Afternoons for Thursday 4 August 2016

1:10 First song

1:15 Auckland school talent contest

Stand Up, Stand out and is run by Auckland council, and we meet one of the competitors, Arjuna de Simas-Oakes from Avondale College, who will perform for us.

1:20 Own a cat in Wellington? You'll have to microchip it

Wellington City Councillors have today, voted in favour of compulsory microchipping for cats. It will make it the first city in New Zealand to do so. RNZ's reporter, Emile Donovan, was at the council meeting in Wellington.

1.25 Seeking future engineers

There's a shortfall of 500 engineers a year, because not enough young people are choosing to study engineering.

So a group of engineering firms in Wellington have decided to try and do something about it. They're holding the first ever Engineering Expo this weekend, on the waterfront, to show people exactly what engineers do.

We speak with  Michael Kerr, the Wellington Regional Manager of engineering firm, Beca.

1:35  Mastering Te Reo, one Monday at a time

Manuel Springford of Te Rarawa and Ngai Tahu descent didnt grow up speaking Maori, but his grandfather did.

So he learned the language for a couple of years so he could communicate with him. But after his grandfather died Manuel realised his te reo was getting pretty rusty.. So he decided to speak the language exclusively - one day a week to improve his own skills, and hopefully inspire others.

1:40 Favourite album: So by Peter Gabriel

2:10 An ATM that only deals in feelings

An ATM that only accepts your feelings, not your cash, has just landed in Whangarei. The Moodank Aotea could be described as something out of a sci-fi movie, but it actually lets people deposit their feelings. The aim is to try and create a snapshot of how a city feels, and looks at how our feelings can become commercially viable.

Moodbank spokesperson, Ash Holwell, explains.

2:15 Theatre Critic:  Maryanne Cathro

Maryanne reviews Ali Harper's "Legendary Divas" currently playing at Wellington's Circa theatre.

2:25 Money with Mary Holm

Personal finance expert Mary Holm looks at clever and not-so-clever moves with mortgages

3:10 Masterpieces with Peter Collis

Ceramicist Peter Collis discusses his favourite New Zealand plate

3:25 The Expats: Paora Stanley on working with the Listuguj Nation in Quebec

Paora Stanley spent three years working as Chief Executive of the Listuguj First Nation in Quebec, where he even had his own police department.

3.35 How the humble shopping trolley's transformed the way we shop

It's got 4 wheels, waits patiently in lines, can travel at speeds of up to 120 kilometres an hour, and embodies the inherent contradictions of modern capitalist society.  

Simon Morton from This Way Up celebrates the shopping trolley and all it has to offer

3:45 The Panel Pre-Show