Schedules for 20 - 26 December, 2014

Including: 12:05 Music after Midnight (RNZ); 12:30 Laugh Track (RNZ); 1:05 From the World (BBC); 2:05 NZ Live; 3:05 Deep Sea Diving, by Paul Hewlett (RNZ); 3:30 The Week (RNZ); 5:10 Witness (BBC); 5:45 Voices (RNZ)

Queen Cat and the Ferret, by Beverley Dunlop, told by Sima Urale; Brodie, by Joy Cowley, told by Simon Vincent; Alaska, by Tania Hutley, told by Acushla-Tara Sutton; Last Day, written and told by Willie Davis; Ophelia Steals the Show, by Leonie Agnew, told by Carrie Green; Birthday Party, by Kimiora Raerino, told by Kelly Tikao; Martin and the Snakes, by David Somerset, told by Peter Vere Jones (RNZ)

Memorable scenes, people and places in rural NZ (RNZ)

A Saturday morning mixture of current affairs and feature interviews, until midday (RNZ)

Exploring the things we use and consume. Some content may offend (RNZ)

The best songs, music-related stories, interviews, live music, industry news and music documentaries from NZ and the world

Analysis of significant political issues presented by Radio New Zealand's parliamentary reporting team (RNZ)

Pacific news, features, interviews and music (RNZ)

In-depth interviews selected from Radio New Zealand National's feature programmes during the week (RNZ)

An evening of music, reminiscences and entertainment including your requests

The former Beach Boy began working on his masterpiece in 1967 after hearing The Beatles' Sgt Pepper record. Inspired by what he heard, he was determined to create music that would rival The Beatles' best. But Wilson's personal demons took over and the project was never completed … until now. We are proud to showcase "Smile", an album 35 years in the making along with comments from Brian Wilson, his lyricist Van Dyke Parks and music historian David Leaf, who has just produced a film documentary that tells the story of "Smile". Hear it in all its orchestral splendour (RNZ)

Including: 12:05 Music after Midnight; 12:30 History Repeated (RNZ); 1:05 Our Changing World (RNZ); 2:05 Spiritual Outlook (RNZ); 2:35 Hymns for Sunday; 3:05 Circles of Gold, by Patricia Lawson (RNZ); 3:30 Te Waonui a Te Manu Korihi (RNZ); 4:30 Science in Action (BBC) 5:45 Auckland Story (RNZ)

Something Special for Miss Margery, by Janet Slater Bottin, told by Christine Bartlett; Dragon's Birthday, by Margaret Mahy, told by Davina Whitehouse; Rainy Season, by Sue Gibbison, told by Moana Ete; Wild Turkey Chase, by Sue Gibbison, told by Stephen Tamarapa; The Day Gran Sang Silent Night, by Sandy Mackay, told by Neenah Dekkers; Grandma McGarvey's Treasure Hunt, by Jenny Hessell, told by Elizabeth McRae; The Rata Man, by Joy Cowley, told by Judith Gibson (RNZ)

A fresh attitude on current affairs, the news behind the news, in-depth documentaries, sport from the outfield, politics from the insiders, plus Mediawatch, music, Counterpoint and comedy

The Russian school is the brain child of Olga Tarasenko who started it three and a half years ago. Olga and her husband came to live in NZ more than a decade ago. When her kiwi-born son turned five she realised how hard it would be for him to learn about the culture, language and traditions of his parents' old homeland. So she set up 'Nash Dom' which means 'Our Home' (RNZ)

It's an 'all access pass' to what's happening in the worlds of arts and entertainment, including:

3:04 The Drama Hour

A selection of special interest programmes, including:

4:06 The Sunday Feature: The 2014 Rutherford Lectures - Experiments between Worlds

People and power: Dame Anne Salmond lectures on the encounter in London between Hongi Hika and King George IV. She traces the entanglement of ideas of rangatiratanga and sovereignty from that moment, through the Declaration of Independence and the Treaty of Waitangi to contemporary debates about democratic rights and freedoms, and also examines the rights of Maori women and children and how these have changed over time (3 of 4, RNZ)

5:00 The World at 5: A roundup of today's news and sport

5:11 Spiritual Outlook: Exploring different spiritual, moral and ethical issues and topics (RNZ)

5:40 Te Waonui a Te Manu Korihi (RNZ)

6:06 Te Ahi Kaa: Exploring issues and events from a tangata whenua perspective (RNZ)

7:06 One in Five: The issues and experience of disability (RNZ)

7:35 Voices: Asians, Africans, indigenous Americans and more in NZ, aimed at promoting a greater understanding of our ethnic minority communities (RNZ)

NZ stories from the past (RNZ)

Critical examination and analysis of recent performance and trends in NZ's news media (RNZ)

Trevor Reekie seeks out musical gems from niche markets around the globe, re-releases, and interesting sounds from the shallow end of the bit stream (4 of 8, RNZ)

