The top stories and other headlines at midday

News bulletin recorded at 11AMDi RNZ

As global tensions escalated this week, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was touring South East Asia, strengthening defence and security ties. Back home, his government was accused of drifting away from New Zealand's independent foreign policy.

Kate De Goldi is one of New Zealand's most celebrated authors, an Arts Foundation Laureate, and a voracious reader. She joins Susie to share three books she's loved; Clear by Carys Davies, The Caretaker by Ron Rash, and The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate di Camillo.

As a curator of ethnology at Waikato Museum in the 1980s, Te Awekotuku was among the first to insist museums rethink how they represent Maori culture, both in New Zealand and overseas. In 1981, she became the first Maori woman to earn a doctorate from a New Zealand university, with a PhD on the effects of tourism on the Te Arawa people. In 1996 she…

Veteran financial journalist Liam Dann returns to the show to shine a light on left-field economic news and the quirks of New Zealand economics. This week he discusses 'digital cash' and the future of money, and he takes a closer look at the job losses hitting the headlines and what it means amid our current recession. Dann has 25 years of reportin…

The 2018 murder of 21-year old British backpacker Grace Millane gripped the country. A powerful new film The Lie explores how the shocking case highlights disturbing attitudes about violence towards women. It painstakingly pieces together Grace's final evening, stepping through the evidence the police used to make the case against her killer. The f…

News bulletin recorded at 10AMDi RNZ

At the age of 29 New Yorker Carrie Sun bagged a top job at a top Wall Street hedge fund. As private assistant to the firm's billionaire founder, Sun entered a world of power, privilege and extreme wealth. But as the demands of the job take a toll on her physical and mental health, Sun starts to question everything she had worked so hard for. Her ne…

In her new book H Is for Hope, author Elizabeth Kolbert explores the landscape of climate change in a series of 26 animated essays arranged in alphabetical order-from "A", for Svante Arrhenius, who created the world's first climate model in 1894, to "Z", for the Colorado River Basin, ground zero for climate change in the United States. Kolbert is a…

RNZ Pacific news at 9AM on 20 April 2024

Evidence indicates long covid presents a considerable burden to New Zealand. Between 4 and 14 percent of people infected with the virus will develop ongoing symptoms, anything from mild to severe. Scientists who conducted a recent evidence summary of long covid in Aotearoa are convinced its prevalence is likely to increase and preventative action i…

RNZ Pacific News at 8AM on 20 April 2024

This morning's top stories and other headlines

RNZ Pacific News at 7AM on 20 April 2024

The latest news in Niuean language (Vagahau Niue) - brought to you by our partner - Pacific Media Network.

Dengue fever outbreak declared in Samoa.

Dengue fever outbreak declared in Samoa; PNG may look to Africa as benchmark on curbing gun violence; Micronesia continues to face extreme weather conditions; New report investigates devastating impact of Lahaina wildfires;

PNG may look to Africa as benchmark on curbing gun violence.

Micronesia continues to face extreme weather conditions.

New report investigates devastating impact of Lahaina wildfires.

RNZ Pacific News at 6AM on 20 April 2024

The latest news in Cook Islands Maori (Te Reo Maori Kuki Airani) - brought to you by our partner - Pacific Media Network.

From harem pants to scandalous hemlines, Auckland Library's latest exhibition showcases what we wore in the 1950s through 1990s

Featuring a political track from Dunedin doom-pop two piece Night Lunch, a new release from Baby Rose and BADBADNOTGOOD, and Melbourne-based Cyanide Thornton's self-titled 2018 EP.

He brought forth the eponymous Byronic hero, inspired musicians from Liszt to Leonard Cohen, and despite a roguish reputation, he is still regarded today as one of the great poets.

BBC World's Middle East correspondent Sebastian Usher joins Emile Donovan for the latest on the reported strike on the city of Isfahan.

A wrap of the day's big stories

Nights' resident film critic Dan Slevin joins Emile Donovan to review some top picks for weekend viewing, including Origin (2023) in cinemas now, Constellation (2024) streaming on AppleTV+, and Eleanor Coppola's directing debut Paris Can Wait (2016) streaming for free on Māori+.

This Saturday, the Netherlands Society in Rotorua is hosting a competition to crown the 'Master Baker of Oma's Appeltaart', what they call one of the most comforting pies in the history of pies.

ABC Wantok Program for 19 April 2024.

Country Life takes a walk with mountain ranger Tāne Houston through the forest on the slopes of Mt Taranaki. We head up the volcano along a trap line, resetting bait, foraging and chatting about the progress made in restoring the landscape.

A 40-litres-of-milk-a-day Friesian called Evie has been Supreme Champion Holstein at the New Zealand A&P Agricultural Show for two years in a row. Cosmo Kentish-Barnes meets the farmer behind the cow.

The latest news from Melanesia.

A lot of urban dwellers get their information about farming from supermarkets, new research suggests. A Massey University research project surveyed over 1300 urban and rural people about their views on farming.

This year's annual Canterbury A&P show has been canned, while there's mixed results at the meatworks where venison sales have bounced back but lamb prices remain at historical lows, and new research suggests growing demand for alternative proteins could change the future of farming.

This week Country Life is out with a mountain ranger foraging and checking traps on the slopes of Mt Taranaki and meets the farmer behind a champion milker. Also, a Massey University research project reveals what New Zealanders really think about farming.

As global tensions escalated this week, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was touring South East Asia, strengthening defence and security ties. Back home, his government was accused of drifting away from New Zealand's independent foreign policy.

The latest RNZ Pacific news.

Tonight on The Panel Wallace is joined by panellists Sally Wenley and Michael Moynahan discuss the commissioners wanting to stay on in Tauranga. Also, they discuss listening parties, great albums, and whether or not we should be counting our steps.

Tonight on The Panel Wallace is joined by panellists Sally Wenley and Michael Moynahan discuss the commissioners wanting to stay on in Tauranga. Also, they discuss listening parties, great albums, and whether or not we should be counting our steps.

The Panel talks to CEO of Women's Refuge Dr Ang Jury about how dangerous stalking is, and how the police need it to be a criminal law for things to improve.

The Panel talks to CEO of Women's Refuge Dr Ang Jury about how dangerous stalking is, and how the police need it to be a criminal law for things to improve.

Tonight on The Panel Wallace is joined by panellists Sally Wenley and Michael Moynahan discuss latest on Israeli missiles in Iran. Then they discuss the latest economy forecast, and whether we need a stalking law.

Tonight on The Panel Wallace is joined by panellists Sally Wenley and Michael Moynahan discuss latest on Israeli missiles in Iran. Then they discuss the latest economy forecast, and whether we need a stalking law.

Let's get to Asia now and we're joined by our correspondent in India, Per Elinder Liljas

With the world growing increasingly volatile, Christopher Luxon has sought to strengthen defence ties with the Philippines - making it easier for both countries' troops to work together. It's the final day of the prime minister's push through South East Asia and his first major trip abroad.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Northlanders like to think they punch above their weight, with the region producing many a winner in the sporting, creative and political arenas. But now a young Northlander has topped the nation in an even more important contest, as reporter Peter de Graaf discovers.

The initial 15-strong New Zealand athletics team set to compete at Paris 2024 was officially announced today. A pair of reigning World Indoor champions and two former Olympic medallists are among the kiwis set to compete on the track and field.