In a country swamped by disinformation, two entrepreneurs have come up with solutions to tackle the problem, on and offline For Taiwan, the threat of Chinese military invasion is less pressing than an invasion many see as ongoing - an onslaught of disinformation Guests: Mark Hanson - co-founder of White Fungus arts magazine Ron Hanson - editor of White Fungus Billion Lee - co-founder CoFact Jason Liu - investigative journalist Learn more: Listen to past The Details previous episodes about Sharon...
Nov 09, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1473
The Detail's Sharon Brettkelly visits Jordan, where the tourism industry propping up the country's economy has been all but decimated by the war in neighbouring Israel Jordan doesn't have the oil that's made its neighbours wealthy, and tourism industry propping up its economy is under immense pressure Guests: Hashem Nawafleh - tour guide Hamad Hamad al Manajih - Bedouin tour guide Omar Al-Hlalat - horse guide Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details...
Nov 07, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1472
This nasty pest can be destroyed, but it will take government resources and extreme vigilance from the public to do it. The anti-pest army is being mobilised, local Facebook pages are buzzing and a swarm of publicity embarked upon, all aimed at stamping out the yellow-legged hornet Guests: Professor Phil Lester - Victoria University Mike Inglis - MPI Biosecurity Commissioner North Karin Kos - Apiculture NZ chief executive Learn more: Look out for hornets Yellow-legged hornet sightings in Aucklan...
Nov 06, 2025•25 min•Ep. 1471
A key player in the curriculum rewrite says the criticism is overblown - and not a reflection of what the sector thinks Many agree NZ's education is below par, but how to fix it is the subject of a major conflict - as the government's proposed curriculum has made clear Guests: Laura Walters - Newsroom's political editor Michael Johnston - The New Zealand Initiative Learn more: Draft curriculum content released for Years 0-10 learning areas and wāhanga ako Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to...
Nov 05, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1470
A City Councillor and a Marine Science Professor warn that the Hauraki Gulf recovery is at risk after a last-minute fishing carve-out to the new Tīkapa Moana. The new Hauraki Gulf/ Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act is meant to preserve our largest marine park, but 11th-hour changes have critics questioning if it offers high protection or hollow promises Guests: Simon Thrush - Marine science professor at Auckland University Mike Lee - Auckland councillor for Waitematā and Gulf Learn more: Find t...
Nov 04, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1469
The figures keep blowing up when it comes to paying for our Roads of National Significance, and critics say some of the justifications are shonky Has justifying our massive spend-up on roads been 'juiced by some convenient maths' or are New Zealanders not capable of seeing the big picture? Guests: Matt Lowrie - Greater Auckland director Nick Leggett - Infrastructure New Zealand chief executive Marc Daalder - Newsroom senior political reporter Learn more: Greater Auckland blog Infrastructure NZ T...
Nov 03, 2025•25 min•Ep. 1468
Up to 150,000 New Zealanders have autism, but there's a huge range in how it impacts people - so some think it's time the spectrum is divided While Trump's comments on a link between autism and paracetamol have caused uproar, a more pressing debate in going on within the community of autistic people and advocates Guest: Dane Dougan - Autism New Zealand chief executive Learn more: New York Times article: Should the Autism Spectrum Be Split Apart BBC article: Fact-checking three claims Trump made ...
Nov 02, 2025•25 min•Ep. 1466
As this unique Kiwi group celebrates a big anniversary, it's balancing its creative vision with a tight budget and an agile approach - on and off stage Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Oct 31, 2025•25 min•Ep. 1467
The US isn't known for its rugby prowess, or interest - so when the All Blacks take on Ireland this weekend, they're playing to sell a vision The All Blacks take on Ireland in Chicago on Sunday morning in what will be a test run for America's Rugby World Cup dream Guest: Jamie Wall - RNZ Sports Reporter Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details...
Oct 30, 2025•22 min•Ep. 1465
The aged care sector has had enough of reports describing all its many problems - and hopes a new Ministerial Advisory Group will provide some solutions It's hoped a Ministerial Advisory Group on aged care can get all the players in the same room to thrash out an answer on how to best deal with a tsunami of aging people Guest: Tracey Martin - New Zealand Aged Care Association chief executive Learn more: Read the government's press released on aged care here Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go ...
