Saturday Morning
Presented by Susie Ferguson and Mihingarangi Forbes, this podcast features in-depth interviews, current affairs, and news across a broad range of topics.
Episodes
The 2026 Lynley Dodd Children’s Writers Award
This week Claire Mabey was announced as the winner of the Lynley Dodd Children's Writers Award. Claire's she's the founder of Verb Wellington, LitCrawl Wellington, and books editor at The Spinoff. She's also a beloved children's writer. Her new children's book Cass & the Beast comes out on the 4th of August. She speaks with Susie Ferguson.
Jemima Jones: tackling hard to recycle plastics
Grassroots Recycling is a volunteer-run scheme that has diverted more than 200,000 food and beverage cartons from landfill in the Nelson region. Since its inception in 2022, it has mobilised volunteers, cafés and families to repurpose hard-to-recycle materials. It's also Plastic Free July - so for a little inspiration let's talk to organiser Jemima Jones to talk about the initiative.
Antarctica's volcanic landscape
When you think of Antarctica it's more likely that cold and ice come to mind than magma and ash; but the continent is home to the largest volcanic region on Earth. Far more than an icy wilderness; beneath Antarctica's ice lies a geologically active continent shaped by volcanoes, rifting, earthquakes and mountain building. Places like Mount Erebus, Scott Base and the Ross Sea are some of the m
A body needs a body - para-athletics
The Commonwealth Games are underway in Glasgow, one of those rare tournaments celebrating para-athletes in tandem with other competitors. For tetraplegic rugby player Dr Amanda Lowry breaking her neck hasn't stopped her from competing. She's on court on Saturday in fact, at a national Wheelchair Rugby League competition in Porirua. Amanda's is an incredible story - and one she's using to advo
90's Icon: Macy Gray
90's icon, Macy Gray is heading to New Zealand. Since breaking out with the 1990's megahit 'I try', Macy's gone on to sell millions of albums, earn numerous awards (including a Grammy), and is regarded as one of the greatest R&B and soul artists of her generation. Macy Gray's impact is huge, and she's back this October, touring the country with six shows. She speaks with Susie Ferguson about
Macbeth - the same skulduggery today: Ben Kilby-Henson
Shakespeare's OG thriller Macbeth is as relatable today as it was 420 years ago. And it's coming to Auckland. In-demand director Ben Kilby-Henson's Macbeth exists in a giant underground world, a sewer system used as a refuge after an unspecified catastrophe above ground. Macbeth himself is an ageing soldier with PTSD, the witches are played by children. This modern reimagining has all the ori
Death with Dignity, Fergus Wheeler
A funeral in New Zealand can cost between $8,000-15,000, and it keeps getting more expensive. So, can death be done with dignity, without debt, and with out a funeral director? When do you need a coffin and when don't you? What are the pros and cons of cremation versus burial? These are some of the questions addressed by funeral reformer Fergus Wheeler, one of a network of volunteers from the
Jimmy Paul, turning Scotland's crime stats upside-down
New Zealand and Scotland have a similar population size, but while our youth prison population hovers around 130 to 160, Scotland's is currently zero. It's an incredible feat given Glasgow was dubbed the murder capital of Europe by the WHO. It's all thanks to the country's Violence Reduction Unit, which flipped the script and targeted youth crime by treating it as a public health issue. As a
H is for Hawk flies onto the big screen
Dealing with grief? Have you tried training a hawk? Reckoning with her dads death, historian Helen Macdonald, did just that. It became the subject of her best-selling memoir H is For Hawk, and now it's a Bafta-nominated movie starring Claire Foy, who many will know from The Crown where she portrayed the Queen. It's coming to cinemas on July 30th.
Quake Update - Weston Kirton
A strong and shallow earthquake jolted the central North Island at 4.51am, around five kilometres southwest of Taumarunui, Measuring 5.9, and only nine kilometres deep, the intensity was severe - felt as far as Auckland, right down to the top of the South Island. Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton joins MIhi.
Remembering Emmy & BAFTA winning wildlife cameraman Doug Allan
The cameraman behind award-winning images that helped to bring Sir David Attenborough's conservation work to life, is being remembered in a special charity event 'A Night to Remember' in Queenstown.
