09:05 Escalating violence in Hong Kong

A stand-off is continuing between police and students at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.  Police have surrounded the campus in central Kowloon, and all roads in and out are blocked.  Some students have braved police tear gas and rubber bullets to escape, others have escaped by abseiling from a bridge and getting away on the back of motorbikes. Many are still holed up inside the Polytechnic building, where supplies are said to be running low. Meantime, China has warned "no-one should underestimate [its] will to safeguard its sovereignty and Hong Kong's stability".  Freelance Hong Kong correspondent Oliver Farry has been at the campus tonight.

09:20 $21b in infrastructure projects in next 10 years

More than half a billion dollars worth of roading, school, water and energy projects will get close to starting next year. But the independent commission set up to advise the government on projects, bottlenecks, timing, and industry resources says there are more than 500 projects worth more than $ 21 billion planned for the next decade. The pipeline is intended to increase co-ordination between procuring entities as planned works are made visible, and to enable smoothing of the market. Kathryn talks with the chair of the newly established Infrastructure Commission, former Reserve Bank governor Allan Bollard.

09:45 USA correspondent Lisa Hagen

Lisa talks to Kathryn about the first week of open impeachment inquiry hearings with President Trump saying he is strongly consider testifying in writing. Current and former officials are scheduled to testify about his controversial actions regarding Ukraine.

10:05 Passages - parenting upon the open sea 

Linda Trubridge and her husband David, the renowned designer, decided in 1982 to sell their home and business and take their two sons, aged one and four, on a sailing trip around the world. The family lived on the boat for ten years, before settling in Hawke's Bay. Linda Trubridge talks to Kathryn Ryan about the book she wrote, recalling the journey using journals and drawings. 
 

10:35 NZ Book review - Neon Daze by Amy Brown

Harry Ricketts from quarterly review periodical New Zealand Review of Books Pukapuka Aotearoa, reviews Neon Daze by Amy Brown. Published by Victoria University Press.

10:45 The Reading

Seven Voices: Tales of Madness and Mirth narrated by Sean Allan (2003) Episode 7 of 10 
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11:05 Business commentator Rod Oram

Rod comments on the importance of the passing of the Zero Carbon Bill. Also, Abano accepts a takeover offer and Glidepath sells to a French tech company.

11:30 Southern Skies - astronomy in Aotearoa

Looking skyward and the importance the stars have had historically for Aotearoa-New Zealand. Science writer Naomi Arnold's book Southern Nights: The story of New Zealand's night sky from the Southern Lights to the Milky Way tells many stories, including how Māori astronomy or tātai arorangi, helped early settlers in their daily lives. It traces the development of astronomy in New Zealand to the present, including the growing popularity of dark sky tourism and the importance of dark-sky conservation. 

11:45 Media commentator Andrew Holden

Andrew looks at reaction to the Government considering replacing RNZ and TVNZ with a new public broadcaster and what issues the debate surrounding this has revealed.

Standing in for Gavin Ellis this week is Andrew Holden, a journalist for more than 30 years including five as Editor of The Press (in Christchurch) and four as Editor-in-Chief of The Age in Melbourne.

 

Music played in this show

 

TRACK: Cycle by Joan Shelley
Time: 9.24

TRACK: Empires by Elbow
Time: 10:05

TRACK: What a World by Joan as Policewoman
Time: 10:38

TRACK: What a difference a day makes by Dinah Washington
Time: 11:43