Oct 29, 2025•21 min•Ep. 1464
The amount of child sexual abuse material entering New Zealand is increasing and getting 'more violent' - and the Customs team managing it can't keep up The Child Exploitation Operations Team is on the front lines, finding and catching those in the trade of child sexual abuse material. The Detail gets an inside look at the growing issue and what's being done to tackle it. Guest: Simon Peterson - Chief Customs Officer, Child Exploitation Operations Team Learn more: Watch Unmasking Monsters - TVNZ...
Oct 28, 2025•22 min•Ep. 1463
With just twelve months until the next election, the mood of the nation is "one of disillusionment", and that's reflected in the polls With a year to go until the next election, the government is under polling pressure with whispers the Prime Minister could be rolled, and the opposition still finding its voice Guest: Guyon Espiner - RNZ Investigative Journalist Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details...
Oct 27, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1462
When there's a successful jewel heist such as the Louvre break-in, museum directors around the world take another look at their own patches. Auckland is no exception. Auckland War Memorial Museum might not be dripping in stunning jewellery, but it still contains priceless artifacts that need protecting Guest: David Reeves - Auckland War Memorial Museum Chief Executive The film clips used in this podcast were from Entrapment (1999) Ocean's 11 (2001) Mission: Impossible (1996) The Thomas Crown Aff...
Oct 24, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1462
A combination of job insecurity, tight economic times and a pressure to always be on the clock is resulting in a burnt out workforce Burnout is increasingly becoming the norm, with a multitude of factors pushing New Zealanders across the country to breaking point. But one expert says the tide is changing with a new generation entering the workforce. Guest: Dougal Sutherland - Principal psychologist at Umbrella wellbeing Georgi Toma - Founder of Heart and Brain Works Learn more: Read Massey Unive...
Oct 23, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1461
Fonterra is concentrating on its core business, and that means executing one of the biggest business transactions this country has ever seen - to the benefit of its farming shareholders NZ First isn't happy about Fonterra's consumer goods - including some iconic Kiwi brands - becoming the property of a French company, but farmers want the windfall Guest: Riley Kennedy - Business Desk senior reporter Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details...
Oct 22, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1460
Fifteen years after the explosions at Pike River mine killed 29 men, a new feature film brings the families' ongoing fight for justice back into focus The Pike River mine disaster killed 29 men, and sparked a fifteen-year fight for justice. A new film brings that fight to the big screens Guest: Rob Sarkies - director Rebecca Macfie - journalist and author of Tragedy at Pike River mine: how and why 29 men died Learn more: Read the Royal Commission's report on the Pike River Coal Mine tragedy here...
Oct 21, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1459
R360 is making a bold play for Kiwi stars, but there's much debate over whether the rebel competition is set to be a rugby revolution, or a career-ender The new rebel rugby competition is said to be targetting top-tier players by dangling huge salaries, but there are big hurdles in its plan to steal the game Guest: Elliott Smith - Rugby Commentator and Deputy Sports News Editor - Newstalk ZB Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details...
Oct 20, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1458
Our second biggest city is experiencing the type of revival that should make the rest of New Zealand envious In the last 14 years Christchurch has been to hell and back - now it's finally emerging from the rubble as the country's most vibrant place to be Guests: Phil Mauger - Christchurch mayor Anthon Matthews - Hustler Group director Learn More: Paddy Gower raves about Christchurch TV3's Juliet Speedy takes a peek into the Te Kaha stadium, set to open on time and within its $683 million budget ...
Oct 19, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1456
You could walk past these prolific actors and not even notice you're among stars - until they open their mouths You could walk past these prolific actors and not even notice you're among stars - until they open their mouths Guests: Nolan North Veronica Taylor David Sobolov Learn More: Find out more about the Armageddon Expo here Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details...
Oct 17, 2025•25 min•Ep. 1457
Charities in crisis: how government cuts and rising costs are stretching New Zealand's social safety net Philanthropists split too many ways and tears in the boardroom as charity funders are overwhelmed with increased calls for help, along with a decrease in donations Guests: Kisten Kilian-Taylor - Head of Philanthropy at the Perpetual Guardian Susan Edmunds - RNZ Money Correspondent Learn More: Red the Perpetual Guardian here Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz fo...
