RNZ: Sunday Morning

A collection of research published last week in a special edition of the major scientific journal Nature showed that Antarctica has lost 3 trillion tonnes of ice over the past 25 years. Half of that melting has happened in the past 5 years. Professor Tim Naish is from the Victoria University of Wellington's Antarctic Research Centre says we have less than a decade to stop a catastrophe.

In Parliament, the governing side of the House has the numbers to carry the day, but the opposition isn’t without influence. The opposition can, if it wishes to, make a government really work for it.

The Maori Affairs Committee has been briefed on how the history of Aotearoa is taught in schools but what does a briefing actually do?

If Parliament was the Justice League, the Speaker is Superman. Yes, Batman is cooler, but Superman has lots of powers… just like the Speaker, but the Speaker only wheels some of them out occasionally. Here's a new one.

Each sitting day in the House MPs work through business which is set out on the order paper. Here's what they plan to get through this week.

Wallace Chapman reads listeners' feedback from this morning's show.

Jockey Aaron Kuru, born in Hastings but now working in Cambridge, was racing in the opening steeplechase event at the Awapuni races on 16 June when his horse Des De Jeu stumbled at the first hurdle taking the 26-year-old down with him. Miraculously Aaron remounted the horse and rode him to a win. 

An exhibition opening at MOTAT on June 22 showcases the cultural impact of cars on Kiwi society. Accelerate: Driving New Zealand isn't just a bunch of classic cars - it looks at the technologies, social impacts and culture associated with automobiles. It includes great Kiwi stories of vehicles from days gone by as well as technological advancements in motoring. Cars on loan for the exhibition include the famous 'Black Beauty' racing car which helped power New Zealand onto the world stage of A1 GP motor racing. Elspeth Hocking is the exhibition's curator.

A number of craft beer events are held around the country every year and on June 30 the GABS beer, cider and food festival is at Auckland's ASB Show Ground. Lucie Campbell from the The Lumsden Freehouse in Newmarket and Christina Wood - managing director of Liberty Brewing, talk about how the industry is trying to support women in craft beer careers.

Neuroscientist Dean Burnett explains the inner workings of the brain and which parts have the greatest impact on happiness. Burnett, who is also a comedian, wrote the best-selling book The Idiot Brain - and his latest is The Happy Brain, The Science of Where Happiness Comes From and Why. He is a lecturer at Cardiff University's Centre for Medical Education. His Brain Flapping blog is the most read on the Guardian science network.

The World Press Photo Exhibition is a prestigious contest for professional photographers. Australian Adam Ferguson won first place in the category of People's stories for his images of young women - Boko Haram survivors - in Nigeria. He talks about those photos but also about his years spent photographing war in Afghanistan and Iraq. The exhibition runs in Auckland from 30 June at Smith and Caughey's Gallery Space.

When the government set up the Social Investment Agency almost a year ago, there were plenty of questions around what it would actually do. Dorothy Adams is the acting chief executive of the agency and on 22 June will make a speech at the Presbyterian Support Northern entitled "The role social housing plays in child wellbeing". As well as talking about that, she explains what the Social Investment Agency is trying to achieve. 

Mycoplasma bovis is now this country's most expensive biosecurity breach. Conan Young asks whether eradication is even possible and what impact it will have on the way NZ farms.

The annual lychee and dog meat festival in Yulin, China, has changed over the years in response to the outcry over eating dogmeat. At its height, the Yulin festival, which began in 2009, would see more than 10,000 dogs eaten over 10 days. And althought the numbers have diminished, the practice still goes on as part of the summer solstice celebrations. Jill Robinson is Animals Asia Founder and CEO.

Part two of the Budget 2018 process has begun with Ministers fronting up to select committees to justify their spending.