Out of all of New Zealand’s natural hazards, landslides have resulted in the greatest loss of life since written records began. Pulling in data from decades of landslide research, a team at Earth Sciences New Zealand are now developing national models of landslide risk for both slow- and fast-moving landslides, to help New Zealand plan for, and respond to, major landslide events.

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Learn more:

• Other researchers at Earth Sciences New Zealand are also investigating underwater landslides, which have the potential to cause tsunami hazards.
• In January In-Depth reporter Kirsty Johnston investigated the gap between what New Zealand spends on disaster recovery and climate preparation.
• Jesse Mulligan revisited the Abbotsford disaster in 2019 with Sarah Johnston from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision.
• Landslides are one of the threats that are monitored 24/7 by the National Geohazard Monitoring Centre.

Guests:

Dr Chris Massey, Dr Saskia deVilder, Dr Sam McColl, Earth Sciences New Zealand.

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Every 90 minutes a New Zealander dies from heart disease. Liz Garton meets the team at the Institute of Biomedical Technologies is developing new products to help monitor heart health in the home to try to change those terrible statistics.

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Learn more:

• The Detail recently looked into the deadly heart disease that creeps up on you.
• In March, Guyon Espiner spoke with Dr Philip Shirely about how an annual flu vaccine can reduce the risk of heart issues.
• Kate Green’s investigation into health insurance in May, showed heart disease is one of the biggest drivers of claims.
• Dr Claire Concannon visited the CoRE Pūtahi Manawa to find out what they’re doing to address heart health inequities, in 2022.

Guests:

Professor Andrew Lowe, Dr Tet Chuan Lee, Matin Khalili, Institute of Biomedical Technologies, Auckland University of Technology.

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There’s a lot of chat about solar panels for our rooftops, but where else might it make sense to put them? Claire Concannon visits the University of Canterbury’s Electric Power Engineering Centre to learn about their involvement in a big European project exploring the use of solar panels on vehicles and in car parks. Plus, she speaks to one researcher who is focused on planning for global catastrophes.

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Cold plunges and cold water swimming are increasingly popular, with big benefit claims being made on social media. But is submerging yourself in frigid water actually good for you? Claire Concannon joins a team of researchers at the 2026 New Zealand and Oceania Ice Swimming Championships in Alexandra as they try to get some better data about both the risks and potential benefits.

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IN THIS EPISODE:

(00:00) Introduction – the rise of cold water swimming.

(01:06) The 2026 New Zealand and Oceania Ice Swimming Championships in Alexandra.

(02:00) Competitor Susan Sherwen on why she ice swims.

(05:10) How researchers track swimmers’ core temperature, stroke rate and perceptions of cold.

(07:30) Prof Jim Cotter on cold shock, hypothermia and afterdrop.

(12:00) The recovery room – Steven and Susan after their swim.

(17:30) Potential benefits and what the research says.

(20:30) Blood samples and looking for brain health proteins.

(23:40) Potential mental health benefits…

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Our Changing World takes a deep dive into controversial plans by US company Colossal Biosciences, backed by filmmaker Peter Jackson, to de-extinct the Moa. In part two of a two-part series, Sharon Brettkelly looks at whether it SHOULD be done.

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LEARN MORE:

• Check out this explainer from Katie Kenny for the proposed Gene Technology changes.
• RNZ’s Monique Steel looks at who is backing the stalled Gene Technology Bill.
• Listen as Kathryn Ryan talks to Kennedy Warne about how de-extincting the moa might fit with conservation efforts.
• Ben Novak talks to RNZ’s Saturday Morning show about de-extincting the passenger pigeon.

GUESTS:

• Professor Amanda Black, Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, Lincoln University and Director of Bioprotection Aotearoa.
• Professor Phillip Wilcox, bioethicist and quantitative geneticist, University of Otago.
• Andrew Pask, Chief Biology Officer, Colossal Biosciences
• Associate Professor Nic Rawlence, Director of Otago Palaeogenetics Laboratory, University of Otago.

IN THIS EPISODE:

(00:00) Should we bring moa back?

(01:36) Colossal’s plan to bring back moa

(03:00) Who benefits from de-extinction

(07:33) Māori perspectives, consent and data sovereignty

(10:55) Could New Zealand stop the project?

(14:43) Considering all the aspects of de-extinction

(18:30) De-extinction vortex and the ethics of breeding and consultation…

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After years of watching it move closer, the highly pathogenic H5/N1 strain of bird flu has arrived on our shores. It has left a trail of devastation, causing mass mortality events in many birds and mammal species. What do we know about this virus and how is one high-risk site preparing to manage the impacts?

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Highly pathogenic H5/N1 bird flu strain has been detected in New Zealand, but it's still early days. There are lots of unknowns about when it will start spreading here, and how our wildlife will react to the virus. But what has happened in other countries? Claire Concannon speaks to Niall Hatch of BirdWatch Ireland about what they've experienced.

SHOW NOTES:

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LEARN MORE:

• The Great Ireland Vs New Zealand Bird-Off took place across two episodes in 2023, during the time when bird flu has having a huge impact on Irish seabirds. Listen to them here: Part 1, Part 2.
• Read this RNZ explainer about what the confirmation of H5N1 in New Zealand means for wildlife, poultry and the public.
• Revisit the 2025 Our Changing World episode Getting ready for H5N1 bird flu, which traced the virus’s global spread and New Zealand’s preparations for its arrival.
• For more on Irish birds and wildlife with Niall Hatch and Ricky Whelan, you can listen to BirdWatch Ireland’s podcast: In Your Nature.

GUESTS:

• Niall Hatch, BirdWatch Ireland.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Over 80% of our coastal dune ecosystems have been lost. So, what about the native species living with them? Ayana Piper-Healion steps into Bream Bay’s sand dunes with a monitoring team to see what lizards can tell us about the health of the sand dunes.

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Learn more:

To find out more on what the local critics think about the Bream Bay Sand Extraction Project’s fast-track application, RNZ’s Peter de Graaf reported on a protest there earlier this year.

Further north, Saturday Morning reported on significant damage being caused to dunes by thrill seekers driving vehicles through them.

Another region dealing with threatened dunes is Waimarama, where weeds are spreading from people fly-dumping garden waste.

In the Hawke’s Bay, the ‘Skink Squad’ are on a mission to save the northern spotted skinks in preparation for an infrastructure project.

In 2021, Our Changing World did a deep dive into dune plants and the largest supplier of plants for dune revegetation programs.

Guests:

Steve Johnson, Patuharakeke Te Pou Taiao

Ari Carrington, resource co-ordinator at Patuharakeke Te Pou Taiao

Katrina Hansen, biodiversity specialist Northland Regional Council

Laura Shaft, biodiversity manager Northland Regional Council

Brooke Gray, biodiversity advisor Northland Regional Council

Richard Griffiths, coastal scientist Northland Regional Council

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details