Kiwi Summer: Recent Episodes
RNZ
Wellington-born and bred hip hop artist Fiso Siloata likes to keep it real when it comes to music. Sonia visited him at his home studio in Wellington to chat about his work with 'at-risk' youth, hard lessons learnt, and why music has helped him to give back to the community.
Wellington's Bare Hunt Theatre Collective has based a piece of documentary theatre around the premise 'Munted', set against the backdrop of a quake riven Christchurch.
Blogger and Otago University Law Professor, Andrew Geddis talks about the NZ On Air decision to influence when and where programmes, that the body has funded, can play.
Physicist Sir Paul Callaghan's high public profile has meant the country has taken a genuine interest in his terminal colon cancer diagnosis and subsequent unorthodox treatments.
Kiwi Summer investigates a Wellington programme that's trying to help combat the chronic shortage of men working in early childhood education.
Lynn Freeman visits the Karori Bridge Club in Wellington to find out what makes this former parlour game such an addiction for so many.
Sonia speaks with Gisborne sisters Cate King and Sarah Busby and finds out what it's like to walk in their shoes, both figuratively and literally.
Liesa Renwick's been indulging in Georgian English literature with Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice.
Lynn speaks with world renowned nature educator Joseph Cornell who is in New Zealand to address the NZ Association for Environmental Education biennial conference in Hamilton where his topic is changing course for a sustainable world.
Javelin thrower Stuart Farquahar joins the programme to talk about his hope and aspirations for London.
Gordon Campbell is a political writer/blogger for the news website scoop.co.nz and writer of scoop's monthly online magazine 'Werewolf'.
Taranaki-based energy analyst Len Houwer believes the success of the new deal between Methanex New Zealand Ltd and Todd Energy is entirely contingent upon the consortium actually drilling for and supplying the gas, and this is not guaranteed.
Auckland's council is drafting its plan for the supercity and various health boards are urging that the blueprint include some smokefree initiatives like smokefree public spaces. We hear arguments for and against the idea.
A giant dog and sheep tower over the main street of Tirau, just two of a series of sculptures and buildings made from corrugated iron a common building material in New Zealand.
Sonia puts herself in Jolene Tempest's hands to find out what it takes to win the Miss Tattoo NZ crown.
David Sedaris, who has been described as America's finest living humourist, is coming to New Zealand. He talks about why he is happy to share his embarrassing moments with millions of people around the world.
The southern hemisphere's biggest cheese factory is in the small Waikato town of Lichfield.
Today's Olympian is laser radial sailor - Sara Winther, who has recently been selected for New Zealand's Olympic sailing team for London 2012.
Several complaints followed the broadcasting of a documentary about child poverty in New Zealand, which went to air on TV3 three days before last year's election. Graeme Edgler is a specialist in electoral law; and Janette Howe, the acting executive director of the Screen Directors Guild, which represents many documentary makers.
Are children born into poor homes really destined for a life of poverty themselves? Research as part of a long-term study of more than 1200 Christchurch children shows that those born to parents with lower incomes are likely to grow up to have low income jobs.
From the 1940s Tokoroa town was developed in a forestry area to house workers constructing and then operating the nearby Kinleith pulp and paper mill.
Lynn joins in rehearsals for Wellington Repertory Theatre's production of Wyrd Sisters.
Fashion illustrator and photographer Kelly Thompson chats about life in the fashion fast lane, Melbourne and collaborative projects.
Elaine Morgan's book 'The Descent of Woman' is a favourite of listener Rochelle Wilson.
A distinctive rock by the side of State Highway One is significant to Maori for its role in the story of Hatupatu.
It's just over a decade since farmer John Mackintosh stumbled across the endangered kokako on his farm. Now thanks to his hard work there are more than 20 pairs of the native bird on his sheep, cattle and forestry farm.
When completed in 1963, Wairakei was one of just two geothermal power stations in the world.
Bice Awan runs an organisation that's helping people - especially our youth - cope with grief and loss.
The Southern DHB and the union representing its senior medical officers are in conflict over extra staffing for Dunedin Hospital's emergency department. Dr John Chambers is a specialist at the department and an Association of Salaried Medical Specialists union representative.
Kiwi are prominent in Otorohanga, with three species on display at the kiwi house, and 'kiwiana' icons decorating the town.
Lynn joins a night class for would-be outdoor adventurers organised through Wellington High School.
Sonia Sly's interviews on arts and culture - where almost everything comes out in the wash. Bianca Andrew is a rising star in New Zealand Opera - she wins us over with grace, charm and a voice to boot!
Chris Hedges' book 'Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle' is a favourite of listener Steve Raycheff.
