Independent Analysis and Reportage
Source: Radio New Zealand Iron and iodine deficiencies are among the world’s most common nutrient deficiencies. Several local nutrition experts say iron, zinc, and potentially selenium, iodine, and vitamin D are worth highlighting. University of Auckland nutrition associate professor Andrea Braakhuis said New Zealand’s last adult nutrition survey in 2009, along with subsequent research, suggests…
Source: Radio New Zealand A century ago diphtheria was the biggest killer of children in New Zealand. AUBERT / BSIP / BSIP via AFP A disease which was once the biggest killer of children in New Zealand is having a resurgence in Australia. ABC News is reporting more than 220 cases of diphtheria in 2026,…
Source: Radio New Zealand RNZ Explainer – Everybody knows what a stalker is. But until this month, stalking wasn’t officially a crime. The Crimes Legislation (Stalking and Harassment) Amendment Bill creates a new offence for stalking and will take effect on Tuesday 26 May, after a years-long battle by anti-stalking advocates pushing for change. “This…
Source: Radio New Zealand Kirsten Saunders, the co-owner of Smith the Grocer, says the announcement of more job cuts is tough for the city’s morale. RNZ / Ellen O’Dwyer An economist says more than 3500 jobs could be cut in Wellington, and the capital is set to “bear the brunt” of a major shake-up to…
Source: Radio New Zealand 123RF A national study has found New Zealand children’s enjoyment of reading, writing and maths has dropped, in some cases significantly. The number of older primary school children who do not enjoy the subjects has doubled since 2018/19, as has the percentage who believe they are not good at them. The…
Source: Radio New Zealand Getting the kids out the door for school can feel like herding cats in the rain. Just when one child is ready, another can’t find a shoe, someone remembers homework, and someone else starts crying because they want more breakfast. Is there a calmer way to get through the mornings with…
Source: Radio New Zealand Supplied / Te Ara Scientists are once-again raising concerns about de-extinction as a US biotech company promotes a “major breakthrough” in artificial egg technology. Colossal Biosciences on Wednesday announced the development of an artificial egg that it says is a crucial step toward resurrecting the South Island giant moa – a…
Source: Radio New Zealand On Sunday afternoon at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Auckland, 49-year-old Anna Maharaj lit a candle as part of an annual remembrance service. She has done this almost every year for 24 years to honour someone she could never meet and whose name she will never know. Perhaps that person’s family…
Source: Radio New Zealand Embryo development. Supplied / Colossal Biosciences A multibillion-dollar de-extinction company believes it is one step closer to resurrecting New Zealand’s largest and long-extinct flightless bird. Colossal Biosciences – headquartered in Texas – is heralding a “major breakthrough” in its development of an artificial egg that it says is crucial to giant…
Source: Radio New Zealand By Bhanvi Satija for Reuters A placard reading “Bio hazard zone” outside the Hantavirus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius at the port of Rotterdam. AFP / NICOLAS TUCAT Favipiravir delivered from Japan to UK for experimental hantavirus treatment, UKHSA confirms Drug use is experimental, with limited evidence and no established protocol, experts…
Source: Radio New Zealand Associate Professor Sarah Kessans with protein crystallisation experiments sent to the International Space Station in 2024. Claire Concannon / RNZ Researchers from the University of Canterbury have created a shoebox-sized laboratory designed to help develop better medicines in space. The fully-automated lab means biotechnology experiments can be conducted in microgravity, between…
Source: Radio New Zealand AFP/ Thibaut Durand/ Hans Lucas The head of the dental association says some clinics are waiting as long as a year to employ a dentist, and are having to close temporarily or even permanently. NZDA chief executive Dr Mo Amso told Nine to Noon the number of dentists coming through the…