Oct 16, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1455
Our workforce has had enough and will down tools on October 23 for a "mega strike", involving more than 100,000 workers New Zealand used to be the poster child of industrial relations, but strikes have become woven into our culture in the last century - and next week's walkouts are set to be some of the largest in modern history Guests: Grant Morris - Associate Professor, Victoria University Faculty of Law Anna Whyte - Senior Political Journalist, The Post Learn More: Read Anna Whyte's reporting...
Oct 15, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1454
Changes announced by animal welfare minister Andrew Hoggard turn out not to be what they appeared on the label The government announcement looked like a good news story on pig welfare - but closer examination reveals a winding back of plans to ban farrowing crates and mating stalls Guests: Monique Steel - RNZ rural reporter Marcela Rodriguez Ferrere - Auckland University Faculty of Law Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details...
Oct 14, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1453
Big and profitable Kiwi companies hiking their prices during a cost of living crisis have been accused of losing their social licence It's very valuable but you can't buy it, and if you lose it there can be serious consequences. Why a social licence to operate is a must now for corporates. Guests: Andrew Bevin - Newsroom business reporter Kevin Jenkins - business consultant Shaun Truelock - OneFortyOne general manager Learn more: Read Laura Walters' analysis on Fonterra's social licence here Rea...
Oct 13, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1452
The contraceptive pill is under fire on social media. Why birth control is being called "poison" online - and what doctors say. Fact vs Fear: Doctors are pushing back on the viral birth control myths and warnings over the contraceptive pill that are flooding social media Guests: Dr Beth Messenger - Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa medical director Dr Megan Bugdon - La Trobe University lecturer Learn more: Read the La Trobe Univeristy study here Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on r...
Oct 12, 2025•23 min•Ep. 1451
An expert in water-sensitive design urges us to think harder about what lies beneath our feet Lost in Auckland's push for development has been the need to preserve the sort of sub-soil that absorbs water and encourages trees to grow Guests: Sue Ira - director of Koru Environmental and Auckland University PhD candidate Learn more: Read Sue's article on Newsroom . That article came from a piece of research spearheaded by Auckland Council's Healthy Waters and Flood Resilience departments, funded by...
Oct 10, 2025•25 min•Ep. 1449
Inside New Zealand's kinship care movement, and what's needed to repair the cracks From heartbreak to hope: how kinship carers are saving New Zealand's most vulnerable children, in spite of the cost to their bank balances and themselves Guests: Dr Michelle Egan-Bitran - Family for Every Child programme advisor for New Zealand and the Pacific Learn more: Read the Kinship report here Read the report summary here Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details...
Oct 09, 2025•22 min•Ep. 1450
Amid celebrations that their youngest MP made the cover of Time, ructions that threaten to blow Māori politics apart It's reset day for Te Pāti Māori, after a series of dramas and accusations that have shone an unwanted spotlight on its politicians Guests: Lloyd Burr - Stuff Explainer editor Ella Stewart - RNZ Longform Journalist, Te Ao Māori Lillian Hanly - RNZ political reporter Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details...
Oct 08, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1448
One expert says the government's changes on earthquake-prone buildings are more about saving money than lives - but there's some sensible stuff in there Earthquake-proofing heritage properties just got more doable for their owners, and the result could be a drop in the numbers of vacant and abandoned buildings Guests: Olga Filippova - Auckland University Associate Professor, Property Di Maxwell - Left Bank Learn more: MBIE's Earthquake-prone building system and seismic risk management review Loc...
Oct 07, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1446
The much anticipated government announcement of a solution to soaring power prices has fallen well short of fundamental reform The government's much-trumpted power plan to reform the electricity sector is more likely to result in dirtier, more expensive power, than a clean, cheap solution. Guests: Marc Daalder - Newsroom senior political reporter Learn more: Government's securing New Zealand's energy future press release Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more...
Oct 06, 2025•25 min•Ep. 1447
Taiwanese worry about living costs and their everyday lives while pushing the prospect of action from China to the back of their minds Taiwanese people are used to air raid sirens and preparations for action ahead of any Chinese invasion, but life must be lived well in the mean time Guests: Mark Hanson - journalist, publisher White Fungus Dr Ming-Shih Shen, Institute for National Defense and Security Research, Taiwan Dr Jie Zhong - Institute for National Defense and Security Research, Taiwan Kel...
Oct 05, 2025•25 min•Ep. 1445
