The Detail

Clearing out the confusion over NCEA changes 

11 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A lesson in the big NCEA reset. The Detail puts an RNZ education specialist to the test on the major education system overhaul. Reactions to the gove...

Sinking millions into Auckland's heritage buildings

10 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Auckland museum's asbestos problem is being described as an octopus with more than eight tentacles - and one that comes with a whopping price tagTwo A...

Reality TV's Achilles' heel

08 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This just finished season of reality TV show Love Island UK kicked off with misogyny and bullying - and soaring viewershipReality TV shows are becomin...

Will NZ move with the tide over Gaza?

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With starvation reaching a crisis point in Gaza and an impetus to pressure Israel to pull back, New Zealand's reactions to the conflict remain mutedAs...

Battling apathy over local government

06 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It may seem as if no one cares about the level of government ruling over potholes and parks, but the number of candidates for his year's elections are...

Lies and U-turns from Trump's team over the Epstein files

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There are signs that the previously unwavering MAGA base of Donald Trump is starting to turn on him as he becomes increasingly embroiled in the Epstei...

An FBI director on Kiwi soil

04 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

FBI Director Kash Patel's visit to New Zealand has been described as important, useful, and mutually beneficial - but it's also business as usualThere...

Sweeping reforms to laundering laws

03 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There's no doubt that money laundering is a problem in New Zealand, but we shouldn't be catching parents trying to open bank accounts for their kids i...

Pushing our buttons to loosen our wallets

01 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It doesn't matter if it's health messages or supermarket campaigns, consumers are having their behavioural buttons pushed in expert waysTwo of our big...

Netball still under pressure in spite of TV deal

31 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Great for netball fans, maybe not so great for players - it's unlikely they'll be hit in the pocket after a new deal with free to air TV was signed th...

Axe falls on history

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When one of our smallest ministries is shredded in the name of saving taxpayer dollars, critics say it feels like cultural vandalismA world class webs...

When it's worth waiting for democracy

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The government's suite of amendments to electoral law haven't gone down well, but that's not stopping them from pushing ahead with the changes…G...

Balancing risk with overreach in our terror laws

28 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rights groups are concerned a government spotlight on terror laws will see protest, freedom of speech and advocacy endangered …Go to this episo...

The hidden epidemic in Kiwi homes that costs the country billions

27 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

More funding's been announced to train up domestic violence support workers, but turning our horrific figures around is expected to take generations ...

Not so awful offal

25 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Proponents of offal-eating point out that it's just polite to use every part of a beast we've killed .... it's really the least we can doIt's che...

The value of Youth MPs put under a question mark

24 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Youth Parliament is there to give aspiring politicians a taste of a future career, but after three decades the value of the event is in question A fo...

Tiny Nauru is causing big waves over mining

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Laws over international deep sea mining are being thrashed out at a meeting in Jamaica, but the process has so far taken over a decade and we don't ev...

A never-ending visa queue for refugees

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Refugee Family Support Category is supposed to allow refugees to reunite with family. Instead, it's a waiting game which could take another decade...

Urban, Māori and disconnected - the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election

21 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Henare vs Kaipara: Legacy, loyalty and the fight for Māori representation in the Tāmaki Makaurau by-electionTwo Māori heavyweights battle it out in...

Booze warnings on hold 

20 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you don't want to face the unpalatable truth about your boozing, the alcohol lobby is on your sideOutdated alcohol guidelines put New Zealand out o...

The business of playing for neurodiverse kids

18 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

New Zealand's first play zone for children with disabilities is becoming a charitable trust, with the goal of expanding services to cater for people o...

Paying for the reality of climate change

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to damage from serious weather events, the days of big pay-outs to property owners are coming to an endThe 100-year floods are rolling i...

How friendly fire torpedoed a mayoral campaign

16 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Leaks, lies and leadership. The Wellington mayoral race was shaping up to be dull but now a dirty politics scandal is splitting the capitalIt was head...

Battling the drug flood at Auckland Airport

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With an increase in drugs coming through Auckland Airport, border officials focus on trying to stop the imports before they reach our shoresA customs ...

Warnings resurface over iconic fish

14 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

New Zealand's orange roughy stocks are under fresh scrutiny, and a major fishery faces closureWhat was once called the "white gold" of our o...

