Labour Day for Monday 27 October 2025
8:10 70 years of the Aoraki Mount Cook vintage car rally
David and Christine Mehrtens stand in front of their 1924 Delage. David is the son of the late Maurice Geoffrey Mehrtens, who founded the Aoraki/Mt Cook car rally 70 years ago. Photo: David Mehrtens
The Aoraki Mount Cook Vintage Car Rally is winding up after a long weekend - it's 69th year on the motoring calendar since it began over Labour Weekend in October 1956.
The rally has been run every year since by the South Canterbury Vintage Car Club.
The South Canterbury Vintage Car Club was formed in large part to the energy of Geoff Mehrtens rounding up friends and local car enthusiasts, and this weekend Geoff's son David is behind the wheel of his dad's last car - a 1924 Delage - for this weekend's rally.
Susana speaks with Geoff's son, David.
8:35 Rowdy Durbridge on Pike River film
Rowdy Durbridge's son Daniel Herk was killed in the Pike River Mine disaster in 2010. Photo: Matt Grace
It's almost 15 years since the Pike River mine disaster took the lives of 29 miners.
This week, Pike River - the film directed by Rob Sarkies - opens in cinemas around the country.
The film follows the true story of Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse, whose friendship empowered them to fight for justice after the Mine explosion took the lives of their husband and son.
Melanie Lysnkey plays Anna Osborne and Robyn Malcolm is Sonya Rockhouse.
Actor Peter Tait plays Rowdy Durbridge - a Pike River miner whose son Daniel Herk died in the mine on 19 November, 2010.
Rowdy Durbridge joins Susana from his home in Greymouth.
A still of the Pike River miners from Rob Sarkies' drama, Pike River. Photo: Matt Grace
9:06 Mike Lee on Wrights Hill Fortress
A previous Wrights Hill Fortress open day. Photo: Mike Lee
A unique piece of New Zealand's wartime history can be found on the hills above the Wellington suburb of Karori.
Wrights Hill Fortress was built in 1942 to protect Wellington from possible enemy attack during the Second World War.
Every Labour Day and four other days a year, Wrights Hill Fortress is open to the public.
The chairman of the Fortress's Restoration Society Mike Lee is there now and ready for the first visitors.
9:20 Nicky Brzeska: Raglan Arts Weekend
Nicky Brzeska is one of the organisers of Raglan's Arts Weekend. Photo: Nicky Brzeska
The small beachside town of Raglan aka Whaingaroa is located 48 kilometres west of Hamilton. It's know for its surfing and volcanic black sand beaches and at Labour Weekend the town is swamped by arts lovers.
This is the 15th year of Raglan Arts Weekend - public artwork being made as well as the Raglan Country and Blues Music Festival, installations and demonstrations as artists open their studio doors.
Nicky Brzeska from the Raglan Arts Centre is one of the organisers and chats to Susana.
9:35 Karl Maughan: A Clear Day
Karl Maughan is a Joni Mitchell fan Photo: RNZ/Charlotte Wilson
Labour Weekend can by synonymous with gardening and visiting others' gardens.
And at the Suter gallery in Nelson, there's an exhibition of "hyper real" gardens by one of New Zealand's most recognised artists, painter Karl Maughan.
Titled A Clear Day, this solo exhibition focuses on Karl Maughan's early practice, presenting key works made between 1987 and 1998.
Karl Maughan joins Susana live from Wellington.
10:05 NZSO's principal conductor, Gemma New
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's principal conductor Gemma New has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to music direction. Photo: Supplied / Roy Cox
Gemma New is in her fourth season as the principal conductor of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra - she's its Artistic Advisor. Gemma regularly appears with orchestras in North America and Europe.
And at 38, she is recognised globally as a leader among the new generation of conductors for her insightful interpretations and dynamic presence.
Gemma joins Susana from Atlanta, Georgia.
10:35 Miriama Toms: Flowers from Felix
Miriama is a writer, editor and director. Photo: Miriama Toms
How we spend time over a long holiday weekend can include visiting our loved ones at cemeteries around the country.
If we live closer we can visit more often, but if we don't, a long weekend provides the time.
Susana caught up with Miriama Toms at Purewa Cemetry in Auckland where her teenage son Felix is buried, and where the project 'Flowers from Felix' has grown since she planted the first flowers in 2019.
11:05 Roadie on the Catlins Coast with Julie Keast
Julie Keast is a councillor for the Waihopai-Toetoe Ward. Photo: Julie Keast
There's nothing like a roady without leaving home...the big question - how do we bring a place to life from a distance?
The Catlins Coast is located in the southeastern corner of the South Island that runs east to west from Kaka Point - past Nugget Point past Cathedral Caves and Curio Bay and Waipapa Point to Fortrose. It's the area between the Clutha and Mataura Rivers.
There are plenty of places in-between and so Julie Keast from Catlins Coast Incorporated is joining us to keep us on track.
11:20 Hinemoa Elder shares her top music picks
Photo: (c) Simon Young
Child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr Hinemoa Elder, is the best-selling author of books such as Aroha, E Moko Dear Moko and most recently, Ara: A Māori Guidebook of the Mind.
She joins Susana to share some of her top music picks. She also shares a whakatauki for Labour Day.
Hinemoa's picks:
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Eartha Kitt - St Louis Blues
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The Cure - A Forest
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Chakka Khan - I feel for you
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Tama Waipara & Maisey Rika - East Coast Moon
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Muriwhenua Kapa - Poi (live on TVNZ Te Matatini)
