Community health expert Dr Peter Saxton explores the balancing act of keeping New Zealand's blood supply safe from infectious diseases while ensuring we have enough donors and can uphold our values as a progressive, inclusive nation. (A highlight from the University of Auckland's Raising the Bar series) Community health expert Dr Peter Saxton explores the balancing act of keeping New Zealand's blood supply safe from infectious diseases while ensuring we have enough donors and can uphold our valu...
Aug 30, 2022•51 min•Ep. 88
What's with all the stockouts and empty shelves? Dr Tava Olsen from the University of Auckland Business School with a highlight of Raising the Bar 2022. What's with all the stockouts and empty shelves? Supply chain expert Dr Tava Olsen explores distribution logistics in this talk from Raising the Bar 2022. Global disruptions mean we are talking about supply chains more than ever as we realise how important they are to our daily lives. New Zealand is at the edge of the world when it comes to frei...
Aug 21, 2022•50 min•Ep. 87
Charlotte Yates explores the history of her series of musical collaborations between contemporary composers and the work of New Zealand's finest writers at the 2021 Going West Festival. Musician Charlotte Yates explores turning poetry into music at Auckland's 2021 Going West Festival. Yates has devoted albums to fine New Zealand writers such as James K Baxter, Hone Tuwhare, Witi Ihimaera and Katherine Mansfield. The lineup of performers at the festival's Gala Opening Night included Yates, Show P...
Aug 14, 2022•52 min•Ep. 86
Tongan, Samoan and Palagi poet Karlo Mila reads from her book The Goddess Muscle and Fijian poet Daren Kamali performs his poetry and accompanies himself on traditional Fijian musical instruments. Performance poets Karlo Mila and Daren Kamali trade lines onstage at Auckland's Glen Eden Playhouse. (A highlight from the 2021 Going West Writers Festival) In a lively session from the gala night opening of the 2021 Going West literary festival, Karlo Mila and Daren Kamali take turns performing their ...
Aug 03, 2022•34 min•Ep. 85
A Clear Dawn: New Asian Voices from Aotearoa New Zealand introduces three new literary voices exploring Asian experiences and identities in Aotearoa. A highlight of Verb Wellington 2021. Writers Rupa Maitra, Mikee Sto Domingo and Rose Lu join Chris Tse for a lively discussion at the Verb Wellington 2021 Festival. They discuss stereotypes, Shortland Street, identity, going to Mandarin school on Saturdays, suddenly feeling at home in Newtown, and how to tell their parents about career dreams that ...
Jul 18, 2022•40 min•Ep. 84
Well-known children's author Kyle Mewburn talks with Jane Arthur about her life, which has recently changed radically. (A highlight from the 2021 Verb Readers and Writers Festival in Wellington) The experience of a particular trans life is vividly communicated in this highlight from the 2021 Verb Readers and Writers Festival in Wellington. Well-known children's author Kyle Mewburn talks with Jane Arthur about her life, which has recently changed radically. Hear Kyle Mewburn talking to Jane Arthu...
Jul 03, 2022•43 min•Ep. 83
Unsheltered is the riveting story of one mother's search for her child across a climate-ravaged continent in a dystopian future. Clare Moleta talks with Pip Adam about her inspirations. Unsheltered is the riveting story of one mother's search for her child across a climate-ravaged continent in a dystopian future. Clare Moleta talks with Pip Adam about her inspirations, the impact of climate change on her world-building, and how parenting can make for good fiction. Clare Moleta Listen to Clare Mo...
Jun 22, 2022•44 min•Ep. 82
In a personal address tracing a lifetime of reading, the renowned playwright Renée explores the power of literature, and its role in shaping her own professional and imaginative worlds. Although she grew up poor with a solo mother, the career of New Zealand playwright and author Renée seems, in retrospect, to have been pre-determined. Why? Because of the love of reading which filled her childhood years. In this lecture, Renée, aka Renée Gertrude Taylor, looks bac...
Jun 12, 2022•43 min•Ep. 81
Marketing expert Assoc. Prof. Bodo Lang explains what word of mouth is, why it works, and how much it can be trusted. And he reveals that whether it's online or face to face really matters. In an environment dominated by paid advertising, advertorial and social media influencers, true word of mouth recommendations remain powerful. Marketing expert Bodo Lang explains word of mouth (WOM), why it works, and how much it can be trusted in this highlight of Auckland University's Raising the Bar Home S...
Jun 09, 2022•51 min•Ep. 80
How could DNA improve our health? Prof. Justin O'Connor advocates sequencing the genomes of all the 60,000 children born in NZ each year. A highlight of Auckland University's Raising the Bar series. How do we use DNA information to be healthier and live longer? The answer is simple, according to Professor Justin M. O'Sullivan from the Liggins Institute - sequence the genomes of all children in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Professor O'Sullivan explains the benefits of his proposal in this highlight of A...
May 31, 2022•47 min•Ep. 79
Ali Lowrey talks about the future of winemaking in this highlight of Auckland University's Raising the Bar Home Series. Ali Lowrey talks about the future of winemaking in this highlight of Auckland University's Raising the Bar Home Series. Listen to the talk (Webinar available soon on the RTBHE website) Edited highlights from the discussion As we move from the soil in the vineyard to the wine in the glass with a climate change lens, it's important to note that wine is not essential for human sur...
