In Case You Missed It

In Case You Missed It headlines with summaries.

• Is there anybody out there?

  3 Dec 2023

  

  If there is life on other planets, what might it look like, and would they even bother coming to Earth? Audio

  Is there anybody out there?

• Mediawatch: Mayor under pressure after rumour-based reports

  media politics

  3 Dec 2023

  

  Tory Whanau has acknowledged an alcohol problem, prompted by media questions partly based on an unconfirmed recording - one that has been contradicted by the only eye-witness on record. Audio

  Mediawatch: Mayor under pressure after rumour-based reports

• Can saying hello to strangers help us feel more connected?

  New Zealand health

  3 Dec 2023

  

  WHO has said the world is experiencing an epidemic of loneliness. A small city in Sweden believes it has the answer. We put it to the test in Hamilton.

  Can saying hello to strangers help us feel more connected?

• The seven types of people on Spotify Wrapped day

  World technology

  3 Dec 2023

  

  It doesn't matter who you are, whether you hate music or have never and will never use Spotify. Everyone fits the mould for at least one of these types on Wrapped day.

  The seven types of people on Spotify Wrapped day

• Week in Detail: Smokefree disbelief, Judith Collins' new hats, and woke-washing

  In Case You Missed It

  3 Dec 2023

  

  The Detail looks at the new government's rollback of the Smokefree 2025 legislation, the return of Judith Collins to the halls of power, and how big brands get caught out for being faux-progressive.

  Week in Detail: Smokefree disbelief, Judith Collins' new hats, and woke-washing

• Manu Vaea: the spiritual and mundane in being fakaleitī

  Pacific culture

  3 Dec 2023

  

  In a new exhibition at Pātaka Art + Museum in Porirua, Manuaha'apai Vaeatangitau deals in "radical honesty" about her experiences as a fakaleitī or Tongan third-gender person. Audio

  Manu Vaea: the spiritual and mundane in being fakaleitī

• The Topp Twins: 'When we come back out raging, you better watch out'

  music

  2 Dec 2023

  

  For more than 40 years, The Topp Twins have charmed Kiwi audiences with a unique blend of country music and comedy. They talk to RNZ's Music 101. Audio

  The Topp Twins: 'When we come back out raging, you better watch out'

• Mea Motu defends world boxing super bantamweight title

  Sport

  3 Dec 2023

  

  New Zealand boxer Mea Motu has defended her IBO super bantamweight world title against India's Chandni Mehra in Whangārei .

  Mea Motu defends world boxing super bantamweight title

• Working horses adjust to new life off the track

  rural farming

  3 Dec 2023

  

  Country Life - Chanelle Dickie has taken dozens of retired racehorses under her wing as part of a rehoming and re-educating programme that cares for standardbreds that have fallen off the pace. Audio

  Working horses adjust to new life off the track

• Does New Zealand really need its defence force?

  conflict

  2 Dec 2023

  

  A new book asks what is the cost of NZ's military, is it primarily for defence and peacekeeping, is it effective, and are their effective alternatives? Susie Ferguson talks with author professor… Audio

  Does New Zealand really need its defence force?

• Fiona McDonald - 'I'm friggin' lucky to be able to do this'

  music

  2 Dec 2023

  

  Turning the creative taps back on was like "the sweetest liquid you've ever tasted", Strawpeople singer Fiona McDonald says. Audio

  Fiona McDonald - 'I'm friggin' lucky to be able to do this'

• Black Caps suffer historic test defeat in Bangladesh

  Sport

  2 Dec 2023

  

  Bangladesh have beaten New Zealand by 150 runs in the opening test in Sylhet to grab a 1-0 lead in the two-test series on Saturday.

  Black Caps suffer historic test defeat in Bangladesh

• Another side of Bob Marley - 'We had an instant sort of good vibe'

  music

  2 Dec 2023

  

  Every photographer needs their muse, and for Kate Simon, Bob Marley has proved a lasting one. Audio

  Another side of Bob Marley - 'We had an instant sort of good vibe'

• Building a wetland on farm 'makes everything better'

  rural farming

  2 Dec 2023

  

  Country Life - A wetland at the bottom of Kaiwaiwai Dairies farm in South Wairarapa is reducing most of the nitrates drained from the paddocks. Audio

  Building a wetland on farm 'makes everything better'

• How to love cheese

  food

  2 Dec 2023

  

  Sam and Ellie Studd's new book The Best Things In Life Are Cheese aims to help us appreciate cheese in all its many forms, including how to pick a good one. They talked to Susie Ferguson. Audio

  How to love cheese

• Grime MC Flowdan talks collabs, and his Wellington show reviewed

  New Zealand music

  2 Dec 2023

  

  UK grime music pioneer Flowdan talks to Samantha Mythen about his Grammy nomination, recent run of collaborations and what crowds turn up for, just before hitting the stage in Wellington.

  Grime MC Flowdan talks collabs, and his Wellington show reviewed

• Simon Crafar's career in motorcycling fuelled by family

  Sport

  2 Dec 2023

  

  Former top New Zealand motorcyclist Simon Crafar says he will be forever grateful to his parents for helping him to achieve a childhood dream.

  Simon Crafar's career in motorcycling fuelled by family

• Activists call on NZ govt to do more for West Papua

  Pacific West Papua

  2 Dec 2023

  

  New Zealand's government should confront Indonesia over its alleged human rights violations in West Papua, human rights activists and West Papua independence activists in Aotearoa say.

  Activists call on NZ govt to do more for West Papua

• A show stopper for Christmas cake lovers

  rural Canterbury

  2 Dec 2023

  

  Country Life - Cake convener Christine Beaton has a tip for fruitcake bakers at the New Zealand Agricultural Show, 'you don't really cook a Christmas cake, you dry it out'. Audio

  A show stopper for Christmas cake lovers

• Focus on Politics: Distractions assail coalition as it lays out ambitious agenda

  2 Dec 2023

  

  Fixing the economy is a hefty workload for a Cabinet that's so far been dogged by distractions - driven partly by new Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters. Audio

  Focus on Politics: Distractions assail coalition as it lays out ambitious agenda

• Health NZ staff member investigated for Covid-19 misinformation

  New Zealand health

  2 Dec 2023

  

  Te Whatu Ora is investigating a staff member accused of spreading Covid-19 misinformation using its data.

  Health NZ staff member investigated for Covid-19 misinformation

• Watch: 'We are going to ban phones across NZ in schools' - Luxon

  Politics education

  1 Dec 2023

  

  Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Education Minister Erica Stanford have spoken about their plans for schooling, local government and the economy in Auckland.

  Watch: 'We are going to ban phones across NZ in schools' - Luxon

• Watch: Experts look at what the El Niño summer will bring

  New Zealand weather

  1 Dec 2023

  

  It's the first day of summer and according to NIWA, the El Niño weather cycle looks set to bring warm weather and high winds for the rest of the season.

  Watch: Experts look at what the El Niño summer will bring

• Auckland basks in Indian traditional tag sports extravaganza

  IndoNZ

  1 Dec 2023

  

  Thousands from NZ's Indian subcontinental communities attended the fifth New Zealand Sikh Games and inaugural New Zealand Kabaddi World Cup in South Auckland.

  Auckland basks in Indian traditional tag sports extravaganza