Protecting ‘Jaws’ – Aotearoa’s rarest freshwater fish
Speckled, pencil-thin and sporting an underbite: the lowland longjaw galaxias is New Zealand’s rarest freshwater fish species. With just seven known populations, this species is considered nationally endangered. Join producer Karthic SS at a spring-fed stream in the wild Mackenzie Basin to meet the tiny fish, hear from a researcher studying trout-proof barriers, and chat to a ranger who for 20 years has cared for the little fish he calls 'Jaws'. Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.Guests:Dean Nelson, Senior Ranger, Biodiversity, Department of ConservationMartha Jolly, PhD candidate, University of CanterburyLearn more:Otago farmers are looking out for another species of rare non-migratory galaxiid.In Auckland’s Lake Rototoa, introduced perch are the problem for the native kākahi.Karthic produces the Tune Into Nature podcast about New Zealand’s unique wildlife.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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New insights from an old vaccine
Since the 1800s, tuberculosis (TB) has been responsible for an estimated 1 billion deaths. In New Zealand today, we don’t get many cases of TB, but worldwide it is the leading infectious disease killer. In the early 1900s a TB vaccine was developed. Called the BCG vaccine, it’s still used today. While it is the best TB vaccine we have, it’s not actually great at preventing TB infection, only providing some protection for the youngest of patients. However, scientists have discovered that the BCG vaccine can boost people’s immune systems in other ways. Now researchers at the Malaghan Institute in Wellington are investigating these findings further. Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.Guests:Dr Kerry Hilligan, Malaghan InstituteRebecca Palmer, Malaghan InstituteLearn more:In 2017, Alison Ballance reported on the looming antimicrobial resistance crisis, with drug-resistant TB part of the problem.Other Our Changing World episodes about research at the Malaghan Institute include this 2024 episode on a new way to target rising stomach cancer rates, and this 2022 episode on next-generation cancer therapies.In 2021, Claire Concannon covered mRNA vaccine technology.The What if...? Genomics in Aotearoa series explores the different ways genomics is transforming different sectors, including infectious disease medicine.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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Getting ready for H5N1 bird flu
2020 saw the start of two global pandemics. Covid-19, of course, but also H5N1 bird flu. The latter has swept around the world leaving millions of dead wild birds and marine mammals in its wake. It has reached everywhere – except Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. Alison Ballance has been finding out why this strain of bird flu is so deadly, and what we are doing to get ready for its possible arrival on our shores. Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.Guests:Dr Kate McInnes, Department of ConservationDr Megan Jolly, Wildbase Hospital, Massey UniversityDr Mary van Andel, Ministry for Primary IndustriesRob Schuckard, Birds New ZealandDavid Melville, Birds New ZealandLearn more:Read the article that accompanies this episode: A deadly bird flu strain is coming. Are we ready?Find out about Biosecurity NZ’s bird flu surveillance work and what New Zealand is doing to prepare for the possible arrival of avian influenza.The Exotic Pest and Disease Hotline for reporting suspected bird flu is 0800 80 99 66.The Department of Conservation is preparing for the possible arrival of H5N1 bird flu in New Zealand.Claire Concannon spoke about viruses, including H5N1 bird flu, with virologist Professor Jemma Geoghegan, winner of the 2024 Prime Minister's Te Puiaki Whakapā Pūtaiao Science Communication Prize.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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Wild Sounds: The new podcast feed for nature
If you like Our Changing World, you should find and follow Wild Sounds: RNZ's new podcast feed dedicated to incredible natural science stories from New Zealand! Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
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Tracking turtles
In late 2024 a cluster of sick green sea turtles washed up around the Rangaunu Harbour on the east coast of the Far North. It was just another mystery in a long line of all the things we don’t know about these ocean taonga. But a new telemetry study, using these very turtles, could change all that. The study has officially kicked off with the release of five satellite-tagged honu. Liz Garton finds out what secrets the researchers hope to uncover.From now on Our Changing World will appear on Tuesdays in your podcast feed!Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.Guests:Dr Karen Middlemiss, Department of ConservationDr James Chatterton, Auckland ZooCeline Campana, Auckland ZooKim Evans, SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’sLearn more:Find out more about the honu that visit our shores.RNZ’s Peter de Graaf describes the release of the first lot of satellite-tagged turtles in Northland.Learn more about the international effort to protect leatherback turtlesGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Dr Claire Concannon follows scientists into the bush, over rivers, back to their labs and many places in-between to cover the most fascinating research being done in Aotearoa New Zealand.
New Zealand