Te Kuiti hosts a yearly carnival, including a 'running of the sheep' down the main street, and a shearing competition where champion shearers are put through their paces.
Manu Caddie is in his first term as a Gisborne District Councillor, but he's also involved in a voluntary capacity in organisations addressing matters as wide-ranging as social services, anti-violence initiatives, cycling and housing.
Our last Kiwi summer competition was a doozy on Friday, thanks so much for your weather related similies, we were impressed!
Our blogger is a political animal, who dishes up a healthy serving of satire on the side. Danyl McLauchlan writes at 'dimpost.wordpress.com'.
The Sunday Star Times reports that from 2009 to last year the number of female prisoners increased by 27 per cent. Social anthropologist Dr Donna Swift has been studying trends surrounding violence by women, particularly young women, which she says has been glorified as something tough and cool.
Advocacy manager for Barnardoes New Zealand, Deborah Morris-Travers, discusses what can be done to better protect New Zealand's children.
Many people are terrified at the thought of speaking in public, but Toastmasters clubs give their members the opportunity to gain confidence and practice their public speaking skills. Lynn goes along to the Wellington Professional Toastmasters Club to find out more.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra were very briefly an unknown quantity, until the band's first track went viral. Ruban Nielson speaks candidly about the secrets to his success.
The Sugar Loaf Islands and Paritutu are the remnants of an enormous volcano - the oldest in Taranaki.
One of New Zealand's first dairy factories was opened near Eltham in 1887 by Chinese entrepreneur Chew Chong.
Daily competition winners with their concise descriptions of how their summer has been, in exactly 10 words.
A Taranaki nurse Linda Cook, hopes other centres will pick up on her idea of helping to clothe Kiwi kids who are at risk of going cold this winter.
The Government of Pakistan says president Asif Ali Zardari has gone to attend a wedding, but there is speculation that he may have left to get specialist medical treatment. Either way his departure comes amid a deepening political crisis with Pakistan's powerful military and international fears of a coup.
SeniorNet runs courses around the country offering advice to older people who aren't afraid to try something new. Lynn joins some over-60s who are determined to get a grip on new technology.
MisteR is a menswear label headed by Christchurch Polytechnic Fashion Design graduates Mickey Lin and Ra Thomson. Together they've created an artful vision that merges classic British tailoring with a hint of quirky Asian fashion flair.
Author Ronald Hugh Morrieson was never popular in his home town of Hawera, which was recognisably skewered in his novels. Hawera is also home to Kevin Wasley, a dedicated Elvis Presley fan who runs a museum celebrating 'The King'.
Jamie Clark, Emily Aitken and Katya Curran have all been identified by the Peter Blake Trust as potential leaders, adventurers and environmental stewards.
The 1982 closure of the Patea freezing works could have spelled the death of the town. But salvation came from the lively song Poi e, which became a 1984 hit single for the local Patea Maori Club.
Dunedin-born Alison Shanks is a Commonwealth Games gold medalist and track cycling World Champion. Just last week she came third in time trials at The Elite Road National Championships. .
We asked for suggestions of the best songs for hearbreak, and listeners sent stories of love, loss and the music that helped.
While he has a keen interest in politics, Keith Ng has also been keeping an eye on Big Tobacco over the past year and a half and has published some of his relevations on his blog publicaddress.net/onpoint/ this week.
For aid agencies working in Haiti, the money is running out and the support is expected to stop soon. World Vision's humanitarian and emergency affairs manager, Ian McInnes, is with us.
Following the breakup of the Rena, more oil and debris is expected to wash up on local beaches, which will affect wildlife. Kerry Morgan is running the wildlife response centre in Tauranga.
We've got our capes on and our super powers at the ready as young-adult novelist Karen Healey takes us for a ride around the big boom bam world of female comic heroes.
Ferg from Geraldine recommends Douglas Adams's trilogy 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'.
Based in New Plymouth for the past 22 years, Louise Roebuck is the founder of youth health service Waves.
Once a base for the famous chief Te Rauparaha and the Ngati Toa tribe, with up to 3,000 occupants, Kapiti Island is now a wildlife sanctuary, where the eradication of pests has allowed kiwi, takahe, kokako and other rare birds to flourish.
Runner Nick Willis already has an Olympic silver medal, but is hoping for gold in London later this year.
Delaney Mes of heartbreakpie.com is a food-obsessed 20-something living in Wellington. Her blog began as a cure for heartbreak; and now happily heartbreak-free the blog continues with recipes, reviews and general banter about life.
