The Detail

The world outside America's being urged to build walls to keep mega companies under control, while breaking them down to form new connections Pulitzer prize winning historian Anne Applebaum says the process of the world restructuring itself around America has begun Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The release next month of the latest in the Grand Theft Auto video game series is set to be the biggest media release in history Inside the record-breaking hype and fierce controversies surrounding the November release of GTA VI Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

As we enter the final fortnight of the election campaign, NZ political parties are still struggling to get out of first gear. Desperation from both major party leaders sees them throwing everything at the election, 'because of how poorly they are both doing'. Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Homegrown AI tech could propel the country towards our Predator-Free 2050 goal, but only if it becomes cheap enough for local groups to afford it. New smart devices can track that last sneaky possum, saving hours of time. But the price tag is too high for most conservation groups. Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The link between seabird droppings, eliminating invasive rats, and faster-growing coral reefs New Zealanders - from Ministers to pest control experts - are in the forefront of helping to save the world's coral reefs from bleaching Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Politicians agree something has to be done about the economic burden of superannuation, but they all have a different spin on how New Zealand can cope The Detail unpacks election retirement policies as the reality of New Zealand's increasingly costly superannuation beast starts to hit us Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders living overseas are enrolled to vote. But many of them don't feel they've been invited to the party. Close to two electorates of NZ voters live overseas and are still enrolled at home. Some expat Kiwis want to change the conversation about their participation in our democracy. Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The magnificent yachts parked up at the Auckland's viaduct are more than just nice to look at - they're also good for our boat-related trades Zen and Koru are two of the flashiest superyachts docked right now, but it's just the start of the season and New Zealand can expect more to come Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

From drug money to building sites, how criminals are trying to turn dirty cash into legitimate wealth How organised crime and dodgy building contractors formed a profitable marriage of convenience. Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

'Open conflict and institutional paralysis' - behind the scenes at New Zealand Cricket it's civil war There's an ambitious plan to revitalise the game, but the decision making has been excruciating, the timeline dubious and the fallout, furious Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

New Zealand's space race is on the verge of stepping up another notch, but with big opportunities come growing risks A potential new spaceport could bring investment and opportunity, but as our dependence on satellites grows, so do the risks of cyberattacks, collisions and conflict in orbit. Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

New Zealand's aid contributions outside of the Pacific aren't massive but they're still significant - and the money saves lives The drop of aid New Zealand sends to Ethiopia is small but significant. Slashing it in order to boost Pharmac's budget will cost lives. Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

How Australia and New Zealand face the same issues in a challenging international scene, and where they differ in their approaches Australia is balancing a path between attracting ire from the Trump regime and retaliation from China - but not saying anything is a risky strategy Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

From checking the water pipes to spraying sunscreen on apples, Hawke's Bay farmers are getting ready for a super hot, dry, windy summer The region that's been through catastrophe after catastrophe is gearing up for what could be months of horribly dry weather Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Cornell rape allegations - why the case has gone viral and why women worldwide are saying "I'm Jane Doe" From alleged sexual violence at an American university to a global conversation about consent, masculinity and why women still don't feel safe Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

You can find scientific research to back up almost any idea, but telling the difference between fact and fiction is a real art This is not like the movies where a lone scientist is about to save the world with an idea only they have Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The housing market is all over the place - neither buyers nor sellers seem to be getting anywhere fast It's supposed to be a buyers' market when it comes to property sales, but buyers are just as unhappy as sellers right now, and investors are taking losses Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The EU is looking at a landmark complaint over New Zealand's alleged climate deal violations. New Zealand faces its first climate complaint under EU trade rules, but the government rejects claims climate promises have been broken. Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

We're living through an extraordinary moment of geopolitical volatility. New Zealand politicians and businesses need to adapt. Is New Zealand doing enough to make its economy resilient and its businesses competitive as we dodge the bullets of international turmoil? Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

With young people making up about a fifth of our daily vaping rates, one expert is worried there hasn't been enough focus on how addictive vapes are. There are concerns oral nicotine pouches like Zyns will bring the same problems as vaping, as young people look at alternatives for their nicotine hit. Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Five weeks out and nobody can call this election, with the declining major parties tied and minor parties surging. It's proving a "very, very tight race" for Parliament, so five weeks out, The Detail sits down with two political journalists to look at who is safe, who is vulnerable, and who is set to lose their job. Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

As rugby bosses confront a financial crisis, the biggest changes in NZ rugby could be just around the corner. New Zealand Rugby is facing a financial reckoning - with millions in losses forcing tough decisions about the future of the game. So what gets cut, who pays the price, and can rugby afford to keep doing things the same way? Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The dreaded RMA has finally gone, but its replacement Acts have come in for a slew of criticism, especially from environmentalists. We've gone from 'you can't' to 'you can' when it comes to development, but the new law changes mean environmental protection is the loser. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Economist Shamubeel Eaqub recounts how the term 'zombie towns' created an outcry in rural New Zealand. Now, a decade on, he wants to understand if anything has changed in the provinces. Economist Shamubeel Eaqub finds out what's really going on in heartland New Zealand. Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

While New Zealand condemns expansion of settlements on West Bank, it does not join international sanctions. Israel's ruling coalition faces a tough return to power in October general elections. Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

