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Science & Environment
Two boys in hospital after 'freak accident' on Great Barrier
Two boys are fighting for their lives in hospital after what's being described as a "freak accident" on Aotea-Great Barrier island.
The boys, who are not brothers, were trapped under a collapsed sand… Audio
Cordons in storm-damaged Muriwai to be lifted this Friday
It's one of the jewels in Auckland's crown, but for the past four months only locals have been able to visit the black sand surf Mecca of Muriwai. From Friday, that's finally going to change. Auckland… Video, Audio
National Party wants to give farmers more time before paying for emissions
National has announced its plan to reduce agricultural emissions, including pushing back the final deadline by which farmers have to start paying for them - and keeping them off the ETS.
Expert feature: Mushrooms
This week's expert is all about fungi! Dr Mahajabeen Padamsee from Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research joins Anna to talk about all things mushrooms. From foraging to the role they play in the ecosystem… Audio
Kawerau 'dirty' water may still be safe to drink
Increased mineral content can cause skin irritation and make water look dirty - but it's not necessarily unsafe to drink. Auckland University Engineering Associate Professor Dr Lokesh Padhye explains.
…Changes to genetic modification rules would benefit the economy - National
The National Party says New Zealand will be left behind if it does not overhaul restrictions on genetic modification and it plans to address the issue if it leads the next government. Audio
Battle over farmer's wild pine control heading to High Court
A Marlborough farmer does not want to hand over pine control on his land over concerns his "struggling" natives could get caught up in "chemical boom spraying".
Council ends unsafe tree planting and spraying after concerns
Canterbury Regional Council has finally restarted willow tree planting and chemical spraying, six months after a complaint was made about its safety practices.
Rubbish work if you can get it on Rakiura / Stewart Island
Sixteen lucky volunteers will be combing the most southerly beaches in the country next month for trash from as far afield as Australia.
Rare feathered visitors a delight for Taranaki bird-watchers
The calls of kōkako are being heard in a remote Taranaki forest for the first time in more than 25 years.
Susannah Stevens: What are the best times to exercise?
There have been various studies about whether it's best to exercise early or late in the day. Now there's new research. Audio
Toutouwai are flying high at Abel Tasman
Native bush robins, or toutouwai, are making a comeback in the lower reaches of the Abel Tasman National Park.
Companion of the NZ Order of Merit, Kevin Prime
This week Kevin Prime was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for service to Maori, health and the environment. He says regardless of who the next government will be more needs to be… Audio
Prof Matt Baker: kitty contraception, flying DNA & brain-body bridges
Matt Baker returns for a chat about some of the latest science news. This week: why a single shot of gene therapy may replace surgical sterilisation for cats. Audio
Prof Philippa Gander: sleeping in line with our rotating planet
It's generally true that the ability to get good sleep declines as we get older, says world-leading chronobiologist Philippa Gander. One of the best-known ways to increase the amount of slow-wave… Audio
Vinod Balachandran: mRNA vaccine to treat pancreatic cancer
New treatments for pancreatic cancer are urgently needed. Yet, results from a small study published recently suggest that bespoke messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines that prime a patient's immune system to… Audio
Clothing waste: Does NZ need a tax on fast fashion?
How many unwanted clothes do you toss out each year? In Australia its estimated to be anything up to 20kg per person that's dumped. Now their government is threatening fashion retailers with a tax on… Video, Audio
Critter of the Week: the southern bladderwort
This week's critter is the southern bladderwort, Utricularia australis, a carnivorous plant that lives fully submerged in peat bogs. A dramatic decline in population means this species is now… Audio
Are blue carbon sinks the weapon in the CO2 emissions battle?
We often hear about tree planting to draw down carbon from the atmosphere, but could blue carbon sinks be a solution for removing CO2? Audio
Physics group wants government to bail out uni classes
The New Zealand Institute of Physics is calling on the government to bail out Victoria University's School of Chemical and Physical Sciences.
The Institutes president, Professor Joachim Brand, says… Audio