The districts surrounding Christchurch are finding themselves under pressure from Christchurch central homeowners who've been red-zoned and also from developers. The mayor of Waimakariri David Ayers joins us, along with the mayor of Selwyn Kelvin Coe.
A military blunder by colonial forces at Opepe in 1869 led to a surprise attack by Maori prophet and rebel Te Kooti and his men.
Film-makers Mark Albiston and Louis Sutherland picked up a number of international awards for their short-film 'Six Dollar Fifty Man', were a hit at Cannes, and followed that up with 'Run', but now they move to the world of feature film making. We find out more about 'Shopping' when they drop into the Spin Cycle.
A remote spot on the Napier-Taupo road, Tarawera was first a Maori village, then a military stockade and an important coach stop.
School principal and avid coach of his community's rugby team, Robert Shaw uses rugby as a way to teach boys life skills. He's been nominated in the Local Heroes section of the New Zealander of the Year Awards.
The tiny settlement of Te Haroto, on the Napier-Taupo road, was once a major village of the Ngati Hineuru tribe, followers of the Pai Marire faith, which supported Maori self-determination.
The youngest member of the Black Sticks squad, Hugo Inglis made his debut as a last-minute inclusion at the World Cup Qualifier in 2009 thanks to his heroics as top goal scorer in the National Hockey League.
Ryan Keen, editor of Queenstown newspaper Mountain Scene, talks about issues affecting his region.
The NZ dollar could reach a record high against the Euro amid continuing investor worries about the Eurozone debt crisis. Tony Alexander, BNZ's Chief Economist.
There have been some high profile cases over the summer reminding us of the dangers of hunting, and how ignoring the basic rules costs the lives of hunters.
Remote Te Pohue, on the Napier-Taupo highway, was once on a Maori track cutting across the tribal boundaries of Ngati Kahungunu and Ngati Tuwharetoa.
Jock Phillips from Te Ara investigates the history of gentlemen's and workingmen's clubs.
Astrologer Gigi Sosnoski maps out the stars and advises us to keep looking up. She shines a light on the year ahead in 2012.
A personal experience moved Auckland woman Julie Bartlett to establish StarJam, a charity for young people with disabilities to express themselves through performance.
Lynn joins a pub quiz team and tries to answer Andrew Taylor's Round of Doom questions.
Listeners sent in simple recipes for kumara, including Kumara and Carrot Latkes, Gingered Kumara Chunks, and Sweet Kumara with Maple Syrup.
Emma blogs frankly and openly about matters of feminism, sexuality, relations between men and women and on occasion, what it's like to live in Christchurch, post-quake.
As air crash investigators vow to establish the cause of the hot air balloon tragedy in Carterton, and journalists interview family members and witnesses, Victim Support staff are working quietly in the background helping where they can. Tony Paine is the CEO of Victim Support.
The famed 'Ka mate' haka was composed by Ngati Toa chief Te Rauparaha as he hid from pursuers on an island in Lake Rotoaira.
Pirouettes, pointed toes, and tutus were the everyday world of Kate Venables - a professional ballerina for the Royal New Zealand Ballet, until something happened that had the potential to change her life forever.
Ruth Paul is both an author and picture book illustrator. John McIntyre from the Children's Bookshop meets Ruth to find out about some of her work.
The central North Island peaks of Ngauruhoe, Ruapehu and Tongariro - dramatically visible from the Desert Road - are active volcanoes, part of the Pacific 'ring of fire'.
We speak to high school students Amelia Lamb and Charlie Lin about their upcoming trip to The International Model United Nations at The Hague, as well as one of the trip's directors, David Turner.
Tangiwai means 'weeping waters', and the name seemed sadly apt in 1953, when a lahar destroyed the railway bridge and a passenger express plunged into the river killing 151 people.
The winning entries with facts about kereru stomachs, early settlers, giant snails, and exploding trousers.
Lara Strongman from Christchurch discusses art and culture on her blog cherylbernstein.blogspot.com
Dr James Renwick from NIWA on the recent wet weather, and whether the rest of the summer will be different.
In the 1980s, suffering from job losses and a rural economic downturn, the small town of Taihape rebranded itself as the world's gumboot capital.
Simon Nathan from Te Ara talks about the history of conservation - the growing awareness of the need to conserve the land for future generations.
Andrew Froggatt is a horse whisperer, known for breaking in horses that others can't train - and he says that learning some simple skills can help in the area of management.
Equestrian Andrew Nicholson is one of New Zealand's most capped Olympians, so he knows what he's in for.
Listener Irene Coleman talks about Amnesty International's 'Dear to Me: 100 New Zealanders Write About Their Favourite Poems'.
