Prof. Jacinta Ruru talks with fellow Māori academics about being Māori in a university. A highlight of 2021's Dunedin Writers & Readers Festival. Otago law professor Jacinta Ruru talks with fellow academics Renee Smith and Rawiri Tapiata about being Māori in a university. A highlight of 2021's Dunedin Writers & Readers Festival. Hear Prof. Jacinta Ruru, Renee Smith and Rawiri Tapiata in discussion with Marcus Akuhata-Brown Two books on Māori leadership have been published recently: Ngā K...
Aug 24, 2021•41 min•Ep. 58
Jared Savage and Steve Braunias explore the art of crime writing in Aotearoa. Rob Kidd chairs this highlight of 2021's Dunedin Writers & Readers Festival. Three journalists experienced in true-crime writing - Jared Savage, Steve Braunias and Rob Kidd - discuss the ethical and practical issues of their craft. Steve Braunias disagrees with what he describes as the "pointy-headed criticism" that it is intrinsically voyeuristic and exploitative, while Jared Savage talks about how door-knocking c...
Aug 17, 2021•49 min•Ep. 57
Lynn Freeman talks with Becky Manawatu about her acclaimed debut novel Auē in this highlight of 2021's Dunedin Writers & Readers Festival. Although New Zealand writer Becky Manawatu's first novel Auē received numerous awards, the experience of being a published writer, and a popular one at that, is something she's still coming to terms with. Becky speaks to Lynn Freeman in front of a Dunedin Writers & Readers Festival audience. Hear Becky Manawatu in conversation with Lynn Freeman, recor...
Aug 10, 2021•47 min•Ep. 56
The emerging author HG Parry writes complex and engaging fantasy novels. She talks to Lynn Freeman about reinventing the 18th century in this highlight of 2021's Dunedin Writers Festival. Wellington author HG Parry writes complex and engaging fantasy novels. She talks to Lynn Freeman about reinventing the French Revolution in her novel A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians. Listen to HG Parry in conversation This conversation is a highlight from the 2021's Dunedin Writers Festival. Slaves in ...
Aug 05, 2021•44 min•Ep. 55
Master storyteller Witi Ihimaera talks with Jacinta Ruru about Navigating the Stars: Māori Creation Myths, in which he explores Māori history and identity through its mythology. Witi Ihimaera celebrates 50 years as a published writer in 2022. At the Dunedin Writers and Readers Festival he talks to Prof. Jacinta Ruru about his latest book, Navigating the Stars. This work of historical non-fiction is an account of Māori creation myths. It is also the book which, after a long career in literature, ...
Jul 26, 2021•47 min•Ep. 54
Lisa Reihana, Ane Tonga, Scott Lawrie and Deborah Rundle discuss a time of change for visual art with Claire Ulenberg at Creative Matakana. Recorded in May 2021. Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have become a hot issue in the world of digital creation, particularly so in the visual art world. A panel of artists and curators discussed the issue at Creative Matakana in May 2021. Hear Lisa Reihana, Ane Tonga, Scott Lawrie and Deborah Rundle talking about a changing art world. They discuss gender diversit...
Jul 19, 2021•43 min•Ep. 53
A panel at Wanaka's Festival of Colour considers whether taxation is love. Lynn Freeman talks to Max Rashbrooke, Prof. Lisa Marriott and Shamubeel Eaqub in April 2021. Is tax theft or is it love? A manifestation of the nanny-state or simply evidence of democratic government in action? How can taxation be made fairer? Many of us want to pay as little as possible yet a panel at this year's Wanaka Festival of Colour argued that taxes - which pool our resources to provide schools, hospitals services...
Jul 12, 2021•51 min•Ep. 52
Lynn Freeman talks about democracy with Max Rashbrooke, Oliver Hartwich and Katherine Errington in this highlight from Wanaka's Festival of Colour in April 2021 In an era of extreme opinions and international polarisation, the very idea of democracy seems under attack. Is it enough just to vote every three years? Can we debate issues and policies in-depth at other times, and build some sort of collective decision-making? Three experts consider what it means to take part in democracy during this ...
Jul 06, 2021•52 min•Ep. 51
A trans-Tasman panel explores how e-commerce can operate in an environmentally sustainable way. Paul Barclay hosts this ABC discussion with experts from NZ and Australia. The ABC's Paul Barclay hosts a trans-Tasman panel discussion about how online home delivery can be done in ways that don't make things worse for climate change. The focus is on sustainable packaging and carbon-neutral delivery. Listen to Kate Bezar, Dr Jonathan Baker, James Chin Moody and Cinzia Cozzolino talking about e-commer...
Jul 01, 2021•52 min•Ep. 50
Huge strides in the care of pre-term babies have been made in the last few decades. Prof. Frank Bloomfield reports on this history, and current research, in this Raising the Bar 2021 highlight. In a wide-ranging talk about the history of neonatology, Professor Frank Bloomfield recounts how an American 'freak show' contributed to how we understand caring for premature babies, Listen to Professor Frank Bloomfield at Auckland University's Raising the Bar event From the talk: The term 'neonatology' ...
