The Detail
Episodes
Tamihere court decision puts the case back at square one
01 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Almost 40 years after two Swedish backpackers disappeared, David Tamihere has had his convictions quashed. A journalist calls it 'another example of h...
The resurrection of the Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Lake Onslow pumped hydro project could be back from the dead, with the "mega battery" that will cost billions, approved for the fast-track list by...
The strategically-placed aid game
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Fear and politics are increasingly dictating where our shrinking aid money is going Giving aid to shore up your strategic position in the world isn&#...
Fisheries Bill enters murky waters
29 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The government's backdown on an undersized fish rule has intensified scrutiny of sweeping fisheries reforms There's been a U-turn on the most con...
Dice before digital - the board games revolution
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Rather than being stuck behind their screens for entertainment, an old type of gaming is luring players out into the real world - one with people in i...
Why Israel and the US are in lockstep - and why that might be changing
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Billions in military aid crosses from the US to Israel in a decades-old alliance. But two current conflicts have many younger Americans questioning th...
Policing our politicians for porkies
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
South Australia has a law around truth in campaign messaging that appears to have set a better tone. We ask if New Zealand should follow.Does New Zeal...
Father's meningitis plea after daughter's death
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
"No family should go through this": - campaign push for free jabs grows following student meningococcal casesA grieving dad renews his call for free...
A shakeup of everyday road rules on the table
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It's currently illegal to ride on the footpath, but when the rubber meets the road, kids do it anyway. Proposed changes could make it legal for kids 1...
Papatoetoe's election rerun
22 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A community rallies to involve itself in democracy, only to be tainted with accusations of fraud when they win a seat at the table Papatoetoe's ...
Turning Kiwi pain into a punchline watched by a global audience
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Kiwi dark comedy Crackhead tackles addiction and takes on the television world New Kiwi dark comedy Crackhead turns real-life addiction struggles into...
Iran war hits Kiwi wallets hard
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
An economist says despite entering the year 'quite optimistic', we could now be staring down the barrel of another recession Higher fuel costs mean h...
Make stupid rules, win stupid prizes
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
'Stupid Rules' is the new book, written by a Kiwi professor, that aims to throw out the rule book Too many rules, too little judgement - why one Kiwi...
The future of the NZX
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
America's war in Iran has hit global markets, but after a tough five years for the New Zealand Stock Exchange, things here may finally be looking up ...
Southland - New Zealand's power centre
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The country's two biggest users of electricity could both soon be located in Southland if resource consents for a new data centre bring the project to...
The "gnarly and unnecessary" fight reshaping the RSA
15 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
There is a bitter internal rivalry shaking one of New Zealand's most storied institutions, with a rebel alliance fighting the national body of the RSA...
Graduates in a battle over job wars
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The unemployment rate for young people is three times higher than the national average - leaving new graduates in despair Three years minimum to set ...
Uncertainty over the fuel that drives our economy
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
There are so many factors feeding into see-sawing petrol prices that predicting a landing price at the pump has become impossibleIt doesn't matte...
As Covid hits again, New Zealand confronts its pandemic past
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Six years after New Zealand moved into its first lockdown, the final inquiry report examines lockdowns, mandates and the cost of the pandemic -and ano...
Athletics out of hibernation
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
New Zealand track and field athletes have achieved on the world scene for decades - but now there's a new strength and diversity not seen since the 19...
The price of instant gratification
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
One million Kiwis use a Buy Now Pay Later scheme, but not everyone is convinced the regulations governing them are adequate to protect users from harm...
Landmark case could force rewrite of emissions strategy
08 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The once quiet workhorse of climate policy, the humble tree, is now headline material, fuelling political fights and finding itself at the very root o...
The great property breakup
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
New Zealanders finally seem to be dialling down their obsession with owning houses to create wealth New Zealand's love affair with property coul...
Iran, Israel, and 'the great Satan'
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A week after the US and Israel struck Iran, The Detail looks at what really led to the war, how Tehran hit back, and the political storm brewing at ho...
Why Air NZ is in the red while rivals soar
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Our national carrier is flying through turbulent skies, with grounded planes, global conflict, and growing criticism from politicians and passengers ...
