Saturday Morning

Our resident gardening expert is back, this time to talk about all things Matariki. Hannah Zwartz has over 30 years' experience gardening professionally, including looking after the herb and succulent areas at Wellington Botanic Garden and running community market gardens in the Hutt Valley. She speaks with Paddy Gower about making the most of this time of year and answers your listener questions.

Majic won Best Maori Female Solo Artist at the Waiata Maori Music Awards in 2015 and she's putting together a concert which is next weekend to mark Matariki. She's undertaken the task on behalf of her iwi - Ngaati Whatua Orakei - which is the host this year of the national hautapu ceremony which you'll have heard a bit from here on RNZ National yesterday.

From a home perched impossibly on the side of hills, to a flat pack build that needs only three people to put together - our landscape hosts some rather unique dwellings. Simon Devitt is an award-winning photographer, and Andrea Stevens is a writer with a background in architecture. Together they've teamed up, collating New Zealand's most interesting homes into a coffee table book called 'Cape to...

Poi E is right up there with iconic Kiwi songs. The chart-topping waiata is 42 years old and still going strong. The Patea Maori Club is still going strong too - they were performing just last night. Paddy is joined by Laura Maruera, who as chair person keeps the club in line. She joins Paddy from Patea, along with foundational members, twins Bib and Bub.

Now, granted, it is a long weekend - and you have every right to put your feet up and relax - but if you're worried about becoming a winter couch potato, then this might be for you. The Winter 31 Club is a 31 day yoga challenge inspired by Matariki. Katie Deare is from the Sun Salute Yoga Centre in Hamilton to talk it over.

The Doc Edge Festival is on at the moment with screenings at all the main centres. There's even a Virtual Cinema launching at the end of the month - so no one is missing out. Always close to the action was our very own Mihi Forbes who Paddy speaks with live from the launch of the latest important chapter in the NZ Wars series: Stories of Waerenga-a-Hika

Veteran war correspondent Cameron Bennett joins Paddy to talk about the NZ Wars documentary: Stories of Waerenga-a-Hika. Cameron's directed the doco about the six day siege at Waerenga-a-Hika, a pa site close to Gisborne.

Two things you'll find in Golden Bay are horopito and takahe, and they're two things that father daughter duo Peter and Lucy Butler have put together. Peter Butler transitioned from a failing organic kiwifruit orchard to successfully farming the native horopito plant. He's also behind Health Post - New Zealand's largest natural health and wellness store - which is 100% NZ family-owned - founded by...

A recent study has revealed that there are vast and mysterious underground networks of fungi right under our feet. These organisms are so small they can't be seen by the naked eye, yet they're foundational to the health of soil and the wellbeing of plants. Katie Field is a Professor in Plant-Soil Processes at the University of Sheffield. She joins Paddy.

Those of us who sit at a desk for most of the day know the importance of taking a break. New research has figured out exactly how often we should get up and move around. The study found taking a short walking break every 20 minutes reduces blood sugar and insulin. University of Otago PhD graduate and lecturer in physical activity and nutrition behaviour at AUT Dr Jen Gale is the lead author in the...

One of the most senior figures in global anti-doping is a New Zealander. David Howman is Chairman of the International Athletics Integrity Unit which polices athletics. But before that, David spent 13 years at the World Anti Doping Agency as it's director general. Paddy speaks with him about developments this week which have seen the International Olympic Committee provisionally lift its suspensio...

Auckland's TALA has received the first-ever Michelin Star awarded for Samoan food.

Kate de Goldi, our resident reader, is back with her latest picks.

Craig Turner-Bullock has spent almost a decade travelling the world, taking photos of dogs. He talks to Susie about capturing canines - and finding their best side!

Matariki became a public holiday in 2022 largely thanks to the mahi of Professor Rangi Matamua who last year decided he would do Matariki in Antarctica.

Four-time Pulitzer Prize winning photo-journalist, Carol Guzy, on documenting ICE.

Black holes, glittery images and alien water on an interstellar comet - the infinite possibilities of space!

There's no doubt divorce can be messy, but according to divorce expert Kate Daly, it doesn't have to be! 

This July fourth in the USA marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As it reaches this milestone, we take a look at the current temperature of the United States and what the future holds for it.

The PM's Science Prize has been awarded to an Auckland team who's work has prevented severe disability for thousands of babies around the world.

The mighty Ruamāhanga river is set to play the starring role in an upcoming documentary alongside naturalist Ruud Kleinpaste, also known as The Bug Man. 

Have you always wanted to join a book club but haven't quite found the time to make it happen? Well, the Libby Reads digital book club might be your answer. 

TVNZ's FIFA World Cup host, Chris Chang speaks to Mihingarangi ahead of this afternoon's match between the All Whites and Belgium.

The Cuban revolution is particularly personal for Alina Fernández. When Alina was 10 years old, she found out that her father was its leader - Fidel Castro. 

Many of us spend years building our lives around accumulation, believing that's how we'll find security and happiness. But what if we've got it backwards? Daisuke Yosumi swears by minimalism.