Podcasts and audio archives 2025

27 November 2025: In this episode of Stirring the Pot, Richard Templer, Chief Executive of Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau, discusses how Aotearoa funds its engineering system and why the levy on steel producers plays a bigger role than many realise.

31 October 2025: In this episode of Stirring the Pot, Dr Kate Meyer, founder of Planetary Accounting, discusses why sustainability is about more than just carbon. While carbon tends to dominate the sustainability conversation, our planet's health actually depends on nine interconnected systems — from oceans and forests to air quality and biodiversity.

11 September 2025: In this episode of Stirring the Pot, Osama Mughrabi, Mick Fritschy and Caroline James discuss one of the biggest shifts facing construction: digital product passports. With costs rising, resources tightening and pressure mounting to build more sustainably, the idea of reusability and circular economy is no longer on the fringes. It is becoming central to how we prepare this sector for the future.

20 August 2025: Dr John McDermott, IRANZ Chair, CE of Motu and former Assistant Governor and Head of Economics, at the Reserve Bank explained in an RNZ interview how the Reserve Bank updates the official cash rate (OCR). The process involves data pooling, deliberation, and forecasting. He emphasized clear communication, especially when “looking through” volatile data like oil prices or GST changes.

17 May 2025: Immunologist Dr Michelle Linterman is a Programme Leader at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research. Along with her team, work is being done to understand how our immune system changes across our lifespan, why vaccines can be less effective in older age, and what can be done to change that.

14 May 2025: In this episode of Stirring the Pot, HERA is having a kōrero with Professor Charles Clifton — legendary structural engineer, longtime HERA collaborator, and newly named Fellow of the Royal Society Te Apārangi.

16 April 2025: AI strategist and industry innovator — Matt unpacks what the rise of AI really means for the construction sector. From practical tools to mindset shifts, Matt shares his take on where we're already seeing AI in action (even if we don't realise it), the challenges we need to prepare for, and how to take the first step if your business hasn't yet made the leap.

19 March 2025: Lydia's journey through her HERA internship has been nothing short of transformative. As a third-year engineering student at the University of Canterbury, she stepped into the world of structural fire engineering with minimal prior exposure—only to come out with hands-on experience, deep insights, and a newfound passion for the field. From modelling structural members to analysing fire protection methods, she shares how working on real-world projects has shaped her understanding of both fire engineering and sustainability in construction.

15 February 2025: In-coming director at Malaghan, Professor Kjesten Wiig has taken over the reins held for 30 years by Professor Graham Le Gros. A neuroscientist by training, Prof Wiig's career has always had a focus on advancing science and innovation to improve people's health and ultimately save lives. Kjesten's nineteen year old son Karl died from a rare form of cancer almost four years ago. Kjesten tells RNZ's Susie Ferguson how a conversation with Graham Le Gros at the time lead to a job offer.