Including: 12:05 Music after Midnight; 12:30 At the Movies (RNZ); 1:05 Te Ahi Kaa (RNZ); 2:30 NZ Music Feature (RNZ); 3:05 Budget Christmas, by Susan Pointon, told by Alex Grieg (1 of 2, RNZ); 3:30 Health Check (BBC); 5:10 War Report (RNZ)

Radio New Zealand's three-hour breakfast news show with news and interviews, bulletins on the hour and half-hour, including:

6:18 Pacific News

6:22 Rural News

6:27 and 8:45 Te Manu Korihi News

6:44 and 7:41 NZ Newspapers

6:47 Business News

7:42 and 8:34 Sports News

6:46 and 7:24 Traffic

Current affairs and topics of interest, including:

10:45 The Reading: Boom Time, by Raewyn Alexander

A local hood comes unstuck in the Christmas rush (RNZ)

Radio New Zealand news, followed by updates and reports until 1.00pm, including:

12:16 Business News

12:26 Sport

12:34 Rural News

12:43 Worldwatch

Information and debate, people and places around NZ

An hour of discussion featuring a range of panelists from right along the opinion spectrum (RNZ)

Radio New Zealand's two-hour news and current affairs programme

Entertainment and information, including:

7:30 Insight: An award-winning documentary programme (RNZ)

8:13 Windows on the World: International public radio features and documentaries

Radio New Zealand news, including Dateline Pacific and the day's best interviews from Radio New Zealand National

There are great singers and tremendous songs on the show this week as artists from eight different countries are featured - including the first Zambian singer to make it on to the show and a track from a seminal Canadian album from 1974 which features Emmylou Harris on backing vocals (10 of 12, PRX)

Including: 12:05 Music After Midnight; 12:30 Spectrum (RNZ); 1:05 From the World (RNZ); 2:05 Night Lights Classic Jazz - The Wrong Place for the Right People: Café Society (8 of 13, WFIU); 3:05 Budget Christmas, by Susan Pointon, told by Alex Grieg (F, RNZ); 3:30 An Author's View (RNZ); 5:10 Witness (BBC)

Radio New Zealand's three-hour breakfast news show with news and interviews, bulletins on the hour and half-hour, including:

6:18 Pacific News

6:22 Rural News

6:27 and 8:45 Te Manu Korihi News

6:44 and 7:41 NZ Newspapers

6:47 Business News

7:42 and 8:34 Sports News

6:46 and 7:24 Traffic

Current affairs and topics of interest, including:

10:45 The Reading: Berries and Cream, by Adrienne Frater, told by Catherine Downes

It's Heather's first Christmas without her husband Gareth. She sets off in his motorhome towards Motueka, picking up a Norwegian hitch hiker and sharing a special treat with him (RNZ)

Radio New Zealand news, followed by updates and reports until 1.00pm, including:

12:16 Business News

12:26 Sport

12:34 Rural News

12:43 Worldwatch

Information and debate, people and places around NZ

An hour of discussion featuring a range of panelists from right along the opinion spectrum (RNZ)

Radio New Zealand's two-hour news and current affairs programme

Entertainment and information, including:

7:30 The Sampler: A weekly review and analysis show of new CD releases

8:13 Windows on the World: International public radio features and documentaries

9:06 The Tuesday Feature: The 2014 Rutherford Lectures - Experiments between Worlds

People and power: Dame Anne Salmond lectures on the encounter in London between Hongi Hika and King George IV. She traces the entanglement of ideas of rangatiratanga and sovereignty from that moment, through the Declaration of Independence and the Treaty of Waitangi to contemporary debates about democratic rights and freedoms, and also examines the rights of Maori women and children and how these have changed over time (3 of 4, RNZ)

Radio New Zealand news, including Dateline Pacific and the day's best interviews from Radio New Zealand National

(F, KMUW)

Including: 12:05 Music After Midnight; 12:30 Insight (RNZ); 1:15 Primary People (RNZ); 2:05 The Forum (BBC); 3:05 Broken Glass, by Christine Johnston (RNZ); 3:30 Diversions (RNZ); 5:10 Witness (BBC)

Radio New Zealand's three-hour breakfast news show with news and interviews, bulletins on the hour and half-hour, including:

6:18 Pacific News

6:22 Rural News

6:27 and 8:45 Te Manu Korihi News

6:44 and 7:41 NZ Newspapers

6:47 Business News

7:42 and 8:34 Sports News

6:46 and 7:24 Traffic

Current affairs and topics of interest

Radio New Zealand news, followed by updates and reports until 1.00pm, including:

12:16 Business News

12:26 Sport

12:34 Rural News

12:43 Worldwatch

Information and debate, people and places around NZ

The Panel ends for 2014, and ends in style, with a cast of thousands – well, at least 50 – down on the Auckland waterfront.

A one-hour Checkpoint Christmas Eve programme.

An Irish rugby player and a young Māori woman meet in Dunedin in 1930 – more than 80 years later, his precious Lions rugby jersey goes home to Ireland. This production from RTÉ Radio 1 in Ireland follows its progress and tells its story.

