story is over, and multiple investigations are now underway Guest: Tony Wall - National Correspondent, Stuff Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details...
Sep 09, 2025•22 min•Ep. 1423
Making America Solvent Again
Economists are starting to talk about the demise of American exceptionalism. The Detail looks at what that term means, and what effect it has on your KiwiSaver. The United States has long been held up as the peak of the free-market economy, but several factors including political interference in institutions are giving it the speed wobbles Guest: Mark Brighouse - Chief Investment Strategist, Fisher Funds Learn More: Read Mark's piece on US Exceptionalism here See the US Federal national debt clo...
Sep 08, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1422
The power imbalance that hits in old age
Retirement village living should feel like home, but in some cases residents have the status of students in a hostel What seems like a small dispute over name-calling emails has shone a spotlight on the power imbalance residents of retirement villages can face Guests: Jon Duffy - Consumer NZ chief executive Gayle Chambers - Grey Power Foundation national president Learn more: Listen to Retirement Commissioner Jane Wrightson on Breakfast - from September 2022 - here Read the Condell Retirement Vi...
Sep 07, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1420
Stories of sexuality as the closet door opened
In the 1990s, Lois Cox interviewed lesbian women about their lives in Wellington. Some 25 years later, those stories have been published. In Lois Cox's book 'That's What I Am' 16 lesbians tell their stories of living in Wellington last century, before they could be unapologetically out Guests: Lois Cox - author of That's What I Am Learn more: Find Lois's book here Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details...
Sep 05, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1421
The cost to society of weight loss drugs
Those who can afford it are getting thin by needle, but new weight loss drugs bring with them unanswered questions Obesity, Ozempic, and the end of body positivity - Is New Zealand losing its balance in its pursuit of thinness? Guests: Evelyn Ebrey - fashion journalist and producer of Cutting the Curve documentary series Professor Wayne Cutfield - Auckland University Learn more about the topic by listening to The Detail's previous episodes on weight loss medication and the body positivity moveme...
Sep 04, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1419
Driving change for better road safety
The road to getting a driver license is set to become easier and more efficient, but experts question whether safety is enough of a consideration The government is proposing changes to make getting a driver license easier, including scrapping the full license test. But with more than a third of drivers failing that test, experts have concerns. Guests: Dylan Thomsen - Road Safety spokesperson at AA Mark Revel-Johnson - president of the NZ Institute for Driver Educators Learn more: Read more detai...
Sep 03, 2025•21 min•Ep. 1418
Hostility rises as New Caledonia peace deal collapses
From promise to protest - how the Bougival Accord has thrown New Caledonia into chaos. The Bougival Accord was meant to heal, but now risks dividing New Caledonia again, with a French journalist saying that locals are armed and ready Guests: Coralie Cochin - Journalist at New Caledonia La Premier Learn more about the history of civil unrest in New Caledonia and other Pacific nations French claws in the Pacific The tiny nations that want to stand alone Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to thi...
Sep 02, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1417
Why we send our precious e-waste offshore
New Zealand risks missing out on the "land grab" for e-waste and is paying the price as it sends phones, laptops and batteries offshore A Kiwi tech firm's breakthrough solution for recycling EV batteries goes offshore, where countries are scrambling to keep hold of their valuable e-waste metals. Guests: Will Barker - Chief executive and co-founder of Mint Sue Coutts - Director of external affairs at Zero Waste Aotearoa Dave Young - Head of research and development at Mint Learn more about Mint's...
Sep 01, 2025•25 min•Ep. 1416
From field to funeral, the hidden toll of CTE on Kiwi sports stars
There's a silent epidemic in our national game, and it's leaving a trail of tragedy here and overseas Shane Christie wanted a hard look at the link between head knocks and long-term brain injury, and he asked for his own brain to be studied Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details...
Aug 31, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1415
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