Jun 18, 2021•52 min•Ep. 49
In a Covid-19 era of fevered concern about health, why is health education in schools not done better? Assoc. Prof Katie Fitzpatrick considers why at Raising the Bar 2021. In this Covid-19 era of fevered concern about health, why are we not seeing better health education in schools? Education researcher Katie Fitzpatrick explores the reasons at Auckland University's Raising the Bar event. Listen to Katie Fitzpatrick From the talk: Katie Fitzpatrick: In my work, I argue that there are two possibl...
Jun 18, 2021•44 min•Ep. 48
Since the 1950s researchers have known psychedelic drugs could have medical applications, but what of research today? Associate Professor Suresh Muthukumaraswamy talks at Raising the Bar 2021. Psychedelic drugs were discovered to have medical applications back in the 1950s, but what's going on with research today? Neuropsychopharmacologist Suresh Muthukumaraswamy breaks down the current situation at Auckland University's live event series Raising the Bar. Listen to the talk Since the 1950s, rese...
Jun 09, 2021•44 min•Ep. 47
A brown girl is in the ring. Dr Jemaima Tiatia-Seath (the co-Head of the School of Māori Studies and Pacific Studies) explores life as a Pasifika academic. A highlight from Raising the Bar 2021. Dr Jemaima Tiatia-Seath (the co-Head of the School of Māori Studies and Pacific Studies) explores life as a Pasifika academic. A highlight from Auckland University's Raising the Bar 2021. What's it like to be in a minority and sitting at the meeting room table, one of very few female, let alone brown, fa...
Jun 03, 2021•37 min•Ep. 46
How safe is vaping as an alternative to smoking? The bioengineer Dr Kelly Burrowes talks about what current research shows in this highlight from the Auckland University's Raising the Bar 2021. How safe is vaping as an alternative to smoking? Bioengineer Dr Kelly Burrowes talks about what scientists know so far. Listen to Dr Kelly Burrowes on vaping Smoking is still responsible for one in ten deaths worldwide. In the wake of this statistic, electronic cigarettes or vapes have become popular as a...
May 27, 2021•39 min•Ep. 45
The astrophysicist Dr Nicholas Rattenbury talks about how alien life might be discovered on alien worlds in this highlight from the 2021 season of Auckland University's popular Raising the Bar event. Astrophysicist Dr Nicholas Rattenbury talks about how alien life might be discovered in this highlight from the 2021 season of Auckland University's popular Raising the Bar event. Listen to Dr Nicholas Rattenbury on the search for alien life in the night sky We now know that our solar system is not ...
May 19, 2021•45 min•Ep. 44
Associate Law Professor Scott Optican on the legality of court evidence obtained by different undercover policing techniques in New Zealand. A highlight of Auckland University's Raising the Bar 2021. Listen to Assoc. Law Professor Scott Optican on the legality of different undercover policing techniques in New Zealand. Covert policing techniques from the USA you see in the movies or on tv don't necessarily translate to this country. Take the example of a detective getting hold of a glass from a ...
May 16, 2021•52 min•Ep. 43
Celebrating 50 years of the Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship, five writer read their letters to New Zealand's most famous author. A highlight of Word Christchurch 2020. To celebrate 50 years of the Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship, five New Zealand writers read their letters to our most famous author. Listen to Bill Manhire, Carl Nixon, Fiona Farrell, Vincent O'Sullivan and Paula Morris deliver their letters to Katherine Mansfield Now administered by the Arts Foundation, the Katherine ...
Apr 28, 2021•52 min•Ep. 42
Pip Adam discusses her novel Nothing to See - one of the most talked-about books of 2020 - with Carl Shuker in this highlight of the 2020 Word Christchurch Spring Festival. Writer Pip Adam discusses her novel Nothing to See - one of the most talked-about books of 2020 - in this highlight of the 2020 Word Christchurch Spring Festival. Listen to Pip Adam talk about her work and her unique world view with fellow novelist Carl Shuker. Pip Adam has written one of the most-talked-about novels of 2020,...
Apr 21, 2021•42 min•Ep. 41
In 'Breath of the Birds' Dame Gillian Whitehead discusses the origin of taonga puoro, their revival, and how she has used traditional Māori musical instruments in her compositions. Eminent New Zealand composer Dame Gillian Whitehead celebrates her 80th birthday on 23 April 2021. In this 2019 Lilburn Lecture she explores the renaissance of taonga puoro (traditional Māori musical instruments), and how she brings their extraordinary sounds into her own compositions. Listen to 'Breath of the Birds' ...
Apr 13, 2021•52 min•Ep. 40
Eileen Merriman and Carl Shuker discuss their novels A Mistake and The Silence of Snow, which take medical mishaps as a starting point. A highlight of the 2020 Word Christchurch Spring Festival. Writers Eileen Merriman and Carl Shuker discuss their novels A Mistake and The Silence of Snow which both use medical mishaps as a starting point. And when it comes to medicine, both of these writers know their stuff: Shuker is a former editor at the British Medical Journal and Merriman is a consultant h...
