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Second town red-listed by major insurer for new policies
Locals say it's "baffling" AA will no longer issue new policies in Woodend - but for different reasons to its decision in Westport. Audio
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Opposition parties slam 'secret' government talks with US
6:48 am todayNew Zealand is in talks about the supply of rare minerals, as Donald Trump seeks to reduce reliance on China. Audio
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Using vibrations to deter pest insects
5:01 am todayResearchers are translating pest insects' vibrational language to use it against them.
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Efforts to salvage capsized tour boat halted
2 Feb 2026Forecast bad weather for the next two days means the Black Cat Cruises vessel will remain lodged on rocks. Audio
Second town red-listed by major insurer for new policies
Locals say it's "baffling" AA will no longer issue new policies in Woodend - but for different reasons to its decision in Westport. Audio
Opposition parties slam 'secret' government talks with US
New Zealand is in talks about the supply of rare minerals, as Donald Trump seeks to reduce reliance on China. Audio
Using vibrations to deter pest insects
Researchers are translating pest insects' vibrational language to use it against them.
Efforts to salvage capsized tour boat halted
Forecast bad weather for the next two days means the Black Cat Cruises vessel will remain lodged on rocks. Audio
NZ can 'claim responsible mining' - Minerals Council
New Zealand is in talks with the United States about the supply of rare and critical minerals, as Donald Trump seeks to reduce their reliance on China. Audio
Mining giant granted access despite protest
150 locals, including actor Sam Neill, have been raising money to fight an Australian company's open-cast mine in Otago.
NZ veers away from 'road map' away from fossil fuels
Documents released to RNZ show Resources Minister Shane Jones shut down the possibility of New Zealand signing up to a so-called 'road map' away from fossil fuels at the annual global climate summit… Audio
Investigation launched into tourist boat incident in Akaroa
Investigators say more than 2000 litres of diesel has likely leaked into the water around a stranded tourist boat in Akaroa. The Black Cat catamaran remains beached at Nikau Palm Valley Bay after… Audio
Sprinklers for chickens? Keeping livestock and produce alive in a heatwave
Sunscreen for grapes and an all-nighter for saleyards might also be the answer for Australian farmers.
Residents turn to specialist help as insurers get cold feet
A first-home buyer in the flood-prone West Coast town says she and her partner could not even convince the vendor's current insurer to offer them a policy.
Fears dung beetle investment will be flushed away
New Zealand's only dung beetle rearing facility says it may have to close if there's not more support.
Are we stuck in a 'crisis and response' pattern?
Experts say the bill for disasters will only continue to rise unless we make changes.
Trees explode around the US in extreme cold
What's causing trees to explode in the USA? Joe Zeleznik from the University of North Dakota has the answer about frost cracks. Audio
More than 100 people help clean up Wellington's waterfront
On average each year, the clean up usually collects around 1500 litres of rubbish Audio
How much of a risk are landslides?
Recovery efforts are back underway at the site of the fatal Mount Maunganui slip after they were earlier suspended when more land movement was detected. One of the six people missing has now been… Audio
Otago Peninsula on the verge of being possum-free
Efforts to stamp the pests out, including using AI cameras and detection dog Scout, have been going for years.
Simon Wilson on the climate crisis
Time to solve some of the world's problems. Simon Wilson is here to help put some wrongs to right and today he's focusing on a huge issue; how we prepare ourselves better for the climate crisis. Audio
Midday Report Essentials for Thursday 29 January 2026
Winston Peters has intensified his attack on his own government's Free Trade Agreement with India claiming up to 20,000 Indians will be able to come into the country and the agreement will result in… Audio
900,000-tonne miscalculation makes carbon target even tougher
It's given New Zealand less wiggle-room to meet all of its planned greenhouse gas savings.
Microplastics found in one-third of surveyed Pacific Island fish
The scale of contamination varied significantly across locations however, and the researchers warned against "alarmist" interpretations.
