Jack Perkins

'The best suburb in Wellington.' That's how a recent reunion of quarantine officers described Wellington harbour's Matiu-Somes island when it was an animal quarantine station. Animal quarantine began… Audio

Lisa Thompson spends a morning with Dr Helen Schofield at the Franklin Zoo and Wildlife Sanctuary and meets the characters that populate her life on a daily basis. Audio

Allan Parker has spent thirty years admiring the view across Shakespear - yes, it really is spelt this way - Regional Park on Auckland's Whangaparaoa Peninsula. But these days he's leading the… Audio

Noel Petherick does more than deliver mail to the folk who live along the Whanganui river road, heÂ's also tourist bus and occasional taxi for the isolated region. Audio

In 1939 Ray Rook left school and went to work as an apprentice at the local garage in Okato, Taranaki. HeÂ's still there and still working. Audio

Rachel Wotton, once a drill sergeant and white trailer trash from Australia, now offers alternative healing free of charge. Audio

An investigation of a 'haunted house' in Wellington conducted by a group who call themselves 'Strange Occurrences'. Audio

Craig Shepherd's rolling acres west of Wellington provide both haven and hospital for ducks and a range of other birds in need. Audio

Former dairy farmer Wendy Fulton wants to build her own dream home. So she's chucked in the cows and gone back to carpentry school. Audio

Trash Palace offers an Aladdin's cave of recyclable treasures. Audio

Dr Joanne Drayton is Associate Professor of Visual Arts, but at night she carves bones fresh from the butcher. Audio

A New Zealand Defence Force reconstruction team trains for deployment in Afghanistan. Audio

Volunteer fire brigades demonstrate their skills rescuing people from crashed vehicles. Audio

The political life and times of Bill Perkins. Audio

The joys of very tiny vegetables called Microgreens that pack a punch of flavour. Audio

A house on wheels is becoming increasingly attractive to a growing number of New Zealanders. Audio

Older men are tempted out of the loneliness of their inner-city bed-sits into the stimulating and convivial environment offered by Menz Shed. Audio

Cellist Sophie is a synesthete. It's a condition in which one type of stimulation evokes the sensation of another. Audio

For the Rine family permaculture represents a new way of life in the Taranaki high country. Audio

Men and women planning a nautical career are helped by the latest technology. Audio