Afternoons for Wednesday 20 November 2024

1:15 How to estimate the size of crowds

Reports of the size of yesterday's Hikoi have varied widely, with estimates ranging from 100,000 according to Rawiri Waititi to 22,000 according to Winston Peters. 

The police, however, estimated that 42,000 people joined the protest. 

So, why do these numbers differ so much, and how do experts accurately measure crowd sizes?

To explain Jesse talks to Professor Ruggiero Lovregli is an Associate Professor at the School of Built Environment Massey University and a Rutherford Discovery Fellow for the Royal Society of NZ.

1:25 Wellington's internationally recgonised green building

When we think about green buildings, it's often in the context of making the outside environment better, not necessarily about making the indoor space better for its occupants.

Wellington's first 6 Green Star building - 8 Willis St - has been lauded as being the complete package, inside and out.

Earlier this year the building - which is owned by Argosy - picked up the Property Council's "Supreme award"

And now it's received international recognition - picking up a "highly commended" award from the World Green building council

Argosy head of sustainability Saatyesh Bhana joins Jesse on the show.

1:35 Keeping swimmers safe from bacteria

While you're enjoying the summer this year, a group of student scientists will spend it checking for E. coli and enterococci at a range of beaches and estuaries across the Waikato region

The students' water samples will be used to warn swimmers and surfers of areas with high bacteria levels. and the potential health risks.

To explain more, Jesse is joined by Bhakti Patel who is the Ecology, Environmental Monitoring Team Leader at Waikato Regional Council.

1:45 Heading Off: An Aotearoa pilgrimage

Did you know that going on a pilgrimage is the world's third most popular travel option? And that you don't need to leave New Zealand to go on one? 

In our Heading off slot today John Hornblow and Jenny Boyack are authors of Pilgrimage Aotearoa a guidebook outlining a New Zealand route for Pilgrims.

2.12 Music Critic: new music from WOMB and Caru & Micca

Zac Arnold from Naked PR & indie record label Sunreturn plays two songs from some local artists: Sometimes by Womb and JAYWALK by Caru & Micca. 

2:20 Easy Eats with Kelly Gibney: chorizo salad with feta and yoghurt dressing

This recipe loosely steals its inspiration for the classic French salad. It's hearty enough for dinner and uses delicious seasonal asparagus. Ideally add the chorizo piping hot from the pan. The feta and yoghurt dressing is a departure from the traditional version but brings a lovely zing. Get the recipe here.

2:30 Bookmarks with Hera Lindsay Bird

Hera has published two books - her first was an award-winning self-titled poetry collection, after which she was selected by British Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy to publish another as part of her Laureate's Choice series. 

Some of her poems have gone viral and received international attention, and she's been featured by the likes of VICE and The Guardian.

She's also a contributing writer for The Spinoff with her popular 'Help Me Hera' series. 

Hera's music picks:

The Sun Aint Gonna Shine Anymore byThe Walker Brothers

Magaritas at the Mall by Purple Mountains

Sitting on the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding

I See a Darkness by Bonnie Prince Billy

Crayon Angels by Judee Sill 

3:10 Feature interview: The story of long covid in data

Data is more than numbers on a chart according to graphic designer Dr Giorgia Lupi. Data is a way to tell stories. After getting COVID 3 times in 3 years, Dr Lupi turned to data to tell her own story about living with Long Covid. Over the years, she's tracked more than 200 visits with 40 different doctors along with blood draws, CT scans and trips to the emergency department. Her data helps explain the reality of living with a mysterious chronic illness.

3:35 Our Changing World: the Ngutukākā Festival

Our Changing World goes in search of one of Aotearoa’s rarest plants – the stunning kakabeak, or ngutukākā. 

Its clusters of bright red blooms, each shaped like a parrot’s beak, make it a popular garden plant. But in the wild, ngutukākā is barely holding on.

Considered “nationally critical” by the Department of Conservation, only about 100 individual ngutukākā plants survive, clinging to exposed steep bluffs where goats and rabbits can’t get to them.

But now, locals along the East Coast, the kakabeak’s last stronghold, are determined to reverse its march towards extinction by propagating wild plants to turn State Highway 35 into a crimson highway.

Veronika Meduna joins them for the inaugural Ngutukākā Festival.

3:45 The pre-Panel

Jesse is joined by Wallace Chapman and The Panel producer Carol Stiles to preview tonight's Panel and discuss some news of the day.