Cheap warming winter meals
Chef and food waste expert Del Holland is back to share her tips on getting savvy in the kitchen, without compromising on taste.
Contemporary ballet - keeping us on point
Dunedin born Sarah Foster Sproull is one of New Zealand's top choreographers. Her work 'Ultra Folly' is making its way around the country as part of the Royal New Zealand ballet's winter season.
A record of the Bounty that keeps giving
For generations, the story of the Bounty has been told as an adventure - a dramatic clash between Captain Bligh and Fletcher Christian. But for the descendants of those who survived, it's something far more personal. A handwritten register recording births, marriages and deaths is returning to the South Pacific after more than 170 years in Britain.
Celebrating Sam
This week we lost a screen legend, and according to all accounts - a top bloke. Sam made a huge impact on stars of our stage and screen in their own right, Oscar Kightley and Sara Wiseman - who pay tribute.
The kiwi behind the world cup grass
Last month we spoke with FIFA's Head of Pitch Infrastructure, Ewen Hodge. He's responsible for some of the most important grass in the world. He's joins us to discuss how the grass is going after all this footy.
Peter Hambleton: from Hobbit hole to local library
Peter Hambleton is perhaps better known as Glóin in The Hobbit trilogy. But he's ditched the Dwarf costume and put down his axe to do battle with people we pay our rates to, in a new stage comedy called Local Library, opening at Circa next weekend.
Welby Ings - fighting for gay rights
This month marks the 40th anniversary of the Homosexual Law Reform Act. Welby Ings is a queer activist, who in the early 1980s established Gay Rights of Taihape, an advocacy group for rural queers. He's also a renowned film-director.
Bird Flu and our native birds
The bird flu's now in New Zealand - what could it mean for our native bird populations? The Pukorokoro Shorebird Centre's Keith Woodley explains the risks.
World Cup wrap
The Football World Cup is in its final throes this weekend with the play-off for 3rd and 4th between France and England tomorrow at 9am.
How to skip the Small Talk and go Big
Kalina Silverman is the founder of a global movement Big Talk; she wants everyone to skip the small talk to make room for big conversations
Matariki Gardening with Hannah Zwartz
Our resident gardening expert is back, this time to talk about all things Matariki. Hannah Zwartz has over 30 years' experience gardening professionally, including looking after the herb and succulent areas at Wellington Botanic Garden and running community market gardens in the Hutt Valley. She speaks with Paddy Gower about making the most of this time of year and answers your listener quest
Majic Paora: Music for Matariki
Majic won Best Maori Female Solo Artist at the Waiata Maori Music Awards in 2015 and she's putting together a concert which is next weekend to mark Matariki. She's undertaken the task on behalf of her iwi - Ngaati Whatua Orakei - which is the host this year of the national hautapu ceremony which you'll have heard a bit from here on RNZ National yesterday.
Architecture from Cape to Bluff
From a home perched impossibly on the side of hills, to a flat pack build that needs only three people to put together - our landscape hosts some rather unique dwellings. Simon Devitt is an award-winning photographer, and Andrea Stevens is a writer with a background in architecture. Together they've teamed up, collating New Zealand's most interesting homes into a coffee table book called 'Cap
They're NUMBER ONE! Patea Maori Club
Poi E is right up there with iconic Kiwi songs. The chart-topping waiata is 42 years old and still going strong. The Patea Maori Club is still going strong too - they were performing just last night. Paddy is joined by Laura Maruera, who as chair person keeps the club in line. She joins Paddy from Patea, along with foundational members, twins Bib and Bub.
Katie Deare: The Winter 31 Club
Now, granted, it is a long weekend - and you have every right to put your feet up and relax - but if you're worried about becoming a winter couch potato, then this might be for you. The Winter 31 Club is a 31 day yoga challenge inspired by Matariki. Katie Deare is from the Sun Salute Yoga Centre in Hamilton to talk it over.
Mihi Forbes: Launching the latest NZ Wars doco
The Doc Edge Festival is on at the moment with screenings at all the main centres. There's even a Virtual Cinema launching at the end of the month - so no one is missing out. Always close to the action was our very own Mihi Forbes who Paddy speaks with live from the launch of the latest important chapter in the NZ Wars series: Stories of Waerenga-a-Hika
Cameron Bennett: Bringing our stories to the screen, NZ Wars
Veteran war correspondent Cameron Bennett joins Paddy to talk about the NZ Wars documentary: Stories of Waerenga-a-Hika. Cameron's directed the doco about the six day siege at Waerenga-a-Hika, a pa site close to Gisborne.