A gold mine, an Australia mining giant, and a community divided
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Central Otago is sitting on a gold mine that may be worth billions, but the decision of whether to dig has tensions simmering A proposed gold mine is ...
How supercritical geothermal energy could change our future
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
With LNG on the way, The Detail looks at two possible fuel alternatives that could deal to New Zealand's reliance on gas and coaWith geothermal energy...
Net fishing is in, then out again
01 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Hauraki Gulf is back in the spotlight as National backflips on their own fisheries policy, leaving the commercial fishing industry sweating - and ...
The longevity obsession
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Bio-hackers are looking for the answers to stretching out their lives as long as possible, but research says there's a biological end point for our bo...
A home for granny, a headache for the homeowner
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Rule changes for putting a granny flat on your section cut very little red tape, but move questions of liability from councils to homeowners The new ...
All stick, no carrot with move-on laws
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The government's making city shop owners happy with its decisive move-on orders for homeless people, but there are doubts they'll achieve anything L...
Citizens arrests, armed guards, and the power of Sunny Kaushal
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For the past decade, Sunny Kaushal has been a man on a mission to crack down on retail crime, and he's one step closer to getting his wayThe Governmen...
The arrest heard around the world
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's dramatic arrest is the first of its kind for the royal family in nearly 400 years, and has shaken the House of WindsorThe...
Barker's of Geraldine in a jam over waste
22 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Canterbury preserves company wants to spray wastewater - which contains cleaning chemicals - onto a neighbouring DOC reserve. It's a stark differe...
The great Australian rivalry, in New Zealand
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Between State of Origin coming to Auckland and rule changes allowing Kiwis to play, NRL strengthens its foothold on a New Zealand audience Mate again...
A state of emergency, again and again and again
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
After another wild week of weather, The Detail looks at the surge in declarations of states of emergency, and whether we risk 'crying wolf' Once-in-a...
Reality bites for Kiwi job seekers as unemployment climbs
18 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Unemployment is at its highest level in more than a decade, but one expert offers a silver lining, saying that could actually be a sign of early econo...
The wine industry headache
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Too many grapes, international headwinds and a dramatic drop in drinkers is proving problematic for our wine producers Perfect growing conditions for...
The winners and losers from the India trade deal
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It hasn't been ratified yet but the terms of New Zealand's free trade deal with India have been agreed on, even though the details are somewhat myster...
New dietary guidelines from the US stir the pot
15 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It's not so much what's in the recommendations as how they were put together that's concerning some in the medical and nutrition worldsNew dietary gui...
Love, lies, and prime-time pressure
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What started as an experiment has become a global phenomenon. MAFS is a ratings powerhouse and one of the world's most argued-about shows. Former New ...
LNG plan sparks showdown in parliament
12 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Government's LNG plan has triggered an explosive row over the difference between a tax and a levy, but the major question is whether it will keep ...
Raw sewage still pouring into Welly waters raises questions, and anger
11 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
More than 600 million litres of untreated sewage have poured into Wellington water, leaving beaches empty and questions over who's responsible A Bre...
Auckland is SailGP's marquee event but no guarantees for future
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Auckland could become a victim of Sail GP's success, with harbour cities around the world bidding for hosting chances Great photos, terrific faciliti...
The policy shifts that took the spark out of electric cars
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
From boom to brake - we look at what went wrong for EVs in New Zealand, and what needs to happen to get the spark backThe EV slowdown: How Government ...
Uncertainty over Auckland's future
08 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Auckland Council's planning has been thrown for a loop after what looks like yet another government-imposed rule change over housingGovernment interfe...
Kiwi grit on ice
04 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Skins, snow and scrutiny: How the 2026 Winter Olympics is unfolding for our athletes This year, the most contested "ice" at the Winter Olym...
'A warning shot' on the east coast
03 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Weeks after the January floods wreaked havoc on the east coast, The Detail visits two towns to see how locals are holding up - and what the future hol...
Our place in the world
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Where does New Zealand sit in a new world order that ditches traditional international rules and favours the mighty over the tiny? There's a rup...
Pharmacist fears for "the last bastion" of communities
01 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As more and more discount chain pharmacies open, locally owned and operated chemists worry their customers won't get the high level of care that saves...
