The Detail

When one of our smallest ministries is shredded in the name of saving taxpayer dollars, critics say it feels like cultural vandalism A world class website documenting New Zealand's history could be allowed to wither and die with cuts confirmed at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The government's suite of amendments to electoral law haven't gone down well, but that's not stopping them from pushing ahead with the changes… Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Rights groups are concerned a government spotlight on terror laws will see protest, freedom of speech and advocacy endangered … Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

More funding's been announced to train up domestic violence support workers, but turning our horrific figures around is expected to take generations There's one call to police every four minutes about domestic violence, but it's just the tip of the country's crisis … Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Proponents of offal-eating point out that it's just polite to use every part of a beast we've killed .... it's really the least we can do It's cheap, it's nutritious, it's full of protein - so why are we still steering away from eating every part of the animal, including offal One of Hannah Miller Childs' go-to bar snacks is chicken hearts. "A bit of mustard, you can eat i...

Youth Parliament is there to give aspiring politicians a taste of a future career, but after three decades the value of the event is in question A former politician says change is needed to the Youth Parliament system if it's to stay relevant. MP-turned political commentator Peter Dunne says the scheme isn't just "a rag-tag collection of young people coming together for a couple of...

Laws over international deep sea mining are being thrashed out at a meeting in Jamaica, but the process has so far taken over a decade and we don't even have a draft set of rules A tiny Pacific nation that stands to make millions from a deal over deep sea mining in international waters may have found a way around the rules it signed up to … Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Refugee Family Support Category is supposed to allow refugees to reunite with family. Instead, it's a waiting game which could take another decade to clear. It could take 10 years to clear a refugee visa waiting queue - but those applicants have already been waiting for seven years, and some have families in danger … Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Henare vs Kaipara: Legacy, loyalty and the fight for Māori representation in the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election Two Māori heavyweights battle it out in a pivotal political contest for the Tāmaki Makaurau seat after the death last month of Takutai Tarsh Kemp … Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

If you don't want to face the unpalatable truth about your boozing, the alcohol lobby is on your side Outdated alcohol guidelines put New Zealand out of step with modern research, but our health authorities are in no hurry to update them In Canada, proposed guidelines for low-risk drinking set the weekly limit at two drinks. Here in New Zealand, the recommendation is to cap alcohol at 10 drinks we...

New Zealand's first play zone for children with disabilities is becoming a charitable trust, with the goal of expanding services to cater for people of all ages. Parents of a young autistic boy took his diagnosis head on, creating New Zealand's first play zone for children with disabilities and attracting international attention and recognition … Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more...

When it comes to damage from serious weather events, the days of big pay-outs to property owners are coming to an end The 100-year floods are rolling in on a regular basis; the rain doesn't let up; no one wants a cliff-top property anymore. Climate change is no longer just about things you can't see or touch. It's about running from rising water and bailing out the basement. "I...

Leaks, lies and leadership. The Wellington mayoral race was shaping up to be dull but now a dirty politics scandal is splitting the capital It was heading towards the most boring mayoral campaign in the country - now Wellington's race has turned chaotic with a backfiring bombshell of an email … Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

With an increase in drugs coming through Auckland Airport, border officials focus on trying to stop the imports before they reach our shores A customs officer at New Zealand's biggest airport says it's not just the amount of drugs coming across the borders that is surprising, but the fact that smugglers aren't really bothering to conceal it … Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz fo...

New Zealand's orange roughy stocks are under fresh scrutiny, and a major fishery faces closure What was once called the "white gold" of our oceans is now at risk, and conservationists are fighting to save the country's orange roughy population … Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

There are some horror stories about the wreckage left behind when people die without leaving a will, but now something watertight is easier to draw up than ever before Most people don't want to talk about their death and post-mortem wishes when they're young, but there are so many reasons to have that conversation, and to write a will … Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more deta...

As the James Gunn version of Superman is released in cinemas, we look at the history of a character that truly owns the word iconic Superman is, in theory, long past retirement age, but different iterations of the American hero continue to land on our screens and in comic books … Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

There is no room for error when the All Blacks face French firepower in Wellington tomorrow night, and a long-time rugby journalist says fans would be smart to keep bets small Between injuries and a surprisingly strong French B-side, the All Blacks have their work cut out for them. A long-time rugby journalist says Saturday's showdown in Wellington is anyone's game. … Go to this ep...

There's a second life in single-use medical devices, but getting Pharmac on board with the money-saving venture has been a battle A Canterbury company is successfully remanufacturing so-called single use medical devices, with the potential to save our cash-strapped health sector a wad of money … Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Erin Patterson case has gripped international audiences, in Australia's 'biggest crime story since the Azaria Chamberlain case' of the 80s. The Australian mum-of-two served up deadly mushrooms to her in-laws during a Sunday lunch. Nearly two years later, a jury has found her guilty of murder. … Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

With Fiji in the midst of an HIV outbreak, UNAIDS warns that other Pacific Islands countries have all the risk factors of a similar crisis… Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

New Zealand is one of the best places in the world to grow dope, but producing marketable medicinal cannabis is a regulatory nightmare New Zealand has very few ventures producing medicinal cannabis, and the one that's doing really well doesn't sell directly to New Zealanders … Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Tourism can only happen when conflict ends - and there's been recognised with a Nobel Peace Prize nomination A Washington-based, Auckland-educated Samoan man nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize says tourism is the only real peace dividend … Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Getting people out and home when they're trapped in a war zone is a dangerous and politically delicate task - here's how it's done When you're away from home, huddling in a bomb shelter with the missiles are incoming, getting out isn't just a matter of boarding a plane It is dangerous, diplomatically delicate and extremely expensive… Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The terrorist label has been dropped from extremist group the Proud Boys, but its ideology still lurks online in New Zealand New Zealand has lifted the terrorist group designation from the extremist group the Proud Boys, sparking fears their members may resurface … Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details