Saturday Morning for Saturday 18 December 2021

8.10 Prof Peter McIntyre: refocusing Covid-19 vaccine strategies 

As we head into the third year of the pandemic, a group of distinguished international scientists has published an opinion piece arguing that vaccine strategies need to shift focus from trying to stop infection, and move towards the prevention of severe disease and global equity in achieving high adult coverage.

Published in medical journal The Lancet on Friday, the article was authored by all 15 current members of the World Health Organisation's peak vaccine advisory group - the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE), who note that the recent emergence of omicron as the fifth variation of concern has threatened confidence in vaccine protection.

Professor Peter McIntyre from University of Otago is the lead author for the piece, and says New Zealand needs to get its objective straight as it heads into 2022.

 

8.35 Tim Higham: living sustainably on Aotea Great Barrier Island

Writer and environmental advocate Tim Higham is trying to live, as he puts it “from fish to fish” in a house in the bush on Aotea Great Barrier Island. 

That’s where we find him in his book Island Notes in which, Robinson Crusoe-like, Higham considers his sense of place while building a simpler life off-the-grid for his family. Dedicated to helping people pay more attention to what is happening around them, Higham also pays tribute to a range of great nature writers. 

Higham is the curator of the Small Island Big Ideas festival, and has championed the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park as executive officer for the Hauraki Gulf Forum. In his communications career, he has worked in our southernmost nature reserves with DOC, in Antarctica with the Antarctica Programme, and in the Asia Pacific region with the UN Environment Programme. 

 

9.05 Mike Munro: looking at New Zealand 100 years ago

The start of the 1920s was a traumatic time in New Zealand’s history. World War I and the influenza epidemic had together claimed the lives of nearly 30,000 people, and the gloom was compounded by the economy taking a nose-dive and many soldier-settlers being forced from their newly acquired land. All of which provided a backdrop to the first time the Springboks toured New Zealand in 1921.

Former chief of staff for the Prime Minister, Mike Munro brings together the story of an eagerly-anticipated rugby tour, and the troublesome memories of its time in his new book 1921: Rugby, Race and Empire — the result of hundreds of hours spent poring over newspapers from the time.

 

9.40 Kath Irvine: succession planting and summer mulching

Organic gardener Kath Irvine returns to share some tips around gardening this summer and to answer your questions. This week her topics include maximising your garden space with succession planting - tucking new seeds beneath established or finishing crops - and mulching. 

As the weather heats up, early summer is a great time to mulch - getting soil covered to hold moisture and make a happy home for soil life. 

Irvine runs workshops from her permaculture home garden in Ōhau, in the Horowhenua. Her practical guide to growing organic fruit and vegetables, The Edible Backyard was published this year.

Email us with your questions for Kath at saturday@rnz.co.nz or text 2101.

 

10.05 Arthur C Brooks: how to build a happy life

Arthur Brooks is a Harvard professor, social scientist, bestselling author, and the ‘happiness correspondent’ for The Atlantic. His weekly column, How To Build A Life helps point people towards creating more meaningful and fulfilling lives, and has spawned a spinoff podcast entitled How To Build A Happy Life.

Early in his career Brooks was a professional French horn player, playing with Baltimore’s Annapolis Brass Quintet and then the City Orchestra of Barcelona. In the mid-90s he retired from his musical career and went on to study economics, beginning his quest to build human dignity and potential. Brooks is the subject of 2019 film The Pursuit. Brooks is a former president of the American Enterprise Institute.

 

10.40 Dr Alastair Richards: taking the title of world Scrabble champ

To most people Scrabble might seem a fun game to break out during the summer holidays, but for Alastair Richards it’s serious business. Richards has been playing Scrabble since he was five years old, and playing in tournaments since he was seven.

Earlier this month, the Auckland-based doctor took the prestigious title of World Scrabble Champion, after an nail-biting standoff with Australian player David Elgar, the lead seesawing as the two men played ‘best of seven’. Richards prevailed in the final game with a score of 406 to 393.

Richards is the second New Zealand player to take the world’s premier Scrabble title, it has previously been held by Malaysia-based player Nigel Richards (no relation), who has won the event five times.

 

11.05 Playing Favourites with Auckland City missioner Helen Robinson

This week the Auckland City Mission was handed the keys to a brand new nine-storey building on Hobson Street. It’s called HomeGround, and heralds an exciting new phase for the mission’s work. Opening in the new year, the state-of-the-art building includes 80 apartments - for people currently sleeping rough or on the social housing register - as well as facilities for health and social services, a pharmacy, and a shared rooftop garden.

It’s been quite a year for Auckland City Mission - and for new missioner Helen Robinson, who started in the role in April. Robinson comes to the job after four years working in the organisation and a career devoted to social work since she was a teenager, here and overseas.  

In 2021, use of the mission’s services skyrocketed, and Robinson had to front foot it on issues of food poverty and homelessness during Covid lockdowns. This Christmas the mission expects to provide 9000 food parcels and ten of thousands of presents.

Helen Robinson joins the show to discuss the mission's work and play a few musical favourites.

 

Books mentioned in this episode:

1921: Rugby, Race and Empire
By Mike Munro
ISBN: 9780473586423
Publisher: Double Axe Press

Island Notes: My Place on Aotea Great Barrier Island 
By Tim Higham 
ISBN: 9781988595405
Publisher: Cuba Press

 

Songs featured on this show:

Little Habits
Petey
Played at 9.40am

Alphabet Aerobics
Blackalicious
Played at 10.40am

Find Your Way Back Home
Neil Finn (feauring Stevie Nicks & Christine McVie)
Played at 11.20am

Ka Waiata
Te Aute College
Played at 11.30am

Shallow
Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
Played 11.42am     

Tapu te Pō (O Holy Night)
Marlon Williams with Paul Kelly and the The Dhungala Children's Choir
Played at 11.55am