Election 2026 - the policies, the politics, the peculiarities
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Once the election date is announced, politics can disintegrate into a toxic mess. Don't expect this year to be any different.Politicians sharpen their...
The treasure's in the tales
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The real treasure hidden in the wrecks of some 2500 ships buried along New Zealand's coasts isn't jewels or gold bars - but the stories of the people ...
A Kiwi on Ukraine's frontline
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
New Zealander Khol Gillies was fighting in Ukraine when he was badly injured, and he spent days in a bunker waiting to be evacuated Three months afte...
Playing Tetris with an ever-growing prison population
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The record number of prisoners are bouncing between facilities around the country, stretching court resources and rehabilitation programmesWith prison...
Slash, storms and the fight over responsibility
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Extreme weather may be the trigger for deadly and devastating slash, but the lines on who is responsible for prevention and clean-up are blurredThe sl...
Changing our disaster focus
25 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The floods keep coming, and we keep rebuilding. Is there a better way to cope with increasing numbers of infrastructure-wrecking storms?New Zealand&#x...
The stories that defined a year
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The news year, unpacked, by five divas with microphonesAs the year draws to a close, The Detail looks back at 12 months of deep dives, sharp analysis,...
Heat, holidays, hikes, and a 'stinkin strong' sun
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From storms to scorchers, what this summer's wild weather means for New Zealand tourism With tourism numbers back to pre-covid levels, New Zealanders...
The things that annoy us, and the people we moan to
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From stray dogs to traffic jams to the most controversial topic of all - berms - councillors and mayors from across the country report what's getting ...
Close up with sharks, in a safe space
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
At Auckland Museum's new shark exhibition, all the models are to scale, allowing visitors to get face-to-face with some of the largest creatures on th...
Terror under the tree - the toys that can kill
07 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Between the high cost of living and a slew of toys failing safety tests, buying Christmas presents for kids is fraughtHow to shop for your kids this C...
2025 in sport
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A year of highs, lows and hard questions: Inside New Zealand's rollercoaster sporting seasonThe country's biggest sports teams delivered everythi...
Finish line in sight for CRL
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The opening has been pushed back again, the price is extraordinary, but Auckland's City Rail Link is expected to deliver the region the wow factor Th...
Calls for urgent action over deer control
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There's a lot of hand-wringing but few answers when it comes to culling New Zealand's rapidly expanding deer populationIn a war between hunters and co...
A year of aviation turbulence
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Aviation under pressure: Airbus A320 glitch adds to a year of crashes, questions, and shaken confidenceThe Airbus A320 fault sparked worldwide delays ...
Local government's big shakeup
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Regional councils have to find a different way of operating that cuts down on double ups and layers of bureaucracyRegional councillors who've jus...
Living with HIV in 2025
30 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
An HIV diagnosis used to be a death sentence, but that hasn't been the case in years - so why hasn't the stigma changed with the science?More than fou...
Tips for a fabulous 2025 Kiwi Christmas do
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It doesn't have to be extravagant, expensive or loaded with tinsel and tat - bring your smile to host the perfect seasonal party If you're fed u...
Smokefree choking
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We've failed to reach our smokefree obligations, but has New Zealand done well enough to relax our efforts?New Zealand was once a world leader in gett...
The fierce battle over mining on Denniston Plateau
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The West Coast has long been mining country, but a proposed expansion of coal mining operations - and the backlash - leaves the region's economy and e...
The rising cost of taking a gamble on the what-ifs
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the cost of insurance rises, Consumer NZ sees worrying signs that more people are dropping their house insuranceFrom house insurance to health insu...
Uber victory will be trumped by Parliament
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Unions who won an employment case for four Uber drivers in three different courts could find the ruling short-lived, with the introduction of new legi...
Dark patterns on the web
23 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Psychological tricks and traps using deceptive website design techniques are starting to overwhelm online shopping.What's being termed 'dark...
One for the political tragics
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Two big political memoirs have hit the bookshops this year - but which high profile politicians are missing from the shelvesFrom memoirs to biographie...
Trump's backflip on beefed up tariffs
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A surprise reversal on high beef tariffs has been a welcome relief for farmers, but with Trump in the White House, celebrations are muted U.S Preside...