May 23, 2022•39 min•Ep. 78
Dr Helen Murray explores the relationship between repetitive head injuries, contact sport and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) - a progressive brain disease that causes dementia. Dr Helen Murray explores the relationship between repetitive head injuries and dementia. (A highlight from Auckland University's Raising the Bar Home Edition) Listen to the talk From the discussion During my PhD, I studied Alzheimer's disease at the University of Auckland's Centre for Brain Research. I worked with...
May 17, 2022•49 min•Ep. 77
Assoc. Prof. Matheson Russell explores different models for democracy in action during an era of unprecedented polarisation. His focus? Sortition. A highlight of Raising the Bar Home Edition. Academic Matheson Russell explores different models for democracy in action. His focus? Sortition. (A highlight from Auckland University's Raising the Bar Home Edition) Listen to the talk https://youtu.be/IXkOJZTRlqI From the discussion Innovations like Oregon's systems review, the Irish Citizens' Assembly ...
May 11, 2022•52 min•Ep. 76
Prof. Andrew Shelling sorts fact from fiction when it comes to 'blaming your genes,' and discusses the role of genetic testing in controlling common diseases. From Raising the Bar Home Edition. The ability of genetics to predict both human disease and behaviour is an exciting and constantly evolving field, however, it's important to sort fact from fiction when it comes to 'blaming your genes'. In this talk, medical researcher Andrew Shelling covers the red herrings of genetic research and explai...
May 02, 2022•51 min•Ep. 75
What does it mean to be Pākehā today? Prof. Alison Jones from the University of Auckland talks to the University of Canterbury's Jeanette King in this highlight of WORD Christchurch 2021. Listen to Alison Jones in conversation with Jeanette King at Word Christchurch 2021 Highlights of the discussion Jeanette King: When colleagues say, "I want to involve Māori more or co-design research with them, how do I start?" I find it's a really hard question to answer. Alison Jones: It is. It's impossible ...
Apr 27, 2022•50 min•Ep. 74
Mark Solomon, the former kaiwhakahaere (Chair) of Ngāi Tahu's governing council, speaks with Nic Lowe about leadership in this highlight of WORD Christchurch 2021. Listen to Tā (Sir) Mark Solomon in conversation with Nic Lowe at Word Christchurch 2021 In 1998, on the eve of Ngāi Tahu reaching settlement with the Crown, former foundryman Mark Solomon stepped into the role of kaiwhakahaere (Chair) of the iwi's governing council, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. Taking the place of Sir Tipene O'Regan, he ha...
Apr 11, 2022•52 min•Ep. 73
Two crime writers - Jacqueline Bublitz and Paul Cleave - discuss how they create memorable stories in this highlight of 2021's Word Christchurch festival. Listen to Jacqueline Bublitz and Paul Cleave in conversation with Jo Malcolm at Word Christchurch 2021 Highlights of the discussion Jo Malcolm: I've read that you can write 7000 words a day which seems like an extraordinary number. Paul Cleave: Yeah but I've got nothing else to do. Jo Malcolm: Are you actually making it up as you go along? Pau...
Apr 10, 2022•46 min•Ep. 72
At the time of the COP26 summit held in Glasgow, Kim Hill speaks with journalist Tom Doig and veteran scientist Dave Lowe about the climate crisis. A highlight of 2021 Word Christchurch. Kim Hill speaks with journalist Tom Doig and scientist Dave Lowe about the climate crisis. (A highlight of the 2021 WORD Christchurch Festival) Listen to the conversation During the course of a wide-ranging conversation, Tom Doig and Dave Lowe read from their recent books about their own experience of climate ch...
Mar 23, 2022•52 min•Ep. 71
Dr Hinemoa Elder, Kyle Mewburn, Anjum Rahman, Julie Zarifeh and Emily Writes explore very different aspects of courage and adventure in their lives. They talk with Jo Malcolm. Five women explore diverse perspectives on what it means to be adventurous. Dr Hinemoa Elder, Kyle Mewburn, Anjum Rahman, Julie Zarifeh and Emily Writes speak about very different aspects of courage and adventure in a conversation chaired by Jo Malcolm. (A highlight of the 2021 WORD Christchurch Festival) Listen to the con...
Mar 22, 2022•52 min•Ep. 70
In 2001, the Norwegian freighter Tampa - crammed with more than 400 asylum-seekers rescued from a sinking fishing boat - was turned away from Australia. Abbas Nazari, aged seven, was onboard. In 2001, the Norwegian freighter Tampa - crammed with more than 400 asylum-seekers who'd been rescued from a sinking fishing boat - was turned away from Australia. A seven-year-old boy Afghan boy named Abbas Nazari, who was on board with his family, eventually found a home in Christchurch. In 2019, Abbas we...
