Outspoken

Solar power still has minimal market penetration in New Zealand - and even in Australia, despite its endless sunshine. But it is growing fast, and that growth will only get faster as the price comes down. This raises a question mark over the value of existing means of generating electricity, such as hydro dams, and the long term viability of costly transmission systems. Despite that, power companies are embracing solar technology and insist it will not undermine their current investments with their huge sunk costs. To talk about this, Outspoken hosted a debate in the studio with Neal Barclay, (correct spelling) the current CEO of Meridian Energy, Keith Turner, the former CEO, solar power supporter and energy consultant and John Carnegie, of the Business New Zealand Energy Council. Eric Frykberg was in the chair.

Mihingarangi Forbes leads a discussion about the evolution of te reo Māori in the media.

New Zealand sportswomen are going from strength to strength – but do they get enough support? Bridget Tunnicliffe leads a discussion.

National Standards in schools are coming to an end. Our education correspondent John Gerritsen speaks to three retiring principals about what has been achieved and what has to happen.

Philippa Tolley speaks to water experts and the local government minister about the state of New Zealand's drinking water supplies, what's needed to fix them and who is going to pay.

In this Outspoken, New Zealand is still some way behind other countries in gender and other diversity in business. Our business reporter Jonathan Mitchell asks why.

In this Outspoken, our Auckland issues reporter Todd Niall looks at the fast changing makeup of Auckland.

In this Outspoken, Teresa Cowie looks at the way companies and consumers have reacted to the growing pressure to produce less waste - and less packaging - and stop landfills from growing.

In this Outspoken, RNZ's Business reporter Jonathan Mitchell looks at the challenges to business from new technology.

In this outspoken, the Government wants to introduce a market for medicinal cannabis - our political reporter Benedict Collins speaks to several people about this including the former Associate health Minister Peter Dunne, Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick, and Ross Bell of the Drug Foundation.

In this Outspoken, many smaller parties have been squeezed in the last election, while some have been all but eliminated. Our political reporter Mei Heron spoke to people from the Green, Maori Party and Act, to ask them about their predicament.

In tonight's Outspoken, Mining is in the cross hairs of environmental campaigners across the country - but the industry says it is misrepresented and will not lie down and die - our energy and resources reporter Eric Frykberg leads the discussion with the mining industry, an anti coal mining lobby and a leading economics journalist.

Despite predictions to the contrary, the youth turnout at the last election was disappointing. RNZ's former Political Editor Brent Edwards speaks to young first time voters and asks why they turned out to the ballot box and some of their friends did not.

In this Outspoken, recent dairy intensification in Canterbury has raised worries about the impact of nitrates and other chemicals in the water supply there. Our Canterbury reporter Conan Young asks local experts what they think.

In this Outspoken, the recent outbreak of mumps has revived worries about the rate of immunisation - experts in this area look at gaps in our immunisation rate, ask why is that the case and what can be done about it. Our Health Correspondent Karen Brown leads the debate.

RNZ's South Island Bureau chief Belinda McCammon is in Kaikoura and is joined by a panel to discuss the rebuilding of the town after the magnitude 7.8 earthquake late last year.

Outspoken - a panel discusses New Zealand's just ended term on the United Nations security council and asked what it achieved.

On Outspoken, our Auckland correspondent, Todd Niall, talks to the Auckland mayor, Phil Goff, about what's ahead for the country's largest city in 2017.

RNZ's health correspondent, Karen Brown, talks to long-time health watchdogs and takes the pulse of the sector.

Brent Edwards chairs an Outspoken panel and questions whether significant changes to governments around the world pose a threat to democracy.