Sunday Morning for Sunday 20 May 2012
8:12 Insight: Solo Parents – The Push to Work
In its coming Budget, the Government will set aside close to $300 million for welfare reforms, aiming to get single parents and teenagers off benefits and into work. But will the plan work? And with rising unemployment, will there be jobs for them to do? In this pre-Budget Insight programme, Dunedin reporter Ian Telfer talks to beneficiaries in the city about the changes to find out how much they know, what they will do and how they feel about being pushed back to work.
Produced by Sally Round.
8:40 Karen Nairn – The Neoliberal Generation
Karen Nairn has lead a study on the impact of Rogernomics on the lives of young people born after 1984 and discovered the powerful effects of the neoliberal ideas. She talks to Chris about how neoliberalism obscures social inequalities and blames the individual if they fail to make a successful transition from school, to further education, and work. But Karen is also inspired by those individuals who attempt to re-work the constraints – and the possibilities – of their times.
Karen Nairn is a senior lecturer at the University of Otago College of Education.
Children of Rogernomics: A neoliberal generation leaves school, by Karen Nairn, Jane Higgins and Judith Sligo us published by Otago University Press.
9:06 Mediawatch
Mediawatch looks at the New Zealand Herald’s plan to turn into a tabloid newspaper and asks the man in charge: does downsizing the pages also mean taking the journalism down-market? Mediawatch also look at the media frenzy over a four-year-old boy in Northland – and asks the head of the ‘Save TVNZ7’ campaign if he’s flogging a dead horse.
Produced and presented by Colin Peacock and Jeremy Rose.
9:40 Terence O’Brien – Meltdown at MFAT
Terence talks to Chris about the government’s plans for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as it aims to cut costs and change the organisation’s culture. That announcement was followed by a series of leaks and angry public protest by MFAT staffers. Terence analyses the decision to scale down the plan to slash around 300 jobs in Wellington and at embassies around the world, and cut salaries and allowances; and what change would mean to New Zealand’s presence overseas.
Terence O’Brien is a senior fellow at the Centre for Strategic Studies at Victoria University and a former senior diplomat.
10:06 Neill Lochery – War in the City of Light
During the Second World War, Lisbon was at the centre of attention. It was the only European city in which both the Allies and the Axis powers openly operated, was a temporary home to much of Europe’s royalty and more than one million refugees seeking passage to America. Historian Neill Lochery talks to Chris about the spies, secret police, artists, entrepreneurs and black marketeers who were part of the intrigue in the shadows of the wartime Cidade da Luz.
Lisbon: War in the shadows of the city of light, 1939-1945 is published by Scribe.
10:45 Hidden Treasures
This week on Hidden Treasures Trevor Reekie features new music from a New York award-winning jazz violinist as well as a shot of Dictaphone blues. Produced by Trevor Reekie
11.05 Ideas: Dame Iritana Tawhiwhirangi
Dame Iritana began her teaching career relieving for Sylvia Ashton-Warner and went on to help found the kohanga reo movement. Chris Laidlaw talks to Dame Iritana, who is of Ngati Porou, Ngati Kahungunu, Canadian and English descent, about her life, ideas and influences.
Presented by Chris Laidlaw
Produced by Jeremy Rose
11.55 Feedback
What the listeners have to say on today’s programme.