Rugged mountains, dense forest and Maori hostile to the Crown were all impediments to developing the main trunk railway line through the central North Island.
Andrew Reid oversees the Champions For Life programme in Zimbabwe. They work with AIDS orphans and young people who have HIV.
The bond between farmers and their faithful working dogs is celebrated in Hunterville by a statue of a huntaway farm dog.
Many adults who never learned to swim are catching up at classes like the ones held at Karori Pool, Wellington.
Sir Ray Avery explains how to win a chat with Sir Peter Jackson on The Hobbit set, or maybe meet Sonny Bill Williams, or have a BBQ run by The Mad Butcher; as they're all up for grabs as part of a charity auction.
Dubbed 'Little Poland', a camp outside Pahiatua was home to over 700 Polish children displaced by the Second World War.
Barbara Burke's screenplay 'Orla' - set in 1990s Dublin has recently scooped a prestigious scriptwriting prize.
Not content with representing New Zealand in swimming at the Olympic and Commonwealth games, Steve Ferguson has gone on to notch up an Olympic appearance for kayaking as well.
Lorna Schmidt from Central Otago enjoyed Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed The World and Salt: A World History, both by Mark Kurlansky.
In the late 19th century Papawai marae, outside Greytown, was the focus of the Kotahitanga, the Maori parliament movement, which sought to unify Maori tribes. With 3,000 residents, Papawai was known as 'the Maori capital'.
Gabrielle Hogg recently won the 2011 Attitude Award in the youth category for her work in raising awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder with the community at large.
The army camp established outside Featherston for training First World War recruits took on a very different nature in the Second World War when it was used as a Japanese POW camp.
We drop in on a long established Wellington book club where New Zealand author Eleanor Catton's novel 'The Rehearsal' made quite an impression.
Ally Mullord blogs about an array of personal mishaps and comedic moments in her life, at terriblyexciting.blogspot.com
We explore early cartography and maps in this pocket history with the help of Melanie Lovell- Smith, who studied the subject for the Te Ara online encyclopaedia.
It's time to get in the ring and box it out with Steven Hoggett - he's the co-director/ choreographer for a dynamic theatre production Beautiful Burnout which brings boxing to life in the theatre. His company Frantic Assembly have collaborated with the National Theatre of Scotland on this project, and if the multiple awards and rave reviews for their earlier work Black Watch is anything to go by, this show is not one to be missed when it arrives on our shores in March.
An emergency medicine specialist and New Zealand's only professor of emergency medicine. Mike was made an officer of the New Zealand order of merit in the new year's honours.
Carol May Becker has been named on the New Year's Honours list, awarded an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her dedication to plunket.
One of the 450 volunteers at Zealandia, retiree Margaret Bell explains why she gives up so much time to help out at the sanctuary.
The winners of the creative writing competition, and details of the new competition involving building your own radio.
Blogger Rory MacKinnon from 'mediadarlings.net' talks to us from the United Kingdom about the Occupy movement.
John Tristram has been made a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his 50 years of service to Land Search and Rescue.
Chief fire officer for the Foxton beach fire brigade, awarded a QSM for his work with the New Zealand Fire Service.
The Marlborough towns of Seddon and Ward are named after New Zealand premiers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Sonia Sly gatecrashes a party and finds herself travelling back in time - caught in a frenzy of frantic, funny-face-pulling in the world of Dion Howard's amazing travelling photo booth.
He has escaped death numerous times during his three decades working for the united nations cleaning up stockpiles of toxic chemical waste.
Helen has been working to promote children's literacy for the past 25 years, and has given much of her time to implementing and developing special programmes to help children 5 years and under.
The vast Cheviot Hills farm, with its grand mansion and exotic gardens, was once one of Canterbury's largest properties.
The joys of learning a musical instrument - Lynn tries out the ukulele with Julian Raphael and Isabelle LeFrancq from Wellington Community Choir's ukulele class.
The winner will win a copy of the exercise book, creative writing exercises from Victoria University's institute of modern letters, it's crammed full of tips. Scriptwriting tutor and playwright Ken Duncum dropped by to talk about the book and to set today's competition.
Verna Mc felin has worked for many years with the families of prisoners, and her efforts were recognised in this year's New Year's Honours list when she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Ben Schraeder from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage explains why early taxi drivers and their passengers were often in for a rough ride.
Some might say that Jack Yan is living the ultimate 'man's dream' - he reviews luxury cars, and gets to judge Miss New Zealand for a living, but this switched on fast-talker is also the publisher of an international online fashion and lifestyle magazine called Lucire.
We begin a series of interviews where John Mcintyre from the Children's Bookshop chats to high fliers in the competitive field of children's books. Brian Falkner is today's guest.
