Saturday Morning

7:08 New Zealand First Conference: promise and compromise

The New Zealand First Conference is being held this weekend in Palmerston North.

It will be a chance for the party faithful to express their true feelings on the foreign-buyers ban which NZ First helped introduce and which was altered this week to allow wealthy investors to buy a home here - one home, worth at least five million dollars.

Peters told RNZ this week his supporters will understand.

RNZ Political Reporter Russell Palmer talks to Mihingarangi Forbes en route to the conference. 

7:17 Kiwi on flotilla mission to Gaza

Israel has bombed a high-rise tower in Gaza which it claims was used by Hamas fighters, causing injury and panic among civilians. Before the air strikes, the Israeli defence minister tweeted that the 'gates of hell are opening' in Gaza, as the military intensifies its campaign to seize Gaza City.

It comes as more vessels join a humanitarian aid flotilla - the latest count is 70 - coming from three locations in the Mediterannean - Barcelona, Tunisia and another they are not yet making public.

Youssef Sammour is a Kiwi Palestinian, born in Dubai, who grew up in NZ. It's his third time on a flotilla mission, which in themselves have been going for almost 20 years. Only five boats have ever reached Gaza.  This time they hope to be more successful. 

Youssef speaks to Susie Ferguson on board his boat off the coast of Spain, bound for Gaza.

7:27 Final day of the Koroneihana

It's the final day of the Koroneihana at Tūrangawaewae marae.

Thousands of people from across the country have descended on Ngāruawāhia to not only remember the passing of Kiingi Tuheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero Te Tuawhitu but also to acknowledge and celebrate the koroneihana or coronation of the new Māori Queen.

Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po spoke publicly for the first time yesterday of her father in a speech that was both emotional and inspiring.

Watching on, was Shakayla Alapaki-Andrews, a young Māori journalist, who also whakapapas to Hauraki, Ngai Tahu and Waikato. She shares her experience with Mihingarangi. 

7:35 Portable stroke device: saving time will save lives 

Wellington company Wellumio is a finalist in this year's KiwiNet Awards which celebrate the union of scientific research with commercial opportunity.

Wellumio has created a portable device that can detect strokes at the first point of care e.g. in an ambulance. With an estimated 9500 New Zealanders suffering a stroke every year and tens of millions worldwide, it has the potential to not only improve patient outcomes but to save billions in healthcare costs globally.

The first human clinical trial of the device is currently being run at The Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Co-founder, Dr. Shieak Tzeng explains to Susie how it works and when they hope to get it to market.

7:44 Getting to know our penguins

New Zealand is home to a third of the world's penguin species but unlike penguins elsewhere, ours haven't been studied a lot. 

Dr Thomas Mattern is trying to change that. 

He's co-lead on a comprehensive study of three species of crested penguin - the tawaki, erect-crested and eastern rockhopper.

Dr Mattern speaks to Mihingarangi from Dunedin about what they've found.

7:52 All Blacks vs Springboks at Eden Park: Will the fortress hold?

Tonight the All Blacks square off against the Springboks at Eden Park and the question at the back of even the most ardent fan's mind is whether the fortress will hold - can they stave off the world champion South Africans and retain their 50 game winning streak.

The All Blacks' loss to Los Pumas two weeks ago has certainly given this highly anticipated game, an extra edge.  

Also coming up in the early hours of Monday morning - the Black Ferns take on Ireland in the Women's Rugby World Cup.

RNZ's resident rugby expert Joe Porter shares his predictions with Susie. 

8:13 Lee Child sharpens his pencil for the stories behind the stories 

Award-winning creator of Jack Reacher, Lee Child has published his first-ever autobiographical book. From urgently scribbling down his debut Killing Floor in pencil (he still has the stub), Reacher: The stories behind the stories is a collection of 24 reflections on his life and work over three decades.

Child is one of the world's most popular thriller writers. It's said a Reacher novel is sold somewhere in the world every nine seconds.

He was appointed CBE and awarded Author of the Year in 2019 at the British Book Awards. 

Saturday Morning spoke to Andrew Child last year, when he took over from his brother to write Reacher.

8:42 Joyspan: The Art and Science of Thriving in Life's Second Half 

Gerontologist Dr. Kerry Burnight explains why embracing joy in the second half of life can lead to greater health, purpose and longevity.

According to Dr. Kerry, books that advance lifespan and "healthspan" don't address the whole picture. In her new book Joyspan: The Art and Science of Thriving in Life's Second Half Dr. Kerry introduces readers to the critical concept of "joyspan" based on the science of well-being.  

It's a practical guide that shares her popular philosophy and tools along with insights from her own 95-year-old mother, Betty.

9:08 Exciting and terrifying: Richard Susskind on How To Think About AI  

Drawing on more than forty years of work on AI, Richard Susskind demystifies artificial intelligence and suggests the distinct possibility of a 15-hour week. 

