09:05 Conservation land could still be at risk through development
Skyline Track near Wānaka.
Photo: Department of Conservation
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has described the new economic focus of the Conservation Amendment Act as just one step removed from an absolute legislative direction to facilitate development. In his submission to the environment select committee, Simon Upton says the new wording in the bill gives “development” a stronger legislative footing than “conservation.” The amendment he is referring to sets out new functions for the Department of Conservation to recognise the economic opportunities that arise from the use and development of conservation land and to enable those opportunities to the “greatest extent practicable.” Similar fears over the amendment act have been made in a submission by the Ecological Society. Kathryn speaks to the president of the society, a conservation biologist at the University of Otago, Jo Monks.
09:25 NZ streetwear brand hits 25 years in business
Celebrating 25 years in business, New Zealand clothing brand Federation has come a long way since its inception in 2001 as a street and skatewear brand. Along the way, the company has overcome major setbacks, including a liquidation where founder Jenny Joblin managed to buy back the business. Known for iconic pieces such as a hallmark pair of women’s trackpants that customers regularly return to purchase, Federation has evolved into a cult streetwear brand. While products are sold online and through various retail stores across the country, its physical footprint includes a brick-and-mortar store attached to the Auckland head office, where Jenny runs the business alongside her life and business partner, Ben Dundas. Now, the brand is becoming a family affair as Jenny’s three children, aged 17 to 21, are all jumping into the business.
Photo:
09:35 Scientists confirm a Western Australian asteroid crater is the oldest in the world
Scientists have found an asteroid crater in Western Australia is the oldest one in the world. The North Pole Dom – which is 1600km north of Perth – has been dated at 3 billion years old. Curtin University geology professor Chris Kirkland was involved in analysing skeletal grains in the individual crystals within the rock to track the time of impact.
Large conical shatter cones within the Pilbara Craton, Western Australia, provide visible proof of a meteorite impact 3.5 billion years ago.
Photo: Chris Kirkland, Curtin University
09:45 USA correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben
President Trump’s primetime address on election integrity offered no new evidence of fraud to support his SAVE America Act, while security concerns have forced the newly acquired Air Force One out of commission for upgrades. Danielle also discusses a third US service member’s death in Iran, which has prompted retaliatory US airstrikes and fuelled growing public discontent with the ongoing conflict.
US President Donald Trump.
Photo: MANDEL NGAN
Danielle Kurtzleben is a political correspondent assigned to NPR’s Washington Desk.
10:05 Weekend missions drive pair’s love of the great outdoors
Being hunted through some of the South Island’s most wild terrain, by a pair of special forces trackers, was possibly not where Gabe Ross and Riley Meason thought they’d end up. The pair are keen hunters and outdoorsmen, having hunted together during high school with friends, and filming their adventures. So, when the opportunity arose to apply for the reality television show Tracked, back in 2023, they thought … ‘yea let’s give it a crack’. They ended up winning. Since then the pair have embarked on many more missions. Not least of which, a trek into the pole of inaccessibility – New Zealand’s most remote point – which resulted in an emergency rescue after Riley was badly injured. Their day job – creating content for their platform The Weekend Mish – has grown as they seek to encourage and inspire more people into the great outdoors.
Photo: Supplied by Gabe Ross and Riley Meason
10:35 Book review: The End and the Beginning by K.J. Holdom
Photo: Simon and Schuster
Carole Beu from The Women’s Bookshop reviews The End and the Beginning by K.J. Holdom, published by Simon & Schuster.
10:45 Around the motu: Whanganui Chronicle editor, Zaryd Wilson
The Durie Hill Elevator has projection-based displays and new, wirelessly-controlled lighting throughout the length of the tunnel.
Photo: Steve Carle
Air Chathams reinstates flights to Auckland, as the Whanganui District Council faces lower than average earnings and an aging population. Zaryd also discusses safety issues have extended the temporary closure of the Durie Hill Elevator and Whanganui likely to delay submitting amalgamation plans.
11:05 Business commentator Thomas Manch
Tensions have escalated as the government’s fast-track planning process has begun overriding Auckland Council objections on several major infrastructure and housing developments, coinciding with a controversial $60 million state funding package to keep Fletcher Building’s domestic cement plant operational. Thomas also discusses corporate expansions as Kiwi brand-tracking firm Tracksuit acquired Australian AI startup Hall to monitor digital brand presence, and AFT Pharmaceuticals secured crucial regulatory backing in the US and Japan for its novel iron injection treatment.
Tracksuit co-founder and chief executive Connor Archbold.
Photo: Supplied
Thomas Manch is a senior journalist at BusinessDesk.
11:30 New Zealand’s lesser-known history told in 30 great tales
Photo: Supplied
New Zealand’s history is filled with remarkable people, extraordinary events and little-known stories that have helped shape the nation we know today. In his new book, Great Tales of Aotearoa: Extraordinary Stories from New Zealand’s Past, historian and author Tom Clarke brings together some of the most fascinating chapters from our past. In many ways he’s the perfect person to write this book – in 1983 he began compiling the ‘Today in History New Zealand’ series, cataloguing more than 4500 events. They’re being packaged up and will make a book of their own, which is due to be published next year.
11:45 Sports correspondent Marc Hinton
Ryan Fox’s historic Open Championship victory, and the FIFA World Cup comes to an end. Marc also discusses the All Blacks’ undefeated July series, Josh Kerr’s historic mile world record, the controversy surrounding WNBA coach Sandy Brondello, and a come-from-behind win for the Black Caps.
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox celebrates his is birdie putt to win the 2026 Open Championship.
Photo: ADRIAN DENNIS