Mar 01, 2022•52 min•Ep. 69
Ian Rankin, the creator of Inspector Rebus, talks live from Edinburgh with New Zealand crime writer Vanda Symon at Word Christchurch 2021. Ian Rankin, the master of tartan noir, discusses his new book The Dark Remains, which brings to life the criminal world of 1970s Glasgow. The Dark Remains focuses on a new character, Detective Inspector Laidlaw, and is based on an unfinished manuscript by the late Scottish crime writer William McIlvanney. Ian Rankin talks with NZ crime writer Vanda Symon live...
Feb 23, 2022•52 min•Ep. 68
Christchurch barber Mataio (Matt) Brown wrote She is Not Your Rehab with his wife Sarah. They discuss the book and the global anti-violence movement it has spawned at 2021 WORD Christchurch. Christchurch barber Mataio (Matt) Brown wrote the best-selling book She is Not Your Rehab with his wife Sarah. The couple spoke to Phil Borell about the book and the global anti-violence movement it has spawned at 2021 WORD Christchurch. Listen to the conversation Find She Is Not Your Rehab on Twitter, Faceb...
Feb 16, 2022•51 min•Ep. 67
Unionist Helen Kelly left a huge impact on New Zealand's political and industrial landscapes. Helen's biographer Rebecca Macfie speaks with Jo Malcolm about her life, times and legacy. Listen to Helen Kelly's biographer Rebecca Macfie in conversation with Jo Malcolm. According to Rebecca McFie, the Trades Hall bombing in 1984 was a pivotal moment for Helen Kelly, whose father Pat Kelly was a unionist working in the building. Rebecca McFie: The threat of violence sat with the household all the ti...
Feb 13, 2022•52 min•Ep. 66
Ben Brown (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Koroki, Ngāti Paoa) speaks about the power of imagination and its deep roots in te ao Māori at the 2021 WORD Christchurch Festival. Lyttelton poet Ben Brown (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Koroki, Ngāti Paoa) speaks about the power of imagination and its deep roots in te ao Māori. (This Margaret Mahy Memorial Lecture was a highlight of the 2021 WORD Christchurch Festival) Ben Brown Listen to Ben Brown's talk Listen to Ben Brown's acclaimed 2020 Read NZ lecture on youth justic...
Feb 02, 2022•42 min•Ep. 65
Sound historian Sarah Johnston explores 100 years of radio in a talk at the National Library, focusing on the early decades and the innovative World War II radio Mobile Unit recordings. Sarah Johnston celebrates the first hundred years of radio Read the full text of the talk Kia ora koutou kātoa. Thank you to RNZ and National Library for organising this celebration of the start of radio in New Zealand, 100 years ago tonight. Tonight is something of a game of two halves: first I will talk about t...
Nov 19, 2021•58 min•Ep. 64
In an update of his 2017 talk, Prof. Peter O'Connor explores the complexities of terrorism from an educator's perspective. From the online version of Auckland University's Raising the Bar. Education expert Peter O'Connor explores the intricacies of terrorism in an updated version of his 2017 talk What Drives Terrorism? He argues that critical empathy is essential to understanding other people, and reducing the alienation and exclusion which can result in individuals being radicalised. How can th...
Oct 06, 2021•48 min•Ep. 63
Marketing expert Dr Mike Lee has kept a ten-year watch on the anti-vaccination movement. In this illuminating talk, he explores how we could develop herd immunity against harmful misinformation. Marketing expert Dr Mike Lee has kept a ten-year watch on the anti-vaccination movement. In this illuminating talk, he explores the key reasons people reject vaccinations and how we could develop herd immunity against harmful misinformation. Listen to Dr Mike Lee (From Raising the Bar - Home edition 2021...
Sep 26, 2021•49 min•Ep. 62
Science communicator Siouxsie Wiles spoke about Covid-19, conspiracy theories and how being a goth teenager led her into microbiology, at the 2021 NZ International Science Festival. Science communicator and 2021 New Zealander of the Year Siouxsie Wiles is dedicated to informing the general public about the issues that matter. At this year's NZ International Science Festival held in July, she spoke about conspiracy theories, why she's dyed her hair pink for 21 years and how being a goth teenager ...
Sep 16, 2021•51 min•Ep. 61
A team of experts discuss the future of gene editing to control pests, and how it connects with mātauranga Māori. A highlight of the NZ International Science Festival from July 2021. "Gene editing does feature in narratives. What I'm wary of is people running off and weaponising that" - Tame Malcolm Listen to a team of Kiwi bio-heritage experts discuss the future of genetics in pest control, and how that connects with mātauranga Māori. Professor Peter Dearden, Tame Malcolm, Aroha Mead, Professor...
Sep 07, 2021•50 min•Ep. 60
Angler Dougal Rillstone and surfer Derek Morrison talk to fellow explorer Bruce Ansley about their love for the wild places of Aotearoa. Angler Dougal Rillstone (author of Upstream on the Mataura) and surfer Derek Morrison (author of Surf Dreams) talk to fellow explorer Bruce Ansley about their love for the wild places of Aotearoa. This conversation was a highlight of the 2021 Dunedin Writers & Readers Festival. Listen to Dougal Rillstone, Derek Morrison and Bruce Ansley in conversation High...
Aug 31, 2021•50 min•Ep. 59
