Our Changing World looked at the streams beneath our feet, the Kiwi accent and the King Country Archey's frog among a host of other science-related stories.
Next time you’re out and about, walking or driving, have a think about whether there might be fish under your feet.
Freshwater ecologist Alex James (left) and Silver Lining Contracting staff discuss access to the underground culvert through the open maintenance hole. Photo: RNZ / Alison Ballance
Freshwater fish swim for science
New Zealand’s most abundant whitebait species, inanga, is being put to the test in a swimming flume.
Young inanga (Galaxias maculatus) make up most of the whitebait runs in New Zealand. Photo: CC-BY-NC Ngā Manu Nature Images
There is the Kiwi accent. And then there is the Southland accent. Linguists from the University of Canterbury are studying the accent’s distinctive features and how it is has developed over time, and their research is changing our understanding of its history.
Older women led the trend for Southlanders to only roll the letter R after a vowel (the postvocalic R). This archive photo shows Amy Kirk, Sarah Jane Kirk, and another woman taking tea on a verandah sometime between 1895-1915 Photo: Alexander Turnbull Library
Professor Rangi Mātāmua talks about the 120-year-old book which has preserved his ancestors' knowledge of Māori astronomy.
Professor Rangi Mātāmua. Photo: Waikato Museum
Fush 'n' chups and the Kiwi accent
The distinctive New Zealand accent and why young women lead the way in the evolution of a uniquely Kiwi way of talking.
When New Zealanders say fish and chips, it sounds like fush 'n' chups. Photo: CC0
Foulden Maar - a 23-million year-old fossil treasure trove
Hundreds of significant insect fossils have been discovered at Foulden Maar, including this holotype of a worker ant, Austroponera schneideri. Photo: CC BY 4.0 Uwe Kaulfuss Antweb.org
A 23-year million year old volcanic crater in inland Otago that is a treasure trove of exquisiute fossils is facing the threat of being mined for animal feed.
Living the high life on shaky ground
'Living the high life on shaky ground' is a special investigation by RNZ reporter Charlie Dreaver, looking at some of the issues around apartments in earthquake-prone cities.
Cities such as Wellington are home to growing numbers of high rise apartment buildings. Photo: CC BY 2.0 Simeon W/Flickr
New way to stop unwanted biofouling
Electroclear is a start-up company at the University of Auckland using electric fields to deter small marine organisms from settling on boats and underwater structures.
Chris Walker and Patrin Illinberger are developing a new way to keep boat hulls free from biofouling, Photo: Electroclear / University of Auckland
Archey's frogs thriving in the King Country
A rare native frog is thriving, thanks to 15 years of sustained rat control in its forest home.
Archey's frogs are very small. A large frog like this might weigh a bit more than 4 grams, while young ones can weigh in at just 0.1 gram. Photo: RNZ / Alison Ballance
Marcus Vandergoes with the sediment corer, South Mavora Lake, Southland. Photo: Lakes380 / Cawthron Institute & GNS Science
380 New Zealand lakes are in the spotlight, and Marcus Vandergoes from GNS Science explains what happens to the thousands of sediment cores that will reveal a 1000-year history for each lake.
