Afternoons for Wednesday 2 February 2022

 

1:15 Inflation putting upward pressure on interest rates

New data out today points to a tough start for Borrowers in 2022, with increased upward pressure on interest rates

This, off the back of an increase to inflation rates last week - shooting up to 5.9%

Wallace chats to Infometrics Principal Economist and Director Brad OIsen to find out what's going on.

1:20 Businesses respond to proposed income insurance scheme

A new proposal from the government today will offer income insurance for those who suddenly lose their jobs due to redundancy or illness

Kirk Hope, the CEO of Business New Zealand, talks to Wallace about how businesses are responding to the announcement..

1:30 A hot date to clean up Taupō lake front

It's officially February and as Valentines Day approaches love is in the air... and litter is on the ground.

At least that's the case for the Taupō lake front.

Residents are being encouraged to turn up to a special clean-up event later this month and perhaps meet a new special someone at the same time.

Taupō District Council environmental ranger Shannon Hanson tells Wallace about the event.

1:40 Featherston's miniature railway gets a makeover

For over 20 years, a group of train enthusiasts have run a mini railway in Featherston in the Wairarapa.

The Cross Creek Railway society is a volunteer organisation, and have recently been putting in the hours to get a brand new fence built up around the track in time for Waitangi Day celebrations.

We thought we'd check in and see how the miniature railway scene is going. 

With me now is Marcus Harvey, chair of the Cross Creek Railway Society.

1:55 Afternoons Quiz Robert Kelly

RNZ producer and onetime bookseller Robert Kelly presents his weekly quiz.

 

2.12 Podcast Critic: Ellie Jay

Today Ellie Jay talks about Sweet Bobby-Tortoise media, Bodies in the Garden and Now You're Asking with Marian Keys and Tara Flynn.

2:25 Bookmarks with Jeremy Hansen

Today's bookmarks guest is journalist, editor and curator Jeremy Hansen.

Jeremy is one of the hosts in the upcoming Samesame but Different LGBTQI+ Writers Festival.

The festival has moved online under red light level restrictions and they're forging ahead with most of the programme intact.

Jeremy has been making things in Aotearoa for ages and joins Wallace to talk about what he likes to watch, listen to and read when he gets the chance.

3:10 Global reaction to the COVID pandemic was wrong says infectious disease expert

The world got COVID wrong. One of the UK's top infectious disease experts,  Professor Mark Woolhouse says  many  governments were  so mesmerised by the once-in-a-century scale of the  global pandemic they succeeded only in making the crisis even worse.  Lockdowns on young people who were at less risk of dying from COVID 19 did a lot of harm and created a mountain of public debt.  We'll talk to Professor Woolhouse about his new book The Year the World Went Mad: A Scientific Memoir.

3:35 Stories from Our Changing World

Coming up on Our Changing World: Claire Concannon joins a meteorite hunt on the South Island's West Coast and learns what these rocks from space can tell us about the early formation of our solar system.

3:45 The Panel with Ruth Money and Dave Cormack