Lately for Wednesday 8 December 2021

Photo: RNZ Andrew Robertson

10:18 Australia joins diplomatic boycott of Winter Olympics

Australia has announced they'll be joining the US in a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in China. Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed Australian officials will not attend the games but athletes will. The decision comes after the gradual deterioration of the diplomatic relationship between the two countries - as Australia has raised concern over human rights abuses. The boycott specifically relates to the suppression of the predominantly Muslim Uyghur minority in the western region of Xinjiang - an allegation China denies. Elaine Pearson is the Australia Director at Human Rights Watch and explains whether this was the correct decision from Australia.

Photo: Yomiuri/AFP

10:25 Nando's takeaways for Auckland City Mission Christmas lunch
 

Covid restrictions have hit communal Christmas lunches throughout the country with all of the main events cancelled. Wellington City Mission has long delivered hampers to those who need them on Christmas eve but in Dunedin, the Act of Kindness Charity lays on a meal for about 500 with 150 volunteers at the town hall and in Christchurch, City Mission provides a Christmas Day Lunch, but neither of those are going ahead this year. Auckland City Mission has also cancelled their annual sit-down lunch but those who would normally attend are now invited to Nando's to pick up a takeaway. Auckand City Missioner, Helen Robinson, explains why.

Hundreds enjoy Christmas lunch at the Auckland City Mission. Photo: Nita Blake-Persen

10:40 Midweek Mediawatch with Hayden Donnell

Hayden looks at Christopher Luxon's first day in the house, a column about a sausage roll dilemma, and Sean Plunket's new online radio station.

Magic Talk's Sean Plunket and his dog pax in the studio. Photo: screenshot / MagicTalk

10:55 Lately Music
Artist: Mitski
Track: Heat Lightning
Album: Laurel Hell