The Weekend for Saturday 1 January 2022

 

08:12 Israel approves 4th dose of Covid-19 vaccine 

In the face of rising rates of the Omicron variant in its community the Israeli Government has approved a fourth vaccine dose for covid-19. It is one of the first countries in the world to do so and it marks a new phase for a country which was originally held up as a gold standard for management of the virus. 

It's also a bit of a test. Will another round of boosters have a profound effect against Omicron or not? Sebastian Usher is a middle east analyst and editor for the BBC World Service. 

8:20 Dame Lisa Carrington 

The New Years honours list was announced yesterday. Among the recipients is New Zealand's most successful Olympian Lisa Carrington.  She's won six Olympic medals, was awarded Sportswoman of the Decade in 2021, Sportswoman of the year and the Supreme Award in 2016 along with many other medals, awards and accolades.  

8:30 Sir Robert Gillies accepts honour for the 28th Battalion

Robert Gillies has been awarded the Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit For services to Māori and war commemoration. He is the last remaining member of the 28th Māori Battalion and served in B Company during World War 2 from 1942 to 1945, across Africa, Europe and the Middle East, and primarily in Italy.

Sir Gillies is a reluctant recipient of the honour, but says he has accepted it on behalf of all the members of the battalion. Sir Rob Gillies spoke to media at Ohinemutu marae in Rotorua earlier this week.

8:40 Sir Christopher Farrelly: on a mission  

Up until recently Sir Chris Farrelly headed the Auckland City Mission, prior to that served the Northland, Te Tai Tokerau region setting up partnerships between Māori Health providers, local hapū and General Practitioners. Thanks to him, thousands of people are living in healthy homes up north, he's fought for health equity, and campaigned against discrimination. He speaks to Anna about the work he's done and what is needed now. 

9:06  Faumuina Professor Fa'afetai Sopoaga

Faumuina Professor Fa'afetai Sopoaga has been honoured for her services to Pacific health and tertiary education. She has championed medical and public health education for Pacific communities since the 1990s and is also the first Pacific female medical doctor to be appointed as a professor in both Australia and New Zealand.

She is a public and primary health care physician. She is also undertaking PhD research on Pacific student health and wellbeing, while other research interests include mental health, and Pacific workforce capacity building.

She is now a Professor at Otago University's Dunedin Health Sciences division.

9:20 Rodger Fox goes big with kiwi pop 

Rodger Fox is a musical legend whose big band sounds have been heard in some of the top jazz clubs and festivals around the globe for nearly 50 years.  So many musicians in this country, including members of LAB and Fat Freddy's have been influenced by this man. Trombonist, jazz educator, recording artist and leader of the Rodger Fox Big band, he's been award a companion of the New Zealand order of Merit for Services to music.

9.40 Dr Ang Jury - preventing harm 

Our next guest is someone who has dedicated her working life to helping women in need.  Dr Ang Jury has become an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to victims of family and sexual violence. Anna speaks to Dr Jury about the enduring need for support in New Zealand communities. 

10:05  Who Lived There? - Horeke 

Have you ever stood in front of a building wondered what its story is? 

Today we're starting a series on New Zealand architecture which will run every day on the weekend, throughout January. It's called 'Who Lived There' and is based on a book of the same name. Jane King took the photographs and Nic McCloy researched and wrote down the stories of dozens of significant buildings and places. Nic is sharing some of them with us this summer and today we're beginning with one of the oldest sights in the book... Horeke. 

10:30 Chef Rob Oliver cooking up a storm 

Rob Oliver is a New Zealand Chef, TV presenter, Author who has been dedicated to benefiting pacific communities in health, wellbeing, identity and culture. You may recognise him from My kitchen Rules new Zealand, he was co-host of Maori reality cooking show "marae kai masters" has been a TED X speaker and is founder of a movement across the Pacific aiming to return the region to traditional cuisine.

10:50 Building rural communities with Dianne Milne 

Our final Honours interview of the day is with a remarkable woman who has called the West Coast home for 40 years. Dianne Milne has been made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the rural community. Dianne was the first woman to be elected as Chair of Rotomanu Federated Farmers, Provincial President of the West Coast Federated Farmers and Chair of Rural Support Trust. She chaired the Rural Support Trust from its inception until 2020 and is still a trustee. 

11:05 Are the 80s back? 

We're taking a little jaunt back to the 1980s.  Have you noticed a bit of a renaissance of the music of the time? Some of those great hits are being re-mixed and getting lots of play in the clubs and pubs. Anna noticed even at her daughters 21st this year. Why are young people gravitating to NZ music of the 80s? We explore the question and play some hits from the period. 

11:50 Cycling frenzy in Te Wai Pounamu 

While many of us aren't going overseas this summer, lots of kiwis are looking for places to explore closer to home. More and more, we're doing that on two wheels on our bikes! There are now 22 "great Rides" around the country and the government has poured over 103 million dollars into creating them. South Island journalists and cyclers Tracy Neal and Jill heron have been exploring how that money has been spent in Te Wai Pounamu