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Nature & Environment
Is NZ living up to the 'Pacific family' rhetoric?
An in-depth look at whether New Zealand is doing enough to live up to the "Pacific family" rhetoric in the face of the climate crisis and its threats that continue to reshape the region.
Penguins more likely to eat clear or white plastic - experts
Research shows penguins are more likely to eat discarded tops made from white or clear plastic, than any other colour. The study involving almost 70 King and Gentoo penguins from Kelly Tarlton's… Audio
Critter of the Week
The critter of the week is the newly crowned Bug of the Year 2026, the Avatar moth! This beautiful day-flying moth is only found on the Denniston Plateau, from 640 to 850m. They eat alpine marshwort… Audio
A state of emergency, again and again and again
After another run of storms, do declarations of states of emergency risk "crying wolf"?
A state of emergency, again and again and again
After another wild week of weather, The Detail looks at the surge in declarations of states of emergency, and whether we risk 'crying wolf'. Audio
Why are cicadas so darned loud this time of year?
Explainer - It's the season, and you can't miss the buzzy chorus. So how do these insects make so much noise, and is it dangerous?
More injured sea birds seen after storms
Stormy weather in the capital this week blew birds off course and left some exhausted and in need of rescue.
Unclear how takeover of Moa Point wastewater plant by new water entity will work
Tiaki Wai replaces Wellington Water from 1 July, inheriting council-owned water assets including the Moa Point plant.
Stories from Our Changing World
Our Changing World's Claire Concannon chats to Jesse with the latest on the Kakapo Files plus she explains what e-textiles and sensing materials are and how they could change the fashion industry. Audio
Insurer expects surge in weather claims to nearly halve profits
Its chair criticised the lack of action to confront climate change as "costing lives and money".
Wellington's catastrophic sewage spill could be bad news for coastal ecosystems
Public concern over the total failure of the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant on Wellington's south coast has been growing, despite this week's announcement of an independent review. Video
The rock sample with a dire future warning
Sediment collected from deep beneath the Antarctic confirms what scientists feared. Audio
Pacific experts urged to lead solutions for regional challenges
The chair of the Pacific Academy of sciences says its time Pasifika experts take the lead on climate change, health, renewable energy and traditional knowledge in the region. Audio
Party leaders call for politics to be taken out of planning for weather events
Luxon wants it handled independently, while Hipkins says infrastructure should not be something the parties "compete" on.
'No apology whatsoever': Tempers flare at packed Moa Point meeting
Officials fronted the crowd of more than 300, but many left disappointed by a lack of clear answers.
'Hurt, disappointment and anger': Iwi speaks out on Moa Point sewage spill
Untreated water is still leaking into Wellington's south coast after the Moa Point Treatment Plant flooded a fortnight ago.
How science is shaping the clothes of the future
New Zealand is part of a massive European research project aimed at shaking up the textile industry.
Iwi welcomes government's two year ban on harvesting rockpools north of Auckland
The ban is for all of the Whangaparāoa Peninsula, and further north at Kawau Bay and Ōmaha Bay and will take affect from 12 March. Audio
Rakaia Salmon statue 'vandalised' in protest
Rakaia's iconic salmon statue has been defaced by Greenpeace protesters, just weeks after a $300,000 ratepayer-funded refurbishment.
Why Auckland's bug problem is getting worse
From ants inside clothing packages from Australia to potentially deadly European hornets, Auckland has recently become a hotspot for unwanted insects. Audio