Death without a will, and the mess left behind

13 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There are some horror stories about the wreckage left behind when people die without leaving a will, but now something watertight is easier to draw up...

Up, up and away - another version of Superman hits the big screen

11 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As the James Gunn version of Superman is released in cinemas, we look at the history of a character that truly owns the word iconicSuperman is, in the...

All Blacks' performance is no cause for depression

10 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There is no room for error when the All Blacks face French firepower in Wellington tomorrow night, and a long-time rugby journalist says fans would be...

A win-win-win over medical waste

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There's a second life in single-use medical devices, but getting Pharmac on board with the money-saving venture has been a battleA Canterbury company ...

Erin Patterson faces life behind bars for murder by mushroom

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Erin Patterson case has gripped international audiences, in Australia's 'biggest crime story since the Azaria Chamberlain case' of the 80s.The Aus...

The health crisis pushed by a drug crisis 

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With Fiji in the midst of an HIV outbreak, UNAIDS warns that other Pacific Islands countries have all the risk factors of a similar crisis…Go to...

Rules and red tape holding back cannabis industry

06 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

New Zealand is one of the best places in the world to grow dope, but producing marketable medicinal cannabis is a regulatory nightmareNew Zealand has ...

Tourism's role in peace and prosperity

04 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tourism can only happen when conflict ends - and there's been recognised with a Nobel Peace Prize nominationA Washington-based, Auckland-educated Samo...

Stranded in hell

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Getting people out and home when they're trapped in a war zone is a dangerous and politically delicate task - here's how it's doneWhen you're awa...

It's no longer illegal to be a proudly violent Proud Boy

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The terrorist label has been dropped from extremist group the Proud Boys, but its ideology still lurks online in New ZealandNew Zealand has lifted the...

Kainga Ora cuts new developments as the housing crisis escalates

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After a rebuild was cancelled, the former tenants of a social housing development in Auckland have seemingly 'disappeared' Despite a housing crisis, K...

The Bill that's left people dazed, confused and angry

30 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is the Regulatory Standards Bill the key to better law making for the future, or a gigantic waste of time and an affront to democracy? A look at what...

Regaining trust in a world of disinformation

29 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rather than shrug helplessly over a lack of trust in journalism, two New Zealand journalists are rolling up their sleeves to tackle the issueTwo Kiwi ...

How to ride a horse, if you don't have a horse

27 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Two non-traditional sports - hobby horsing and pickleball - have gained popularity in the last several years, and Kiwis are joining in the funHobby ho...

The double-whammy bill natural gas users have to pay

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

New Zealand is running out of gas and prices are rising - but that hasn't stopped some households from hooking upNatural gas is a dwindling resource, ...

A speedbump, not a roadblock for Iran's nuclear programme

25 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Information about Iran's nuclear programme is highly secretive, but experts say the bombings may not have been a huge setback US President Trump said ...

The big 'but' in our slow economic recovery

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As far as New Zealand's economic recovery goes, we're still crawling out of our deep recessionary hole - and we've just hit a global glitch Quarterly ...

At the Cannes Lions, a cheeky New Zealand advert comes out on top 

23 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sir Graham Henry beamed into the world's most prestigious ad awards to congratulate New Zealand on being 'the best place in the world to have herpes'O...

'Nowhere to go' for more than 100,000 Kiwis

22 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Unaffordable housing, the high cost of living, and 'very intentional decisions' by the government see a spike in homelessness.An advocate for people s...

The thinking way to win a war 

18 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Innovation in warfare features in Ukraine's David and Goliath fight with Russia …Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Funeral costs in the spotlight

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Even funeral directors believe death could be done better, but how to achieve that is up for debateA funeral bill is one you never want to have to pay...

Rural innovation sets the scene for New Zealand's future

16 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dozens of innovators showed off their wares at Fieldays, offering solutions to problems - and a bit of hope From waterway-mapping robots to leather ma...

Van Velden steers WorkSafe toward a softer touch

15 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A decade after major overhauls to health and safety in New Zealand, WorkSafe is getting a reboot. Critics aren't convinced it will save lives. With mo...

Chasing butterflies

13 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lepidopterists fear our butterfly and moth numbers are on the wane They're not just beautiful, they help pollinate our flowers and grasses. But a...

