RNZ: Insight

Insight - The state of many of the country's public hospital buildings is compromising medical care. For the first time there's been a national stocktake. Phil Pennington looks at what's wrong, and asks if it can be fixed.

Insight - It is a year since the Christchurch mosque attacks, but many are still struggling to recover and to rebuild their lives. In the first six months following the shootings, Conan Young followed the journey of one of the wounded, Ahmed Jahangir.

The Islamic Women's Council believes it's likely the Christchurch mosque attacks would not have happened if the public service - including police and security agencies - had not ignored their repeated warnings. They have shared their submission to the Royal Commission exclusively with Insight's Philippa Tolley.

Free speech crusaders say the sacred right to freedom of expression is under threat. But minority communities say a law change is needed to protect the most vulnerable.

The poor quality of our fresh water is a top worry for New Zealanders. But some farmers fear the new proposals might mean their farms are no longer viable. Philippa Tolley investigates.

Is New Zealand ready to cope in a global catastrophe? John Gerritsen investigates

Insight - Teresa Cowie heads inside prison to find how a focus on fatherhood could be channelled reducing reoffending

Insight - Touted as a cure for diabetes, epilepsy and doomed New Year's resolutions to lose weight, the Keto diet is taking off in popularity. Insight reporter Teresa Cowie asks - it is a trend or a treatment?

Insight - The government's school donation scheme has not even started and schools are already looking for ways to push its rules to the limit. John Gerritsen investigates how far they will go to give students the best education they can.

Migration is shaping New Zealand as we head towards a population of five million. But why are people choosing to come here? Philippa Tolley attended citizenship ceremonies to ask newly minted New Zealanders why they picked this country

With New Zealand's population about to hit 5 Million for the first time Insight's reporter Teresa Cowie talks to five 5-year-olds from around the country to find out what it’s like to be 'the big 0-5' in Aotearoa today and what's changed from when their parents headed off to school.

After years of rapid growth, New Zealand visitor numbers from China and India are slowing, now nearby Nepal is enticing more of its neighbours to "come visit". Lynn Freeman went to Nepal to find out how it's getting visitors to see the whole country not just the mountain.

Forcing racing clubs to close their tracks and outsourcing the TAB could revitalise the horse racing industry, but as Max Towle discovers, some diehards won't accept change without a fight.

The Reserve Bank's Governor thinks the big 4 Australian banks are making too much money in NZ. Guyon Espiner investigates efforts to rein them in.

New Zealand is a dream destination for many Filipinos. But many are exploited and New Zealanders are increasingly becoming involved in exploitation in the Philippines as well. Gill Bonnett investigates.

New Zealand has one of the highest reported rates of domestic violence in the developed world. The government has just put tougher laws in place to try stop violence in families. Kim Griggs has been asking, will this make a difference?

Six months on from the mosque attacks in Christchurch, Ahmed Jahangir is still in pain after being shot, his restaurant is still closed and his chef can no longer cook as he too was shot. Conan Young has been following Ahmed's journey as the months unfolded.

Solo mums say benefits just aren't enough to raise a family and food banks say they're seeing unprecedented demand from parents. Sarah Robson investigates the Coalition government's promise to overhaul the welfare system, so everyone could live with dignity.

At least one person is dying every day on our roads on average, and it's costing the country more than $5bn a year. Given that annual figure is more than we spend on transport infrastructure each year, Ben Strang investigates why we aren't doing more.

Dairy's huge role earning export dollars for New Zealand is facing a threat some say could bring it to its knees. Lab-grown milk protein is now stepping outside niche cheese and ice cream markets and into the bulk ingredient arena. Teresa Cowie investigates how much of a threat synthetic products pose to our dairy industry.

More than 100,000 Chinese students have studied in New Zealand in the past 20 years. What impact do those graduates have on the China-New Zealand relationship and is New Zealand making the most of their goodwill? John Gerritsen travelled to China to speak to former students.

After the attacks on the mosques in Christchurch there were pleas for unity and love in the face of evil and a huge outpouring of grief and support for the Muslim community. But did New Zealanders just pat themselves on the back for reacting well, while doing nothing to tackle on-going Islamophobia? Philippa Tolley investigates.

Tuvalu is the poster boy for small island countries suffering from climate change and its very existence and that of its people is under threat. Despite the gloomy outlook, Tuvalu has big plans for its future and its leaders are urging polluting nations to help. Sally Round travelled to Tuvalu to investigate

New Zealand's mental health system is on the brink of a major overhaul, Health Correspondent Karen Brown examines the pressure points and asks what's needed to help those living with mental illness.

