Chris Laidlaw
Ideas for 22 April 2012
Chris talks to New Zealand's inaugural Poet Laureate, Bill Manhire. In this extended interview he talks to Chris about the creative writing course and his life with words; and he'll read some of his… Audio
Peter Whiteford - John Mulgan's Life and Letters
On 25 April 1945 New Zealand writer and soldier John Mulgan, 33, took his own life. Born 100 years ago, Mulgan is remembered for his 1939 novel Man Alone, and a war memoir, Report on Experience… Audio
Richard Grant - Priorities and Prospects in Asia
The retiring executive director of Asia NZ, Dr Richard Grant, talks to Chris about Asia-NZ relations, the effect of the current reorganisation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and whether… Audio
Alison Parr - Memories of J Force
Alison Parr talks to Chris about her interviews with soldiers, airmen, nurses and members of the NZ Women's Auxiliary Corps about life in the enemy territory between 1946 and 1948 - and how wartime… Audio
Ideas for 1 April 2012
Manu Taria Rio exhibited his clay kawauwau, or Maori flutes, at Wellington's Soup Kitchen last week and Turkish immigrant Nas Kavas can be found most days displaying his ink sketches on the pavement… Audio
Ideas for 11 March 2012
Winston Churchill, Duke Ellington, Mozart and Harry Houdini - not to mention three former Governors General of New Zealand - had one thing in common. They were all Freemasons. So what's the… Audio
Ideas: cycle and walking friendly cities
Academics, town planners, and cycle advocates this week met in Hastings for the annual Walking and Cycling Conference. Jeremy Rose talks to Roger Geller about the transformation of Portland into… Audio
Gavin Quinn : The Great Dane
Director Gavin Quinn tells us about the perils of working with children and big dogs in his International Arts Festival show, The Rehearsal, Playing the Dane. Audio
New Flags Flying : Independence in Samoa and Nauru
We're talking about colonisation and independence in Samoa and Nauru. Audio
Claudette Habesch : Holy City
Claudette Habesch, Secretary General of Caritas Jerusalem, on representing Christianity in the occupied territories and what life is actually like for the communities of that tragically divided holy… Audio
Ideas for 19 February 2012
In Ideas today we're taking a look at the privatization of war. Military contracting, or outsourcing, is a 100 billion dollar industry. Audio
Michael Morpurgo : Unlocking Imagination
Michael Morpurgo, the author of Private Peaceful which has been adapted for the stage and screen, as has his hugely successful War Horse. Audio
Leah Armstrong : Australia's First Peoples
CEO of Reconciliation Australia Leah Armstrong looks at pressure for change on the Australian constitution. Audio
Michael Hurst : To be or not to be, and other FAQ's
Actor Michael Hurst on his new play, Frequently Asked Questions, being performed at the NZ International Arts Festival in Wellington which runs from 2 - 11 March. Audio
Ideas for 12 February 2012
In Ideas today we're taking a look at the idea of employee-owned companies. Audio
Steve Rayner : climate change fix
Professor of Science and Civilization at Oxford University's Said Business School, Steve Rayner, on big plans to combat global warming. Audio
Haiku : listeners poetry
Chris reads out listeners' haiku. This week's theme is skinny dipping. Audio