Technology
Evening business for 9 Februaruy 2026
News from the business sector, including a market report. Audio
Bet on it! We take a look at the rise of prediction markets
Celebrity weddings, the war in Ukraine, election outcomes; the future is now a marketplace with the rise of prediction apps like Polymarket and Kalshi. Users can put money on trades about what might… Audio
How fake NZ news pages are swamping Facebook with AI slop
Analysis - "Fake NZ news" pages are bombarding social media with misleading slop, including using AI to animate photos of a teenage landslide victim. Audio
Can you distinguish fake news from real news?
How do you know what you read online is accurate and real? We're asking because an investigation has discovered that fake "New Zealand news" pages are flooding Facebook and they are proving very hard… Audio
More people going analogue
If one of your new year's resolutions was to spend less time glued to your devices, you're part of a growing trend. Audio
Going Analog - New Year trend of a digital detox
People are choosing to drop the devices and go back to analog, Ross McNaughton found out why Audio
Can NZ set its own path with laws against online harm?
Comment - Online harm, including exposure to illegal material, sexualised deepfakes, harassment and bullying, is a pressing problem. NZ can now cautiously follow laws introduced overseas, or develop…
Opinions of Zuckerberg hang over social media addiction trial
A jury has been chosen for a trial of whether social media giants Meta and Alphabet encouraged addiction, in a potentially landmark court case.
Amazon shares plunge as AI costs climb
Amazon's stock slid more than 11 percent after the tech giant flagged eye-watering AI and infrastructure costs despite strong earnings.
Bitcoin plummets, worth half what it was four months ago
"It's clear the crypto market is now in full capitulation mode," one analyst said.
Wellington's new fusion energy facility: how will it work?
It'll get 35 million dollars from the Government's Regional Infrastructure Fund to build the bespoke facility, and its purpose will be to house what the company refers to as their "next generation… Audio
AI replicas of the dead an innovative tool or ethical nightmare?
Opinion - AI replicas are already used to assist people during bereavement and could be integrated into medical education - but should they?
Morning Report Essentials for Thursday 5 February
Wellington beaches are a no-go zone after a water treatment plant outage sent raw wastewater into the sea off the southern coast. This morning, we spoke with Wellington Mayor Andrew Little about the… Audio
Kiwi start-up maps climate for cities and communities
A Kiwi start-up has created software to assess risks from hazards, like climate change, and help businesses and communities adapt and build resilience. Urban Intelligence Chief executive Mitchell… Audio
Wellington company secures funding for clean fusion power facility
OpenStar Technologies has secured a $35 million commitment from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to further their research towards creating a clean fusion power source capable of being scaled up to…
Midday Report Essentials for Wednesday 4 February 2026
More New Zelaanders are out of work with unemployment rising to its highest level in more than a decade. Auckland and Wellington are hit hard as people lose their jobs in the cities. We unpack the job… Audio
Moltbook: The bot revolution? Not yet, says Joshua Vial
It's been dubbed social media for AI and has whipped the tech world into a frenzy over the last week.
On Moltbook, bots chat to each other, complain about humans and happily post their memes - much… Audio
New high-tech manufacturing plant opens in Canterbury
Enatel's new 8000 square metre factory is situated by Christchurch Airport.
Morning Report Essentials for Wednesday 4th February
This morning we spoke to Kris Faafoi as more people report trouble getting insurance in parts of the South Island; Are we losing the battle against the yellow-legged hornet? Biosecurity New Zealand… Audio
How will advertising in ChatGPT affect users?
OpenAI's announcement last month that it planned to test ads in ChatGPT has raised concerns about what the commercialisation of chatbots could mean for users' privacy. Audio