Afternoons for Thursday 31 August 2023

CRITTER T-SHIRTS ARE BACK

To celebrate all things Aotearoa native fauna and flora we have a new Critter of the Week t-shirt back for 2023.

The super talented Giselle Clarkson has designed a new image for the shirts and tote bags.

There is a cut off date for pre-orders so they arrive in time for Christmas deliveries to friends and loved ones.

Follow this link and place your order. Five dollars for each t-shirt and tote bag sold goes back to environmental volunteer groups around Aotearoa which are working hard to keep our unique critters safe from extinction.

Order your COTW 2023 t-shirts and or totes by clicking here.

1:15 Breakthrough in saving the kākāpo from extinction

A scientific breakthrough has given hope to conservationists fighting to save the critically endangered kākāpo.

Genome sequencing of the kākāpo population is enabling researchers to track growth, disease susceptibility, clutch size and egg fertility - characteristics that are crucial to survival.

And it could be good news for other species facing extinction.
 
Dr Joseph Guhlin, a postdoctoral researcher with Genomics Aotearoa speaks to Jesse.

1:25 Regional food magazine recipes so popular, they're now in a book

A  Waikato regional food magazine's been thriving in spite of the tough times and has been so popular there's now a book of recipes available.

For ten years Vicky Ravlich has been self publishing "Nourish", a quarterly magazine that's been circulated around Waikato and the Bay of Plenty. Many readers look forward to the free magazine turning up and reading about the local food scene as well as trying out the recipes.

Vicky speaks to Jesse and shares two recipes, she has on high rotate in her home. You can the recipe for her afghan biscuits here and the delicious teriyaki chicken here.

1:35 Auckland's Central interceptor half way - an update

The giant Central Interceptor tunnel being bored underneath Auckland city has reached the half way mark!

The tunnel crosses underneath the Manukau Harbour from Mangere and is currently at May Road. It's end point is at Western Springs.

The project is the answer to decades of sewage spewing from old pipes every time it rains and will meet the needs of the city's growing population once it's finally up and running.

Watercare's Central Interceptor executive programme manger Shayne Cunis stops by to give us an update.

1:45 Link 3 album: Cigarettes in Space by Summer Thieves

This week's link 3 winner will get a vinyl copy of the latest album by Summer Thieves. The band were in at RNZ studios last Friday to play for NZ Live as part of celebrating the release of their latest album Cigarettes in Space.

2:10 Music Critic: Colin Morris

Today Colin talks to Jesse about music from Steve Allen and Bob Dylan.

2:25 NZ Sporting History with Precious McKenzie

Today's Sporting History is with one of New Zealand's best ever known weightlifters, Precious McKenzie.

He was also the first athlete in any sport to win four gold medals at four consecutive Commonwealth Games.

Originally from South Africa he competed for England after being told he could only compete for South Africa if he was segregated. He then went on to move to New Zealand and in 1978 he won his final medal for us at the Edmonton Commonwealth Games.

3:10 Link 3

 

3:15 Your Money with Mary Holm

Today Mary talks to Jesse about whether house prices are still too high and that buyers may have to adjust their expectations.

3:35 Spoken Feature BBC Witness

In 2004, a chance encounter in Nigeria led to the return of two of the country's ancient artworks, the looted Benin Bronzes. The treasures were among thousands stolen from Benin City by the British Army in 1897, and acquired by museums around the world. More than a century later, Tim Awoyemi and Steve Dunstone were on a charity trip when they were approached by campaigners demanding the bronzes be returned. It took the two men 10 years before they were able to fulfil that mission.

3:45 The Panel with Mary-Margaret Slack and Scott Campbell