Children
Episode 23
Nine-year-old Matilda reviews the book Ming’s Iceberg, Constable Bryan and his police dog Bobby tell us how to keep warm in winter, and we learn a new te reo phrase in ‘Cool to Kōrero.’ Audio
Badjelly the Witch takes to the stage with Aotearoa’s Glow Show
This School Holidays Spike Milligan's classic tale Badjelly the Witch takes the stage. Creative Director of The Glow Show, Sarah Burren handmade all the stage costumes and developed an original blend… Audio
Why red tape might end the great Kiwi school trip
Analysis - Anxiety about legal liability and the burden of paperwork are affecting teacher attitudes to taking trips outside the classroom.
Desperation outside Kyiv children's hospital
A New Zealand funded humanitarian aid organsation says there is sheer desperation outside the missile attacked childrens hospital in Kyiv. Ukrainian officials say at least 36 people have been killed… Audio
Early childhood centre seeks to overturn move to cancel licence
The Early Childhood Council spoke out against the ministry move as heavy handed.
Episode 22
We ask kids Chloe, Devon, Shania, and Sarah, "What makes a good story?" There’s a triple treat of jokes, and ten-year-old Nina tells us what she thought of a book she’s just read called Out in the… Audio
Lucy Jones on the "gnarly and hardcore" reality of motherhood
When science writer Lucy Jones had a baby, she found herself in an unexpectedly frightening and lonely new world. In the new book Matrescence, She takes a deep dive into the profound psychological and… Audio
Education Minister addresses concerns over phonics testing
Erica Stanford has acknowledged phonics testing will be "one very small part" of making sure young readers are on track. Audio
Union warns biannual testing echoes National Standard
The primary teachers' union says requiring children to sit standardised tests twice a year looks like National Standards in disguise. From next year, the government will require primary schools to… Audio
Standardised tests may cause anxiety in children - expert says
An education expert says frequent, standardised testing makes children anxious and affects their mental wellbeing. From next year, the government will require primary schools to test children twice a… Audio
Children as young as 11 racking up online gambling debt
The head of Mapu Maia said it's had an increase in school counsellors and social workers reaching out with concerns of problem online gambling among secondary school students and even some children at… Audio
Boot camp policy will 'punish trauma' - abuse survivor
The government's boot camp policy will not work and only further punish those suffering trauma, an advocate for abuse survivors says.
Oranga Tamariki doesn't know how many kids it has records for
Oranga Tamariki has admitted it does not know just how many children it holds the records of, who were once in the state's care, or all of their names.
Oranga Tamariki's legal difficulties an 'operational matter' - minister
The children's minister's office says the inability of social workers to handle their statutory legal duties is an "operational matter".
Health sector frustrated by baby and maternal mortality rates
The health sector is reporting frustration and exhaustion at unchanging mortality rates for babies and mothers. In the 16th perinatal and maternal mortality review the authors ask why their previous… Audio
Special needs students struggling for support in some mainstream schools
As specialist schools for students with disabilities receive a funding boost, questions remain over the pressure on mainstream schools providing for students with special needs. Audio
Episode 21
Constable Bryan and his police dog Bobby have a story about how to stay safe in a flood, young Meg reads her story My Pet Dinosaur, and you can play the world-famous-in-New-Zealand game ‘What’s That… Audio
Oranga Tamariki does U-turn on plan to cut record-keeping jobs
Oranga Tamariki has amended the restructuring and will retain a "separate information management function".
Lauren Dickason sentenced to 18 years imprisonment
Almost three years after Timaru was rocked by the tragic death of three young girls at the hands of their mother, the city's mayor hopes her sentencing will bring some closure. Lauren Dickason was… Audio
Survivors of abuse in care fear government policies
Survivors of abuse in care fear the Government's policies will condemn another generation of children to abuse. The 2500-page Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care report was handed over to… Audio