The year of the kākāpō
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kākāpō numbers are recovering at such a rate that we are running out of pest-free islands to put them on 2026 could be the year that the kākāpō ...
Police face deepening crisis of trust
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Government pressed for action as scandal over police handling of McSkimming complaints sparks national reckoningA week after a bombshell IPCA report r...
The rising crisis of child sexual exploitation in NZ
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sexual exploitation of children is seen as one of the worst crimes out there - but do the prison terms reflect the severity?An advocacy organisation s...
How Kiwi kids are becoming the new face of 'adult' diabetes
16 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Type 1 diabetes used to be called 'juvenile diabetes', and Type 2 affected adults. But that's no longer the case, and the number of kids with Type 2 i...
The "inherently unsafe" brakes in some 70,000 vehicles
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For years, a father has been fighting for Waka Kotahi to do more about the dangers of a vehicle braking system involved in his son's death. Now a coro...
The BBC edit heard around the world
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Editing scandal at BBC sparks 'existential crisis' for public-service broadcaster and puts the spotlight on trust in journalismFrom editing error to b...
Earth's weakest link may be in space
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Space terrorism is no longer relegated to sci-fi movies: it's happening already, and one legal expert warns we're far from preparedAn attack on satell...
Fears of bubble trouble with AI shares
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As AI share prices soar, some economic doomsayers have started to ring the warning bells of a bubble risk More and more, finance experts are predicti...
An economy based on tourism burns
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ruapehu District's mayor says the huge fire still burning in the region could have the same effect on the local economy as the 1996 eruptionIn Tongari...
In Taiwan, invasion by disinformation
09 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a country swamped by disinformation, two entrepreneurs have come up with solutions to tackle the problem, on and offline For Taiwan, the threat of...
Life in a peaceful country with war on its doorstep
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Detail's Sharon Brettkelly visits Jordan, where the tourism industry propping up the country's economy has been all but decimated by the war in ne...
Efforts ramp up to eradicate the yellow-legged hornet
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This nasty pest can be destroyed, but it will take government resources and extreme vigilance from the public to do it.The anti-pest army is being mob...
Behind the education overhaul
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A key player in the curriculum rewrite says the criticism is overblown - and not a reflection of what the sector thinksMany agree NZ's education ...
City Councillor slams "protected" gulf zones that still allow fishing
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A City Councillor and a Marine Science Professor warn that the Hauraki Gulf recovery is at risk after a last-minute fishing carve-out to the new Tīka...
Paying over the odds for our four-lane highways
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The figures keep blowing up when it comes to paying for our Roads of National Significance, and critics say some of the justifications are shonky Ha...
A move to split the autism spectrum
02 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Up to 150,000 New Zealanders have autism, but there's a huge range in how it impacts people - so some think it's time the spectrum is dividedWhile Tru...
Thirty years of dance for Black Grace
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As this unique Kiwi group celebrates a big anniversary, it's balancing its creative vision with a tight budget and an agile approach - on and off stag...
Rugby's big gamble in the US
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The US isn't known for its rugby prowess, or interest - so when the All Blacks take on Ireland this weekend, they're playing to sell a vision The All...
A spotlight on aging
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The aged care sector has had enough of reports describing all its many problems - and hopes a new Ministerial Advisory Group will provide some solutio...
Border patrols for child predators
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The amount of child sexual abuse material entering New Zealand is increasing and getting 'more violent' - and the Customs team managing it can't keep ...
Taking the political temperature, a year from the vote
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With just twelve months until the next election, the mood of the nation is "one of disillusionment", and that's reflected in the pollsWith a year to g...
Auckland museum checks the locks
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When there's a successful jewel heist such as the Louvre break-in, museum directors around the world take another look at their own patches. Auckland ...
Bothered, buggered and burnt out
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A combination of job insecurity, tight economic times and a pressure to always be on the clock is resulting in a burnt out workforceBurnout is increas...
Iconic Kiwi brands with a French flavour
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Fonterra is concentrating on its core business, and that means executing one of the biggest business transactions this country has ever seen - to the ...
Two ordinary women
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Fifteen years after the explosions at Pike River mine killed 29 men, a new feature film brings the families' ongoing fight for justice back into focus...