Are too many Māori babies being taken into care? Māori news correspondent, Leigh Marama McLachlan investigates whether Oranga Tamariki is getting the balance right between keeping children safe and keeping families together.

Under the 1955 Adoption Act, thousands of Māori babies were adopted into Pākehā families. Te Aniwa Hurihanganui investigates the impact on Māori who grew up desperate to re-connect.

Volunteering is facing a crisis. Teresa Cowie investigates how essential services can survive as more and more people decide they can't make on going commitments to help out.

In this award winning documentary, Insight's reporter Teresa Cowie heads inside prison to find out more about the impact of New Zealand's meth epidemic.

The Christchurch mosque attacks have prompted claims the security agencies have wielded their powers in skewed and unfair ways. Have resources been wasted surveilling Muslims and virtually ignoring possible alt-right extremists? In this second part of a two-part investigation, Phil Pennington asks if the agencies have been monitoring the right people.

Insight - The Christchurch terror attack happened apparently without any indication of danger being flagged. So who is supposed to be keeping New Zealand safe? In this first part of a two part investigation, Phil Pennington asks how comprehensive New Zealand's security system is and why it now appears to be playing catch-up.

Exnteded interviews with Chris Finlayson and Janet Reitman

Taranaki is wrestling with it's economic future after the government banned new offshore oil exploration. Robin Martin asks if alternative fuels could be the region's saviour.

Insight - The Defence Force is working to improve its support for the LBGTQI community, but as Jonathan Mitchell discovered there are calls for investigations of sex abuse in the past.

Live Australian election Insight special hosted by Philippa Tolley

Insight - What if your beloved has dementia and doesn't know who you are anymore? Is it all right to start a new relationship with someone else? Teresa Cowie explores the tangle of emotions, family reaction and legal issues that can emerge

Insight - The internet has helped those wanting to spread extremism and in the wake of the Christchurch terrorist attacks anonymous forums have come under scrutiny. Max Towle investigates whether closer surveillance is the answer or whether free online discussion should be protected.

Insight - As the government looks to build international action to counter hate speech and extremism on social media, far-right political groups and ideologies are growing and becoming harder to detect. Gyles Beckford has been investigating the emergence of new groups and new causes attracting disaffected and disengaged people,

Insight - With $3bn heading to 6 regions under the Provincial Growth Fund, questions have been asked about how it's being spent and by whom? Lois Williams asks those getting funding to plant trees or run cultural centres in Shane Jones's home region of Northland.

Insight - As legislation to ban most types of semi-automatic and military-style guns, after the atrocity of the mosque attacks, works its way through parliament Philippa Tolley explores how gun owners are responding.

Rheumatic fever rates are on the rise. Philippa Tolley talks to those living with this heart-damaging auto-immune disease and to those left behind.

Insight - With a cannabis referendum on the horizon Teresa Cowie talks to NZ's businesses gearing up for a possible law change

After last year's stream of strike action, political reporter Gia Garrick explores what this means for the relationship between Labour and the unions and asks will it damage or strengthen this Government's chances politically?

Insight - As the battle against the Tasman fires continues, Alex Ashton reflects on the emergency response and questions whether New Zealand is ready for a future where fires like this could become more frequent.

Insight - Four teenagers connected with the Hastings suburb of Flaxmere have been convicted of violent murders in just over a year. Anneke Smith visited Hawke's Bay to find out why.

Insight - Eric Frykberg explores whether the regions can still thrive without irrigation certainty

Insight - Rural GPs and nurses are thin on the ground and the pressure on those trying to provide life saving emergency help is even more evident over the summer. Tess Brunton explores if they can continue as demand rises.

Insight - Philippa Tolley investigates how well youth justice residences are doing at turning offending around.

With four out of the five whitebait species under threat or in decline, Insight's Teresa Cowie heads to the West Coast to find out if we have to give up on our springtime whitebait treat.

The road freight industry is already estimated to be 2500 drivers short and that number will grow to 28,000 in a couple of decades. Tracy Neal investigates if the driver shortage is threatening the safety of trucking operations and endangering other road users.

Should New Zealand be looking again at the use of genetic modification for agriculture?

Classrooms have changed radically in the past decade to become future focused. But John Gerritsen investigates if they are equipping children well or leaving them short on essential knowledge.

