Animals
Council issuing free de-sexing vouchers to combat roaming dog crisis
Between January and 22 May 2025, Auckland Council said it received 6197 reports of roaming dogs and impounded 2460. Audio
Interesting insects from Aotearoa
There are thought to be about 20,000 insect species in New Zealand - with 90 per cent endemic meaning they're only found only here. Scientists reckon there are still more to be discovered. A new book… Audio
Animal rights activists call for ban on public sale of fireworks
Animal rights activists have presented a petition calling for a ban on the public sale of fireworks, which they say cause unnecessary physical and psychological harm to the country's animals. The… Audio
Critter of the Week
This week's critter has a rather extreme attachment style. The genus name of the trematode, Philophthalmus attenuatus, means 'eye-loving', which is a polite way to describe the adults of this species… Audio
Otago escargot? Snail farm launched in Queenstown
RNZ's Otago reporter Tess Brunton reports on the launch of the country's first commercial snail farm Audio
New Zealand unlocks commercial catnip market
Muttley's Estate manufactures and sells gourmet pet wine for anxious cats and dogs. There's lighter beverage Champawgne, and deeper blends like Purrno Noir. Audio
Record number of Hihi chicks hatch on Tiritiri Matangi Island
This year, a record 277 Hihi chicks fledged on Tiritiri Matangi Island, in the Hauraki Gulf. Hihi Conservation Charitable Trust trustee and Professor of Conservation Science at the Institute of… Audio
Greyhound racing industry to challenge ban in court
The greyhound racing industry is heading to court to challenge the Racing Minister's decision to ban the sport from July next year. Greyhound Racing New Zealand chief executive Edward Rennell spoke to… Audio
City dwellers encouraged to report monarch butterfly sightings
Watching a monarch caterpillar strip a swan plant can be one of those lasting memories from childhood. But now people are being urged to report sightings of live monarch butterflies as experts sound… Audio
Critter of the Week
It's often said New Zealand has no native snakes, but that's not quite true. The venomous, ocean-dwelling yellow-bellied sea snake (Hydrophis platurus) occasionally drifts into our waters. Around 6 to… Audio
International aquarium designer Craig Thorburn
When Craig Thorburn first walked into Kelly Tarlton's as a teenager, he knew it was for him. Forty years later, Craig is a global aquarium design consultant working across the globe and he joins Emile… Audio
Behind the scenes of the spade-toothed whale dissection
It made international headlines last year. What does a scientific dissection of the world's rarest whale involve?
Taranaki boasts giant 30 year-old fungus near Eltham
Taranaki reporter Robin Martin goes mushroom hunting and tells us about a YUGE schnapper. Audio
Our Changing World: The spade-toothed whale
Last year, a rare and mysterious spade-toothed whale washed up south of Ōtepoti Dunedin, sparking massive interest and news headlines around the world.
We join Claire Concannon at the week-long… Audio
Scientists using artificial insemination to save Kākāpō
German scientists working with the Department of Conservation have found artificial insemination of Kākāpō is making eggs much more likely to be fertile. Study co-author and Department of… Audio
Advocates call for end of public funding for Octopus aquaculture
Animal advocates want an end to public funding for research into octopus aquaculture. Farah Hancock reports. Audio
Humpback whales give birth further south than thought: Study
A new study from the University of New South Wales - no pun intended - shows humpback calves have been spotted as far south as Kaikoura, and near Port Arthur in Tasmania. University of Auckland… Audio
Wildlife Hospital Trust Manager Jordana Whyte
Will be visiting the iSite to chat to Jesse about the work they do rescuing and mending injured animals. Audio
Ten Kiwi released on the eastern side of Waiheke Island
Popular getaway destination Waiheke Island's has just welcomed a group of VIPs, but they're more than just weekend visitors. Ten Kiwi have been released on the eastern side of Waiheke, Te… Audio
Burrowing into the mystery of Great Barrier Island's black petrels
A research team monitoring a dwindling population of tākoketai hopes to head to Ecuador to gather clues about why so many birds never make it back to Aotearoa.
