There are concerns that victims might pull the plug on their cases or stop reporting crime altogether as the wheels of justice grind ever so slowly. The Covid pandemic has intensified the strain on the court system creating lengthy delays. It's taking well over two years for some jury trials to reach court, while other hearings are being repeatedly postponed and re-scheduled. New sexual violence legislation due at the end of the year which will allow complainants to pre-record their cross examination evidence, could slow the system even further. To discuss the toll on both victims and on justice itself, Susie is joined by Dr Petrina Hargrave from Victim Support and the President of the Criminal Bar Association Fiona Guy Kidd QC.

There are concerns that victims might pull the plug on their cases or stop reporting crime altogether as the wheels of justice grind ever so slowly. The Covid pandemic has intensified the strain on the court system creating lengthy delays. It's taking well over two years for some jury trials to reach court, while other hearings are being repeatedly postponed and re-scheduled. New sexual violence legislation due at the end of the year which will allow complainants to pre-record their cross examination evidence, could slow the system even further. To discuss the toll on both victims and on justice itself, Susie is joined by Dr Petrina Hargrave from Victim Support and the President of the Criminal Bar Association Fiona Guy Kidd QC.

It's been a stellar Commonwealth Games for the kiwi cycling team in Birmingham. Veteran rider Aaron Gate is one of those basking in the success. He joined the triple golden club yesterday alongside women's cyclist Elesse Andrews, taking out gold in the team pursuit and individual pursuit and then the men's 40 kilometre points race. The 31-year old has competed in several Olympic and Commonwealth Games - he speaks to Susie about how Birmingham compares.

Imogen Ayris has won bronze in the women's pole vault in Birmingham - New Zealand's first athletics medal. The 21-year-old from Auckland produced a highest vault of 4.45m to finish third. Her team mate and training partner Olivia McTaggart just missed out, placing fourth. Imogen told Susie Ferguson she has dreamed about this moment for years.

Andrew reflects on the resignation of TVNZ head of news, Paul Yurisich, a casaulty of the Kamahl Santamaria debacle. He also touches on the New Zealand social media code of practice, why Facebook is about to look a lot more like TikTok and what forced NZME to apologise and payout over two recent stories?.

Marlborough-based author Luke Elworthy dives into the life of esteemed New Zealand writer Godfrey Cheathem, who sadly died before publication of his great novel. It's based on a series of letters, written by Cheathem from Christchurch Men's Prison to his youngest sister Rosemary, that help detail his relationship with his family of overachieving siblings and his own succession of failures. The letters also explain Godfrey's state of mind leading up to - and during - the disastrous events at a family reunion for which he serves time. Except of course, it's all a work of fiction....mostly. Luke set out to write a memoir, but ended up with a novel, and joins Susie to explain.

Pattrick discusses the sale of KiwiWealth to Fisher Funds, the deepening problems with three waters policy and why he thinks the $350 dollar cost of living payment is political poison of the worst sort.

Robert Kelly reviews Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim, published by Harper Collins

Cardiologist and evolutionary biologist Dr. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz describes herself as an innovator for human health. She is a professor at Harvard University's department of human evolutionary biology and a professor of medicine at UCLA. She's also the co-author of bestselling books Zoobiquity and Wildhood. Dr. Natterson-Horowitz studies a range of wild animals including lions and giraffes in their natural settings, observing their evolutionary adaptations, which then offer clues for potential solutions to common medical disorders in humans. She says the biology of some female animals has evolved over centuries to resist diseases that still claim the lives of women today.

Danielle talks to Susie from Kansas where the state is due to hold a major vote on abortion. The Democrats have reached a climate deal, thanks largely to uber-centralist West Virginia senator Joe Manchin agreeing to it. And an investigation has found Georgia got rid of ballot drop boxes in places they were used the most, in the areas where voters were more likely to be people of colour.