Apr 12, 2021•47 min•Ep. 39
New Zealand's leading poet of this generation, Bill Manhire, talks to John Campbell in this highlight of the 2020 Word Christchurch Writers Spring Festival. Bill Manhire is not only one of New Zealand's leading poets, he's mentored hundreds of writers through the International Institute of Modern Letters, where he established the MA in Creative Writing. For a long time, it was known simply as 'Bill Manhire's writing course'. In this highlight from the 2020 Word Christchurch Writers Spring Festiv...
Apr 07, 2021•50 min•Ep. 38
Philip Armstrong's poetry and Laura Jean McKay's award-winning novel The Animals in That Country feature animals as significant characters. The authors talk at 2020 Word Christchurch. Animals feature as characters in both Philip Armstrong's poetry and Laura Jean McKay's award-winning novel The Animals in That Country. The authors talk at 2020 Word Christchurch. Listen to Laura Jean McKay talking with Philip Armstrong about The Animals in That Country and Sinking Lessons Laura Jean McKay's novel ...
Mar 25, 2021•45 min•Ep. 37
From a childhood fascination with cooking, to possum trapping and living off the land as a hunter and forager, Annabel Langbein has always been obsessed with food. A 2020 Word Christchurch highlight. From a childhood fascination with cooking to possum-trapping and living off the land as a hunter and forager, Annabel Langbein has always been obsessed with food. This talk was a highlight of the 2020 WORD Christchurch festival. Listen to Annabel Langbein in conversation with Jo Malcolm about her me...
Mar 16, 2021•50 min•Ep. 36
Farid Ahmed talks about his wife Husna, who died in the terror attacks in Christchurch on 15 March 2019. A moving highlight of the 2020 Word Christchurch Spring Festival. Listen to Farid Ahmed in conversation with Raf Manji about his book Husna's Story In this moving session from the 2020 Word Christchurch Spring Festival, Farid Ahmed talks about his wife Husna, who was murdered in the terror attacks in Christchurch on 15 March 2019. In conversation with Raf Manji, he outlines his philosophy of ...
Feb 25, 2021•51 min•Ep. 35
Elizabeth Knox talks to Noelle McCarthy about her most recent novel The Absolute Book. A highlight of the 2020 Word Christchurch Spring Festival. Listen to Elizabeth Knox talking to Noelle McCarthy about her genre-bending epic work of fantasy. Highlights of the discussion After a generous reading from the opening of the novel, Elizabeth Knox begins by discussing its protagonist, Taryn Cornick, who responds to the trauma of the death of her sister by organising what she hopes will be an untraceab...
Feb 23, 2021•51 min•Ep. 34
Hosted by John Campbell, some of Word Christchurch's most distinguished writers respond to the theme of courage: Behrouz Boochani, Laura Jean McKay, and Witi Ihimaera. The second of two hours. Hosted by John Campbell, three distinguished writers share stories created for this event. Their narratives are deeply revealing about the authors' own lives, but also the state of Aotearoa New Zealand Listen to Witi Ihimaera, Laura Jean McKay, and Behrouz Boochani reading stories in the company of John Ca...
Feb 04, 2021•51 min•Ep. 33
Hosted by John Campbell, some of Word Christchurch's most distinguished writers respond to the theme of courage: Elizabeth Knox, Mohamed Hassan and Becky Manawatu. The first of two hours. Listen to Elizabeth Knox, Mohamed Hassan and Becky Manawatu reading stories in the company of John Campbell at Word Christchurch 2020 Highlights of the session Hosted by John Campbell, three distinguished writers read stories created for this event. Their narratives are deeply revealing about the authors' own l...
Feb 03, 2021•47 min•Ep. 32
Four adventurous women discuss their lives with Miriama Kamo in the opener to the 2020 WORD Christchurch writers' festival Listen to Miriam Lancewood, Annabel Langbein, Kaiora Tipene, and Selina Tusitala Marsh talking to Miriama Kamo Highlights of the panel discussion Four women tell stories from their adventurous lives in this event which launched the 2020 Word Christchurch Spring Festival in October: Kaiora Tipene, one half of the Netflix duo The Casketeers; Selina Tusitala Marsh, former Poet ...
Dec 24, 2020•49 min•Ep. 31
In a powerful address, Lyttelton poet Ben Brown explores the impact of deprivation and cultural estrangement on generations of our boys, as well as the redemptive power of words. Hear Ben Brown delivering the 2020 Read NZ Te Pou Muramura Pānui Highlights from the lecture You're a male, which is not the simple definition it used to be, but let's allow that's what you are. You're a thief, a drug dealer, a bank robber, a murderer. You're a gangsta, staunch as, notorious. You're a lone wolf on the p...
Dec 10, 2020•51 min•Ep. 30
The 2020 Lilburn Lecture is delivered by RNZ presenter and New Zealand music figure Karyn Hay exploring the reality of life for local musicians and songwriters. Recorded at the National Library. https://www.rnz.co.nz/concert/programmes/appointment/audio/2018771465/the-lilburn-lecture-2020 In this extract from New Zealand Music: Living the Dream, Karyn Hay explores what it's like to have a career as a musician in this country. Drawing on her own experiences as a writer, and one who is deeply invo...
Nov 03, 2020•38 min•Ep. 29
