King’s Birthday Monday with Anna Thomas

An upbeat mix of the curious and the compelling.

Winter gardening with Lynda Hallinan

There is plenty to do in the garden over winter, gardening expert Lynda Hallinan says.

06-04
15:37

65 years of service to ballet

Glenys Scandrett is a familiar name to many dancers in the Southland region. She has received a Queen's Service Medal, for a career spanning more than 65 years both performing and teaching classical ballet. She opened Scandrett Dance Academy in Invercargill in 1997, and many of her students have gone on to become professional dancers.

06-04
06:52

Protecting the remaining survivors of the dinosaur era

Tuatara are a national treasure - a taonga. They are a rare reptile found only in New Zealand and are the last survivors of an order of reptiles that thrived in the age of the dinosaurs. Among those invited to be a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in today's Kings Birthday Honours list is Emeritus Professor Alison Cree - leading zoologist and herpetology expert. Alison Cree speaks to Anna Thomas.

06-04
10:47

Top chef Monique Fiso is putting Maori cuisine in the spotlight

Chef Monique Fiso has built a career on bringing native ingredients back onto the menu, at her Maori-Samoan inspired restaurant in Wellington, Hiakai. Monique Fiso tells Anna Thomas which ingredients deserve more love in the kitchen.

06-04
18:14

The man spending 100 days underwater

Joseph Dituri has spent 95 days in a metal cabin just off the coast of Florida, 9.1m below the ocean's surface. The biomedical engineer has smashed through the previous record of 73 days spent underwater without depressurisation. Joe Dituri speaks to Anna Thomas from his ocean lodgings.

06-04
14:36

World’s oldest doctor the subject of new documentary

The world's oldest practising doctor is about to become the subject of a new documentary. 100-year-old neurologist Dr Howard Tucker has witnessed advances in medicine right through from lobotomies to computerised imaging. Dr Howard Tucker talks to Anna Thomas all the way from Cleveland, US.

06-04
18:44

Are you addicted to drama?

Do you know someone who seems to thrive on chaos? Maybe even yourself? Holistic psychologist Dr Scott Lyons explores the stress-related condition and offers advice for healing in a new book.

06-04
22:47

The volunteers giving unwanted clothing a new life

At the front of the Salvation Army's Whangarei store, you'll find a section of one-of-a-kind garments which have been given a new lease of life. A group of volunteers picks through 10 tonnes of discarded fabric and mends the highest-quality finds. Intercept Fabric Rescue founder Jenny Hill tells us more.

06-04
11:49

A life dedicated to helping Maori and Pasifika children

Paediatrician and researcher Dr Teuila Percival is to be a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. She takes her role of advocacy for better outcomes just as seriously as being a good doctor. Dr Teuila Percival joins Anna Thomas from her ward rounds at Middlemore Hospital.

06-04
12:31

Leading New Zealand's support to Ukraine

Lieutenant Colonel Vanessa Ropitini had just two weeks' notice that she was deploying to Europe to support the international response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As she is awarded the Distinguished Services Decoration, Anna Thomas asks about the New Zealand Defence Force's reputation on the international stage.

06-04
08:07

Recognition for heroic helicopter rescue

Almost two years ago to the day, the Canterbury region was hit by devastating floods. If it wasn't for the heroic actions of a highly skilled helicopter pilot and his crew, three lives would surely have been lost. Royal NZ Air Force Squadron Leader George McInnes takes us back to that day, as he is awarded the Distinguished Service Decoration.

06-04
08:45

Wayne Smith: Knighted for services to rugby

All Blacks and Black Ferns Coach, and now Rugby mentor Wayne Smith is to be a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to rugby. Anna Thomas asks how the moniker Sir Wayne sounds to him.

06-04
18:46

Nelson teen's love song wins 2023 Gold Guitar awards

Zac Griffith has taken out the New Zealand Gold Guitar Award senior final in Gore on Sunday. The 18-year-old's winning song, 'My River Runs To You', is about a break-up - despite him never being in love.

06-04
04:04

Auckland Harbour Bridge

Here's another piece of transport history... the day - maybe more than a day - in July 1974 - when they opened two lanes of the Auckland Harbour Bridge to walkers and cyclists. The reason - there was a bus strike (which happened to be during another period of historically high fuel prices) - and authorities reallocated a couple of lanes to allow commuters from the North Shore to get to work. Of course more recently - our current road authority - Waka Kotahi - has rejected suggestions we could do the same with just one lane. You might have seen Simon Wilson's article on this for the N Z Herald.. Michael Nickless, who remembers taking some time off from school to walk the bridge 48 years ago, joins Bryan Crump.

06-05
06:54

International Languages

Given that Samoan Language Week has just come to and end and International Languages week is right around the corner, what better time to talk about indigenous languages? The Pacific is home to the wifest variety of languages on the planet, so what can we learn from engaging with them? To discuss this we're joined by John Middleton, a PHD candidate in linguistics at the University of Auckland.

06-05
19:09

The New Zealand Bird Conference

Almost 200 people with a common passion for NZ Birds are in Christchurch this weekend to share the latest findings and information about about our amazing seabirds, shorebirds and land birds! The New Zealand Bird Conference is an important annual event to learn more about our country's unique birds, with new research findings about birds in New Zealand and discussion, and also taking part in field trips today. Natalie Forsdick from Birds NZ joins us from Christchurch.

06-05
13:42

Richard Turpie: marathon running for charity

Richard Turpie of Christchurch was a man on a mission on Saturday - attempting to run 100 kilometres to raise money for a Hamilton boy who needs a heart transplant. Five-year-old Chase Porter needs a new heart after being diagnosed with Barth Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that has caused his own to fail. Richard, who's 22, was moved by Chase's plight and his battle to survive, and decided he wanted to help. He'd never officially run even a marathon before.

06-05
08:56

Reviewing Aotearoa's electoral law

A couple of weeks back Justice Minister Kris Faafoi announced the independant panel that will review Aotearoa's electoral law. The review will take place over the next 18 months aim to impliment changes ahead of the 2023 general election. Faafoi said their goal is to "make election rules clearer and fairer, to build more trust in the system and better support people to exercise their democratic right to vote" The panel is chaired by director, lawyer, and chief executive Deborah Hart, who joins Bryan Crump.Deborah Hart

06-05
17:17

Queen's Birthday Honours: Chelsea Winstanley

Chelsea Winstanley has made wide-ranging contributions to New Zealand's film and television landscape - from co-producing the wildly successful 'What We Do In The Shadows' to putting indigenous voices front and centre in her directorial debut 'Waru'. Her work has already won multiple awards and she was also the first indigenous female producer to be nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award with 'Jojo Rabbit'. And today Chelsea Winstanley is being made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the screen industry and Maori.

06-05
21:11

Queen Elizabeth Park trams

Russell Jenkins (Vice President Marketing & Operations at the Wellington Tramway Museum.

06-05
16:18

Recommend Channels