Sunday Morning for Sunday 20 June 2021

7:10 Professor Gary McLean: 'Two jabs is not a guarantee of protection' 

Dr Gary McLean is back to look at some of the latest Covid-19 developments, including the continued rise of the fast-spreading Covid-19 Delta variant, the overall transmissibility of Covid-19 compared to mumps and measles, the origins of the virus, and why people who have been fully vaccinated need to remain vigilant at all times.

7.32 The House

Budget 2021 scrutiny continues at Parliament with Ministers appearing before select committees to defend spending proposals for their portfolios. The House has an overview of how an estimates hearing takes place. 

 

7:45  Puppies are biologically wired to communicate with people 

A new study from the University of Arizona has revealed that puppies are born ready to communicate with people and exhibit social skills and interest in human faces by eight weeks of age. Evolutionary biologist Gita Gnanadesikan from the Arizona Canine Cognition Centre is with us to discuss the study's findings and the unique relationship between dogs and their owners.

 

8:10 Calling Home: Jessie Williamson in Lerwick, Shetland 

Aucklander Jessie Williamson was only intending to stay in Shetland for six months when she arrived there on her second OE in 2000. However, on her first night in Lerwick, the capital of the Shetland Islands, she met someone who told her there was a chap called Davie that she should meet. Over 20 years later, Jessie and Davie continue to live their best life in the chief town of Scotland's Shetland Islands. 

 

8:41 The Weekend Panel with Penny Ashton and Tim Watkin 

Joining us on the Panel this morning are actor and comedian Penny Ashton, and Tim Watkin, who leads the RNZ podcasts team. Among other topics, they'll be discussing Ronaldo's snubbing of Coke, the idea of the America's Cup being staged outside of New Zealand, and the police's handling (or lack thereof) of the Auckland Head Hunters funeral procession. 

 

9:06 Mediawatch

This week Mediawatch looks at how the news media were put under the microscope at a hui that was supposed to help heal wounds inflicted in Christchurch two years ago - but also ended up creating fresh conflict. Also - running the numbers on the PM’s media diary  - and how paid-for PR for the government’s housing projects ended up in the news.

 

9:37  How exercising your muscles can help combat chronic inflammation 

Chronic inflammatory disease plays a role in muscle loss and weakness in many different diseases, including heart disease and stroke, cancer, diabetes and obesity. Biomedical engineers at Duke University have shown that human muscle has an innate ability to ward off the damaging effects of chronic inflammation when exercised. Nenad Bursac, professor of biomedical engineering at Duke, explains. 

 

9:52 Defying body clock linked to depression and lower wellbeing 

People whose sleep pattern goes against their natural body clock are more likely to have depression and lower levels of well-being, according to a new large-scale study out of the University of Exeter. The study also found the most robust evidence to date that being genetically programmed to be an early riser is protective against major depression, and improves well-being. Lead author Jessica O'Loughlin joins the show to look at the study's results.

 

10:04 Richard Thompson-Ford: How we define ourselves through fashion 

Stanford Law School professor and author Richard Thompson-Ford details the importance of fashion throughout the centuries in his new book Dress Codes - How the Laws of Fashion Made History. The book studies the history of fashion from a legal and societal perspective, highlighting what we wear and why. Professor Ford joins the show to discuss his new book, the psychological power of clothing, and how clothing continues to signify our social status in 2021. 

 

10:40 My Current Song: Jason Kerrison, 'The Timing'

Former Opshop lead singer Jason Kerrison is reinventing his music career with the release of his lead single 'The Timing' ahead of his upcoming debut solo full-length album later this year. The release came the morning after the singer-songwriter was unveiled as the inaugural winner of the Masked Singer NZ. He joins the show to discuss the new track and why he eventually said yes to the Masked Singer project after turning the producers down twice.

 

11:05 The incredible master navigators of Pacific voyaging 

Author Jeff Evans has written several books relating to waka. Between them, they recall Māori migration traditions, describe navigation skills used by Māori to voyage between the islands in the central Pacific and New Zealand, and introduce the reader to waka taua. His latest book, Reawakened: Traditional navigators of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa tells the stories of 10 master navigators who are leading figures in the renaissance of Pacific voyaging.  

 

11:25  Sports update with Clay Wilson 

There's plenty happening both locally and internationally on the sports front this weekend, including the Black Caps' World Test Championship final against India in England, the trans-Tasman Super Rugby final between the Blues and the Highlanders in Auckland, and the drama-filled action on and off the field at Euro 2020. RNZ sports reporter Clay Wilson covers off all the weekend action.

 

11:35  Poll: Only 43% of Kiwis regard Matariki as an important holiday 

New Zealand's newest holiday, Ngā Mata o te Ariki, more commonly known as Matariki, will be celebrated on June 24 next year. While most people are happy for any excuse to take a day off work, a new poll from Research New Zealand shows that less than half of us rate the day as an important holiday when compared to Anzac Day and Christmas Day. Research NZ Managing Partner Emanuel Kalafatelis is with us to discuss.  

 

 

11:42 'How becoming a referee allowed me to master my ego' 

Belgium communications specialist and actor Frederik Imbo was looking for a way to keep fit and also learn not to take things personally, so he signed up to become a football referee. He's done a TedX Talk about it which has now been viewed over eight million times. Frederik is with us to look at his social experiment and how he has benefited from it.