Our road trip around New Zealand with Roadside Stories from the Ministry of Culture & Heritage. A statue in Amberley honours military hero and local farmer Charles Upham.
Our road trip around New Zealand with Roadside Stories from the Ministry of Culture & Heritage.
Entries and winners from our 'Suggest a Kiwi Icon' competition: silver ferns, golden syrup, plum jam, bare feet, ice cream, and dead possums.
With more rain forecast, emergency services in Golden Bay are assessing the damage flooding has already caused the region and deciding on a plan of action for today. Nelson Tasman Emergency Operations Centre Coordinator Jim Frater.
Te Ara Encyclopaedia Editor in Chief, Jock Phillips tells us about New Zealand's many offshore islands and the uses they've been put to.
What is it about the great cheese and onion sandwich? Poet Vivienne Plumb reveals a few secrets, and explains why the trusty cheese and onion sandwich is perfect for a kiwi summer.
Richard Muller talks about his favourite, The Life and Loves of a She Devil by Fay Weldon, published by Hodder & Stoughton.
Semi-finalist in the Local Heroes section of the New Zealander of the Year 2012 awards.
Our road trip around New Zealand with Roadside Stories from the Ministry of Culture & Heritage.
Megan Whelan talks about some of the issues she and fellow feminists have been talking about in 2011, with a focus on the 'slutwalk' movement.
Christchurch City Council says water consumption levels are now dangerously high and the system is starting to feel the strain.
Lynn finds out about the history of black singlets from Bronwyn Labrum, editor of Looking Flash: Clothing in Aotearoa New Zealand, published by Auckland University Press.
Writer, blogger and fashionista Isaac Hinden-Miller is the man of the minute. He's made the big leap from New Zealand to New York and finds himself in surreal and unusual situations. So it's time to get the goss and find out more about the man behind 'Isaac Likes.'
Benjamin Johnson and Jess Suo talk about Wellington's first Free Store, where the goods are supplied by local retailers keen to reduce waste and provide excess stock to the community for no cost.
Our first stop today is just north of Dunedin, with one of our two locations having a special significance for New Zealand babies - past, present and future.
Lynn gets adventurous and learns a different hobby every day. Creative writing classes with Bernadette Hall.
Auckland-based culture blogger Craig Ranapia talks about some of his favourite films and visual art in 2011.
Dumping a litter of nine 5-week-old puppies in a rubbish bin beside Lake Dunstan on a scorching hot day was an act of "unbelievable cruelty".
Lynn Freeman discovers how everyday things came about; patents with Mark Derby from Te Ara.
Denise L'Estrange-Corbet is a lead designer for WORLD, who are renowned for pushing the boundaries of fashion into the avante garde.
Angela Green chats about her favourite book 'Cutting for Stone' by Abraham Verghese, the first book she ever read on her phone.
We're making our way up through the deep South where the mighty Clutha River dominates the landscape.
Professor Glyn Harper is the author of 'Letters from Gallipoli, New Zealand Soldiers Write Home'. He speaks here to Lynn Freeman about an ambitious new centenary history of New Zealanders in the First World War.
Sonia and Lynn read out the winners of our 'Twas the Morn' After Christmas' poetry competition, as well as one being performed by Nick Butcher.
Stephen Stratford works as an editor of the printed page and as a blogger in cyberspace.
Our road trip around New Zealand with Roadside Stories from the Ministry of Culture & Heritage.
Nancy Swarbrick introduces us to the history of pets on Aotearoa and to her own much loved pet.
Weta artist Gino Acevedo chats about the special connection that brought him to New Zealand, and he reveals how his traditional make-up FX expertise translates into 3D visual fx for movies like Avatar and The Adventures of Tintin.
Swimmer Lauren Boyle has an Olympic Games and two Commonwealth Games relay medals under her belt at just 24. In 2011 she also managed to finish a degree in the United States, and won five medals at the World University Games at China - the most of any kiwi.
Wellington theatre director Leo Gene Peters' summer read is 'The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle' by Haruki Murakami, published by Vintage.
You'll know Lisa Argilla from the Happy Feet story which captivated many people here and around the world earlier in the year. In her first year as Wellington Zoo's Veterinary Science Manager, Lisa has upped the zoo's profile and that of the animals she and her staff work with.
Lynn talks to oral historians Clare Hall and Alison Parr and to Joyce Harrison who has had her oral history recorded by Alison.
Travel writer and publicist Kip Brook talks about the year in Christchurch, and tips for travelling in New Zealand.
A poem about the morning after Christmas, and the joys of the Radio New Zealand summer schedule.