Saturday Morning for Saturday 15 November 2025

7:09 Call for police reform

Organisations working to end sexual violence are calling for comprehensive police reform.

This follows the damning IPCA report into police handling of accusations against disgraced former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming, which found serious misconduct at the highest levels.

The allegations arose after an affair between McSkimming and a non-sworn police employee who accused him of sexual offending. Police Commissioner Richard Chambers says the woman was "ignored and badly let down".

Russell Smith is with Te Ohaakii a Hine - the National Network Ending Sexual Violence Together which represents 40 NGOS. He speaks to Guyon Espiner about the changes they want to see.  

7:18 Latest on Trump and Epstein

The White House says emails released this week further linking President Trump to Jeffrey Epstein "prove literally nothing."

The messages are part of more than 20 thousand files obtained by US lawmakers from the estate of the late convicted sex offender Epstein. 

In the emails Epstein wrote "the dog that hasn't barked is Trump" - adding that Trump spent hours at his house with one of the victims.

US Correspondent Simon Marks joins Mihingarangi Forbes live from Washington.

7:24 Te Pāti Māori: Out but not over

It has been another tumultuous week for Te Pāti  Māori.

MP's Tākuta Ferris and Mariameno  Kapa- Kingi were expelled from the party with its President John Tamihere accusing them of plotting a leadership coup.

Ferris told  RNZ that the pair had requested a meeting with the National Council of the party which he says was ignored.

Lara Greaves is an Associate Professor in Politics at Te  Herenga  Waka - Victoria University of Wellington.

She speaks to Guyon about the latest fallout.

7:34 Changing our climate law

COP30 – the 30^th annual United Nations climate summit – is underway in the northern Brazilian city of Belém. New Zealand’s Minister for Climate Change, Simon Watts will leave for the global conference this weekend.

It comes as the government faces criticism for its planned amendments to the Climate Change Response Act which include a reduction in the role of independent watchdog, the Climate Change Commission.  

Minister Watts says the changes will streamline a complex and inefficient system.

Robert McLachlan is a Distinguished Professor in Applied Mathematics at Massey University and a commentator on climate science.  He talks to Mihingarangi about why he thinks any change to the law requires bi-partisan support.

7:42 Reaching for the stars: Kiwi tech in space

We've all heard of Rocket Lab but now another Kiwi company is making an impact.

Auckland based  Zenno Astronautics is partnering with a US company called Portal Space Systems which will use Zenno’s technology to launch their spacecraft into orbit next year.

It uses electromagnetics instead of using fuel to control the positioning of the craft.Co-founder and chief product officer Sebastian Wieczorek speaks to Guyon about how far – and how high - the company can go.

7:50 The weekend in sport  

In an all-stars line up of sport this weekend, involving the Black Caps, the Silver Ferns and the All Whites, the All Blacks are taking on England at Twickenham overnight tonight.

The Kiwis were booed doing the haka at Mount Smart by Samoan fans last month.

So, is it just a matter of time before other international fans start complaining?

Resident sports commentator, Jamie Wall, weighs in with Mihingarangi.

8:10 The Etymology Nerd: How language shapes us

Language is evolving under the influence of internet slang, algorithms and influencer culture but what does that mean for the future of communication?   

In his new book Algospeak Adam Aleksic, also known as The Etymology Nerd looks at how we’re entering an entirely new era of etymology with language transforming in real time.  

Adam Aleksic is an American Gen Z linguist and content creator whose videos exploring the origins of words have garnered over three million followers across social media. 

He talks to Guyon about how language shapes us, just as much as we shape it.

8:40 The power of the Pause

For people pleasers who say "yes" too often, setting boundaries can be really hard.

A British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy registered counsellor, Nikki Allen runs courses and workshops for the UN, banks, corporates, universities and the British government on the power of pausing before committing.

She talks to Mihingarangi about having difficult conversations and setting boundaries in the workplace.

9:05 Fran Lebowitz unleashed

Never short of an opinion, Fran Lebowitz has for decades lambasted the ridiculous. 

In her 20s in New York City, she wrote a column for Andy Warhol's Interview magazine, and 50 years later she's still going strong.

