This week on Business as Usual we tackled the housing market following the annual median property price reportedly falling for the first time in more than a decade. We spoke with Trent Smith from the University of Otago’s Department of Economics about how housing prices are monitored, what influenced the high housing prices we have seen over the past decade, and what the state of the housing economy is now.

Tune into R1 News weekdays at 11am or catch up at https://www.r1.co.nz/news or https://instagram.com/r1newsnz

The El Niño Southern Oscillation Index measures the temperature patterns in the Pacific Ocean to predict general climate events in the tropics and subtropics. It isexpected that for the third summer in a row, the El Niño Southern Oscillation will be in the cooling phase called La Niña, producing wetter weather in the north and dryer summers in the south.

We spoke with Dr Daniel Kingston Senior Lecturer from the Department of Geography at Otago University to explain what the El Nino Southern Oscillation is, what it means to be in La Niña, and how this has and will impact the climate in Aotearoa.

Tune into R1 News weekdays at 11am or catch up at https://www.r1.co.nz/news or https://instagram.com/r1newsnz

Earlier this week Newsroom published an op-ed which highlighted a significant issue around reported energy disconnections for households on prepaid power. The issue is that there is no reporting.

Prepaid power plans are straightforward; you choose a power plan, and top up with credit when you need more power. But if you can’t top up, you’ll get disconnected immediately and the power company does not have to report this.

Energy poverty specialist Dr Kimberley O’Sullivan from Te Whare Wānanga o Otāgo ki Pōneke says these disconnections hit especially hard for low-income families who are more likely to be on prepaid power plans, adding that the cost of living crisis makes things even more difficult.

While Dr O’Sullivan welcomes power companies who are becoming more transparent about their prepaid disconnections, companies such as Mercury, she says data around the duration and frequency of disconnections should become an industry-standard.

Tune into R1 News weekdays at 11am or catch up at https://www.r1.co.nz/news or https://instagram.com/r1newsnz

This week on Off To Market, Otago Farmers Market Manager Michele Driscoll chats to Amiria and Zac about vegan cheese, heavy rain’s effects on market vendors, and the Blue Mountain Butchery Dine Dunedin event with Otago Farmers Market Chef, Amy Dougherty.

Tune into R1 News weekdays at 11am or catch up at https://www.r1.co.nz/news or https://instagram.com/r1newsnz

This week on Creature of the Week, local zoologist Andrew Johnston spoke to us about black swans. We cover the mystery surrounding their appearance in NZ and their fascinating symbolism, not only representing elegance but also the idea of new discovery and paradigm shift.

Tune into R1 News weekdays at 11am or catch up at https://www.r1.co.nz/news or https://instagram.com/r1newsnz

R1 News explains the allegations of harassment and bullying that have surfaced against National Party MP Sam Uffindel, with audio clips from alleged victims, National Leader Christopher Luxon and vox pops from Tauranga citizens.

Tune into R1 News weekdays at 11am or catch up at https://www.r1.co.nz/news or https://instagram.com/r1newsnz

Wastewater testing suggests Dunedin has the highest rates of MDMA usage in New Zealand. Seb spoke to Sam Lasham, the Founder of the New Zealand chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, about some of the risks associated with MDMA use among the student population of Dunedin, the future of drug trends and drug policy and some of the stigma that surrounds the prominent drugs found across Aotearoa

Tune into R1 News weekdays at 11am or catch up at https://www.r1.co.nz/news or https://instagram.com/r1newsnz

R1 News Bulletin for Rāpare Thursday, 11th of August

Tune into R1 News weekdays at 11am or catch up at https://www.r1.co.nz/news or https://instagram.com/r1newsnz

Haere mai ki te R1 News on Radio One 91FM

On programme today, Seb talked to Sam Lasham, founder of Students for Sensible Drug Policy about recent wastewater data which indicates Dunedin is a hotspot for MDMA usage across Aotearoa. We comprehensively cover the ongoing saga involving National Party MP Sam Uffindel and the allegations of harassment and bullying that have surfaced against him over the past week. Finally, local zoologist Andy Johnston joins for Creature of the Week, discussing black swans.

Tune into R1 News weekdays at 11am or catch up at https://www.r1.co.nz/news or https://instagram.com/r1newsnz

R1 News Bulletin for Rāapa/Wednesday August 10th

Tune into R1 News weekdays at 11am or catch up at https://www.r1.co.nz/news or https://instagram.com/r1newsnz