Afternoons for Tuesday 27 March 2018

Short Story Club

On Thursday we will discuss The Kitchen Pig Smokes the Mouseketeers by Amy Head

The writer of the best email about this story wins Amy's first collection of short fiction, Tough.  jesse@radionz.co.nz

1:10 Timothy Wayne-Wright of The King's Singers on A Capella

The King's Singers have been performing for 50 years. The a capella group tours around the world, and have just been in New Zealand performing as part of the Auckland arts festival and New Zealand Festival of the Arts

One of the members, Timothy Wayne-Wright is married to a New Zealander and is preparing to move here, and he's keen to start a local a cappella group. He joins us in studio to talk about the a capella tradition and his plans to get more kiwis involved.

1:15 Calls for transparency in science

The New Zealand Association of Scientists is calling for more transparency around scientific advice.

It comes after RNZ revealed the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor raised concerns with the EPA about its former chief scientist and comments she made over irrigation. It only came to light after an Official Information Act request, months after she resigned. 

NZAS co-president Craig Stevens tells us why he thinks the public should not have been kept in the dark. 

1:25 Stories for sustainability 

Sustainable development goals - these are the 17 goals the United Nations laid out in 2015 as part of the gloabl agenda for a more sustainable world. 

From poverty to education to climate action, they're all about areas we need to improve. And here in New Zealand a new project has been developed by young kiwis to start a conversation about these goals. 

Project co-creator Ella Gordon-Latty explains what Narrative Imperative, or Na_Tive, is all about and why it was set up. 

1:35 Winter firewood shortage

Suppliers of firewood say they're struggling to meet demand ahead of winter, with too many people leaving it too late to get their winter firewood supplies.

There are shortages being reported in Christchurch, Taranaki and in Wellington. Doug and Marilyn MacKenzie's Wholesale Firewood Supplies which works out of Martinborough in Wairarapa has been in the business of supplying firewood since 1983.

Doug MacKenzie says his delivery trucks are booked until winter and he tells Jesse how consumers should plan their firewood purchases.

1:40 Great album: B52's - Time Capsule

2:10 Book critic Lisa Glass

Lisa discusses heartland Aussie Thrillers and the work of Australian writer Jane Harper.

2:20 Music Feature: Great duos with Godfrey de Grut

Throughout music history there have been many duos that worked so well they have become known more as the sum rather than the parts. 

Last week it was feuds - this week we're going the opposite direction for our music feature.

University of Auckland's Godfrey de Grut knows a thing or two about great duos. He's worked with artists ranging from Che Fu and Hollie Smith to even doing a keyboard session with Kanye West. Godfrey brings his list of great duos to discuss with Jesse.

The duos include Steely Dan's Donald Fagan and Walter Becker, a husband and wife Disney songwriting combination and the pair behind a Julie Andrews' The Sound of Music classic.

3:10 How fast companies are profiting from anti-obesity programmes

It is estimated that 1 in 8 children in New Zealand under 14 are obese - and a further fifth of children are overweight

Concerns around our childhood obesity rates have prompted several healthy lifestyle education programmes in primary schools, however many of those are provided or sponsored by the very corporations contributing to the problem - fast food and drink companies.

The issue has been highlighted in the United States by NYU Food politics professor, Marion Nestle who says fast food giants are using "physical activity diversion" to change the conversation around their product's links to obesity by promoting increased physical activity as the best way to lose weight and improve health.

Here in New Zealand Dr Darren Powell of Auckland University has looked at the role of big food and drink companies in promoting healthy lifestyles to primary school children - and says they are having a detrimental impact on both schools and teachers. He tells us what is going on, and why he believes it is sending a dangerous message to children.

3:45 The Pre-Panel Story of the Day and One Quick Question

4:05 The Panel with Guy Williams and Julia Hartley Moore