Next year she's coming to the Auckland Writer's Festival to aim her caustic gaze at everything from celebrity culture to the nuisance of tourists.

She talks to Guyon - and shares an opinion or three.

9:25 Pill Rolling Fingers: The experience of Early Onset Parkinson's

A recent recipient of a coveted Marsden grant to research early-onset Parkinson's was diagnosed with the disease herself, age 41.

Dr Tara Coleman's qualitative study engaged 48 people with Parkinson's -  in a range of activities - aimed at documenting their lived experience with the disease.  

Their time together inspired Tara to write a book of poems called Pill Rolling Fingers - a nod to an early sign of Parkinson's.

While the book is a creative endeavour, it carries a practical message for health professionals and policy makers.

Tara speaks with Mihingarangi about her lived experience - and reads some of her poetry. 

9:45 Lars Wittig: A new way of working

Employee absence is costing the economy more than 4 billion dollars each year. 

But a recent study of 4,000 hybrid workers by International Workplace Group showed 36% of workers take fewer sick days if they work from home for some of the week.

Hybrid working - and the option of flexible workspaces - is a worldwide trend that is also being adopted here.    

Lars Wittig is IWG's Senior VP for Asia and Pacific. He talks to Guyon about why companies are "right" sizing and why being flexible is the way of the future.    

10.05 Hamish McKenzie: The impact of independent journalism

Otago-born Hamish McKenzie co-founded subscription publishing start-up Substack, and is its Chief Writing Officer.  

The online platform allows writers, journalists and content creators to publish directly to a subscription-based audience.

Hamish joins Guyon from Silicon Valley to discuss the state of independent journalism and what platforms like Substack mean for the future of traditional journalism.

10:35 Corey Baker: Dancing with the celebrities

Corey Baker's career has taken him from Hornby to Hollywood. The choreographer and filmmaker has worked with famous names including Lady Gaga, Tim Burton and Dua Lipa, among others. For his latest projects, he's directed dance moves which appear in the new season of Netflix's Wednesday, and the Tim Burton directed music video for Lady Gaga's recent song The Dead Dance.  

Corey has won multiple awards for his work across film, TV, stage, commercials and live events, and has worked on Strictly Come Dancing in the UK and on Ru Paul's Drag Race Down Under. 

Corey Baker shares how he's built a career on dance moves that'll be remembered through the ages.

11:05 Nick Tupara: Waeranga A Hika 160 years on 

This week hundreds will commemorate the loss, arrest and deportation of their ancestors in a siege that took place 160 years ago on Waeranga A Hika.

Over five days of attacks, the pa was flattened, leaders died and another 400 Maaori including elderly, women and children were captured, arrested and deported to Wharekauri-Rekohu, the Chatham Islands.

The lands were partitioned and given to soldiers whose families today are sixth generation farmers, orchardists and viticulturists.

Artist, iwi historian and Gisborne District Councillor Nick Tupara tells the story.

11:20 Liam Dann: AI bubble fears and "green shoots"

Investors are fearful that the AI bubble may be about to burst, but what are the wider implications if that happens?

There's also lots of talk of "green shoots", aka signs of economic recovery - but what does it really mean?

New Zealand Herald business editor-at-large Liam Dann unpacks this week's economic news. 

11:40 Kereama Taepa's ambitious augmented reality art

The Toi Tauranga Art Gallery is reopening today after being closed for two years.

One of the headliners is Kereama Taepa presenting his work 'Whakairo', which has been described as one of the most ambitious augmented reality art experiences ever shown in a New Zealand gallery. 

His work explores the intersection of traditional Māori carving, Whakairo, and digital technologies.

Kereama talks to Mihingarangi about what inspires him.

 

 

 

 

Music played in this show

Song played: He Aroha, feat. the Aotearoa AllStars
Artist: Toni Huata 
Time played: 8.55

Song played: The Dead Dance
Artist: Lady Gaga
Time played: 10.30

Song played: Goo Goo Muck
Artist: The Cramps
Time played: 10.55

Song played: How Will I Know
Artist: Corrella 
Time played: 11.57