Afternoons for Thursday 14 February 2019

1:10 First song: The Frank Burkitt Band

The Frank Burkitt band from Wellington perform live in our studio. They're in the middle of a New Zealand tour and are about to head overseas to tour Australia and the UK

1:15 Can vitamin C help in treating cancer and other infections?

Vitamin C is useful for a whole lot of things beyond staving off scurvy - but it's not a panacea for all your ills, either.

Academics from around the world are gathering in Christchurch this evening to share the latest research into vitamin C and its effectiveness as a tool to treat cancer and other infections, and to boost immunity.

Otago University professor Margreet Vissers will be at the session, and joins us to explain what the science says so far.

Last year we spoke to one of the Otago University team trialing the use of intravenous high dose Vitamin C for patients with sepsis.

1:25 The sea cucumber, ocean hitch-hiker extraordinaire

Sea cucumber meat is a big industry overseas, but the location and supply of cucumbers varies wildly from year to year, mystifying researchers and those trying to make a living off them.

But Canadian academic Annie Mercier thinks she's figured out why: and it's all to do with ocean currents, and hitching a ride.

Dr Mercier joins us to explain her findings.

1:35 Love Poetry

As it's Valentine's Day we thought we'd celebrate love poems. Wellington poet Therese Lloyd joins us to talk about love poetry and reads us one of her favourites.

We are also holding a short love poem competition. Complete the next two lines of Roses are Red - the best and most unique entry wins the writer a book. Jesse@rnz.co.nz

1:40 Great album

2:10 Music Critic Kate Robertson

Kate plays us Like Sugar by Chaka Khan and Juice by Lizzo

2:20 NZ Biography: Margaret Mahy  "She wrote all night"

Author Tessa Duder talks about Margaret Mahy, the torchbearer, mentor and generous supporter of a whole new generation of NZ writers for children. Margaret was recognised as among the best children's writers in the world when she won the Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 2006. When she died in 2012, the nation mourned her passing, from Parliament to the classroom.

2:50 The Reading

3:10 Link 3

3:15 Solving the World's Problems

Hawkes Bay Farmer Steve Wyn-Harris reckons even sheep benefit from Valentine's Day - as a fair bit of romantic interaction about to start at his farm. 

3:25 Roses are Red love poem competition

We asked you to complete the next two lines of Roses are Red. The best and most unique entry wins the writer a book.

3:30 The New Zealand history wars

Our regular historian, Grant Morris from Victoria University talks about the current debate in NZ around whether our colonial history should be compulsory in schools. He says this is a complex issue as when we talk about teaching NZ history we should also ask the question 'whose NZ history?' 

3:35 Spoken Feature

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

4:05 The Panel with Rajorshi Chakraborti and Lavina Good