The Detail

In the 1990s, Lois Cox interviewed lesbian women about their lives in Wellington. Some 25 years later, those stories have been published.In Lois Cox's book 'That's What I Am' 16 lesbians tell their stories of living in Wellington last century, before they could be unapologetically outGuests:Lois Cox - author of That's What I AmLearn more:Find Lois's book hereFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Those who can afford it are getting thin by needle, but new weight loss drugs bring with them unanswered questionsObesity, Ozempic, and the end of body positivity - Is New Zealand losing its balance in its pursuit of thinness?Guests:Evelyn Ebrey- fashion journalist and producer of Cutting the Curve documentary seriesProfessor Wayne Cutfield - Auckland UniversityLearn more about the topic by listening to The Detail's previous episodes on weight loss medication and the body positivity movementFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The road to getting a driver license is set to become easier and more efficient, but experts question whether safety is enough of a considerationThe government is proposing changes to make getting a driver license easier, including scrapping the full license test. But with more than a third of drivers failing that test, experts have concerns.Guests:Dylan Thomsen - Road Safety spokesperson at AAMark Revel-Johnson - president of the NZ Institute for Driver EducatorsLearn more:Read more details about the changes here Find the statistics on youth road safety statistics referenced in the episode hereFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

From promise to protest - how the Bougival Accord has thrown New Caledonia into chaos.The Bougival Accord was meant to heal, but now risks dividing New Caledonia again, with a French journalist saying that locals are armed and readyGuests:Coralie Cochin- Journalist at New Caledonia La PremierLearn more about the history of civil unrest in New Caledonia and other Pacific nationsFrench claws in the Pacific The tiny nations that want to stand aloneFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

New Zealand risks missing out on the "land grab" for e-waste and is paying the price as it sends phones, laptops and batteries offshoreA Kiwi tech firm's breakthrough solution for recycling EV batteries goes offshore, where countries are scrambling to keep hold of their valuable e-waste metals.Guests:Will Barker - Chief executive and co-founder of MintSue Coutts - Director of external affairs at Zero Waste AotearoaDave Young - Head of research and development at MintLearn more about Mint's deal with British car maker Jaguar Land Rover and its partners, the University of Warwick and LiBatt Recycling. Follow their progress here, as they work to recover critical metals such as lithium, nickel and cobalt from old batteries.Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

There's a silent epidemic in our national game, and it's leaving a trail of tragedy here and overseas Shane Christie wanted a hard look at the link between head knocks and long-term brain injury, and he asked for his own brain to be studiedFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Despite the scandals and leaky pipes, Wellingtonians want the rest of the nation to know that their city is still unbeatableThe capital city has been getting a tough time in the headlines lately, but locals say it's the same creative, beautiful place they've loved for a long timeFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

AI-hallucinated scientific research and legal precedents are making their way into academic papers and court cases, highlighting AI's real-world impactThe world's most cited cat had a brief, successful run. Then Google Scholar brought his career to an abrupt halt.Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Cruise ship visits to Aotearoa are down, and industry insiders worry that the economic fallout for the tourism industry will be severe Red tape, high costs and tough rules have cruise companies turning their backs on New Zealand, and our cruise industry on the brink of sinkingFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

As the natural gas supply dwindles, a glasshouse grower fears for its future, and the future of growing food in New ZealandTomato grower warns the gas supply crisis could threaten the hothouse industry, end thousands of jobs and send consumer prices even higherFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Inside the Auckland event where tech startups pitch to New Zealand's wealthiest investors, the economic outlook is sunny At the Icehouse Showcase, tech start-ups vie for the attention - and cash - of some of New Zealand's richest, in a stark contrast to the economic slump across the countryFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

When it comes to making the internet safer for children and better for society the devil is in the detail - and those details are often overlooked A recent wave of morally-motivated lobbying has succeeded in making big changes to global gaming and internet laws. Critics say there are potentially dangerous consequences.Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Amanda Gillies speaks with media chaplain and broadcaster Reverend Frank Ritchie on his podcast re_covering, to unpack the one story that most impacted her personally and professionally. Gillies was on the way to an interview when she got a call confirming Newshub’s closure. Despite the shock, she continued on – and in the telling of a brave Te Kūiti amputee’s story was reminded what had first drawn her to journalism.Watch the video version of the episode here.After a tip-off, Amanda Gillies drove to Te Kūiti to meet Bev McIndoe – a woman who had survived a catastrophic accident that left half her body amputated, and who now faced losing her home after an ACC funding cut.But just five minutes from her destination, Amanda’s phone rang with news that turned her own world upside-down: Newshub was closing.In shock, she decided to push on – and in sharing Bev’s story of grit and generosity, found her own perspective shifting and a timely reminder of why she became a journalist in the first place.In this kōrero with Rev Frank Ritchie, Amanda Gillies opens up about the moment she learned her workplace of 23 years was shutting its doors, reflects on her time fronting The AM Show, and talks about her new role hosting RNZ’s The Detail.re_covering is a Media Chaplaincy New Zealand podcast series produced by not-for-profit production house Love It Media for RNZ.If you know a media professional who'd appreciate a free, independent, and confidential chat, encourage them to get in touch at mediachaplaincy.nz.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Lord of the Rings cast members still hold New Zealand close to their hearts after 25 years, and several are making plans to returnKiwi actor Bruce Hopkins catches up with his fellow cast members from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, when they appear at a massive fan convention in LondonFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Two of the big stars from last weekend will be coming to Auckland for Labour Weekend's Armageddon convention in Auckland - Elijah Wood, or Frodo Baggins to Rings fans, and Andy Serkis who plays Gollum. Hobbit actors Evangeline Lilly (Tauriel, an elf) and Graham McTavish (Dwalin the dwarf) will also be there.In this podcast, Bruce Hopkins speaks to Elijah Wood, Dominic Moynihan, Billy Boyd, Sir Ian McKellen, David Wenham, Sean Astin and John Rhys-Davies at the For the Love of Fantasy convention in London. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

New Zealand's first-ever conviction for attempted espionage has been handed down, but the solider at the centre of the case was less James Bond and "maybe more like a bumbling wannabe-spy" A former New Zealand soldier convicted of attempted espionage wanted to defect to a foreign country. Instead, he'll serve time in military detention, and is likely to have his name suppression removed.Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

As rate payers feel the pinch, plans for rate capping offer welcome relief. But councillors here and across the Tasman have warnings. New Zealand householders are likely to get some relief if councils are forced to cap rates - but the plan could punish those already keeping rates lowFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A growing list of rollbacks of Māori language and culture beg the question: is the Government pushing New Zealand towards an identity crisis? From taking Māori words out of children's books and government agency names to switching the order of languages on passports, te ao Māori's place in NZ - and the country's cultural identity - are under threatFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Auckland's economy is falling behind that of the South Island and rural areas, and there's no government hero coming to the rescueRetailers say it's the City of No Sales, productivity is wasted sitting in traffic and much of the inner city is broken. Does Auckland have better times ahead?Find The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Beautiful Northland should be New Zealand's paradise but a surge in violent crime, drugs and poverty is even putting off police from moving up thereNine homicides in just four months have stretched Northland police, who have had to turn their back on other crimes, triggering an "unprecedented" mayday call for out-of-town helpFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The Queen of Goth - Frankenstein author Mary Shelley - is the inspiration behind a new play written by Jess SayerThe playwright behind a new production centring on the gothic author of Frankenstein shares her inspiration for the storyFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details