In its 57th year Fieldays is still a hit for farmers across the country

12 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

At Fieldays, exhibitors from around the country - and the world - come to show off the latest farming innovations…Go to this episode on rnz.co.n...

New Zealand's predator-free future in peril

11 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Predator Free 2050 was hit by a budget blow, and now the 'moonshot' goal is under threat The environmental sector worries that the future of a predat...

America's foreign student fiasco

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

New Zealand universities are being urged to seize the day when it comes to America's turmoil over foreign studentsWhile Donald Trump is busy burning d...

The electricity evangelist spreading the solar message

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It may seem that as an ordinary person, cutting emissions is too big a job. But homeowners have a large part to play…Go to this episode on rnz.c...

NZ's mean testing creep 

08 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The issue on how to save on superannuation is a political no-go, with one gallery editor describing the debate as 'uranium wrapped in barbed wire'Mean...

Synthony rocks the world stage

06 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A marriage of bass drops and bow strings, Synthony strikes a chord from Christchurch to Calgary Lights, strings, action: Sythony started as small, on...

The science sector sounds the alarm

05 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Researchers brace for an uncertain future and warn of lasting damage after a funding shake-upScience has been sidelined by the Budget, despite the Gov...

New Zealand's invisible children

04 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For the undocumented, NZ-born children of overstayers, life ends when they turn 18Two decades after a change to citizenship laws, the NZ-born children...

B416 group is parenting in action

03 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The push to get under-16 year olds off social media is a cause that's united some high-powered women from all walks of lifeSocial media is already off...

Diamonds and their pearls moment

02 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There are pros and cons ethically with mined and lab diamonds, but one certainly gives you more sparkle for your dollarDiamonds may be forever but at ...

The revival of a genre that never went away

30 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Boots, banjos, and big crowds - country music finds its voice in New ZealandHeartfelt and homegrown, country music is enjoying a Kiwi revival, with tw...

Opening the door to more addiction

29 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Gambling regulation is moving to take online operators into account, but doubts are being expressed as to how effective it will beThe Problem Gambling...

The headwinds facing regional airlines

28 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The small plan routes that keep our country connected are becoming increasingly fragile links…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Climate solution all but buried before it begins

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Climate fix, or fossil fuel lifeline - the truth behind the country's first carbon capture and storage projectThe country's first carbon capture ...

Trump's South African spotlight

26 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump's claims of a white genocide in South Africa betray the influence of his billionaire expat friends, including Elon Musk The US President ...

Local councils and the battle for money

25 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Local councils have more effect on our daily lives than policies from the Beehive. But more than half of eligible voters fail to have their say on who...

The galaxy of the Star Wars universe stretches to infinity

23 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The end to spin off stories from 1977's first Star Wars movie looks like being a galaxy far, far away…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more d...

Misleading figures on New Zealand youth suicide rates

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A global report ranking New Zealand as the worst for youth suicide rates grabbed headlines. But two researchers say the numbers are wrong…Go to ...

The injustice of a freshwater crisis

21 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A precedent-setting High Court case could be the key to a better attitude towards cleaning up our waterways…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for ...

The high cost of getting high in New Zealand

20 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With meth use on the rise, one former addict shares her brutal story and remarkable recovery.Kiwis from every background are now smoking meth, and the...

In classrooms, money lessons that matter

19 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Why trial and error isn't the best way to learn financial literacy, and how a new curriculum could help A new curriculum will teach financial literac...

Rugby in recovery

18 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Detail's Amanda Gillies talks to NZ Rugby CEO Mark Robinson about crowds, international fixtures, financial turmoil and personal strainNZ Rugby&#x...

Research, ethics, and Artificial Intelligence

16 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to studying how bots affect human behaviour, there are other ways to do it than pretending to be one of those bots…Go to this epis...

When more money doesn't mean more nice things 

15 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The language of the Budget sometimes takes a professional to decode. A look at what's real, and what's nominal. Even if the government throws more th...

Poor political strategy fans pay equity fury

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The government's lightning blitz on pay equity claims has left whole sectors devastated, and the public confused about what just happened The opposit...

Powering New Zealand from a Wellington wind farm

13 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On top of a turbine in the windy city, The Detail learns why too much wind isn't a good thingAfter a year of drought, heavy rainfall has brought relie...