LEGO is making a comeback in New Zealand - just as National makes a push to get Kiwi kids spending less time on screens. The humble LEGO brick is having a moment, its resurgence coinciding with a government push to get children off their devices. Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

They offered their lives for their country, now veterans say they are fighting for support. They offered their lives for their country - now Kiwi veterans are fighting for support, with one retired soldier saying he nearly took his own life. Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Even the heads of big tech companies are warning we must slow down on rapidly developing AI, before we lose control of it. An expert says there's a naive and embarrassing lack of political attention being paid to the acceleration of unregulated artificial intelligence. Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The ministry insists the National Library Music Hire service is not being discontinued - but the PSA says change proposals show it's very much under threat. Musicians from bands, choirs and orchestras are worried a fresh round of public service cuts will mean the disappearance of a much-loved sheet music hire service. Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The supermarket checkout is where the cost-of-living crisis hits hardest, and now it's the target of political parties. The election fight over your grocery bill. Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

An analyst warns a fraying rules-based order threatens countries like NZ. Political trends a hemisphere away could affect us here. Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

It's hoped a new district court role to help children of prisoners, as well as a research project aimed at highlighting their needs, will help change their lives. The attention on the issue comes in the wake of the Malachi Subecz inquiry, which has been a lightning rod for change. Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

What happens when lobbying goes from transparent and legitimate to crossing the line in the corridors of power. A new report released this morning highlights the pros and cons of vested-interest lobbying and spotlights the lobbied, including current and former ministers, MPs and ministerial staffers. Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This year's election is shaping up to be the sixth consecutive election that fewer young people are enrolling to vote. Changes to enrolment rules may mean potential voters are left without a voice. Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Construction industry leaders say the government is breaking the chain of trust when it comes to the rigorous testing of building materials The future of our world-respected building research association is looking shaky with a government move to cut the dedicated levy that funds it Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

From wrongly suspended benefits to thousands denied food grants, a string of failures at the Ministry of Social Development proves damaging MSD's made a litany of mistakes over botched benefit decisions and more, but apologies in contrast are thin on the ground Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

As the geopolitical jockeying in the Pacific continues, and America voices concern again over China's influence, the US is being told to step up The US is being nudged to improve its standing in the Pacific as China muscles in - starting with turning up Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A new study highlights the high use of antibiotics in young children in New Zealand, but one expert points out it's not just an issue in kids New Zealand ranks fourth in the OECD when it comes to antibiotic prescriptions, but that's not a good thing Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

With less than two months to go until the election, The Detail sits down with two political journalists to talk polls, policies and whether the leaders of the big parties will survive Polls, policies and political pokes - with less than two months to go, the election battle heats up Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A small part of big road project budgets is spent on something beautiful - but under Act, it would take a back seat Act wants to cut motorway art from road project budgets. Advocates say the effort to save us money will make us poorer Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

New Zealand is facing the biggest flu outbreak in a decade putting pressure on our health system New Zealand is in the grip of Influenza A, and for our most vulnerable it's proving deadly Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Some politicians have managed to weaponise social media for electoral purposes, but experts say if you don't have the deft touch, just stay away Politicians who think TikTok is an advertising platform for their party are wasting their time on the platform, say experts Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Humanitarians in war zones are constantly looking at the sky as drones deliver their deadly weapons indiscriminately - in some cases they're targeting aid workers A Kiwi humanitarian says it's time we re-think the rules of war and have discussions around arming aid workers Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Developer Winton has been at the centre of several controversies, from its fast track applications to a problematic boss and suspension from the stock exchange A hugely controversial fast-tracked housing development is not the only bump in the road for Winton Land, whose owner is under the spotlight for his behaviour Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Shane Jones' explosive 'medieval slave practices' claims raise questions over exploitation, regulation - and Jones' true intent Shane Jones has accused the kiwifruit industry of 'medieval slave practices' and called for a review of the laws governing Zespri. But with the industry pushing back, the question is whether this is a genuine systemic problem or provocative political grenade from the coalition partner. Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

How to fix your house to avoid those sweltering summer nights Now we've changed our homes to keep in the winter warmth, it's time for more modifications as we try to flush out the summer heat Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

'This should never have happened' - how warnings about the Mount Maunganui landslide went unheeded, and why no one has been held accountable Questions remain over failures and accountability in the Mount Maunganui landslide, after a review found the tragedy could have been prevented, had councillors bothered to read commissioned reports Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Every 60 minutes, three New Zealanders develop dementia, and that number is getting worse. The good news - there are things we can do to help avoid it. The number of people with dementia in NZ is set to more than double in the next 25 years. Luckily, the medical world is learning more about treatment and prevention. Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The world's nicest people are sick of their southern neighbour's economic bullying, and the Canadian PM is standing firm in his refusal to give in Canadian PM Mark Carney has gone toe-to-toe with US President Donald Trump, refusing to back down to tariff demands. It's costing Canada, but they're backing Carney anyway. Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Te Pāti Māori's high-stakes strategy could reshape Parliament and decide who governs - or could end the party In an election where the margins matter, TPM is focusing its campaign strategy on the candidate vote in all seven Māori seats Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details