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RNZ Home » National » Programmes » This Way Up » Saturday 6 June 2009

This Way Up

with Simon Morton

Saturday, Midday - 2pm

Audio from Saturday 6 June 2009

Not all audio is available due to copyright restrictions.

12:10 Haggling: how to pay less for more: Our guide on the best way to haggle. The simplest way to save money without changing your spending habits. (40′35″); Download: Ogg Vorbis MP3 | Embed
12:55 Star anise and swine flu: NPR's Louisa Lim looks at how swine flu's leading to big price rises for the popular spice, star anise. (3′14″); Download: Ogg Vorbis MP3 | Embed
13:15 Venezuela: the people's mobile phone: Rory Carroll on the Vergatorio, one of the world's cheapest mobile phones. And why new cars rise in value after you buy them. (15′32″); Download: Ogg Vorbis MP3 | Embed
13:30 Buyer's guide to sewing machines: Jessica Wilson of Consumer.org.nz with its buyer's guide to sewing machines. (10′51″); Download: Ogg Vorbis MP3 | Embed
13:45 Air-powered cars: A French auto engineer reckons he's developed a car that runs on compressed air. Alex Benady takes the Airpod for a test drive. (13′04″); Download: Ogg Vorbis MP3 | Embed

First up this week, haggling. It's the simplest way to save a load of cash every year, without changing your spending habits or buying any less. All it takes is a little research, a bit of confidence, and the discipline to say no and walk away. We'll find out the best way to haggle, we've got some simple practical techniques for getting started, then we'll look at how much movement or margin there is on stuff in the shops, and when it's best to try and get a deal.

Then at about 12:55pm we'll head to China where swine flu has led to massive price hikes for the popular spice, star anise.

After the news, at 1.15pm, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has launched one of the world's cheapest mobile phones. The Vergatario retails for about 25 bucks and has all the features....But why? Also buying a new car is a real investment...most cars you buy depreciate in value the minute you drive them off the forecourt but not in Venezuela...no, there they go up in value! We find out why.

At about 1:30pm we hit the shops with Consumer.org.nz for a buyer's guide to sewing machines. Being able to make or alter your own clothes is now way cooler than it was when your mum used to do it for you. So are you going to go mechanical, electric or computerised or even second hand?

And before we go, you'll have heard about electric cars, hybrids, and hydrogen fuelled vehicles. But a French auto engineer reckons he's got a car that runs on air. The Airpod's been 13 years in the making, it runs on compressed air and travels nearly 100ks on a one-minute recharge. And all this for under $8,000! So is it all just hot air? I'm speaking to a bloke who's just taken one for a test drive.

Studio Engineers: JZ and Phil Brownlee

TRACKS PLAYED

Track: Beard Salesman
Artist: Monty Python
Album: Monty Python's Life of Brian
Label: EMI
Catalogue #: 528609
Broadcast at: 12:15

Track: Electricity
Artist: OMD
Album: North by Northwest
Label: Korova
Catalogue #: KODE 1001
Broadcast at: 12:45

Track: Robin
Artist: Soy un Cabalho
Album: Les Heures de Raison
Label: Minty Fresh
Broadcast at: 13:07

Track: Adventures in Kickin It
Artist: A Dan Aikido Blend
Album: A Dan Aikido Blend Volume 2
Label: Jewel School Promo
Broadcast at: 13:45