Sunday Morning for Sunday 23 April 2017

 

7:08 The 9th Floor - Jim Bolger

 

It's part three of The 9th Floor, the much talked-about series with Guyon Espiner interviewing New Zealand’s ex-Prime Ministers. Today it’s National’s Jim Bolger, who ran the country from 1990 through to 1997.

He was nicknamed ‘The Great Helmsmen’, often in jest. But he steered the country through much of a turbulent decade, making massive changes to everything from social welfare to treaty settlements. As you’ll hear, he was that curious combination – a radical conservative.

8:12 Insight: Pumped Dry - Central Otago Farmers' Fight for Water

Alarm is growing on Central Otago's farms and orchards as the region's 150-year-old water licence system is overhauled. The hundreds of irrigation permits granted in the gold-rush days all end in 2021. The regional council says modern permits will stop Otago's streams drying up in summer, save the fish and lift production. Ian Telfer investigates if the new system will deliver, or descend into a bitter fight for access.

Produced by Philippa Tolley.

8:40 Amy Baker Benjamin - North Korea

Amy Baker Benjamin lectures in Public International Law at AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand. She is a graduate of Yale Law School, former law clerk to Justice Stephen G. Breyer, and former Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice. She joins Wallace to talk about the ongoing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and the rhetoric from US President Donald Trump.

9:06 Mediawatch

Denmark's public broadcaster, DR, produces award-winning TV dramas, such as The Killing and Borgen, that not only attract a huge audience at home but around the world. Mediawatch asks the author of a book on Danish television what New Zealand can learn from the Danes. And we look at how many in the media reduced the union movement's single biggest pay-claim in history to the story of one feisty woman against the powers that be.
Produced and presented by Colin Peacock and Jeremy Rose.

9:40 Jeff Maynard - Wilkins' War 

 

The Unseen Anzac is Jeff Maynard’s story of Australian war photographer George Hubert Wilkins.

A former Arctic explorer, Wilkins produced the most detailed and accurate collection of First World War photographs in the world, which is now held at the Australian War Memorial. Within weeks of arriving at the front, Wilkins’ exploits were legendary. He went ‘over the top’ with the troops and ran forward to photograph the fighting. Refusing to carry a gun, he led soldiers into battle, captured German prisoners, was wounded repeatedly, and was twice awarded the Military Cross.

 

 

 

10:06 Michael Corballis - The Truth About Language

 

In his new book, The Truth About Language: What It Is and Where It Came From, author and psychologist Professor Michael Corballis explores the origin of human language and our unique ability to tell stories, offer explanations, baffle, laugh and lie. Michael Corballis is emeritus professor at the Department of Psychology, University of Auckland. @AucklandUni

 

 

10:40 Ed Byrne - Outside Lookin’ In

Irish comedian Ed Byrne has been touring Aotearoa for 20 years and many of his NZ experiences have been woven into his stand-up shows. He talks to Wallace about opting for comedy over horticulture, proposing to his wife, and getting into marital hot water over an interview with Paul Henry. Ed Byrne is touring his show Outside Lookin’ In to Wellington, Napier, Auckland, Nelson and New Plymouth this April and May as part of the NZ International Comedy Festival, as well as playing a free concert in Kaikoura. @MrEdByrne

11:05 Steve Perrin - The Distractions

The Distractions were only together long enough to produce one studio album in 1980, but in their short stint in post-punk Manchester they played alongside Joy Division and The Buzzcocks. The break-up wasn’t even all that sordid - just a decision that the rock n roll lifestyle didn’t suit them.Now almost 40 years later - and the band has released another album despite living on opposite sides of the world. The Distractions' founder, songwriter and guitarist Steve Perrin talks to Wallace about getting the band back together. 

 

11:25 Colm Quinn - Mattress Men

Mattress Men is a documentary by filmmaker Colm Quinn that tells the story of Paul Kelly and Mick Flynn, creators of the eccentric online persona Mattress Mick. The film follows the fortunes of “Mattress Mick” who works to make videos with Paul in order to turn around the fortunes of Mick's struggling mattress-shop business. Colm Quinn talks to Wallace about the story behind the Mattress Men. The film will be shown at the Doc Edge International Film Festival from May 10 to 21 in Wellington and in Auckland between May 24 and June 5.

 

 

11:45 The House - A weekly digest of the events in Parliament

This week, Phil Smith sneaks into Parliament's sound booth to chat with RNZ's two longest-serving audio operators for the chamber.

Produced and presented by Daniela Maoate-Cox and Phil Smith

Music played in the show
Artist: Prince
Song: 1999
Composer: Prince
Album: 1999
Label: Warner Bros
Played at: 8.55am

Artist: Time Bandits
Song: I’m only shooting love
Composer: A. Hidding
Album: I’m only shooting love
Label: Conamus
Played at: 10.35am

Artist: Koile
Song: Holomio
Composer: Hiliako Iaheto
Album: Te Hua
Label: see koile.co.nz
Played at:10.55am

Artist: The Distractions
Song: The End of the Pier
Composer: Steve Perrin
Album: The End of the Pier
Label: Occultation Recordings
Played at: 11.15am 

Artist: The Distractions
Song: Something for the weekend
Composer: Steve Perrin
Album: Nobody’s Perfect
Label: Island Records
Played at:  11.05am