Afternoons for Wednesday 7 September 2022

 

1:15 Underwater 'gardens' flourishing off Wellington's coast

Victoria University researchers recently explored nine underwater sites off the coast of the Wellington Region for the first time, and they made some surprising discoveries!

Venturing into deep water reefs they came across what they've described as brightly coloured 'sponge gardens', which they say are quite different to what they've seen elsewhere across the country.

Marine biologist Professor James Bell talks to Jesse about what the team found.

1:25 Ensuring loved ones' wishes are honoured when they die; a guide

A key part of grieving when a loved one dies is planning the send off they would have wanted, but beyond writing a will, many people don't take time to jot down the ways they'd like to be celebrated.

Papamoa resident Anna Mellalieu realised this after she lost her Dad to melanoma at 57.

So, to help others plan the best send off possible, she's created a book called 'My Will Wishes', where a person can specify things that are important to them after they pass. Anna talks to Jesse about her guide.

1:35 Using more technology in agriculture

New research shows that the New Zealand agriculture sector is still ahead other countries in using new technology.

But there's also room for the sector be more proactive as the world reaches a critical point with increasing food demand, economic and environmental sustainability.

AgriTechNZ chief executive, Brendan O'Connell talks to Jesse about why it matters and what should happen.

1:45 Using iNaturalist community to keep an eye on urban sprawl

iNaturalist NZ is an online platform where people can go to log plant and animal species they spy amongst Aotearoa's great outdoors.

It has an ever-growing community of over 42,000, who collectively have made almost 1.5 million observations to date.

With this much data collected, some are saying iNaturalist should start being utilised when it comes to things like site development and resource consent, ensuring we aren't putting nature in harms way when we build.

iNaturalist research associate Colin Meur talks to Jesse.

2.12 Podcast Critic: Paul Bushnell

Straight White American Jesus and Empire, history podcasts from insiders.

Podcasts looking at different aspects of history are everywhere in the podcasting universe. Having insiders involved - those with “skin in the game” are not so common, though. Paul Bushnell looks at two of them today.

2:25 Bookmarks with Frank Frizelle

For  Bookmarks today we're joined by prominent Christchurch bowel cancer surgeon Frank Frizelle.

Professor Frizelle has led breakthroughs in identifying potential causes of non-hereditary bowel cancer, and earlier this year he was made an Officer of the NZ Order of Merit.

3:10 The director of the new David Bowie documentary

Trying to define David Bowie is like trying to describe a colour no one has ever seen. Director Brett Morgen's new documentary, Moonage Daydream, is the first to be officially sanctioned by  he music legend's family. It isn't so much about David Bowie, as it is about experiencing the life and music  of a man who lived without explanation. We'll talk to Los Angeles filmmaker Brett Morgen  about becoming a fan at age 12, going through the thousands of photos, recordings and written material from Bowie's personal archive and why he says Bowie saved his life after having a heart attack while working on Moonage Dream.     

3:35 Stories from Our Changing World

Coming up on Our Changing World: The New Zealand Fungarium is a collection of over 100,000 dried specimens of fungi kept in a carefully climate-controlled room.

Claire Concannon visits Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research in Auckland to find out more about the collection, and to see some of our weirdest and most wonderful fungi.

3:45 The Panel with Ali Jones and Pattrick Smellie