Takahe released onto Farewell Spit
Two things you'll find in Golden Bay are horopito and takahe, and they're two things that father daughter duo Peter and Lucy Butler have put together. Peter Butler transitioned from a failing organic kiwifruit orchard to successfully farming the native horopito plant. He's also behind Health Post - New Zealand's largest natural health and wellness store - which is 100% NZ family-owned - found
The mysterious networks of fungi right under our feet
A recent study has revealed that there are vast and mysterious underground networks of fungi right under our feet. These organisms are so small they can't be seen by the naked eye, yet they're foundational to the health of soil and the wellbeing of plants. Katie Field is a Professor in Plant-Soil Processes at the University of Sheffield. She joins Paddy.
Move that body!
Those of us who sit at a desk for most of the day know the importance of taking a break. New research has figured out exactly how often we should get up and move around. The study found taking a short walking break every 20 minutes reduces blood sugar and insulin. University of Otago PhD graduate and lecturer in physical activity and nutrition behaviour at AUT Dr Jen Gale is the lead author i
David Howman: Insight into the dark world of sports doping
One of the most senior figures in global anti-doping is a New Zealander. David Howman is Chairman of the International Athletics Integrity Unit which polices athletics. But before that, David spent 13 years at the World Anti Doping Agency as it's director general. Paddy speaks with him about developments this week which have seen the International Olympic Committee provisionally lift its susp
TALA: the Samoan cuisine making Michelin history
Auckland's TALA has received the first-ever Michelin Star awarded for Samoan food.
Kate de Goldi: Bookworm reviews
Kate de Goldi, our resident reader, is back with her latest picks.
Dogs of the World
Craig Turner-Bullock has spent almost a decade travelling the world, taking photos of dogs. He talks to Susie about capturing canines - and finding their best side!
Antarctica through a te ao Maori lens
Matariki became a public holiday in 2022 largely thanks to the mahi of Professor Rangi Matamua who last year decided he would do Matariki in Antarctica.
Carol Guzy: Snapping ICE
Four-time Pulitzer Prize winning photo-journalist, Carol Guzy, on documenting ICE.
Alien water and black holes with Dr Michelle Thaller
Black holes, glittery images and alien water on an interstellar comet - the infinite possibilities of space!
Kate Daly: Divorcing well
There's no doubt divorce can be messy, but according to divorce expert Kate Daly, it doesn't have to be!
Lenny McAllister: The US at 250
This July fourth in the USA marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As it reaches this milestone, we take a look at the current temperature of the United States and what the future holds for it.
World-leading Kiwi research wins top science prize
The PM's Science Prize has been awarded to an Auckland team who's work has prevented severe disability for thousands of babies around the world.
The Bug Man and the river
The mighty Ruamāhanga river is set to play the starring role in an upcoming documentary alongside naturalist Ruud Kleinpaste, also known as The Bug Man.
The new digital book club
Have you always wanted to join a book club but haven't quite found the time to make it happen? Well, the Libby Reads digital book club might be your answer.
Chris Chang: Can the All Whites make history?
TVNZ's FIFA World Cup host, Chris Chang speaks to Mihingarangi ahead of this afternoon's match between the All Whites and Belgium.
Daughter of Fidel Castro
The Cuban revolution is particularly personal for Alina Fernández. When Alina was 10 years old, she found out that her father was its leader - Fidel Castro.
The art of letting go
Many of us spend years building our lives around accumulation, believing that's how we'll find security and happiness. But what if we've got it backwards? Daisuke Yosumi swears by minimalism.
Can we outsmart AI?
How do we build resilience in the face of more technological and societal change? Acclaimed neuroscientist, Dr Hannah Critchlow shares her tips.
Afterlife Lab: How important is legacy?
How will you be remembered after you die? And does it really matter if you're not here to see it? It turns out that an awful lot of us do care.
Max Dickins: Modern masculinity
We often talk about how life has changed for women across the generations but what about men? What does it mean to be a man today?
