Fires
City of Haze - bush fire smoke envelops Sydney
Sydney city is enveloped in a thick haze from bushfires which is causing much anxiety. Audio
Political heat over Aussie fires
Today the fight against the devastating bushfires in Australia has shifted from New South Wales to Queensland. But in Canberra the heat between politicians continues to rise. Audio
NSW fires emergency: why they're so dangerous
Officials in New South Wales say the situation with the fires is unprecedented and worse than imagined. The wildfires have torn across the region, burning through 850,000 hectares. Audio
Australian fires level "catastrophic" threat
Australia is burning and residents have been warned the threat to areas around Sydney is "catastrophic". At least three people are dead and thousands have been displaced in the fires. Audio
Support for Brazilian PM remains as Amazon fires continue
Brazilians still have hope for Jair Bolsonaro's government, despite continued international outrage at the devastating fires in the Amazon. Rio-based journalist Shannon Sims is with us to look at the… Audio
Brazil fires blaze, Bolsonaro under pressure
Brazil is tackling record wildfires in the Amazon rain forest, with planes dropping water and chemicals in an attempt to control the blazes. President Jair Bolsonaro has promised to release extra… Audio
Professor Al Gillespie: 'Incentives needed to restrict Brazilian deforestation'
University of Waikato professor of international Law Al Gillespie looks at what can be done by the international community about deforestation in the Amazon. Audio
Amazon rainforest fires
Fires are currently ravaging the Amazon rainforest - one of the most important parts of the planet, in terms of its remarkable biodiversity and the huge amount of oxygen the trees there produce . Audio
$1 million in lottery grants money to go towards Tasman fire relief
The Tasman District Mayor says farmers whose land was carved up to make firebreaks during February's blaze will start getting payouts as soon as Monday, when a million dollars of Lottery funding is… Video, Audio
Bushfires destroy five buildings as crisis escalates in Australia
Five buildings have been destroyed in bushfires burning out of control in eastern Victoria in Australia.
11 yr old boy's Tasman fire painting attracts global attention
Leon Fenemor's picture of the Tasman bushfires - and the crews fighting them - has received positive feedback from around the world. Video, Audio
Midweek Mediawatch 13 February 2019
Mediawatch's midweek catch-up with Lately. This week Colin talks to Karyn Hay about political committee chaos splling over into social media, some risky media marketing, the Huawei hoo-haa, a…
Ahipara scrub fire suspicious - Fire and Emergency
Firefighters suspect a wild fire that threatened houses at Ahipara near Kaitaia this morning was deliberately lit. Far North volunteer fire crews arrived on the scene about 1.30 this morning to find… Audio
Govt announces support for Nelson-Tasman farmers, growers
Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor has announced $50,000 to help Nelson-Tasman farmers and growers in what has been described as a medium-scale adverse event. He joined Checkpoint live. Video, Audio
Nelson fire update
The huge fire in the Nelson/Tasman region continues to burn out of control, destroying a house and a farm building Audio
Nelson bushfires update
RNZ Nelson reporter Tracy Neal with the latest on the massive fire in the Tasman district. Audio
Fire-fighting effort hampered by drone sightings
Efforts to put out a large fire in Christchurch were hampered by reports of a drone being flown in the area. Two helicopters battling the fire near the township of Omarama were held up because of the… Audio
SH1, south of Christchurch closed due to fires
Several fires which closed SH1 south of Christchurch have been contained, but the road remains closed. NZTA is warning people to avoid the area completely. Audio
Fire damages buildings at Auckland intermediate school
Three buildings have been damaged at Auckland Normal Intermediate School after a fire started in a historic building during a teachers-only day. Audio
Kiwi firefighters to help battle Tasmania fires
New Zealand firefighters will soon head to Tasmania to help deal with more than 50 blazes burning across 20,000 hectares. Fire and Emergency New Zealand National Manager Rural Operations John… Audio