Saturday Morning

7.11 What next for the Treaty Principles Bill?

After 300,000 submissions, tens of thousands of feet on the road in one of the biggest hīkoi this country has ever seen - and tens of thousands of tax-payer dollars spent on the debate, the Parliament's Justice Committee has recommended that ACT's Treaty Principles Bill not proceed.

ACT campaigned on holding a public vote to scrap the principles that have been established through the courts - such as partnership - and codifying in law a new interpretation focused on what it says is "all New Zealanders being "equal under the law".

The Justice Committee revealed that 90 percent of submissions were opposed, 8 percent supported the bill and and 2 percent were unsure. 

Massey Professor of Politics Richard Shaw speaks to Mihi.

7.20 Ukraine war: BBC's Frank Gardner

Just this morning, twelve people have died, and dozens injured in the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih after a Russian missile attack.

It's the latest attack in a week where both countries have accused each other of new attacks against each other's energy facilities, citing a US-brokered moratorium, although there is no formal agreement in place.

Meanwhile the Russian president's investment envoy has been meeting officials in Washington - he's the highest ranking Russian official to go to the states since the start of the war. 

It comes as US President Trump was said to be angry at Putin over the state of negotiations to end the war. 

The BBC's Security Correspondent Frank Gardner now speaks to Susie.

7.32 US tariffs and what that means for NZ

As global share markets tumble, with trillions of dollars wiped from world markets in a couple of days China has announced retaliatory tariffs of 34 percent on US goods.

Yesterday, Wall Street suffered its worst day since the Pandemic after US President Donald Trump announced a raft of world-wide sweeping tariffs.

His administration is to charge a minimum tariff of 10% on most countries including New Zealand - which the U.S. incorrectly claims imposes a 20 percent tariff on US products.

Simplicity Chief Economist Shamubeel Eaqub breaks down what that means to our businesses and families.

7.41 More funding for gold standard diabetes tech

Every day our bodies automatically makes hundreds of decisions that we are completely unaware of. But for those suffering from diabetes, it's a different story.

PHARMAC has expanded funding for gold standard technology that will drastically reduce the number of decisions those with type 1 diabetes have to make.

Type 1 diabetes affects up to 25,000 people in Aotearoa, with loss of up to 20 years life expectancy reported, especially in those diagnosed at a young age, and of Māori/Pacific ethnicity. 

Ben Wheeler is a professor at the University of Otago's Department of Women and Children's Health.

He has been awarded $1.4 million from the Health Research Council to evaluate a model of delivery that will provide better access to the tech for all who need it.

7.50 Kiwis shine at the World Butchers' Challenge

Kiwi butchers have been doing New Zealand proud overseas at the World Butchers' Challenge.

Rhys Tamanui from Hawkes Bay picked up 3rd place in the apprentice division.

While the Hellers Sharp Blacks team came first in the Best Lamb Product category with their Te Whā Nōta entry.

Team member Luka Young, from Kaitaia came into the Auckland studio to kōrero with Mihi.

8.11 Pronatalism - the argument for lots of babies

At a time where some countries are struggling with low birth rates, the voices for pronatalism are getting louder.  But it's who's sounding the call for more babies that has people talking.

Tech giant Elon Musk has fourteen children and has expressed concern about the risk of a population collapse. Meanwhile, founder of Open AI Sam Altman also wants a big family and has invested in fertility tech, a multi-billion dollar industry that's booming.

Katie Hasson is the associate director for The Center of Genetics and Society in the US, and talks to Susie.

8.41 The surprising history of electric cars

There's been a huge uptake of electric cars in recent years, but at the start of the 20th century electric vehicles made-up 40 percent of the market, while petrol cars only accounted for about 20 percent. Electric cars were also some of the fastest cars at the time.

So, what led to their demise and how did gendered advertising play a part in that? 

Economic historian and associate professor at Lund University, Josef Taalbi, has been researching this and speaks to Mihi.

9.06 A. C. Grayling: defending wokeism

In his latest book Discriminations: Achieving Peace in the Culture Wars British philosopher and author A. C. Grayling looks at the history of cancellation and defends so-called wokeism.

Professor Grayling has written and edited more than 30 books.  He is appearing at the Auckland Writers Festival next month, where he will discuss the new book, which he says is a timely examination of the state of our public culture and its chilling effect.

9.40 Theo Shakes - united by mums

Next week Toi Whakaari graduate and TikTok sensation Theo Shakes will debut The Play that Gets Louder - a futuristic play set in a crumbling hospital ward where wounded soldiers bond over memories of their mothers.

Theo, who has 1.8 million followers and more than 190 million likes for his comedic skits, speaks with Mihi.

10.05 Wild botanicals with Monique Fiso

Monique Fiso is an awarding-winning chef, writer and visual artist, who has spent time cooking and living in the US, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand.

Monique has competed with some of the world's best chefs on Netflix's The Final Table, and introduced Māori cuisine to the global stage, including on British chef Gordon Ramsay's Uncharted series - where she got him to eat raw huhu grubs straight from the log.

Her fine dining restaurant Hiakai, which celebrated indigenous food, was fully booked from the day she opened in 2018 until the day she closed last year.

Now, working on her second book with partner Katie Monteith, Monique is focusing on wild botanical kai and kai motuhake, also known as food sovereignty.

10.30 50 years framing-up Aotearoa

Mark Adams is one of Aotearoa New Zealand's foremost photographers. His focus on Samoan tatau, Māori-Pākehā interactions in Rotorua, carved meeting houses, locations of significance for Ngāi Tahu in Te Waipounamu, and James Cook's landing sites reflect his deep engagement with our postcolonial and Pacific histories.

A new exhibition Mark Adams: A Survey | He Kohinga Whakaahua showcases more than 65 works spanning his 50-year career as a photographer.

10.52 Live from Polyfest

Polyfest started 50 years ago, with only four schools participating.  It has since grown to be the largest Māori and Pacific Islands festival of its kind in the world, show-casing traditional music, dance and speeches from thousands of secondary school students.

RNZ's Coco Lance joins live from the grounds, on the final day of Polyfest 2025.

11.06 Marlon Williams - between two worlds 

New Zealand's indie darling, singer-songwriter Marlon Williams is back with a brand new album. The Lyttelton local is known for his crooning vocals, taking home many awards over his career, which started when he was just 17 and includes credits in a few Hollywood blockbusters.

Now in his 30s, his new album Te Whare Tiwekaweka is his first Māori language album.  And it's been a long time coming.

A documentary about the making of the album, Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua - Two Worlds is an intimate look behind the scenes, following Marlon over his five year journey to reconnect with his lost ancestral language in order to make this album. The documentary's set to be released nationwide on May 1st. And the album's out now. 

11.28 Paris Marx: 'decoupling' from US tech giants

Canadian technology journalist and podcast host of Tech Won't Save Us Paris Marx considers an alternative model to big US tech used in schools, businesses, and for national security.

At an event at the University of Auckland on Thursday called Digital Sovereignty in a Time of Rising Fascism, Paris will be discussing the US tech industry's alliance with the Trump administration, and why he thinks it's time to establish alternatives to these platforms. 

11.45 Kate de Goldi: Reading for Pleasure

Kate de Goldi is back with her latest recommendations: The Garden Against Time by Olivia Laing, Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe, and Death at the White Heart by Chris Chibnall.

Kate de Goldi is a novelist, children's writer, and an Arts Foundation Laureate - who, when not writing, is a voracious reader.