Fear is what keeps us alive but it can also be destructive and divisive. In his new book Fear: An Alternative History of the World, historian Robert Peckham looks at the role fear has played across major events in history, including the Covid pandemic.

RNZ Pacific Editor Koroi Hawkins

What do Ongaonga, Puponga, Whangaroa, Whangamomona and Tuatapere have in common? They're all small towns with big histories. Peter Janssen and Elizabeth Anderson have been on an epic journey to document the stories of our historic towns. Their new book is High Hopes and Big Dreams: 165 New Zealand small towns in their twilight. Some have vanished completely while others have now found a new purpose and are on the up. Peter joins Kathryn with some of his favourite stories.

It's a big weekend for rugby fans - there is, of course, a World Cup semi-final involving the All Blacks on Saturday morning. But there's another international involving New Zealand's top rugby team on Saturday night in Wellington. The Black Ferns will meet France in the opening test of the new WXV tournament. It'll be the first time the teams have faced each other since the Black Ferns edged France out of last year's Rugby World Cup semi-final by one point. Kathryn is joined by Sally Horrox, Chief of Women's Rugby at World Rugby, on how the tournament will work and what she hopes it'll do for the women's game.

Tensions are high in Franz Josef as submissions open on a proposal over what to do about the river that runs through the town and is increasingly becoming a flood risk. Stopbanks built to hold back the Waiho River are no longer thought to be enough when it's in flood, but there's not enough funding - even with central Government support - to upgrade them to a point to protect the town. The West Coast township and tourism operators are mostly on the north bank - and the south is mostly made up of farms. The West Coast Regional Council has put two options on the table. The first is to do nothing - although the report warns there's a high chance the river will burst on the south side anyway, risking loss of life, livestock and property. The second option - and the one recommended in the report - is to take down the southern stop banks where the farms are located and buy out the properties on that side of the river, which would inevitably flood. West Coast councillor Peter Haddock speaks with Kathryn Ryan.

Film and TV reviewer Laumata Lauano joins Kathryn to talk about season two of Kiwi comedian Pax Assadi's Raised by Refugees, The Strangest of Angels - a film by New Zealand Opera about the life of Janet Frame and Totally Killer, a time-travelling slasher movie.

Parents often say they never stop worrying about their offspring. But how does parenting change as your children become adults? Are today's adult children more dependent on their elders for longer? What is the roadmap for parents here? Neuroplasticity educator and parenting expert, father and grandfather, Nathan Wallis joins Kathryn.

Technology correspondent Mark Pesce joins Kathryn to talk about the difficulties wartime creates when it comes to tech - can you trust what you're seeing and hearing and are tools to 'detect' fake news working? X (former Twitter) has firmly moved away from content moderation - has that contributed to the problem? Mark will also have some tips to manage your social media right now, and details about the largest-ever cyber attack which hit Google last month.

Kelly Makiha is in Rotorua, where she recently met Renea Wharekura, who is lucky to be alive after a car smashed into her house, coming to a halt beside her bed. And the Rotorua courthouse has had a fire alarm scare, triggered by prisoners smoking in the cells. However, how their got their hands on cigarettes while awaiting their appearances remains a mystery.

Sonja de Friez reviews Don Binney: Flight Path by Greg O'Brien published by Auckland University Press