Entertainment and information, including:

7:30 Spectrum: People, places and events in NZ (RNZ)

8:13 Windows on the World: International public radio features and documentaries

Radio New Zealand news, including Dateline Pacific and the day's best interviews from Radio New Zealand National

Lloyd Scott presents two hours of Christmas music

Including: 12:05 Christmas Carols 1:05 Discovery (BBC); 2:05 Playing Favourites (RNZ); 3:05 Thirty and Counting, by David Hill (RNZ); 3:30 NZ Books (RNZ); 5:10 Witness (BBC)

Six hours of fun, entertainment, memories and information for young and old alike including

7:10 Te Harinui: 200 years of Christian Worship in Aotearoa NZ

On Christmas Day in 1814, on a small Northland beach, Anglican missionary Samuel Marsden proclaimed the Gospel to a large gathering of Maori and a small group of his own missionaries - the first time it had been heard in this country. Intertwined with some of the hymns and readings that were first heard here 200 years ago, Justin Gregory explores the backstory to that first service and tells us about plans for the bicentenary celebrations

Vera usually eats at Bull's immaculate house, but having been given a wild turkey, she invites him to dine at her less than salubrious establishment on Christmas day. And the donkey next door decides it would like to join them.

The story of "Amazing Grace"- a piece of music that has an extraordinary impact on American history

In St Mark's gospel, Jesus told the man who wanted to be perfect to give away everything he owned. But these days that's not a simple thing to do (RNZ)

In this edition of The Why Factor, Mike Williams explores how we remember the dead and asks why does it matter?

A roundup of today's news and sport

A slice of Pacific humour (RNZ)

HM The Queen with her annual message to the commonwealth

A Christmas tale from the trenches (RNZ)

The spiritual "Go Tell It on the Mountain" was born in the rich and indomitable oral culture of African slaves in the American south. A hundred years later it became a rallying cry for the civil rights struggle of the 1960's. And now, it's a perennial favourite at Christmas concerts and church services across North America (CBC)

Highlighting a feature interview from the best of 2014 on Radio New Zealand National

International public radio features and documentaries

Science and environment news from NZ and the world (RNZ)

A roundup of today's news and sport

Commemmorating the first Christian service on NZ soil conducted in the Bay of Islands on 25 December 1814 by Samuel Marsden, Anglican chaplain in the colony of New South Wales

A seasonal celebration culled from rare radio and television Christmas broadcasts starring The Voice of Christmas ... Bing Crosby! In this special, revised and augmented by audience demand, Bing is joined in duets by friends like Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, Danny Kaye, Ella Fitzgerald ... even David Bowie!

Including: 12:05 The Queen's Message 12:10 Music after Midnight; 12:30 Global Business (BBC) 1:05 The Friday Feature - Smart Talk from the Auckland Museum (F, RNZ); 2:05 Science (RNZ); 2:30 The Sampler (RNZ); 3:05 Boxing Day Return, by Lorraine Williams (RNZ); 3:30 NZ Society (RNZ); 4:30 The Why Factor (BBC); 5:10 Witness (BBC)

An early miscellany of music, stories and random thoughts

Susie Ferguson and Guyon Espiner present a two hour review of the 2014 news year

A holiday morning of interviews, features, music and stories from all over NZ and around the world

A roundup of today's news and sport

The stories behind the international headlines

Phil O'Brien and Simon Morris present an afternoon of alleged music and dubious entertainment

A roundup of today's news and sport

Former BBC Pakistan correspondent Owen Bennett-Jones returns to Peshawar to investigate the aftermath of the military school attack. After the murder of more than 100 people, almost all of them children, Newshour Extra asks whether Pakistan will ever be able to defeat the Pakistan Taliban? (BBCWS)

'Broods' with Simon Mercep

New Zealand's Georgia and Caleb Nott have positioned themselves as one of the fastest rising new acts to emerge during the second half of 2013 through 2014.

A documentary exploring the latest technological advances for the automobile, and previews cars we may see in the not-too-distant future (IEE Spectrum)

Unknown Mortal Orchestra's Ruban Nielson has been based in Portland, Oregon for seven years now, but we'll never stop claiming him as our own. Melody Thomas met up with the UMO frontman for a tour of the city he now calls home, including visits to a steakhouse-cum-strip club, a famous donut shop and a store dedicated solely to synthesisers.

Kevin Fong celebrates the anniversary of one of the most iconic equations ever written. The Drake Equation was created by Frank Drake some half a century ago in a bid to answer one of the most profound questions facing science and humanity: are we alone?

Memorable scenes, people and places in rural NZ (RNZ)

A roundup of today's news and sport

A struggling young writer befriends a Spanish physician afflicted with a most unusual ailment - an aversion to heat. Adapted by John C Alsedek and Dana Perry-Hayes from the short story by H P Lovecraft. Narrated by Adrienne Wilkinson and Daamen Krall with Christopher Duva and Dana Perry-Hayes and produced by John C Alsedek (Blue Hours Productions)

Hollie Smith (RNZ)