In How To Think About AI Susskind focuses on its impact on the various areas of our lives as well as the philosophical implications of what is, a remarkable technology.  

Richard Susskind is an independent adviser to both national governments and international firms. He is also President of the Society for Computers & Law.

9:31 Reflecting on the Koroneihana 

Māoridom has spent the week commemorating the eighth Māori monarch Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po.

The traditions and customs of the Kiingitanga trace back to the mid 1850s when iwi came together on the shores of Lake Taupō to discuss the idea of appointing a King.

The role was eventually offered to a rangatira of great mana, Pōtatau Te Wherowhero who after initially declining, accepted the role. Today the home of Te Kiingitanga is Tuurangawaewae in Ngaaruawaahia and for many generations Waikato whānau have devoted their entire lives to serving their monarch.

One of those people is Rahui Papa, spokesperson or mangai mo te Kiingitanga. He talks to Mihingarangi at Tuurangawaewae.

9:47 Is this NZ's oldest book club?

Annette Hill is the only living foundation member of what is thought to be the oldest book club in Christchurch and quite possibly New Zealand. Her book group formed back in 1975, when she was just 35 years old.

Half a century later, the book club still meets regularly and at 84, Annette is loving it as much as ever.

She speaks with Susie about the joy of sharing and gaining new perspective.  

10:08 Jung Chang: The sequel to Wild Swans

Fly, Wild Swans: My Mother, Myself and China is the follow-up to Wild Swans, bringing the story of Jung Chang's family - and of China - up to date. 

Nearly half a century on from Wild Swans, China is no longer a decrepit and isolated state, having risen to a become a global power and challenging the United States' stronghold on the world. 

While Wild Swans is an epic personal history of Jung, her mother and grandmother - the 'three daughters of China' -  Fly, Wild Swans is Jung's love letter to her mother.

Jung's books have sold millions of copies outside of mainland China but are banned there.

10:35 Counting your steps - why less is still good 

Do you monitor your steps? Watching to see if you reach the seemingly magic number of 10,000 per day? Well new research suggests that the recommended number could actually be much lower.  

Dr Melody Ding is a Professor of Public Health at the University of Sydney and was lead author on the study, published in the internationally renowned medical journal Lancet Public Health. 

Named as one of Australia's Top 20 Under 40 researchers in 2022, Melody specialises in the study of epidemiology - the factors that influence the occurence and prevalence of disease within a population and the role of physical activity in the prevention of chronic illness.

Melody talks to Mihingarangi about where the original number of 10,000 came from and the benefits you can reap from stepping out on a regular basis. 

10:50 Liam Dann: supermarkets and housing meltdowns

The current property slump in Auckland and Wellington is one of the worst in New Zealand's history.

And there's a widespread belief that New Zealanders are being ripped off in supermarkets but does the evidence actually back that up?

New Zealand Herald business editor-at-large Liam Dann runs the Inside Economics column in the Herald where he takes a deeper dive into the economic news you may have missed. 

11:06 Megan Dalla-Camina: Women on the rise 

New Zealand has a proud history of women in leadership - we've had three female Prime Ministers to Australia's one - but that doesn't mean it is an easy road or that there still aren't glass ceilings to break.

Megan Dalla-Camina held executive roles with corporate giants like IBM, PwC and GE before walking away to form Women Rising, a global enterprise aimed at supporting women in leadership roles.

Megan's mission to help women reach their full potential while remaining true to themselves stems from a philosophy detailed in two books and featured on the likes of CNN, Marie Claire and Forbes.

She talks to Susie about why so many women feel dissatisfied with their careers, how to silence your inner critic and the key to authentic leadership. 

11:30 A Food Waste Banquet with Del Holland

From limp carrots to stale bread, food waste can be hard to avoid. But with the cost of living biting us all, chef Del Holland has some creative ways to get more bang for your buck in the kitchen, while reducing food waste at the same time.

Del has over 20 years experience working in world-class kitchens and as a private chef. Now though, she's following her real passion - teaching others how to make easy, delicious, low-cost food through her social media channels Dishes with Del. She recently embarked on creating a Trash-to-Table Feast, she calls The Food Waste Banquet.

Del shares recipe tips and techniques with Mihingarangi and answers listener questions. 

11.45 Messengers: watching animals watching us

A new City Gallery exhibition explores the way humans and animals see each other. Inspired by a llama on the streets of Wellington and an essay challenging the sentimental way people look at animals in zoos, multi-media curator, Megan Dunn created Messengers.

Using quirky and disturbing images of animals in the National Archives, including some from the 1950s of Auckland and Wellington Zoos, Dunn commissioned four artists to bring the archives to life. 

Through godwits, elephants and ruru, Messengers asks us to consider our stewardship and interconnectedness with other species.  

Messengers is being hosted at the National Library while the City Gallery undergoes earthquake strengthening.