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Haere Ra 2025
Kathryn and commentators look back on the year in politics, business, the economy and science. Audio
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Sam Neill: 'Retirement it's like a swear word to me'
19 Dec 2025The actor says life has been so good he has no intention of quitting anytime soon.
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Stevin Creegan and his Harley riding service dog, Loki
19 Dec 2025When Stevin Creegan gets on his Harley Davison to go on a ride, his best mate Loki is always along for the journey. Audio
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Simon Olliver record breaking ocean swimmer
19 Dec 2025It took him more than a decade - but earlier this year Simon Olliver achieved the incredible feat of becoming the oldest person to complete the gruelling Oceans… Audio
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Wellingtonian takes to the field for Thai women's football team
19 Dec 2025South East Asia's biggest sporting event winds up tomorrow, and playing for the Thai women's side has been Wellington's Natalie Olson. Audio
Wednesday 24 December 2025
THE RUN HOME TO CHRISTMAS WITH BRYAN CRUMP
Photo: RNZ / Jeff McEwan
9.10 How to have a sustainable Christmas
Food waste, wrapping paper, plastic packaging - Christmas can be a wasteful time.
Georgie Ferrari, Chief Executive at Sustainability Trust, join Bryan to discuss the practical steps we can take to have a sustainable holiday.
Photo: Unsplash / Curated Lifestyle
9.25 Ranger in the Waitakere Ranges
We think it's a good idea to recognise some of those who'll keep working through the summer break, so that the rest of us can enjoy a holiday.
We've chatted to a nurse and a fire fighter - and today, it's a ranger.
Riki Bennett is Ngahere Ranger in the Waitakere Ranges - he joins Bryan for a chat.
The Zig Zag track in the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park connects the Titirangi community to its local beach. Photo: Supplied / Auckland Council
1996: Ngahere ranger Riki Bennett assisting the Kawerau a Maki iwi with the removal of the jawbone of a sperm whale. Photo: Riki Bennett
9.40 What's going on with our eel populations?
Senior lecturer at AUT, Dr Amandine Sabadel is a chemist, ecologist, environmental scientist and an eel expert. She's with Bryan to discuss why finding where they breed is so important - and why it's proving so difficult.
eDNA analysis of stream water can detect the presence of different species, like tuna eels. Photo: Aotearoa Science Agency
10.10 Kapa Haka for everyone
Bryan shares one of his favourite RNZ Concert interviews from the year.
In the run-up to Matariki Weekend, he spoke to Rawi Pere, who helps lead the Ngāti Rēhia Community Kapa Haka Group - a Kapa Haka group for all comers.
It made its debut in the Turner Centre in the Bay of Islands, in Kerikeri.
Ngāti Rēhia kuia Rawi Pere helped organise the festival. Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
10.25 Tidying up the streets of Rotorua
Observers may have noticed parts of Rotorua looking a little sharper with berms trimmed, rubbish cleared, and lawns neatly edged.
That tidy-up was driven by local rangatahi (youth) who have stepped forward to give their streets a festive spruce-up.
A crew of about a dozen young people, led by Waiariki Whānau Mentoring youth mentor Thomas Peato, has gathered once a week through December for a full day of maintenance mahi (work).
He joins Bryan for a chat.
A man mowing a lawn. Photo: UnSplash/ Carl Tronders
10.45 Christmas gift ideas with Alice Taylor
Alice Taylor is joining Bryan across the week to give yummy and simple Christmas gift ideas. Listen here for yesterday's recipes.
Today it's cheap chocolate brownies and garlic oil.
Photo: Homegrown Kitchen
Brownies
3/4 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup boiling water
3/4 cup oil (neutral, like canola or sunflower)
1 egg
1 small pear, grated
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 170°C (fan). Line a baking tin
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder and boiling water until smooth
3. Stir in the oil, then whisk in the egg and grated pear
4. Add the sugar and mix until fully dissolved
5. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt until just combined — don’t overmix
6. Pour into the prepared tin and bake for 25–35 minutes, until the centre has a slight jiggle
7. Cool completely in the tin before slicing.
Garlic oil
Heat sunflower oil to 63 degrees c with one whole peeled garlic (depending on how garlicky you want it!). When it cools, add a couple of sprigs of fresh rosemary.
Check out Alice's popular Instagram for more festive inspiration.
Photo: Maddi Bazzocco / Unsplash
11.10 How to staycation in Christchurch
In the last stop on our urban vacation tour, Kaila Colbin joins Bryan to tell us how we can have a wonderful holiday staycation in Christchurch.
Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
11.25 The retro audio boom
There's been a surge in demand for cassettes, CDs and portable audio devices.
Matthew Davis, owner of Flying Out Record Store in Auckland, is with Bryan to discuss the trend.
Photo: 123rf
11.50 A Christmas miracle at Zealandia
Against the odds, a takahē pair believed to be infertile have successfully hatched a chick at Wellington's Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne.
Dr Danielle Shanahan, Chief Executive of Zealandia joins Bryan to share the exciting news.
Photo: Linton Miller