Smokefree 2025 goal all but up in smoke

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

More than 80,000 Kiwi smokers need to quit their habit before the end of the year to meet the Smokefree 2025 goal, but a public health professor says ...

'Change fatigue' hits vocational education

11 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Changes made in haste in vocational education are being met with dismay by sectors that feel left out of it Years-long disruption in the vocational e...

Drilling for Auckland's mythical harbour crossing 

09 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There's a mysterious yellow vessel in the Waitematā Harbour. The Detail investigates. …Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The price of a ruined life

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As a new announcement on compensation for Abuse in Care victims looms, one expert says the waiting has been another form of psychological abuseAbuse i...

Tourism operators optimistic in the face of capacity restraints

07 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There's buoyancy and optimism in the tourism industry in spite of New Zealand's long slow slog when it comes to the post-Covid airline bounce-back&#82...

Tools to cope with social media vitriol

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Online violence, against high-profile women in particular, has prompted the government to look at ways to help them deal with it The price of having ...

Shaking up the Catholic Church patriarchy

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The only certainty surrounding the election of the new pope is that he will be a man, and that's a tradition unlikely to change soonWith a patriarchy ...

In Central Otago, historic buildings on the council chopping block

04 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Central Otago District Council has a plan that could save millions, but many locals say it comes at the cost of history, heritage and community&#8...

The politicians have gone but debt remains for Polyfest

02 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The cultural extravaganza festival that is Polyfest was a record-breaker this year - but its finances are in perilIn spite of the rain this year'...

Australia's election tightly poised

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Australia could be the second major nation where voters in a federal election have done a u-turn on hardline, Trump-light style leadersAustralians go ...

Iwi/ Crown relations on the line after scathing audit

30 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Iwi and hapū are legally entitled to their Treaty Settlements, but a new report from the auditor general has found widespread breaches by the Crown ...

Keeping politicians honest

29 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Increasing numbers of politicians are failing to manage real or perceived conflicts of interest, and there are calls to strengthen protocols over them...

In the Chatham Islands, hope for a more independent future

28 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

New Zealand's remotest community relies heavily on public money, but it's not what the community wants for itself For the 600-odd residents of the Cha...

Detentions and arrests at US borders sow fear

27 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The current threat level for travel to the US is 'exercise increased caution', but a growing number of people say it's not high enough…Go to thi...

The Auckland Uni nuclear physicist unlocking secrets of the universe

25 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Auckland University nuclear physicist David Krofcheck is recognised for his work on the world's greatest science experiment …Go to this episode ...

Getting swept into a global recessionary vortex

23 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

New Zealand will inevitably be pulled into the world's economic gloom to some extent, but we have some cushioning in place…Go to this episode on...

The fuss over new infant formula rules

22 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A two billion dollar industry faces new rules to protect new parents - and it's pushing back…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Basic banking help for the vulnerable

21 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A bank account is a passport to the economy, but some Kiwis can't get onboard. A new scheme aims to change that.Opening a bank account isn't a si...

Faith, hope and chocolate eggs

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The places where hot cross buns and Easter eggs are taking a back seat to deep-rooted traditions…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more detail...

It's a matter of time before measles comes to NZ, and experts are worried

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A measles outbreak in the US has already killed three. Just how worried should New Zealand be?Measles is highly contagious, and spreading rapidly in t...

US cuts on Antarctic research could be a major blow for NZ

14 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Uncertainty over Antarctic research funding is unnerving scientists, who say time is running out for climate change solutions on the ice…Go to t...

New Zealand's biggest-ever study on dementia reveals startling numbers

13 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After knocking on more than 20,000 doors, New Zealand researchers have found high numbers of people who have dementia, but not the diagnosisResearcher...

New Zealand's estuaries 'in hot water'

11 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A high rate of sedimentation means our estuaries are getting shallower, but the road to fixing the damage is a much deeper issueThe health of New Zeal...

A rocky road for the battle against road cones

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Government has declared a war on road cones, but the industry thinks it's the wrong approach to an issue they're already working onA pilot program...

Trump's tariff turmoil and the cost for the world

09 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Trump's tariffs crashed global markets and are causing fears of a trade war. What happens now is the 'trillion-dollar question'. Trump's tariffs...