Short Story Club

On Thursday we discuss the poem Gannets by Diane Brown

1:10 First song

1:15 Bitcoin's rise and fall

Over the last few weeks many people have been lamenting not having invested in bitcoin, with the cryptocurrency surging in value. 

It's now even moving into New Zealand's property market, for the first time a section in Marlborough can be brought with Bitcoin. 

But the currency dropped dramatically over the weekend ahead of its futures launch, so are we seeing a bubble? 

Jeremy Sullivan, Investment Adviser at Hamilton Hindin Greene, explains what's happening. 

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Photo: Pixabay

1:25 Helen Clark's next honour

Our former Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Helen Clark is about to add another qualification to her name, she's receiving an honourary doctorate from the University of Waikato. 

The ceremony will be held tomorrow as part of graduation week. 

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Neil Quigley, tells why Ms Clark was chosen for the award. 

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Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

1:30 David Walliams: Writing for kids

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Photo: Supplied

David Walliams will be best known to grown ups as an actor, presenter and comedian ... especially for his partnership with Matt Lucas on the comedy sketch show Little Britain.

But to millions of children he is a very famous author - his books for have sold well over 12 million copies around the world.

He's just released his 10th and latest children's book, Bad Dad. 

1:35 Hidden Figures

Lillian Grace from Figure.nz brings us more of the interesting statistics held about us New Zealanders. Today we look at water safety across the country. 

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Photo: Figure NZ

1:40 Great album - If I Were a Carpenter

Today's we hear some tunes from the 1994 tribute album to The Carpenters.

2:10 Television Critic

Alex Casey reviews Mindhunter, Atlanta, The Sinner and Sisters

2:20 Expert feature - Dr Michael Baker on pandemics.

Are we all going to be wiped out by a horrendous flesh eating disease?

Michael Baker talks about what pandemics are, how they spread and what disease is the greatest threat to human life.

3:10 Erling Kagge's quest for silence

The list of accomplishments by Norwegian adventurer and publisher Erling Kagge is exhausting.  

In the 1990's, he walked with a partner to  the North Pole, then solo  to the South Pole and climbed to the top of Mount Everest.  He became the first person to achieve adventure's grand slam,  conquering the  three poles.  His quest was not just about adventure. On foot, with no radio walking across the frozen terrain of the South Pole he learn to embrace silence. 

In a noisy world where technology beckons us to respond to every ding of our cellphones, Kagge makes the case for quiet in his new book Silence: In the Age of Noise.

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Photo: Supplied

3:35 Voices

3:45 The Pre-Panel Story of the Day and One Quick Question

4:05 The Panel with Ali Jones and Stephen Franks