100 years after the last great 'flu pandemic, Philippa Tolley explores how well prepared we are for the next one.

Johnny Blades looks at Papua New Guinea's road to hosting the APEC leaders' summit as it teeters on the verge of social breakdown.

Insight's senior specialist reporter, Teresa Cowie visits New Zealand's Drug Court to find out how it works and if it's worth the money to keep it going.

Nearly a third of former prisoners go back to jail within their first year after release. Leigh-Marama McLachlan explores why so many Māori prisoners end up back inside.

3.7 million tourists visited NZ last year, many heading to National Parks and camping grounds. South Island Bureau Chief, Belinda McCammon, explores whether DOC can manage growing tourist numbers and its responsibility as the guardian of public land.

RNZ Pacific’s Sports Editor Vinnie Wylie asks if a Pacific based rugby team will ever get off the ground and why the New Zealand government is getting involved?

Our plastic is becoming Malaysia's problem - Nita Blake-Persen investigates what really happens to the waste we're shipping overseas to be recycled.

RNZs Immigration Reporter Gill Bonnett talks to the grandparents stuck in visa limbo who are awaiting news of whether they can join their families in New Zealand.

Will the latest nursing pay and staffing deals ease the pressure? Karen Brown heads into a ward in one of the country's busiest hospitals to find out.

Teresa Cowie explores whether mobile phones should be banned in schools.

Visitor numbers are increasing but how much public access should trampers, hunters and tourists be given or expect over farm land? Maja Burry has visited High Country Stations in the South Island to hear farmers' thoughts, as well as those fighting to keep the farmgate open

It's thought there could be several thousand New Zealand babies born every year with brains damaged in the womb by alcohol after their mother's drank while pregnant. Philippa Tolley investigates what is being done for those coping with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder

RNZs Local Government reporter Laura Dooney takes a closer look at the huge financial pressures facing local councils trying to keep our water safe and clean.

RNZs Maori News Correspondent Leigh-Marama Mclachlan asks, could compulsory te reo Māori in schools reduce racism?

New anti-money laundering regulations have come into effect. But some question if they will make any difference. Jeremy Rose investigates money laundering in New Zealand and the attempts to counter it.

With the UK having recently appointed a Minister of loneliness, Sally Round takes a look what can be done in New Zealand to address the problem, which will likely balloon as the population ages.

Teresa Cowie takes a look at New Zealand’s growing competitive video game industry.

Otago reporter Timothy Brown heads to Queenstown to find out what unintended consequences of the foreign buyer ban might lie ahead for the resort town.

Nearly every aspect of the school system is under review. RNZ's Education Correspondent, John Gerritsen examines the hard questions being asked about deciles, zones and school boards.

Mycoplasma bovis is now this country's most expensive biosecurity breach. Conan Young asks whether eradication is even possible and what impact it will have on the way NZ farms.

As more New Zealanders are initiated into gangs, Philippa Tolley asks, what future lies ahead for those in them and those dealing with the fall out.

Anusha Bradley takes a look at a new approach to policing family violence.

If New Zealand is to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, agriculture will have to reinvent itself. Veronika Meduna looks at new options for farmers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's partner, Clarke Gayford will be the primary caregiver of their first child. But what is known about stay-at-home fathers? And what's stopping more men from stepping into the role?

Craig McCulloch returns from London and a Commonwealth heads of government meeting to explore whether a trade agreement across all 53 countries could really fly?

Insight's reporter Teresa Cowie heads inside prison to find out more about the impact of New Zealand's meth epidemic.

Patrick O'Meara looks at what settlements have achieved and whether the benefit is filtering down to all iwi members

After years of being lured by the promise of low rates, Aucklanders are now being asked to fork out to finally fix the city's long-running and escalating problems. Todd Niall asks if residents are ready to pay-up.

Are plans to build thousands of new homes going to cater for large and multi-generational Māori and Pasifika families?

Shannon Haunui-Thompson explores whether a day to mark the New Zealand Wars will ever truly become a national event.

The warnings about automation and artificial intelligence changing our lives are evey increasing. Philippa Tolley asks are employers and employees a like really thinking about what lies ahead and will everyone cope with the change?

Childcare is booming, but cracks are starting to show. John Gerritsen talks to teachers about how tight funding and corner-cutting is making some centres dangerous for children.

Around 2.2m tourists headed to Iceland last year putting pressure on the environment and infrastructure, as tourism does in NZ. Lynn Freeman travelled to Iceland to ask if both nations can learn valuable lessons from each other.

