bCasts

For Dear Science this week, our expert, Dr Cushla McGoverin talks with us about the Nobel prizes in Physiology or Medicine, Chemistry, and Physics.

Love all things trams? LIVE Day: Trams is on at MOTAT this Sunday 19 October! Check out their impressive collection and catch a ride on one of the steam trains.

Thanks to MOTAT, the museum inspiring the innovators of tomorrow.

Last week, Police Minister Mark Mitchell announced the Cabinet’s decision to amend the Policing Act, to restore the right for police to collect and use images in public spaces. 

This follows a recent Supreme Court case which ruled that an image of a person taken during a traffic stop could not be used against them in an unrelated crime.

Privacy law specialist Gehan Gunasekara says the revision could extend police powers towards a “surveillance state”.

The government has also announced a change of eligibility for the jobseeker benefit to come into effect from next November — which will see 18 and 19 year olds with parents making more than a combined income of $65,529, no longer able to receive payments. 

In the June 2025 quarter, 12.9% of this country’s 15 to 24 year olds were not in jobs, education or training, and despite claims by Prime Minister Chris Luxon, employers and recruitment agencies have said there aren’t enough roles for those seeking.

Finally, on Sunday the government announced their plan to change methane emissions reduction targets in New Zealand, aiming for between 14 and 24% by 2050, compared to 2017 levels, as opposed to the previous target was between 24 and 47%. 

Agriculture and Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay says the decision is in alignment with evidence, as well as the practicality for farmers — but the decision goes against the Climate Change Commission recommendations to increase the targets, and has been called a “step back” for our climate targets. 

Wire Host Sara spoke with National MP Carl Bates about all of these topics, starting with the Policing Act amendment. She started by asking about the expected benefits of the change

For Dear Science this week, our expert, Dr Cushla McGoverin talks with us about the Nobel prizes in Physiology or Medicine, Chemistry, and Physics

For our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire Host Sara spoke to MP Carl Bates about methane emissions reduction targets, benefit changes for 18 and 19 year olds, and the Policing Act amendment.
For Green World, news-teamer Leilani spoke to Earth Sciences NZ Dr Cliff Law about ocean acidification

Producer Faith spoke to NZ Drug Foundation’s policy director Dr. Jacek Kolodziej about harm reduction in Aotearoa, and what laws need to change.

Faith also spoke to Save Animals From Exploitation (aka the SAFE organisation) CEO Debra Ashton about the government’s new pig-caging bill

Today on Ready Steady Learn, Rosetta and Milly caught up with Caroline Puente-Lelievre, who's research with the School of Biological Sciences has cast light on the evolutionary origins of one of nature’s first motors, which developed 3.5 billion to 4 billion years ago to propel bacteria. Whakarongo mai nei!