Summer Times for Thursday 9 January 2020

 

9:08 Global response to events in Iraq

For analysis on the night's events in the Middle East, the US President's statement this morning and the reactions of other nations we're joined by Otago University international relations Professor Robert Patman.

9:25 Harry and Meghan step back from royal duties

In what has been described as one of the biggest royal stories of modern times, Prince Harry and his wife Megan have announced they are stepping back from royal duties, plan to become financially independent, and will split their time between Britain, Canada and the US.

The couple released a statement this morning outlining their plans. RNZ's London correspondent Olly Barratt joins us with the latest.

9:30 Are we driving kids too hard too early in sporting codes?

Sport NZ is looking to combat the professionalisation of youth sports, which it says is contributing to kids dropping out of sport early. Last year, if you remember, the North Harbour Rugby Union created a media firestorm when it axed its under 13 representative side in favour of a development programme open to all kids.

The "elitising" of sport at a young age was the subject of a two part investigation by Stuff correspondent Dana Johannsen over the weekend. In the report, Sport NZ talent development manager Alex Chiet outlined the government's agency to shift the attitudes of youth sport.

9:45 2019 and 2020 in Waikato 

Every day we'll be checking in on what's going on in the regions in Aotearoa and the pacific. Today we're speaking to Waikato Times reporter Ellen O'Dwyer about what's going on in the heart of the north island. 

10:05 The Amazing Race 

What do you get when you take three reporters and throw them at a public transport system? Wellington's councils are currently trying to work out how to "get Wellington moving", and we thought we'd provide them with some hard evidence. 

In the run up to Christmas last year we enlisted the services of RNZ reporters and producers Laura Dooney, Ben Strang and Matt Chatterton to test out how accessible the city really is with different forms of consumer and public transport. 

10:30 Hanna Wiskari 

What is world music? is that label useful? This month Ethno Aoteaora will take place at the Piritahi Marae on Waiheke Island and then at the Auckland Folk Festival in Kumeu.

It's part of a global movement to bring music and cultures from all over the world to share their experiences and their musical stylings. Hanna Wiskari is one of the artistic leaders for Ethno New Zealand this year.

10:45 Frances Cook - second hand only in 2020

Could you go a year without buying any new clothes? Has fast fashion become so commonplace that we don't think twice about it? New Zealand Herald Journalist, podcaster and reformed "financial monster" Frances Cook has set herself a challenge to try and shop more sustainably and carefully in 2020.

11:05 No cheques please!

New Zealand Post announced on Tuesday this week that they will no longer be accepting cheques from the end of next month. They follow in the footsteps of other organisations and businesses that are slowly phasing out the use of cheques. Last year there was also a big issue in Murupara when the one ATM in the small town was out of action, exposing how fragile our payment systems can be. To dig into the background of how we pay in New Zealand and how it is changing I'm joined by RNZ producer and history geek Robert Kelly. 

11:25 Jazz covers of Pop hits

We were talking last week about excellent jazz covers of pop hits, so we thought we'd get the expert in! Jazz man Nick Tipping from RNZ Concert brings an array of jazzy covers of popular music into the studio, including some with a real kiwi feel.