The number of young people not in work or training has remained virtually unchanged, despite improving financial times. Emile Donovan explores how New Zealand can engage these young people, who now number more than 80,000.

A building boom in Auckland, open plan offices and classrooms and urban intensification - Teresa Cowie has been out onto the streets and into homes asking about noise levels and what all that racket is doing to our well-being.

The Insight team look back over a year of programmes and revisit some to see if anything has changed.

Fifteen years since Timor-Leste proclaimed independence, a new generation tries to move on from its traumatic past. Sally Round investigates how the country's faring.

Under NZ's MMP system, the highest polling party is not leading government. Former RNZ political editor Brent Edwards investigates if MMP is still the right option.

The fight to save the kauri and protect the noble trees against kauri dieback disease.

More than seven years after Trans Pacific Partnership discussions began in earnest, the eleven nations still involved continue to haggle over the details. But they insist the finish line is in sight. RNZ's Economics Correspondent Patrick O'Meara was in Da Nang, Vietnam for the latest set of talks.

After years of safety improvements, law changes and public campaigns, the death toll on the roads is trending upwards again. Philippa Tolley asks if it’s just a matter of more people on the roads, or is something else going on?

While tourism is booming, research into employment paints a less than rosy picture, Belinda McCammon investigates government plans to tighten-up migrant worker visas will have on businesses, and how or if the local workforce will fill the void.

After a wet winter, and in some places a drenched summer before that, Teresa Cowie asks if it’s possible to design cities that can cope with the increasing extreme weather being driven by climate change.

With voluntary euthanasia due to be debated in the next parliamentary session, Alex Perrottet speaks to supporters and those opposed to the End of Life Choice Bill.

The vision of the Ministry of Social Development is to help New Zealanders to help themselves to be safe, strong and independent. But many beneficiaries are taking to social media to talk about what they see as poor treatment from its agency, Work and Income. Philippa Tolley asks if this a sign of real problems or the opinions of a disgruntled few.

Nearly a year after the Kaikōura quake, Maja Burry has toured around North Canterbury as the lambing season gets underway and the tourist season cranks up, to see how the region is rebuilding.

There is no shortage of applicants for New Zealand's Pacific Quota immigration scheme, which is drawn by ballot every year. RNZ Pacific reporter, Sara Vui-Talitu looks into the quota system and whether it's living up to the ideals behind its establishment.

Recent figures indicate the gender wage gap has narrowed, but does that mean employers are valuing women more? The settlement that gave 55,000 care and support workers pay increases may be a springboard to address the persistent gender wage gap. But Megan Whelan asks if that is going to be enough.

NZ's mental health system is groaning under the weight of growing demand. Catherine Hutton asks how well the service is coping and what needs to change.

NZers are sending more waste to the dump. Teresa Cowie asks why and explores whether there are bigger,undetected issues

New Zealand is entering the biggest construction boom in its history. Phil Pennington investigates if it is possible to avoid a cycle that has led to chronic and sometimes acute building failure.

As warnings over threats to drinking water supplies continue to grow, Philippa Tolley asks what the final answer might be, how willing communities are to accept change such as universal chlorination of water supplies, and how it possibly can all be paid for.

Tracy Neal explores how the West Coast is planning to re-invent its economy.

After 14 years and $3 billion in support from Australia, New Zealand and other partners, do the Solomon Islands have a shot at lasting peace? RNZ Pacific's Koroi Hawkins investigates for Insight.

Social media and big data companies are harvesting and vast amounts of information from users' online profiles to increase the effectiveness of political advertising. Adam Bennett explores how this played out in recent US and British elections and how far New Zealand political parties will use the same techniques in this year's election campaign.

Mountain biking is experiencing a boom in New Zealand. Chris Bramwell takes to the trails to find out why.

The America's Cup celebration parades have come to an end, but the planning for the next race has only just started. Todd Niall considers where and what form the next America’s Cup challenge will take.

With the Trump administration withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement and some US states and companies stepping up to fill the gap, is there now pressure for more or less action over climate change in New Zealand? With an election looming, Philippa Tolley asks how much importance campaigning parties will give to global warming.

The opposition to the Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal focused on jobs, questions over economic benefit and possible threats to sovereignty. But in the light of the Trump administration and its more isolationist posturing, Philippa Tolley ask if the need for some sort of regional deal is crucial for security and stability.