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Science & Environment
Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon drops 34% in first half 2023
Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon fell 34 percent in the first half of 2023, preliminary government data showed this week, hitting its lowest level in four years as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva…
Pest seaweed found in Hauraki Gulf
It plans to take immediate action against exotic caulerpa seaweed discovered around Kawau Island.
Organic gardener Kath Irvine: winter gardening wisdom
Nomad gardener and The Edible Backyard author Kath Irvine is back with some winter wisdom including why knowing where winter sun falls is the secret to year round success, plus how to avoid a soggy… Audio
Critter of the Week: The Sea Butterfly
Sea butterflies are the flying snails of the sea. They belong to the scientific order Pteropoda - which means 'wing-foot' in Ancient Greek - because of the wing-like 'foot' they flap to swim. Audio
Super-hot explosive battery fires happening too often, council says
A series of fires have been caused by a common household battery which can trigger explosions, and firefighters believe some people are deliberately hiding them in recycling and scrap. Audio
Shaw launches biodiversity regulations and proposal for credits system
The government is proposing a new "biodiversity credits" system, as it brings in new regulations requiring councils to plan for protecting local wildlife.
50th anniversary of nuclear test protests
It has been 50 years since the HMNZS Otago and HMNZS Canterbury sailed to the Mururoa atoll in French Polynesia to protest French nuclear testing in the Pacific.
Sailors on both vessels witnessed… Audio
The 11 places that got more than a year of rain in six months
All locations were in regions heavily hit by Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland Anniversary floods, including parts of Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, and Eastern North Island.
Passenger rail inquiry advises govt to investigate four new services
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has recommended the government launch scoping studies for four rail services throughout the North Island.
Wellington one step closer to new sewage sludge treatment plant
Wellington City Council has signed a deal with a construction consortium to build a new sewage sludge treatment plant at Moa Point.
Lake Rotoma millimetres away from overflowing onto SH30
Rotorua's mayor says managed retreat needs to be seriously considered for homes around the rising Lake Rotoma. The lake is just a few millimetres away from overflowing onto State Highway 30, the… Audio
'I don't know enough' - Teacher concerned about integrating mātauranga
Non-Māori science teachers are questioning how they will teach mātauranga Māori in a proposed new curriculum.
China, New Zealand find common ground in scientific collaboration - report
China is now New Zealand's fourth major partner when it comes to co-producing scientific publications.
High BMI not as bad as feared: study
Having a high body mass index (BMI) in itself probably won't lead to an early death if you are otherwise healthy.
That's according to a new study published this week in the open-access journal PLOS… Audio
Concerns over who will teach mātauranga Māori in new curriculum
Non-Māori science teachers are questioning how they'll teach mātauranga Māori in a proposed new curriculum.
It follows a leaked draft of the new science curriculum - which caused a stir because it… Audio
New Zealand silent on Japan's plan to release nuclear water
An anti-nuclear activist is pointing the finger at New Zealand's silence over Japan's plan to discharge more than one million tonnes of treated radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean.
Japan may… Audio
The puzzle of the silent mind
Have you ever had a catchy tune you just can't get out of your head? Most of us can imagine sounds – music, voices, environmental noise – to varying degrees. But about 1% of people can't imagine… Audio
The Panel with Georgie Stylianou and Peter Dunne (Part 1)
Today on The Panel, Guyon Espiner and panellists Georgie Stylianou and Peter Dunne discuss the drop in house prices since this time last year. Also, they look at an early draft of the new science… Audio
Our Changing World – Anauralia, the lack of audio imagery
Most of us can imagine sounds like dogs barking, music playing, or voices talking. But around 1% of people don't have this inner 'mind's ear'. A team of psychologists is investigating the newly… Audio
'Where's the physics and chemistry?' - Shock over draft of science curriculum
An advance version of the draft school science curriculum which contains no mention of physics, chemistry or biology is alarming science teachers. Audio
