Afternoons for Monday 2 December 2024

1:15 Jane Ussher and her woolshed odyssey  

The celebrated photographer has a new book called Woolsheds. Created with Annette O'Sullivan it showcases showcase historic sheep stations in the North and South Islands, exploring the rich histories of this key primary industry that are contained in their heritage woolsheds.

Jesse talks to Jane about the book and what she found in those musty sheds. 

1.25 Saving coastal wetlands from climate change

The University of Auckland and two Chinese universities have begun a three-year collaboration on caring for coastal wetlands as sea levels rise.

Researchers here were awarded $300,000 from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment under the New Zealand - China Strategic Research Alliance programme.

Professor Karin Bryan, from Auckland Uni's School of Environment talks to Jesse about the project and what we can learn about how to save mangroves from climate change. 
 

1.35 Talking about death

A survey conducted by Public Trust has found that 57% of Kiwis are uncomfortable, fearful, or reluctant to talk about death and we use euphemisms to make it easier. We just 'shuffled off', 'six feet under' and, the most popular, 'kicked the bucket'.

The reluctance to talk about death is quite possibly tied to the large number of people who die without making a will.

Last year 2,400 New Zealanders died intestate, and their families then had to work through the Courts to sort things out.

Jesse talks to Amy, who recently discovered that talking about death and about what someone wants to happen after, can make things so much easier for families.
 

2:10 Television Critic: Day of the Jackal and Shrinking

Brooks Alexander joins Jesse to discuss and review the latest TV out there. He also talks about Silo and Arcane. 

2:20 Information Center Cold Call

Every week we call a random Information center in New Zealand Aotearoa. 

They don't know they're about to receive a call from RNZ, and Jesse doesn't know who is going to be on the end of the line. 

It's an exercise in mutual confusion.

2.30 Expert Feature: how to write a screenplay

Kathryn Burnett is an award-winning screen writer based in Tamaki Makaurau. She has written for the NZ & Australian television and film industry for more than 25 years including work on Under the Vines, My Life is Murder, and Brokenwood Mysteries.

So if you've ever wondered what it takes to become a screen writer or what a day in the life of a screen-writer looks like - send in your questions  2101 or afternoons@rnz.co.nz

3:10 Feature interview: the art of writing an obituary

There is real art in capturing a life in one thousand words. For more than 20 years, that's what Anne Wroe has done for The Economist magazine as the obituary editor. She calls it catching souls, finding that unique  and essential part of each person. From the famous to the last ice-harvester in Ecuador who provided glacial ice for drinking water and refrigeration to his village, writing about death is her way of celebrating life. We'll talk to The Economist obituary editor Ann Wroe.
 

3:35 Here Now

This week on Here Now, Kadambari Raghukumar talks to artist Valle around his connection with Papua New Guinea and how it continues to impact his life. 

3:45 The pre-Panel

Wallace Chapman joins Jesse to preview tonight's Panel. he is joined by producer Tom Riste-Smith for a lighter take on the news.